Home › InvestEngine vs Hargreaves Lansdown
ComparisonThe head-to-head comparison. InvestEngine at 0% platform fee vs HL's widest choice and research. Fee tables, portfolio suitability, decision framework.
Reviewed July 2026 · Reading time: ~10 minutes
Affiliate disclosure: approved partner links to Hargreaves Lansdown and InvestEngine may earn us a commission. See affiliate disclosure.
| InvestEngine | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee (funds) | N/A (ETF-only) | 0.45% tiered |
| Platform fee (ETFs) | 0% (DIY) | 0.45% capped £45/yr (£200 SIPP) |
| Managed portfolios | 0.25% | N/A directly (advisory available) |
| Fund choice | ~700 ETFs | ~3,000 funds + ETFs + shares |
| Wrappers | GIA, ISA, SIPP, Business | Full range inc. LISA, JISA, Junior SIPP |
| Fractional | Yes | No |
| Research | Basic ETF factsheets | Wealth Shortlist, analyst notes, daily commentary |
| Support | Chat/email | Phone + chat + email, UK-based |
| Best for | DIY ETF cost-focused | Mixed portfolios, research users, service-valued |
0% platform fee on DIY portfolios. Free ETF dealing. Fractional support. On a £20,000 ISA holding VWRP, InvestEngine costs £44/year (all OCF). HL costs £89/year (£45 cap + £44 OCF). Compounded over 30 years at 6%, that gap is worth roughly £3,000 in terminal wealth on the initial £20,000 alone.
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Full UK retail wrapper range including LISA and JISA. Access to actively-managed funds, individual UK and US shares, investment trusts. If you might want to hold Fundsmith Equity, or buy Rolls-Royce shares, or open a Junior ISA for a child — HL supports it. InvestEngine doesn't.
Open account with Hargreaves Lansdown →
HL's Wealth Shortlist (~60 recommended funds), daily analyst commentary, phone team, and mature platform infrastructure are the deepest in UK retail. If you value being able to phone a UK-based team about complex ISA-to-SIPP transfers, HL is worth its higher fees.
Auto-invest to target weights, fractional ETFs down to £1, and a mobile-first experience make small monthly contributions (£25-£100/month) work smoothly. HL's regular investing is competent but the platform feels less designed around micro-contributions.
£20,000 in Vanguard FTSE All-World (VWRP), 30-year horizon at 6% real return:
| Platform | Annual cost | Terminal value | Cost drag |
|---|---|---|---|
| InvestEngine (0% platform) | £44 (OCF only) | ~£108,000 | — |
| HL (£45 ETF cap) | £89 | ~£103,000 | ~£5,000 |
The gap is real but not enormous at the ETF-cap level — HL's extras may be worth £5k over 30 years if you use them.
Nothing prevents holding both. Some UK investors run: InvestEngine for their main ISA (cost efficiency), HL for LISA + JISA + individual shares. FSCS investment cover is £85,000 per person per platform, so splitting also increases combined cover.
Neither is universally "better" — they solve different problems. InvestEngine for DIY ETF cost efficiency. Hargreaves Lansdown for choice, research, LISA/JISA, and service depth. Both approved PennyWise partners.
Open account with InvestEngine →
Open account with Hargreaves Lansdown →
InvestEngine at 0% platform fee wins on ETF-only DIY portfolios. HL's ETF fee cap makes it competitive on ETFs above about £10,000.
No. HL offers LISA; InvestEngine doesn't.
Yes. Many UK investors do — InvestEngine for the main ISA, HL for LISA/JISA/individual shares.
FCA-authorised (FRN 801128). FSCS investment cover up to £85,000. Same regulatory framework as HL.
HL for beginners who want research, phone support, and room to explore. InvestEngine for cost-focused beginners confident about ETF-only approach.
UK's largest platform.
Read review →0% platform fee DIY ETFs.
Read review →Head-to-head.
Read comparison →Pension wrapper.
Open comparison →Tax-wrapped investing.
Open comparison →Full sector comparison.
Open comparison →Capital at risk. Investment returns are not guaranteed. Tax rules can change. Pennywise Finance is not authorised by the FCA. This is general information — not personalised advice.