B

Hargreaves Lansdown

7/10

Startrader

8.1/10
7/10RegulationWinner9/10
8/10FeesWinner10/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms6/10
6/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner7.5/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Hargreaves Lansdown was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in UK, while Startrader was established in 2011 and is based in Hong Kong. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Hargreaves Lansdown serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Startrader has 500,000 +. The minimum deposit is $200 at Hargreaves Lansdown and $50 at Startrader.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureHargreaves LansdownStartrader
Min. Deposit$200$50
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Saint Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) and Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSA)
Founded19812011
CountryUKHong Kong
Clients10,000+500,000 +

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Hargreaves Lansdown and Startrader, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Hargreaves Lansdown has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $200 (vs $50 at Startrader). Startrader charges withdrawal fees while Hargreaves Lansdown does not, giving Hargreaves Lansdown an edge for frequent withdrawers. Overall, Startrader scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureHargreaves LansdownStartrader
Min. Deposit$200$50
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesYesYes

Platforms

Hargreaves Lansdown offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Startrader supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Hargreaves Lansdown offers a mobile trading app; mobile availability for Startrader is limited. Startrader supports social and copy trading features, which Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer. Hargreaves Lansdown edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

Hargreaves Lansdown wins this category
FeatureHargreaves LansdownStartrader
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesNo
Android AppYesNo
Trading PlatformsWeb Trader, Tablet & Mobile appsMT4, MT5 and Web Trader

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Hargreaves Lansdown and Startrader compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. Startrader scores higher overall in education and research.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureHargreaves LansdownStartrader
Forex EducationNoYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistNoYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Hargreaves Lansdown accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Startrader supports 4 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, Skrill, Neteller). Startrader uniquely supports Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. Startrader scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

Startrader wins this category
FeatureHargreaves LansdownStartrader
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoYes
NetellerNoYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Hargreaves Lansdown and Startrader offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureHargreaves LansdownStartrader
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Chinese