Hargreaves Lansdown ISA Review 2026

Overview

Hargreaves Lansdown is the UK’s largest investment platform with over 1.8 million clients and more than £172 billion in assets under administration. It’s often the default choice for UK investors — and with good reason. The platform offers the widest investment range of any retail provider, excellent research tools, and a highly regarded mobile app.

The trade-off is cost. HL charges a percentage fee that becomes expensive as your portfolio grows.

Who is HL best for?

• Investors with portfolios under £50,000 who value breadth of choice and customer service
• Share and ETF investors who benefit from the £45/year ISA cap
• Investors who want the largest range of funds, investment trusts, and shares
• Beginners who value excellent educational content and customer support

Who should consider switching?

• Funds investors with portfolios over £50,000 — percentage fees become significant
• Cost-conscious passive investors — cheaper alternatives exist for index fund investing

Fees

HL charges a tiered percentage fee on funds, with no annual cap. For shares and ETFs, the fee is capped at £45/year in an ISA.

The fee structure has been stable for several years but always verify current charges directly with HL before making decisions.

Verdict

HL is genuinely excellent — but you pay for the quality. If you’re investing in funds and your portfolio is growing toward six figures, the fees are worth reviewing. Use our calculator to see whether switching could save you money.