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AJ Bell vs Bestinvest 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

August 06, 2024

In this head to head comparison of AJ Bell vs Bestinvest, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

AJ Bell
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes
Bestinvest
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £50
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes

Fees

Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, AJ Bell offers better pricing than Bestinvest for share dealing.

Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.

5 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £100 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £144.75 per year.

12 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £135 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £119.40 - £179.40 per year.

36 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £255 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £238.20 - £357.60 per year.

120 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £495 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £654 - £714 per year.

3 fund trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £50 per year.

query_stats What type of trader are you?

New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.

Investment Choices

When it comes to choosing an online broker, AJ Bell and Bestinvest both provide opportunities for traditional investment options like share trading and ETFs. AJ Bell stands out with its comprehensive selection, offering the ability to trade corporate bonds and government bonds (gilts), which is not available through Bestinvest. Both platforms allow you to trade funds and investment trusts, yet neither supports more speculative trading types like crypto trading, spread betting, or CFDs. For investors seeking diversified portfolios, AJ Bell could be the preferred choice, especially with its 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking it third out of 18 brokers for investment choices.

While Bestinvest also receives a commendable rating of 4.5 stars, it does not match AJ Bell's range for bond trading. However, for those looking for advice, Bestinvest offers advisor services to guide your investment decisions, which is a service AJ Bell does not provide. This added support may appeal to those new to investing or seeking professional consultation. Each platform has its merits, with AJ Bell offering a broader selection for DIY investors and Bestinvest providing personalized advisory support for those who need it.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
Bestinvest logoBestinvest
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info Yes Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes No
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info No Yes
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

Trading Tools

When comparing the trading tools of AJ Bell and Bestinvest, investors will find distinct features tailored to different needs. AJ Bell stands out with its ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature Bestinvest lacks. Similarly, AJ Bell provides the option to add both index and stock overlays to charts, while Bestinvest only supports stock overlays. For those who value technical analysis, Bestinvest offers a slightly broader selection with 36 technical indicators compared to AJ Bell’s 31. Additionally, Bestinvest allows users to add notes to their charts, enhancing their customization options, which AJ Bell does not provide.

On the other hand, both AJ Bell and Bestinvest offer competent browser-based trading platforms along with the capability to create alerts for stock price updates. However, AJ Bell takes the lead with real-time market data, which Bestinvest does not offer. Though Bestinvest slightly surpasses AJ Bell with nine chart drawing tools compared to AJ Bell's eight, the latter provides a compelling choice with its unique features for displaying corporate events and index overlays, along with the inclusion of real-time data, crucial for active traders seeking current market insights.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
Bestinvest logoBestinvest
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 31 36
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 9
Charting - Notes info No Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No

ISAs and SIPPs

When comparing AJ Bell and Bestinvest for retirement account offerings, both platforms provide flexible options for investors. AJ Bell and Bestinvest each offer ISA accounts, allowing users to enjoy tax-efficient savings. For those planning their retirement, both brokers also feature SIPP accounts, which provide more control over your pension investments. Whether you are choosing AJ Bell or Bestinvest, both options offer a comprehensive suite of retirement account types to suit a variety of investment needs.

Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.

Mobile App

Both AJ Bell and Bestinvest offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, catering to investors who prefer trading on the go. AJ Bell's mobile app is highly regarded, earning a commendable 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking it 3rd among 18 brokers for mobile app performance. In contrast, Bestinvest’s mobile app is rated slightly lower at 3.5 stars and lacks a specific ranking for mobile app performance, indicating a moderate user experience compared to AJ Bell. For those prioritizing mobile app usability and strong ratings, AJ Bell appears to have the edge in this comparison.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

When comparing AJ Bell and Bestinvest for beginner investor educational resources, both online brokers provide a robust learning experience with live educational client webinars and the flexibility to view these sessions on demand. Each broker offers comprehensive education on essential topics, including share trading, funds, and retirement planning, proving advantageous for novice investors. Both platforms receive top marks from UK.StockBrokers.com with a 5-star rating for beginner education. However, AJ Bell stands out with a #3 ranking among 18 brokers, while Bestinvest's specific ranking is not provided. Overall, AJ Bell and Bestinvest are solid choices for beginners seeking educational support, with slight advantages towards AJ Bell in terms of recognized ranking.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
Bestinvest logoBestinvest
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Education 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When it comes to market research features, both AJ Bell and Bestinvest provide comprehensive resources for investors. They both offer research reports for funds and enable users to view portfolio allocation by asset class. Additionally, investors can access in-depth research on shares, ETFs, and funds through both platforms. However, there's a distinction in bonds research availability; AJ Bell supports bonds research, whereas Bestinvest does not. Neither AJ Bell nor Bestinvest offers research on CFDs. Overall, both brokers equip investors with substantial tools for informed decision-making, with AJ Bell having a slight edge in bonds research.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
Bestinvest logoBestinvest
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Research - Funds info Yes Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes

AJ Bell vs Bestinvest Winner

Which broker is better overall, AJ Bell or Bestinvest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found AJ Bell to be a better trading platform overall.

You can invest in an extensive range of investments through AJ Bell. Charges are on the high side for those with large portfolios in mutual funds and those looking to execute one-off share deals; but its new app, called Dodl, offers much lower fees and also offers a more slim-lined and user-friendly service. Educational and research materials are strong, too.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
Bestinvest logoBestinvest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with AJ Bell or Bestinvest?

When comparing online brokers AJ Bell and Bestinvest, neither platform currently offers cryptocurrency trading options, making them suitable choices for investors who prioritize traditional investment avenues.

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Compare

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Overall Rating AJ Bell Bestinvest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Review AJ Bell Review Bestinvest Review
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Investments AJ Bell Bestinvest
ISA info Yes Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes Yes Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No Yes
Funds info Yes Yes No
ETFs info Yes Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info Yes No No
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes No No
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No Yes
Crypto Trading info No No No
Advisor Services info No Yes No
Trading Fees AJ Bell Bestinvest
Minimum Deposit info £0 £50 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £5 £0 - £4.95 £0-£10
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £3.50 £0 - £4.95 £3
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £3.50 £0 - £4.95 £3
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £100 £144.75 £136
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £135 £119.40 - £179.40 £96
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £255 £238.20 - £357.60 £108
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £495 £654 - £714 £360
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £79.50 £60 or £120 N/A
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £0 - £625 Up to £500 or £1,000 £0 / £96
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £625 - £875 £500 - £1,000 £0 / £96
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £875 £100 - £1,000 £0 / £96
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £875 £0 £0 / £96
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info £5 £4.95 N/A
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info £5 £4.95 N/A
ETFs - Fee info £5 £4.95 £0 - £8
Investment Trusts - Fee info £5 £4.95 £0 - £8
Telephone Dealing Fee info £25 £30 £50
Broker Screenshots AJ Bell Bestinvest
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools AJ Bell Bestinvest
Web Platform info Yes Yes Yes
iPhone App info Yes Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 31 36 33
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 9 19
Charting - Notes info No Yes Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No Yes
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No No
Research AJ Bell Bestinvest
Research - Shares info Yes Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No Yes
Research - Funds info Yes Yes No
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes No No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes No
Education AJ Bell Bestinvest
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes No
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes Yes
Overall Summary AJ Bell Bestinvest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Review AJ Bell Review Bestinvest Review
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