Written by StockBrokers.com
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.
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.
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.
When comparing investment options between AJ Bell and Bestinvest, both online brokers offer a range of opportunities but with some distinct differences. AJ Bell stands out with a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its diverse range of investment choices. It allows trading in shares, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. However, AJ Bell does not support crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading. Ranked 5th out of 18 brokers for investment choices, AJ Bell provides a comprehensive selection for investors seeking various options, though it does not offer advisor services.
Bestinvest also excels with a strong 4.5-star rating in the investment choices category and is ranked 10th among 18 brokers by UK.StockBrokers.com. Like AJ Bell, it offers trading in shares, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, but does not include crypto trading, spread betting, CFD trading, or trading in corporate and government bonds. Bestinvest distinguishes itself by providing advisor services, which may appeal to those who prefer some guidance in managing their investment portfolios.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When examining the online trading tools offered by AJ Bell and Bestinvest, a few differences become apparent. AJ Bell provides a comprehensive view by allowing users to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature not available on Bestinvest. For chart customisation, Bestinvest slightly edges out AJ Bell with 9 drawing tools compared to AJ Bell's 8. However, when it comes to technical indicators, Bestinvest offers 36, surpassing AJ Bell's 31. Notably, Bestinvest provides the ability to add notes to charts, a lacking feature for AJ Bell users.
Both AJ Bell and Bestinvest offer browser-based trading platforms and enable users to add stock overlays to charts. AJ Bell, however, stands out for those requiring index overlays, a feature not supported by Bestinvest. While both platforms allow the creation of alerts for stock price updates, AJ Bell users benefit from real-time market data, a feature absent from Bestinvest. This offering could be crucial for traders who rely on immediate data to make informed investment decisions.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 36 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 9 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers AJ Bell and Bestinvest for UK retirement accounts, both companies provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), catering to diverse investment strategies and retirement planning. AJ Bell is recognized for its user-friendly platform and competitive costs, making it a solid choice for individuals seeking a straightforward investment journey. Meanwhile, Bestinvest, known for its educational resources and tailored advice, welcomes investors looking for guided financial decisions. With both platforms offering ISAs and SIPPs, UK investors have flexible options for tax-efficient savings and retirement planning, ensuring their financial needs and goals are well met.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of AJ Bell and Bestinvest, both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring a seamless investing experience on the go. In terms of user satisfaction, AJ Bell's app excels with a strong 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it at 9th position among 18 brokers for mobile app quality. In contrast, Bestinvest has a 3.5-star rating, earning it a 16th place ranking. AJ Bell's app is a step ahead, offering UK investors a more favorable mobile platform for managing investments efficiently.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK investors just starting out, AJ Bell and Bestinvest both provide excellent educational resources aimed at beginners. Both online brokers offer hosted client webinars, which are also available on-demand, making it easy for users to learn at their own pace. When it comes to specific topics like share trading, fund investment, and retirement planning, both platforms deliver comprehensive educational content. Rated five stars each by UK.StockBrokers.com for their beginner education efforts, AJ Bell holds a slight edge, ranking 5th out of 18 brokers, while Bestinvest is close behind at 6th. Whether you're looking to dive into share trading or learn about funds and retirement planning, both AJ Bell and Bestinvest can provide valuable insights for beginners.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers AJ Bell and Bestinvest, both platforms offer comprehensive research reports for funds, enabling informed decision-making through detailed insights. Investors can also examine their portfolio allocation by asset class with either broker, helping them ensure balanced investments. In addition, both AJ Bell and Bestinvest provide research for shares, ETFs, and funds, though only AJ Bell extends its research to bonds. Notably, neither platform offers research on CFDs, which might be a consideration for those interested in this financial instrument. Overall, each broker provides valuable tools to support investors, with AJ Bell having a slight edge in bond research.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
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
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Bestinvest
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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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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | AJ Bell | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £50 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £100 | £144.75 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £119.40 - £179.40 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £255 | £238.20 - £357.60 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £495 | £654 - £714 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.50 | £60 or £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £500 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £875 | £100 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £875 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £5 | £4.95 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £5 | £4.95 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5 | £4.95 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | £4.95 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | £30 |
| Broker Screenshots | AJ Bell | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 36 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 9 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | AJ Bell | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AJ Bell | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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