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AJ Bell vs Bestinvest 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

January 23, 2025

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 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 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 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 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 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.

Mobile App

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.

Beginners and Education

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 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 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 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 4.5/5 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
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 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
Review AJ Bell Review Bestinvest Review
Winner check_circle
Investments AJ Bell Bestinvest
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No
Funds info Yes Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info Yes No
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
Trading Fees AJ Bell Bestinvest
Minimum Deposit info £0 £50
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £5 £0 - £4.95
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £3.50 £0 - £4.95
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £3.50 £0 - £4.95
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £100 £144.75
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £135 £119.40 - £179.40
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £255 £238.20 - £357.60
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £495 £654 - £714
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £79.50 £60 or £120
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £0 - £625 Up to £500 or £1,000
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £625 - £875 £500 - £1,000
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £875 £100 - £1,000
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £875 £0
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info £5 £4.95
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info £5 £4.95
ETFs - Fee info £5 £4.95
Investment Trusts - Fee info £5 £4.95
Telephone Dealing Fee info £25 £30
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
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App 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
Research AJ Bell Bestinvest
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - Funds info Yes Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes
Education AJ Bell Bestinvest
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Overall Summary AJ Bell Bestinvest
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 4.5/5 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
Review AJ Bell Review Bestinvest Review
Winner check_circle
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