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