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AJ Bell vs Bestinvest 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 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

For UK investors seeking a diverse array of investment choices, AJ Bell and Bestinvest both offer strong options with their online brokerage services. AJ Bell is highly rated by UK.StockBrokers.com, receiving 5 stars and ranking 5th out of 21 brokers for investment choices. It provides a broad selection, including share trading, trading of ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. In contrast, Bestinvest holds a solid 4.5-star rating and ranks 10th, offering share trading, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts. The absence of corporate and government bond trading, however, limits Bestinvest's variety compared to AJ Bell.

Neither platform delves into crypto or spread betting, and both avoid CFD trading. A significant distinction lies in advisor services, where Bestinvest shines by offering these to clients, whereas AJ Bell does not. This difference could sway those investors looking for added guidance. In essence, AJ Bell excels in bond investment options, while Bestinvest provides the added perk of advisory support, catering well to different investor preferences within the UK market.

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

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4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

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

For UK investors looking to trade on the go, both AJ Bell and Bestinvest offer mobile apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, AJ Bell's mobile app is highly praised, earning a commendable 4.5-star rating and securing a strong 9th place among 21 brokers. In contrast, Bestinvest's app scores a more modest 3.5 stars, placing it at the 16th spot. This makes AJ Bell a more highly regarded choice for users seeking a smoother mobile experience compared to Bestinvest.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources from online brokers, both AJ Bell and Bestinvest stand out with comprehensive offerings. Each platform provides educational client webinars, which are conveniently archived for on-demand viewing. Both brokers also cover essential investment topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement, catering to the needs of newcomers in the world of investing. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, AJ Bell and Bestinvest both receive a stellar rating of 5 stars for beginner education. However, AJ Bell holds a slight edge, ranking 5th out of 21 brokers, just ahead of Bestinvest, which ranks 6th. Whether you choose AJ Bell or Bestinvest, rest assured that you have access to quality educational resources to kickstart your investment journey.

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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