Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Fidelity International 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, Bestinvest offers better pricing than Fidelity International 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 - Fidelity International would cost £127.50 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £144.75 per year.
12 trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £108 or £180 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £119.40 - £179.40 per year.
36 trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £144 or £360 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £238.20 - £357.60 per year.
120 trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £270 or £990 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £654 - £714 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £1000 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.
Fidelity International and Bestinvest both offer a variety of investment options tailored for UK investors. Whether you're interested in trading shares, ETFs, funds, or investment trusts, both platforms are equipped to meet your needs. However, if you're looking to trade cryptocurrencies, engage in spread betting, or trade complex instruments like CFDs and bonds, neither provider will suit these preferences. Additionally, for those seeking advice, both Fidelity International and Bestinvest come with advisor services, ensuring you have the guidance you might need on your investment journey.
In terms of recognition, Fidelity International and Bestinvest each received a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices. Despite sharing identical ratings, Bestinvest edges ahead slightly at 10th place compared to Fidelity's 12th in the rankings of 21 brokers. This subtle distinction might be a point of consideration for individuals deciding between the two, though both platforms promise a quality experience when selecting investments.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools of Fidelity International and Bestinvest, each platform offers unique features tailored to different needs. Fidelity International stands out with the ability to display corporate events like earnings and dividends directly on charts, and provides options for adding both index and stock overlays. You can enjoy chart customization with 21 technical indicators, though it falls short in allowing users to annotate charts with notes. In contrast, Bestinvest excels with a higher number of drawing tools, providing nine options for detailed chart work, alongside 36 technical indicators for thorough market analysis. However, it lacks the capability to display corporate events and add index overlays on charts.
Both Fidelity International and Bestinvest offer browser-based trading platforms, ensuring accessibility and convenience, along with the ability to set alerts for stock price updates. Neither platform, however, provides real-time market data, which is an important consideration for day traders who require the most up-to-date information. Whether you prioritize comprehensive charting features or a broader range of technical indicators, both platforms have something to offer depending on your trading style and needs.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 21 | 36 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 5 | 9 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
For UK investors navigating retirement account options, Fidelity International and Bestinvest offer competitive choices. Both platforms provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing users to enjoy tax-efficient savings. Additionally, Fidelity and Bestinvest cater to those planning for retirement with their Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) offerings. Both brokers aim to simplify investing with user-friendly platforms and accessible customer support, making it easier to manage your financial future.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Fidelity International and Bestinvest, UK investors will find accessible options from both brokers for iPhone and Android devices. Fidelity International's app earns a slightly higher user satisfaction with a 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, landing it at 15th place out of 21 brokers. In contrast, Bestinvest’s app holds a modest 3.5-star rating, placing it just behind at 16th. The differences in rankings and ratings indicate a slightly better user experience with Fidelity International's mobile platform, making it a preferred choice for those who value app performance.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors seeking online education, both Fidelity International and Bestinvest offer an array of resources. They each provide access to educational webinars that can be viewed live or on-demand, covering vital topics such as share trading, investment funds, and retirement planning. Both platforms have earned a stellar 5-star rating for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com. However, in terms of ranking among 21 brokers, Fidelity International is positioned at number 7, while Bestinvest slightly edges ahead at number 6, showing that both are excellent choices for starting your investment education journey.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
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 market research features between Fidelity International and Bestinvest, both platforms provide valuable tools for investors. They offer research reports for funds and allow users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, which helps investors understand their investment composition. Both brokers also deliver comprehensive research options on shares, ETFs, and funds. However, neither Fidelity nor Bestinvest covers CFDs research. A key difference lies in their coverage of bonds, where Fidelity International offers research, while Bestinvest does not. This makes Fidelity a more comprehensive choice for UK investors interested in bonds.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
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, Fidelity International or Bestinvest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Fidelity International to be a better trading platform overall.
Fidelity offers thousands of investments to choose from and also offers financial advice for those wanting more direction. It's best suited to traditional investors who hold a range of accounts through the platform, enjoy the great research material available and who may also use Fidelity for financial advice. The platform can be expensive for those with portfolios of less than £20,000 and those with portfolios above £40,000.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
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Bestinvest
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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When comparing online brokers Fidelity International and Bestinvest, neither offers crypto trading options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Fidelity International | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | Fidelity International Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Fidelity International | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Fidelity International | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1000 | £50 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £1.50 or £7.50 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £1.50 or £7.50 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £1.50 or £7.50 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £127.50 | £144.75 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £108 or £180 | £119.40 - £179.40 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £144 or £360 | £238.20 - £357.60 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £270 or £990 | £654 - £714 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £105 | £60 or £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £90 - £875 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £500 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £1,000 - £2,000 | £100 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £2,000 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £7.50 | £4.95 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £7.50 | £4.95 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £30 | £30 |
| Broker Screenshots | Fidelity International | 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 | Fidelity International | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 21 | 36 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 5 | 9 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Fidelity International | 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 | Fidelity International | 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 | Fidelity International | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | Fidelity International Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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