Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Bestinvest vs Freetrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
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, Freetrade offers better pricing than Bestinvest for share dealing.
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 considering online brokers in the UK, both Bestinvest and Freetrade offer competitive options for share trading and ETFs, making them appealing choices for investors. However, they differ in their offerings for other investment products. For instance, Bestinvest extends its services to include funds and investment trusts, coupled with advisor services - a feature not available with Freetrade. On the other hand, Freetrade focuses on simplicity, excluding funds and advisory services but still providing a platform for trading shares, ETFs, and investment trusts.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Bestinvest receives a slightly higher investment choices rating of 4.5 stars, compared to Freetrade's 4 stars, and is ranked higher as well at #10 out of 21 brokers. Freetrade, while ranking at #17, remains a solid choice for those new to the investing landscape or those who prefer a straightforward approach without additional layers of advice or complex investment choices.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
In the realm of trading tools, Bestinvest and Freetrade offer distinctive features that cater to different needs. Bestinvest stands out with its array of 9 drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, allowing for detailed and customized chart analysis. Additionally, Bestinvest provides the ability to add personal notes and stock overlays to charts, aiding in personalized strategy development. Both platforms offer browser-based trading platforms and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates, though Bestinvest lacks real-time market data, a feature that Freetrade excels in providing.
Freetrade, on the other hand, focuses on a simplified trading experience without the added complexity of drawing tools or technical indicators. It does not support adding notes or overlays to charts. However, Freetrade compensates for these omissions with real-time market data, an essential tool for those needing up-to-date information. While neither platform displays corporate events or index overlays on their charts, both provide essential functions like browser-based access and price alerts, making them accessible to online traders in the UK.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When considering online brokers for retirement accounts in the UK, both Bestinvest and Freetrade provide attractive options. Each broker offers Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing you to save without paying tax on returns, and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) for building your retirement fund. Both platforms cater to different investing styles and levels of experience, providing flexibility whether you're aiming to maximize your ISA contributions or diversify your SIPP portfolio. It's essential to weigh the specific features and benefits of each service to determine the best fit for your financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking a user-friendly trading experience on the go, both Bestinvest and Freetrade offer mobile apps that cater to iPhone and Android users. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Freetrade's app earns a slightly higher user rating of 4 out of 5 stars, compared to Bestinvest’s 3.5 stars. This higher rating reflects its ease of use and functionality. In terms of overall mobile app rankings among 21 online brokers, Freetrade is positioned ahead at #12, while Bestinvest is ranked at #16. Both options enable convenient mobile trading, but Freetrade edges out with user satisfaction and a higher ranking.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to supporting beginner investors in the UK, Bestinvest and Freetrade each offer educational resources, but with some differences. Bestinvest provides educational webinars that are both live and archived for on-demand viewing, while Freetrade does not offer webinars at all. Both platforms cover essential topics such as share trading, investing in funds, and planning for retirement. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Bestinvest shines brighter, earning a 5-star rating and ranking 6th out of 21 brokers for beginner education, whereas Freetrade holds a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 16th. These distinctions make Bestinvest a more comprehensive choice for those seeking a robust introduction to investing.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 Bestinvest and Freetrade, Bestinvest stands out by offering detailed research reports for funds, a feature Freetrade lacks. Both brokers provide the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, shares research, and ETFs research. However, Bestinvest further distinguishes itself with its offering of funds research, another area where Freetrade falls short. Neither Bestinvest nor Freetrade provides research on bonds. UK investors seeking comprehensive fund analysis might find Bestinvest more suitable based on these features.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Bestinvest or Freetrade? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Bestinvest to be a better trading platform overall.
Bestinvest is a very good broker that should appeal to a wide range of investors. Fees are competitive, particularly if you invest in funds or US shares, and the investment options are extensive. The Bestinvest platform is relatively easy to use and the offer of a free 45 minute session with a financial coach can be a useful starting point for newer investors. Bestinvest is also a great option for a Junior SIPP, as it is one of very few UK brokers offering children’s pensions and with a low entry point.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
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Freetrade
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Bestinvest and Freetrade, both online brokers, do not offer cryptocurrency trading options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Bestinvest | Freetrade | |
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Bestinvest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Trading Fees | Bestinvest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £50 | £1 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £100 - £1,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £4.95 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £4.95 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £4.95 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £4.95 | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £30 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Bestinvest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Bestinvest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Bestinvest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Bestinvest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Bestinvest | Freetrade | |
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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