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.
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.
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 - Bestinvest would cost £144.75 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
12 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £119.40 - £179.40 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
36 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £238.20 - £357.60 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
120 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £654 - £714 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
3 fund trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £50 per year, while Freetrade would cost £1 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 comparing online brokers in the UK, Bestinvest and Freetrade stand out with their own unique offerings. Both platforms provide opportunities for share and ETF trading, catering well to traditional investors. However, Bestinvest sets itself apart by offering fund trading and advisor services, which are not available through Freetrade. For those interested in investment trusts, both brokers accommodate these options, yet neither offers crypto trading, spread betting, CFD trading, or the trading of corporate or government bonds (gilts).
Regarding investment choices, Bestinvest earns a commendable rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 10th among 21 brokers. In contrast, Freetrade receives a strong 4-star rating, ranking 17th in the same list. This suggests that while both platforms provide solid options for investors, Bestinvest may offer a broader range of investment services for those seeking additional support and diversity in their investment portfolio.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | Yes | |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When it comes to charting tools, Bestinvest stands out as a more comprehensive option compared to Freetrade. Bestinvest offers a variety of features such as the ability to display corporate events like earnings and dividends on charts, and it provides nine drawing tools and 36 technical indicators to aid in your analysis. Users can also add notes and stock overlays to their charts, making it easier to keep track of investments and strategies. Freetrade, on the other hand, does not offer these customisation options, as it lacks drawing tools, technical indicators, and the option to add notes or stock overlays to charts.
Both Bestinvest and Freetrade offer browser-based trading platforms and provide the option to create alerts for stock price updates, helping users stay informed about market movements. While Freetrade delivers real-time market data, Bestinvest does not specify the availability of this feature, which may be a consideration for those needing live updates. Overall, Bestinvest's array of analytical tools might appeal more to experienced traders seeking in-depth charting capabilities, whereas Freetrade may cater to those looking for more straightforward, real-time trading solutions.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays |
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 comparing educational resources for beginner investors, Bestinvest and Freetrade present distinct experiences. Bestinvest stands out by offering educational client webinars, which are also available on demand, a feature not offered by Freetrade. Both platforms provide education on share trading, funds, and retirement, but Bestinvest achieves a higher rating, earning 5 out of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, whereas Freetrade receives 3.5 stars. In a ranking of 21 brokers, Bestinvest positions itself at number 6 for beginner education, while Freetrade is ranked at 16. This suggests that Bestinvest may better cater to beginners seeking comprehensive learning resources in the UK.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing market research features between Bestinvest and Freetrade, UK investors will find both platforms offer comprehensive tools for their investment needs. Bestinvest provides research reports for funds and allows users to examine portfolio allocation by asset class, similar to Freetrade. Both brokers offer extensive research on shares and ETFs, but only Bestinvest provides reports on funds, giving it an edge for those seeking detailed fund insights. Neither platform offers research on CFDs or bonds, making them less ideal for traders interested in those instruments. Overall, Bestinvest's and Freetrade's research capabilities cater well to stock and ETF investors, but Bestinvest delivers slightly more for fund-focused investors.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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When comparing online brokers, Bestinvest does not offer crypto trading, whereas Freetrade also does not support crypto trading, making neither platform suitable for cryptocurrency investors.
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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 | |||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes |
| 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) | £144.75 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £119.40 - £179.40 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £238.20 - £357.60 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £654 - £714 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £60 or £120 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £100 - £1,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £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 | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | Bestinvest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Bestinvest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Bestinvest | Freetrade | |
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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