Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Bestinvest vs Halifax, 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, Halifax 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.
Bestinvest vs Halifax: both let you buy and sell shares, ETFs, funds and investment trusts, and both offer access to adviser services. Neither supports cryptocurrency or CFD trading.
The main difference is bonds. Halifax offers trading in corporate bonds and UK government bonds (gilts), while Bestinvest does not. Both are rated 4.5 out of 5 for investment choices by UK.StockBrokers.com; in its ranking of 21 brokers, Halifax is 7th and Bestinvest 10th. If you want bond access alongside core investments, Halifax has the edge; otherwise, either platform covers the essentials.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| 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.
For charting tools, Bestinvest offers 9 drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, while Halifax provides 8 drawing tools but a much larger library of 95 indicators. Both let you add notes to charts and do not show corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) or index overlays. A key difference is overlays: Bestinvest supports stock overlays, whereas Halifax does not.
Both brokers offer a browser-based trading platform and price alerts, but neither supplies real-time market data. In short, Halifax suits traders who want lots of indicators, while Bestinvest may appeal if you value stock overlays and a slightly wider set of drawing tools.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 95 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 8 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing Bestinvest and Halifax for retirement accounts, both brokers offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making them solid options for UK investors looking to plan for their future. Bestinvest provides a user-friendly platform, while Halifax is well-known for its widespread branch network across the UK. Each broker caters to different preferences, so your choice between the two might depend on whether you prioritize a seamless online experience or access to in-person support. Both offer ISAs and SIPPs, enabling you to save and invest efficiently for retirement.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking convenient mobile trading options, both Bestinvest and Halifax offer apps for iPhone and Android devices. Each of these platforms has been rated 3.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for their mobile offerings, indicating a satisfactory user experience. When comparing their rankings among 21 brokers, Bestinvest holds a slight edge, securing the 16th position, while Halifax follows closely at the 18th spot. Both brokers provide similar mobile accessibility, making them viable options for traders looking for on-the-go investment solutions.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
Bestinvest vs Halifax for beginner investor education in the UK: Bestinvest offers live educational client webinars and an on-demand library, while Halifax has no webinars or replays. Both cover share trading, funds and retirement, but Bestinvest scores higher for beginners (5/5 stars, ranked 6th of 21 by UK.StockBrokers.com) than Halifax (4/5 stars, ranked 18th of 21). If you want structured learning with watch-back webinars, Bestinvest has the edge; for basic coverage of shares, funds and pensions, either will do.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Comparing Bestinvest vs Halifax for market research, both platforms provide shares, ETF and fund research, plus research reports for funds. Bestinvest adds a handy portfolio allocation view by asset class so you can see your mix at a glance, which Halifax doesn’t offer. If bond research matters, Halifax includes it, while Bestinvest does not.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, Bestinvest or Halifax? 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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Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Mobile App |
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Neither Bestinvest nor Halifax offer crypto trading, but both are reputable online brokers providing diverse investment options without cryptocurrency support.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Bestinvest | Halifax | |
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Bestinvest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Bestinvest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £50 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £9.50 | |
| 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 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £100 - £1,000 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £0 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £4.95 | £9.50 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £4.95 | £9.50 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £4.95 | £0 / £3.50 / £9.50 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £4.95 | £0 / £3.50 / £9.50 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £30 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Bestinvest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Bestinvest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 95 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 8 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Bestinvest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Bestinvest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Halifax | |
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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