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.
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.
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 Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £119.40 - £179.40 per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.
36 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £238.20 - £357.60 per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.
120 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £654 - £714 per year, while Halifax would cost £1,176 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £50 per year, while Halifax would cost £0 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 the investment choices available at Bestinvest and Halifax, there are distinct differences that cater to varying investor needs. Bestinvest offers share trading, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, providing a moderately diverse selection for its users. However, it doesn't offer trading in corporate bonds, government bonds, or emerging fields like crypto or CFDs. Halifax, meanwhile, offers a broader range of investment options, including trading in corporate bonds and government bonds (gilts), alongside ETFs, funds, and investment trusts. Like Bestinvest, Halifax refrains from providing services for crypto and CFD trading.
Both platforms provide advisory services to help guide your investment strategies. UK.StockBrokers.com gives Bestinvest a solid 4.5-star rating for its investment choices, with a rank of 10th out of 18 brokers. Halifax, with a slightly more extensive selection, earns a full 5-star rating and holds the 7th position. This suggests that while both platforms offer great options, Halifax might appeal more to those seeking broader access to different kinds of bonds.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
When comparing the trading tools of Bestinvest and Halifax, Bestinvest stands out for those who appreciate more advanced charting capabilities. Bestinvest provides nine drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, allowing traders to extensively analyze market trends. In contrast, Halifax does not offer any drawing tools or technical indicators, which limits chart analyses. Both platforms fall short when it comes to showing corporate events or index overlays on charts, yet Bestinvest allows users to add notes and stock overlays, further enhancing chart customization.
Bestinvest and Halifax each feature a browser-based trading platform and allow users to set up alerts for stock price updates. However, neither platform provides real-time market data, which may pose a disadvantage for those needing immediate market insights. Overall, Bestinvest offers more comprehensive charting features, making it a preferred choice for those who rely heavily on technical analysis in their trading strategies. Halifax, on the other hand, may suit those looking for a simpler trading experience without the need for detailed charting tools.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 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.
When comparing Bestinvest and Halifax in terms of their mobile app offerings, both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android users, catering to a broad range of customers in the UK. As rated by UK.StockBrokers.com, both Bestinvest and Halifax receive a 3.5-star rating for their mobile apps, indicating a similar level of user satisfaction and functionality. However, in the overall ranking of mobile apps among 18 brokers, Bestinvest holds the 16th position, slightly surpassing Halifax, which is ranked 18th. This suggests that while both apps are on par in terms of user ratings, Bestinvest may offer marginally better features or usability in its mobile app experience compared to Halifax.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors offered by Bestinvest and Halifax, Bestinvest clearly stands out. It provides a comprehensive suite of webinars, both live and on-demand, covering essential topics such as share trading, investment funds, and retirement planning. This accessibility equips new investors with the knowledge they need at their own pace. Unfortunately, Halifax does not offer similar webinar access or educational resources on these key investment topics. Bestinvest's commitment to education is reflected in its 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, ranking it 6th out of 18 brokers. In contrast, Halifax holds a modest 3.5-star rating and sits at the bottom, ranked 18th. This comparison highlights Bestinvest as a more supportive choice for those starting their investment journey in the UK.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Bestinvest and Halifax for market research features, Bestinvest offers a more comprehensive range for investors seeking detailed insights. Bestinvest provides research reports for funds and allows users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, features that Halifax does not offer. Both platforms provide robust research for shares, ETFs, and funds, catering well to investors interested in these areas. However, for bond research, Halifax takes the lead as Bestinvest does not provide this feature. Neither platform offers research for CFDs, making this a gap in their offerings. Overall, investors prioritising fund analysis and detailed portfolio insights might find Bestinvest appealing, while those needing bond research might prefer Halifax.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| 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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| 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 | No | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | No | No | |
| 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) | £144.75 | £83.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £119.40 - £179.40 | £150 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £238.20 - £357.60 | £378 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £654 - £714 | £1,176 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £60 or £120 | £64.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £100 - £1,000 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £4.95 | £9.5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £4.95 | £9.5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £4.95 | £9.5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £4.95 | £9.5 | |
| 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 | 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 | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Bestinvest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| 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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