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 exploring online brokers, Bestinvest and Halifax present distinct investment options tailored to different preferences. Bestinvest stands out by offering share trading and a robust selection of ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, making it an attractive choice for those keen on these markets. However, it does not provide trading for corporate or government bonds. On the other hand, while Halifax lacks share trading capabilities, it compensates by offering a comprehensive range of ETFs, funds, investment trusts, and bonds, catering to investors looking to diversify their portfolios across these segments.
Although neither platform supports crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, both Bestinvest and Halifax offer advisory services to guide investors. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Halifax receives a perfect rating of five stars for its investment choices, outranking Bestinvest, which is rated at 4.5 stars. Despite Bestinvest not being ranked among 18 brokers for investment choices, Halifax holds a significant position at number seven, indicating its strong foothold in the market. This comparison illustrates the specific strengths of each broker, aiding investors in making well-informed decisions based on their investment interests and needs.
| 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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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of Bestinvest and Halifax, there are notable differences that can impact your online investing experience. Bestinvest stands out with its array of 9 drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, providing investors with more options for detailed chart analysis. While neither platform offers real-time market data or the ability to display corporate events on charts, Bestinvest does support adding notes and stock overlays to charts, which can be useful for tracking specific investments. Both platforms do offer a browser-based trading experience and support the creation of alerts for stock price updates, ensuring you stay informed anywhere you have internet access.
Halifax, on the other hand, takes a more minimal approach with no drawing tools or technical indicators available for charting. It also lacks features like adding notes or stock overlays to charts, which can limit the depth of analysis for traders who rely on detailed insights. However, like Bestinvest, Halifax offers a straightforward browser-based platform and allows for setting up alerts for price changes, keeping you updated on your investment portfolio movements. Whether you seek a comprehensive toolset for in-depth analysis or a simpler platform, these distinctions can guide you in choosing the right fit for your trading needs.
| 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 online brokers Bestinvest and Halifax for retirement accounts, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). This allows investors to enjoy tax-efficient savings and investment opportunities. While Bestinvest and Halifax each provide these account types, users should evaluate the platforms' features, fees, and customer support to determine which best aligns with their retirement planning needs.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Bestinvest and Halifax, both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android devices, making them accessible to most users. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both apps have received a rating of 3.5 out of five stars, indicating a similar level of user satisfaction. While Bestinvest lacks a specific rank among 18 brokers, Halifax is ranked 14th for mobile app performance. This comparison highlights that both Bestinvest and Halifax offer fairly well-regarded apps, ensuring convenient access for users on the go, though Halifax has a slightly more defined standing in the rankings.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investor educational resources, Bestinvest clearly outshines Halifax. Bestinvest offers an extensive range of educational client webinars, which include on-demand archives, allowing new investors the flexibility to learn at their own pace. Their educational content covers crucial topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement planning. In contrast, Halifax does not provide educational client webinars, either live or archived, and lacks dedicated resources specifically for share trading, funds, or retirement. As a testament to their superior education offerings, Bestinvest earns a commendable 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, whereas Halifax trails with a 3.5-star rating. Halifax ranks 16th out of 18 brokers in this area, further underscoring the more comprehensive support that Bestinvest provides for beginner investors.
| 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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When considering market research features, Bestinvest stands out by offering comprehensive research reports for funds, a feature not available with Halifax. Furthermore, Bestinvest allows users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, giving investors a deeper understanding of their investments, a feature Halifax lacks. Both Bestinvest and Halifax provide research on shares, ETFs, and funds, ensuring well-rounded support in these areas. However, neither platform offers research on CFDs. A notable advantage for Halifax is its provision of bonds research, which Bestinvest does not offer. In summary, Bestinvest shines with its fund and portfolio allocation insights, while Halifax offers unique support in bonds research.
| 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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| 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 | 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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