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.
For UK investors exploring online brokers, Bestinvest and Halifax both offer a range of investment options, but key differences might influence your choice. Bestinvest provides the ability to trade shares, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, catering to a diverse investment strategy. Although it doesn't support crypto, spread betting, or bond trading, Bestinvest is well-regarded with advisor services and earns a 4.5-star rating for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 10th out of 21 brokers.
Meanwhile, Halifax offers trading in ETFs, funds, investment trusts, and uniquely includes corporate and government bonds (gilts) in its repertoire. However, Halifax lacks share trading capabilities and also skips crypto and spread betting services. With a comprehensive lineup that includes advisor services, Halifax enjoys a 5-star rating and ranks 7th among 21 brokers for investment choices according to UK.StockBrokers.com. Choosing between these providers depends on your specific trading needs and whether having access to bonds or shares is your priority.
| 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.
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.
For beginner investors looking for educational resources, Bestinvest stands out compared to Halifax. Bestinvest offers a comprehensive array of educational webinars, including those specific to share trading, funds, and retirement, all of which are available on demand for flexible learning. In contrast, Halifax does not provide webinars or specific educational content on these topics. This rich educational offering earns Bestinvest a 5-star rating for beginner education and positions it 6th out of 21 brokers according to UK.StockBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Halifax receives a 3.5-star rating and ranks 18th, reflecting a more limited educational support for new 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 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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| 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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