Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Bestinvest, 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, IG 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 - IG would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £144.75 per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £119.40 - £179.40 per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £238.20 - £357.60 per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £654 - £714 per year.
3 fund trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £50 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 it comes to online brokers in the UK, both IG and Bestinvest present appealing options for investors, albeit with distinct features. IG offers share trading, ETF trading, CFD trading, and investment trusts, which might appeal to those looking for a diverse trading platform yet doesn't offer crypto or funds trading. On the other hand, Bestinvest, while similar in share, ETF, and investment trust offerings, provides a unique angle with its availability of funds trading and advisor services, albeit lacking CFD trading and spread betting.
Both brokers hold an impressive 4.5-star rating for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com. Of the 21 brokers reviewed, IG is ranked 11th, whereas Bestinvest edges slightly ahead at 10th place. Choosing between the two depends largely on your trading preferences, with IG catering more to active traders and Bestinvest appealing to investors seeking guided services and fund options.
| Feature |
IG
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | 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 comparing the trading tools of IG and Bestinvest, UK investors will find distinct features catering to different needs. IG provides a comprehensive charting experience, enabling users to display corporate events directly on charts, a feature Bestinvest does not offer. IG impresses with a more extensive selection of 19 drawing tools compared to Bestinvest's 9, accommodating a broader range of chart customizations. However, Bestinvest leads slightly with 36 technical indicators, up from IG's 33. Both platforms allow traders to add notes and offer browser-based trading, but only Bestinvest offers stock overlays on charts, something IG lacks.
For traders who prioritize staying updated with market movements, IG stands out by offering real-time market data, a feature absent in Bestinvest. Both platforms, however, ensure traders can set alerts for stock price updates, which adds a layer of convenience for active investors. While neither platform currently supports index overlays, the choice between IG and Bestinvest may come down to how much you value additional chart features like corporate events, drawing tools, and real-time data access.
| Feature |
IG
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 36 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 9 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing IG and Bestinvest for retirement accounts in the UK, both brokers provide similar options that cater to individual savings needs. IG and Bestinvest each offer ISA accounts, allowing investors to grow their savings tax-free in a flexible manner. For those planning for retirement, both IG and Bestinvest also offer SIPP accounts, which allow individuals to take control over their pension investments. Choosing between IG and Bestinvest will depend on individual preferences, such as additional account features and the associated fees, but either choice provides a solid foundation for managing your retirement and tax-efficient savings.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When it comes to mobile app availability, both IG and Bestinvest cater to iPhone and Android users, ensuring easy access to trading on-the-go. However, in terms of app quality, IG outshines Bestinvest, boasting a five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com compared to Bestinvest's 3.5 stars. This difference in user experience is further reflected in their rankings, with IG securing the impressive second spot out of 21 brokers, while Bestinvest trails at number 16. For UK investors prioritizing a seamless mobile trading experience, IG clearly leads the pack.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors seeking educational resources, both IG and Bestinvest provide valuable content. They each offer client webinars that can be attended live or watched on demand, covering important topics like share trading and retirement. However, only Bestinvest includes education on funds, making it a more comprehensive choice for those interested in mutual and index funds. While both platforms boast top ratings of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for their beginner-friendly education, IG takes the crown with a rank of #1 out of 21 brokers in this category, while Bestinvest holds a respectable #6 rank. This difference may influence those prioritizing widely acclaimed educational support as they embark on their investing journeys.
| Feature |
IG
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers IG and Bestinvest, UK investors will find notable distinctions between the two. Both IG and Bestinvest provide research reports for funds, shares, and ETFs. However, Bestinvest stands out with its capability to show portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not available with IG. While both offer research on shares and ETFs, IG covers CFDs, in contrast to Bestinvest’s absence in that area. On the other hand, Bestinvest’s comprehensive research on funds further distinguishes it, whereas IG lacks this feature. Neither broker offers research on bonds, leaving room for improvement in their market research features.
| Feature |
IG
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, IG or Bestinvest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found IG to be a better trading platform overall.
IG is an investment platform aimed at experienced investors looking to make frequent trades on the stock market, with thousands of shares, trusts and ETFs to trade. It offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use trading platform that is used by both private and professional investors.
| Feature |
IG
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Bestinvest
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Both IG and Bestinvest do not offer crypto trading options for their users.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | IG Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | IG | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £50 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £144.75 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £119.40 - £179.40 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £238.20 - £357.60 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £654 - £714 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £60 or £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 / £96 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 / £96 | £500 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 / £96 | £100 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 / £96 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 - £8 | £4.95 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 - £8 | £4.95 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £30 |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IG | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 36 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 9 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | IG | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | IG | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | IG | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | IG Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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