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.
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, IG 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.
IG and Bestinvest both give UK investors access to share trading, ETF trading and investment trusts, making either platform suitable for building a straightforward portfolio. Neither broker offers crypto trading, spread betting, corporate bonds or gilts, but IG stands out for also offering CFD trading, while Bestinvest does not. For investment choices, IG is rated 5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com and ranked #6 out of 21 brokers, compared with Bestinvest’s 4.5 stars.
When it comes to account options, Bestinvest has the edge for those who want funds and adviser support, as it offers both, while IG does not offer funds trading or adviser services. In simple terms, IG is the stronger pick for traders who want CFDs alongside shares and ETFs, while Bestinvest is better suited to investors looking for funds and guidance as part of their account choice.
| Feature |
IG
|
Bestinvest
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|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
IG vs Bestinvest: For charting, IG lets you display corporate events like earnings, splits and dividends directly on charts, while Bestinvest does not. IG offers 19 drawing tools compared with Bestinvest’s 9, and both let you add notes and stock overlays. Bestinvest edges IG on technical indicators (36 vs 33), but IG uniquely supports index overlays for added market context.
Both brokers provide a browser-based platform and price alerts. The key difference is data speed: IG offers real-time market data, while Bestinvest does not. UK investors who want richer on-chart information and live prices may prefer IG, whereas Bestinvest can suit those who prioritise a wider list of indicators and simpler tools.
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | 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.
For UK investors comparing IG and Bestinvest, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, but IG leads on quality: UK.StockBrokers.com rates IG’s mobile app 5 stars and ranks it #2 out of 21 brokers, while Bestinvest’s app holds a 3.5-star rating with no published ranking. If you want a higher-rated mobile trading experience, IG is the stronger choice, though both let you manage your account on iOS and Android.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
IG and Bestinvest both support UK beginner investors with live educational webinars that are archived for on‑demand viewing. IG offers education on funds and retirement (but not share trading), while Bestinvest covers shares, funds and retirement. Each earns a 5‑star beginner education rating from UK.StockBrokers.com; IG is ranked #1 of 21 brokers, while Bestinvest’s ranking is not listed. If you want share trading lessons, Bestinvest fits; if you want a top‑ranked programme with on‑demand webinars, IG leads.
| Feature |
IG
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
UK investors comparing IG and Bestinvest for market research will find both offer fund research reports, tools to view portfolio allocation by asset class, and research on shares and ETFs. Bestinvest also provides a dedicated funds research section, while IG does not (despite offering fund reports). Neither platform offers bonds research. For shares, ETFs, and allocation tools they’re similar, but Bestinvest has the edge for fund-specific research.
| Feature |
IG
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | 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.
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Bestinvest
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IG offers cryptocurrency trading options, while Bestinvest does not provide access to crypto trading.
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↓×Compare
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 | |
| Mutual 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 | |||
| 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) | |||
| 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 | N/A | Up to £500 or £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | N/A | £500 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | N/A | £100 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | N/A | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £4.95 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £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 | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | IG | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | 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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