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.
Comparing IG and Bestinvest for UK investors: both offer share dealing, ETFs, and investment trusts. IG also supports crypto and CFD trading, while Bestinvest does not. Bestinvest provides funds and access to adviser services, which IG doesn’t. Neither platform offers corporate bonds or gilts.
For investment choices, UK.StockBrokers.com rates IG at 5 stars (ranked 11th of 21) and Bestinvest at 4.5 stars (ranked 10th of 21). Choose IG if you want trading features like crypto and CFDs; choose Bestinvest if you want funds and advice. Both work for shares, ETFs, and investment trusts, but not bonds.
| Feature |
IG
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | 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.
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.
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 beginners comparing IG vs Bestinvest on investor education, both brokers run client webinars and make sessions available on demand, and both cover funds and retirement. Bestinvest also provides share trading education, while IG does not. UK.StockBrokers.com rates each 5/5 for beginner education, ranking IG 1st of 21 brokers and Bestinvest 6th, so IG is top-ranked overall, while Bestinvest may suit learners who want share trading content alongside funds and retirement.
| 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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IG
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Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
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IG offers crypto trading, while Bestinvest does not, providing a clear difference for investors comparing these online brokers.
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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 | |
| 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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