Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Investor 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, Interactive Investor 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 - Interactive Investor would cost £79.83 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £144.75 per year.
12 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £107.76 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £119.40 - £179.40 per year.
36 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £203.52 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £238.20 - £357.60 per year.
120 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £538.68 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £654 - £714 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Interactive Investor 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 considering investment choices for UK traders, Interactive Investor makes a strong impression with its comprehensive offerings. It provides access to share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate and government bonds, along with investment trusts. These extensive options contribute to its remarkable 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it third among 21 brokers for investment choices. However, if you're interested in advisor services, you might find Interactive Investor lacking in this area.
Bestinvest, on the other hand, also supports share trading, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, but doesn't quite match Interactive Investor's variety in trading corporate or government bonds. Yet, its standout feature is the availability of advisor services, providing personalized guidance for your investment needs. With a solid 4.5-star rating for investment choices, Bestinvest ranks tenth in the UK.StockBrokers.com review, confirming its reliable standing for many UK investors.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | 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 Interactive Investor and Bestinvest, UK investors will find distinct differences in features. Interactive Investor stands out with advanced charting capabilities, offering 18 drawing tools and 104 technical indicators, compared to Bestinvest's 9 drawing tools and 36 technical indicators. Additionally, both platforms allow users to add notes and stock overlays to charts, though only Interactive Investor provides the option to display corporate events and add index overlays on charts. Furthermore, Interactive Investor supplies real-time market data, enhancing the trading experience significantly, while Bestinvest does not offer this feature.
Both platforms support browser-based trading and enable users to set up alerts for stock price updates, making them accessible and convenient for online traders. However, those who prioritize comprehensive charting options and real-time data might find Interactive Investor to be the superior choice for an enriched trading environment. In contrast, Bestinvest, while streamlined, may lack some of the detailed tools sought by more technical analysts.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 36 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 9 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
For UK investors evaluating retirement account options, both Interactive Investor and Bestinvest present compelling choices. Both platforms provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing users to save and invest tax-efficiently. Additionally, they offer Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), providing flexibility for retirement planning. With each offering comprehensive solutions, investors have strong options to manage and grow their retirement funds through either Interactive Investor or Bestinvest.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Interactive Investor and Bestinvest both provide convenient mobile apps for iPhone and Android devices, catering to the needs of UK investors seeking easy access to their portfolios on the go. Interactive Investor stands out with a higher rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, reflecting its user-friendly experience and robust features. This strong performance places it at the 7th position out of 21 brokers for mobile app offerings. Meanwhile, Bestinvest, though offering decent access through its mobile applications, is rated at 3.5 stars, positioning it at the 16th spot. This comparison highlights Interactive Investor's mobile app as a more highly regarded option for UK investors keen on efficient and reliable trading experiences on their smartphones.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When examining the educational resources available for beginner investors, Interactive Investor and Bestinvest both offer a comprehensive suite of learning materials. Both platforms provide educational client webinars, which can be accessed live and on demand, covering essential topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement planning. Rated five stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, both brokers uphold a high standard in making investing accessible to novices. However, Interactive Investor takes a slight edge in the rankings, being placed 2nd out of 21 brokers compared to Bestinvest's 6th place. This subtle advantage may appeal to UK investors seeking top-tier educational support at the start of their investment journey.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Interactive Investor and Bestinvest, both brokers stand out for their comprehensive offerings. They each provide research reports for funds and the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, catering to investors seeking detailed insights. Both platforms offer research across shares, ETFs, and funds, helping investors make informed decisions. However, Interactive Investor edges ahead with its research on bonds, while Bestinvest does not extend coverage to this asset class. Ultimately, both services equip UK investors with essential tools, but the choice may hinge on the need for bond research.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Interactive Investor or Bestinvest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Investor to be a better trading platform overall.
The standout feature at Interactive Investor (ii) is its low flat-rate fees. Other investment platforms typically favour percentage fees for fund investing, although more brokers are now opting for flat fees. Our view is that Interactive Investor is a great platform for any investor, offering a wide range of investments for cheap prices on the whole.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
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Bestinvest
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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Interactive Investor does not offer crypto trading, whereas Bestinvest also does not provide crypto trading options, making both platforms similar in this regard for investors looking to trade cryptocurrencies.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Investor | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Investor | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Investor | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £50 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.83 | £144.75 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £107.76 | £119.40 - £179.40 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £203.52 | £238.20 - £357.60 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £538.68 | £654 - £714 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £71.85 | £60 or £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £59.88 - £143.88 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £143.88 | £500 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £143.88 | £100 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £143.88 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £3.99 | £4.95 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £3.99 | £4.95 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3.99 | £4.95 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £3.99 | £4.95 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £49 | £30 |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Investor | 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 | Interactive Investor | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 36 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 9 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Investor | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Investor | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Interactive Investor | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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