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.
Interactive Investor and Bestinvest both provide robust platforms for share and ETF trading, offering accessible entry points for online investors. While neither broker supports crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, they both excel in funds and investment trust offerings. Interactive Investor goes a step further with options for trading both corporate and government bonds, which is not available with Bestinvest. For those seeking comprehensive financial advisor services, Bestinvest stands out by offering this feature, which is absent on Interactive Investor’s platform.
In terms of ratings and rankings, Interactive Investor takes the lead with a stellar 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for their wide array of investment choices, securing the 5th spot among 18 brokers. Bestinvest follows closely with a commendable 4.5-star rating, demonstrating a competitive edge despite the lack of an overall ranking. This comparison highlights Interactive Investor’s broader investment range, while Bestinvest shines in its additional advisory support, catering to investors who value personal financial guidance.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of Interactive Investor and Bestinvest, Interactive Investor stands out with its comprehensive features. It provides the ability to display corporate events on charts, a capability not available with Bestinvest. Additionally, Interactive Investor offers 18 drawing tools, significantly more than Bestinvest’s 9. Chart enthusiasts will appreciate the 104 technical indicators available with Interactive Investor, compared to just 36 available through Bestinvest. Both platforms allow users to add notes and stock overlays to charts, but Interactive Investor goes a step further with the option to include index overlays, a feature Bestinvest lacks.
Both Interactive Investor and Bestinvest provide a browser-based trading platform and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates. However, traders looking for real-time market data will find Interactive Investor more advantageous, as this feature is not supported by Bestinvest. Overall, Interactive Investor offers a more robust charting tool set, making it a more appealing choice for investors who rely heavily on detailed technical analysis and real-time data.
| 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 | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers Interactive Investor and Bestinvest, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making them strong contenders for individuals seeking flexible retirement investment options. Interactive Investor and Bestinvest provide opportunities to grow your savings through a variety of diverse investment options tailored to different risk appetites and financial goals. Whether you're planning for retirement or looking to maximize your tax-efficient savings, both services cater to the fundamental needs of investors by supporting ISAs and SIPPs, ensuring you have access to competitive accounts for building your financial future.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile apps of online brokers Interactive Investor and Bestinvest, both platforms offer convenient iPhone and Android applications for their users. Interactive Investor shines with a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its mobile app, securing the 12th spot out of 18 brokers. Bestinvest, however, receives a more modest 3.5-stars and is not ranked in the Mobile Apps category by UK.StockBrokers.com. Users prioritizing a higher-rated mobile experience may find Interactive Investor's app more appealing for their trading needs, while both apps provide essential features for trading on the go.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors seeking educational resources, both Interactive Investor and Bestinvest provide robust options through webinars and on-demand content. Interactive Investor shines with its comprehensive coverage of various investment topics, including share trading, funds, and retirement planning. Similarly, Bestinvest matches this with a wide array of educational materials covering the same essential investing topics. Notably, both platforms receive top marks, each earning 5-star ratings from UK.StockBrokers.com for their beginner education offerings. However, Interactive Investor holds a distinct advantage, securing the #1 rank among 18 brokers for beginner education, highlighting its prominence in the educational realm for novice investors. In contrast, while Bestinvest is highly rated, it does not hold a specific ranking position. For beginners striving to empower themselves with knowledge, both platforms offer valuable, user-friendly resources to help navigate the investing landscape.
| 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 it comes to market research features, both Interactive Investor and Bestinvest offer comprehensive options for funds, shares, and ETFs research. Each provides insightful research reports for funds, ensuring investors are well-equipped to make informed decisions. Furthermore, both allow users to analyze portfolio allocation by asset class, adding a layer of transparency beneficial for portfolio management. However, a notable difference lies in bond research availability: Interactive Investor supports this feature, while Bestinvest does not. Neither platform offers CFDs research, so if that's a priority, you might need to look elsewhere. Overall, both platforms offer robust research tools, with Interactive Investor providing a slight edge in bond research capabilities.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| 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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|---|---|---|
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Neither Interactive Investor nor Bestinvest offer crypto trading, making both online brokers similar in their investment options when it comes to cryptocurrency.
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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 | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | 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 | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Interactive Investor | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| 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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