Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Bestinvest vs Lloyds Bank, 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, Lloyds Bank 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 - Bestinvest would cost £144.75 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £95 per year.
12 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £119.40 - £179.40 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £40 - £172 per year.
36 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £238.20 - £357.60 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £40 - £328 per year.
120 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £654 - £714 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £40 / £1,000 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £50 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £0 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 comparing investment options between Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank, both platforms offer a variety of trading services that cater to different investor needs. Both companies provide share trading, ETF trading, funds trading, and investment trusts. Neither Bestinvest nor Lloyds Bank supports trading in cryptocurrencies, spread betting, or CFDs, which may limit choices for some investors. However, Lloyds Bank has the upper hand when it comes to trading corporate and government bonds. Both brokers also offer advisor services, ensuring that investors have access to professional guidance.
In terms of ratings, UK.StockBrokers.com gives Bestinvest a commendable score of 4.5 stars for its investment choices. However, Lloyds Bank receives a perfect 5-star rating, signaling more comprehensive options overall. Although Bestinvest's ranking compared to other brokers isn't specified, Lloyds Bank holds a respectable 8th position out of 18 brokers. For those prioritizing diverse investment opportunities, Lloyds Bank might be the preferred choice, while Bestinvest still holds strong for those not seeking bond trading.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | 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 Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank, Bestinvest emerges as a more feature-rich platform for charting enthusiasts. Bestinvest provides 9 drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, offering a robust suite for analyzing market trends. In contrast, Lloyds Bank does not offer any drawing tools or technical indicators, making it a less versatile option for chart-based analysis. Additionally, Bestinvest allows users to add notes and stock overlays to charts, enhancing the ability to annotate and compare different stocks, a feature not available with Lloyds Bank.
Both Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank offer browser-based trading platforms and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates. However, neither platform supports real-time market data or the display of corporate events like earnings or dividends on charts. They also lack index overlay functionality. Overall, for traders prioritizing advanced charting and customization, Bestinvest offers a significantly more comprehensive toolset compared to Lloyds Bank.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing the online broker Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank for retirement account options, both institutions offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). Whether you're planning for retirement or managing your savings, both Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank provide versatile options to suit individual financial goals. While Bestinvest specializes in a more tailored online brokerage experience, Lloyds Bank integrates a range of traditional banking services alongside its investment accounts, making either a viable choice depending on your preference for managing your investment and retirement strategies.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When it comes to mobile app offerings, both Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank provide applications for iPhone and Android users, making it convenient for on-the-go investors. Both apps have received a 3.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, reflecting a moderate level of satisfaction among users. However, while Bestinvest's app does not have a specific ranking out of the 18 brokers assessed, Lloyds Bank's app is positioned at #15. This may provide potential users with a helpful benchmark when considering their mobile trading and banking needs.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, Bestinvest clearly takes the lead over Lloyds Bank. Bestinvest offers a wealth of resources including live and archived webinars, which can be accessed at any time for convenience. In contrast, Lloyds Bank does not provide educational webinars, neither live nor on demand. Bestinvest covers a range of essential investing topics like share trading, funds, and retirement planning, making it a versatile choice for those just starting out. Unfortunately for beginners, Lloyds Bank lacks these educational offerings in their portfolio. With a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, Bestinvest is not only well-reviewed but also lacks a ranking due to its superior educational offerings in this category. On the other hand, Lloyds Bank scores a respectable 4 stars but ranks at #15 out of 18 brokers, highlighting room for improvement in their beginner investor education.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online broker Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank, both platforms provide research reports for funds, making them valuable for understanding investment opportunities in this area. Bestinvest goes a step further by offering the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature absent in Lloyds Bank, giving Bestinvest users a clearer overview of their investments. While both offer research on shares, ETFs, and funds, Bestinvest does not provide research on CFDs or bonds. In contrast, Lloyds Bank offers bond research, catering to investors interested in this type of security, although it lacks CFD research just like Bestinvest. Overall, Bestinvest shines with its portfolio allocation insight, whereas Lloyds Bank provides more diverse research options with its bond analysis.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, Bestinvest or Lloyds Bank? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Bestinvest to be a better trading platform overall.
Bestinvest is a very good broker that should appeal to a wide range of investors. Fees are competitive, particularly if you invest in funds or US shares, and the investment options are extensive. The Bestinvest platform is relatively easy to use and the offer of a free 45 minute session with a financial coach can be a useful starting point for newer investors. Bestinvest is also a great option for a Junior SIPP, as it is one of very few UK brokers offering children’s pensions and with a low entry point.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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When comparing online broker Bestinvest to Lloyds Bank, both platforms do not offer crypto trading options, providing a traditional investment approach without cryptocurrency access.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Bestinvest | Lloyds Bank | |
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Lloyds Bank Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Bestinvest | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Bestinvest | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £50 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £8, £10, £11 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £8 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £8 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £144.75 | £95 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £119.40 - £179.40 | £40 - £172 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £238.20 - £357.60 | £40 - £328 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £654 - £714 | £40 / £1,000 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £60 or £120 | £44.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | £40 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £40 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £100 - £1,000 | £40 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £40 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £4.95 | £8 - £11 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £4.95 | £8 - £11 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £4.95 | ||
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £4.95 | ||
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £30 | £35 |
| Broker Screenshots | Bestinvest | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Platforms & Tools | Bestinvest | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Bestinvest | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Bestinvest | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Bestinvest | Lloyds Bank | |
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Lloyds Bank Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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