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.
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, Lloyds Bank 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 Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank for UK investing: both support share dealing (share trading), ETFs, funds and investment trusts, and both offer access to adviser services. Neither platform provides cryptocurrency or CFD trading.
The key difference is bonds. Lloyds Bank offers trading in corporate bonds and UK government bonds (gilts), while Bestinvest does not offer bond trading. For investment choice, UK.StockBrokers.com rates both at 4.5 out of 5 stars, ranking Lloyds Bank 8th of 21 brokers and Bestinvest 10th of 21. Choose Lloyds if you want bonds; otherwise, either works well for everyday share dealing and fund investing.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Comparing Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank for trading tools, neither platform shows corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) on charts, and neither supports index overlays. Bestinvest includes stock overlays, while Lloyds Bank does not. Both let you add notes to charts. For charting depth, Bestinvest offers 9 drawing tools (Lloyds Bank’s number isn’t stated) and 36 technical indicators; Lloyds Bank lists 93 technical indicators.
Both providers offer a browser-based trading platform and price alerts, but neither supplies real-time market data. If you want more built-in indicators, Lloyds Bank has the edge; if you value adding other shares as overlays on a chart, Bestinvest is the better fit for UK investors.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 93 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing retirement account options between Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank for UK investors, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). Whether you choose Bestinvest or Lloyds Bank, you can access tax-efficient saving and investing opportunities through their ISA and SIPP offerings. Consider your specific investment needs and platform features to determine which provider suits you best, as both have similar account options for managing your retirement savings.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking mobile-friendly financial services, both Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank offer dedicated apps for iPhone and Android users. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both apps receive a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, indicating a comparable level of user satisfaction and functionality. In terms of overall rankings among 21 brokers, Bestinvest slightly edges out Lloyds Bank for mobile app quality, securing the 16th spot, just above Lloyds Bank at 17th. Whether managing investments or banking needs, both platforms provide accessible and efficient mobile solutions for UK users.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners seeking investment education, Bestinvest outshines Lloyds Bank in several key areas. Bestinvest offers live educational webinars, which are also available for on-demand viewing, covering essential topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement planning. In contrast, Lloyds Bank does not provide these resources, leaving some gaps for new investors looking to learn at their own pace. Bestinvest's comprehensive approach is reflected in its perfect 5-star rating and high ranking of 6th out of 21 brokers for beginner education by UK.StockBrokers.com, while Lloyds Bank is rated 4 stars and ranks 14th. Bestinvest clearly provides more thorough and accessible educational support for UK investors at the start of their financial journey.
| 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 |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online broker Bestinvest to Lloyds Bank, there are several key differences and similarities. Both platforms offer comprehensive research reports for funds, enabling investors to make informed decisions. They also provide research across shares and ETFs, catering to a wide range of investment preferences. However, when it comes to viewing portfolio allocation by asset class, Bestinvest provides this feature, whereas Lloyds Bank does not. Additionally, those interested in bonds research will find Lloyds Bank more accommodating, as Bestinvest does not offer this feature. Overall, while both platforms have extensive offerings, the subtle distinctions in their market research features might influence an investor's choice depending on their specific needs.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| 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
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Lloyds Bank
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|---|---|---|
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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 | |
| Mutual 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 | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Bestinvest | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £50 | £1 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £9.50 | |
| 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) | |||
| 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 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £100 - £1,000 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £0 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £4.95 | £9.50 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £4.95 | £9.50 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £4.95 | £9.50 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £4.95 | N/A | |
| 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 | 93 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | ||
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | |||
| 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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