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 the investment choices of Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank, both platforms support share trading, ETF trading, fund trading, and investment trusts, making them suitable for a variety of investors. However, neither provides options for crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading. A key difference lies in the bond market offerings: while Lloyds Bank enables trading of corporate bonds and government bonds (gilts), Bestinvest does not offer these options. For those seeking guidance, both platforms provide advisor services to help investors make informed decisions.
In terms of ratings, Lloyds Bank earns a slight edge with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, compared to Bestinvest's 4.5 stars. When ranked among 21 brokers, Lloyds Bank takes the #8 spot, surpassing Bestinvest, which sits at #10. This makes Lloyds Bank an attractive option for those seeking a broader range of investment choices, particularly in the bond sector.
| 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When it comes to charting tools, Bestinvest offers a more feature-rich experience compared to Lloyds Bank. Bestinvest provides nine drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, allowing users to personalize and enhance their analysis. Additionally, users can add notes and stock overlays directly to charts, features that are missing from Lloyds Bank's platform. Both platforms lack the ability to display corporate events like earnings or dividends on charts, and neither offers index overlays or real-time market data.
Both Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank feature browser-based trading platforms, making them accessible from any internet-enabled device. They also allow users to set up alerts for stock price updates, keeping investors informed of market movements. However, those seeking a more comprehensive suite of charting tools may find Bestinvest to be the more attractive option, given its broader range of features for in-depth analysis.
| 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 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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Bestinvest and Lloyds Bank, both platforms provide research reports for funds and offer insights on shares and ETFs. However, Bestinvest stands out by allowing users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not available with Lloyds Bank. Additionally, while neither offers research on CFDs, Lloyds Bank uniquely provides research on bonds, which Bestinvest does not. This distinction can make a difference depending on your investment strategy, with each platform offering strengths in different areas of market research.
| 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
|
|---|---|---|
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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 - £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 | £8 - £11 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £4.95 | £8 - £11 | |
| 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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