Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Bestinvest vs Robinhood UK, 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, Robinhood UK 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 Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £119.40 - £179.40 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £238.20 - £357.60 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £654 - £714 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £50 per year, while Robinhood UK 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.
For UK investors weighing their options between Bestinvest and Robinhood UK, the choice boils down to the diversity and type of investment options each platform provides. Bestinvest shines with a wide range of offerings, including share trading, ETFs, and funds trading, catering to different investment interests and providing advisor services for those seeking guidance. Impressively, Bestinvest is rated 4.5 stars out of 5 by UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices and is ranked 10th out of 21 brokers.
On the other hand, Robinhood UK, while also offering share trading, lacks other financial instruments such as ETFs, funds, and advisory services, which may limit diversification opportunities for investors. With a rating of 3 stars and a 20th position in the same ranking, Robinhood UK presents a simpler, more straightforward platform that might suit investors focusing primarily on straightforward share trading but wanting fewer bells and whistles.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | 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 Bestinvest and Robinhood UK, Bestinvest stands out for charting enthusiasts. It boasts features such as displaying corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, which is not offered by Robinhood UK. Bestinvest also provides traders with nine drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, surpassing Robinhood UK's absence of drawing tools and offering of only three technical indicators. Furthermore, Bestinvest allows users to add notes and stock overlays to charts, features not available with Robinhood UK. Both platforms support browser-based trading environments and enable users to set alerts for stock price updates.
While Bestinvest lacks real-time market data, a feature that Robinhood UK does offer, it compensates by equipping traders with more comprehensive charting options. The user experience for those who value detailed visual analysis may be superior with Bestinvest, given its advanced charting capabilities and customization options. These differences highlight each platform's unique advantages, catering to different types of investors in the UK market.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 3 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays |
When comparing the retirement account offerings of Bestinvest and Robinhood UK, it's essential to examine the availability of key financial products in the UK market. Bestinvest provides both Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), catering to those looking to save tax-efficiently and invest for retirement. In contrast, Robinhood UK has yet to expand its offerings to include either ISAs or SIPPs, which may be a deciding factor for UK investors seeking these specific types of accounts. Overall, Bestinvest appears to have a more comprehensive range of retirement investment options for British consumers.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking intuitive mobile trading platforms, both Bestinvest and Robinhood UK offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Bestinvest's mobile app secures a 3.5-star rating, placing it 16th out of 21 brokers for mobile app performance. In contrast, Robinhood UK's app earns a slightly higher 4-star rating, achieving a 13th-place ranking among the same set of brokers. Whether prioritizing overall user experience or app availability, UK traders can consider these insights when choosing between Bestinvest and Robinhood UK's mobile offerings.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors exploring educational resources in online brokerage platforms, Bestinvest and Robinhood UK offer differing experiences. Bestinvest provides a wide range of educational content, including webinars that are available on-demand, specifically covering share trading, funds, and retirement topics. Robinhood UK, while offering some share trading education, lacks webinars and detailed content on funds or retirement planning. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Bestinvest thrives with a 5-star rating and a commendable sixth place ranking among 21 brokers, surpassing Robinhood UK's 3.5 stars and 20th place ranking. These ratings suggest Bestinvest is more beneficial for beginners seeking comprehensive educational support.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Bestinvest with Robinhood UK for market research features, it's evident that both platforms have unique offerings. Bestinvest provides extensive research reports for funds, a feature not available on Robinhood UK. Both platforms allow users to conduct research on shares and ETFs, but if you require more detailed insights into funds, Bestinvest stands out with its dedicated reports. Additionally, Bestinvest allows users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, providing a comprehensive overview of investments, whereas Robinhood UK lacks this feature. Neither platform offers specific research on CFDs or bonds, so users seeking insights in those areas might need to explore other options.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Bestinvest or Robinhood UK? 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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Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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Bestinvest does not offer crypto trading, whereas Robinhood UK provides users with the ability to trade cryptocurrencies.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Bestinvest | Robinhood UK | |
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Bestinvest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | ||
| SIPP | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | ||
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Bestinvest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £50 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £144.75 | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £119.40 - £179.40 | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £238.20 - £357.60 | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £654 - £714 | £0 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £60 or £120 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £100 - £1,000 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £4.95 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £4.95 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £4.95 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £4.95 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £30 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Bestinvest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Platforms & Tools | Bestinvest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 3 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | Bestinvest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
| Education | Bestinvest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Bestinvest | Robinhood UK | |
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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