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.
Bestinvest and Robinhood UK both offer share trading options, catering to those interested in investing in individual stocks. However, while both platforms refrain from providing cryptocurrency and spread betting options, there are notable differences in their offerings. Bestinvest stands out by offering ETF and fund trading as well as access to investment trusts, catering to a broader range of investment strategies. On the other hand, Robinhood UK does not offer ETFs, funds, or investment trusts, potentially limiting its appeal to investors seeking diverse options.
Regarding overall investment choices, Bestinvest receives a higher rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the 10th spot among 21 brokers, indicating strong approval of their diverse options. Robinhood UK, with a rating of 3 stars and a ranking of 20th, suggests a more modest offering in comparison. Unlike Robinhood UK, Bestinvest also provides advisor services, adding an extra layer of support for investors seeking guidance.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For UK investors exploring their trading tool options, Bestinvest and Robinhood UK present distinct offerings. While neither platform features chart displays for corporate events like earnings or dividends, they differ significantly in charting tools. Bestinvest outshines with nine drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, alongside allowing users to add notes and stock overlays to charts. In contrast, Robinhood UK provides no drawing tools and only three technical indicators, lacking support for notes or overlays.
Both platforms facilitate browser-based trading and stock price alerts, but when it comes to real-time market data, Robinhood UK takes the lead by offering this feature, a service not available through Bestinvest. Each platform caters to different trader needs, with Bestinvest focusing on charting capabilities and Robinhood UK offering enhanced real-time data features.
| 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 | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing Bestinvest to Robinhood UK for retirement accounts, UK investors will find distinct differences in the available options. Bestinvest offers Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making it a versatile choice for those looking to invest for retirement with tax-efficient savings in mind. In contrast, Robinhood UK does not provide ISAs or SIPPs, limiting their offering for investors seeking these specific retirement account types. Therefore, for UK users focused on maximizing their retirement savings through ISAs or SIPPs, Bestinvest presents a more comprehensive option compared to Robinhood UK.
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 beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources, Bestinvest and Robinhood UK offer differing levels of support. Bestinvest stands out by providing educational webinars that can be attended live or viewed on demand, covering topics like share trading, funds, and retirement planning. On the other hand, Robinhood UK does not provide webinars or education on funds and retirement but does offer resources for share trading. Bestinvest's offerings have earned it a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, ranking it 6th out of 21 brokers, while Robinhood UK holds a 3.5-star rating, placing it 20th.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Bestinvest and Robinhood UK for market research features, Bestinvest stands out for its wider range of offerings. It provides research reports for funds, shares, and ETFs, along with the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class. In contrast, Robinhood UK offers research for shares and ETFs but lacks fund research and portfolio allocation insights. Neither platform offers research for CFDs or bonds, making Bestinvest the more comprehensive choice for those interested in diversified investment insights.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
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
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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Both Bestinvest and Robinhood UK currently do not offer crypto trading options, making them similar in this respect for investors seeking online brokerage platforms focused solely on non-crypto investment opportunities.
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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 | No | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| 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 | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Bestinvest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Bestinvest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Bestinvest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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