Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo vs Bestinvest, 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, Bestinvest offers better pricing than Saxo 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 Saxo vs Bestinvest for UK investors: both platforms offer share dealing, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts. Saxo adds more markets, including crypto, CFDs, corporate bonds, and government bonds (gilts). Bestinvest does not offer crypto, CFDs, corporate bonds, or gilts but does provide adviser services. Details on spread betting were not provided for either broker.
On investment choice, UK.StockBrokers.com rates Saxo 5 stars (ranked 1st of 21) and Bestinvest 4.5 stars (ranked 10th of 21). Pick Saxo if you want a wider range of markets and instruments; choose Bestinvest if you prefer a simpler selection with access to advice.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For charting tools, Saxo offers 20 drawing tools and 64 technical indicators, while Bestinvest provides 9 drawing tools and 36 indicators. Neither platform displays corporate events like earnings, splits or dividends on charts, and neither supports index overlays. Both allow stock overlays for side-by-side comparisons, but only Bestinvest lets you add notes to charts; Saxo does not.
Both Saxo and Bestinvest have browser-based trading platforms and let you set price alerts. However, neither provides real-time market data. If you’re a UK investor who wants more built-in chart studies, Saxo has the edge; if adding annotations matters more, Bestinvest is the better fit.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 36 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 9 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When choosing between online brokers Saxo and Bestinvest for your retirement accounts in the UK, you'll find both offer a comprehensive suite of options. Saxo provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP), catering to those seeking flexible retirement planning and tax-efficient savings. Similarly, Bestinvest also offers both ISA and SIPP accounts, designed to help you optimize your savings and investment strategy. Whether you're focused on growing your retirement fund or managing your current investments, both platforms provide essential tools to support your financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both Saxo and Bestinvest provide mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, offering convenience for trading on the go. However, if you're deciding between the two, Saxo's mobile app stands out with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, making it the top-ranked choice among 21 evaluated brokers. In contrast, Bestinvest's app received a 3.5-star rating and ranks at #16. For UK investors prioritizing an exceptional mobile experience, Saxo clearly leads the pack.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors comparing education, both Saxo and Bestinvest offer client webinars with an archived, on‑demand library, plus straightforward guides on share trading, funds and retirement. UK.StockBrokers.com rates both 5 stars for beginner education, but Saxo ranks higher overall in this category (3rd out of 21 brokers) than Bestinvest (6th out of 21). If you want top-rated learning resources with convenient webinars, either works; if ranking matters, Saxo edges ahead.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
Both Saxo and Bestinvest provide a range of market research features, catering to investors seeking comprehensive insights. Investors with Saxo and Bestinvest can access research reports for funds and view detailed portfolio allocations by asset class, offering a clear understanding of their investments. Share, ETF, and fund research are readily available through both online brokers, empowering users to make well-informed decisions. However, Saxo distinguishes itself by providing research on bonds, a feature that is absent from Bestinvest, potentially appealing to those interested in comprehensive fixed-income market analysis.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Saxo or Bestinvest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Saxo to be a better trading platform overall.
Saxo’ trading platform is highly sophisticated and offers a huge range of international shares and funds. The biggest downside is the cost, as its charges are higher than its U.K. competitors. It's best suited for experienced investors rather than beginners.
| Feature |
Saxo
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Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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In the Saxo vs Bestinvest comparison, the online broker Saxo offers crypto trading, whereas Bestinvest does not.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Saxo | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | Saxo Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Saxo | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Saxo | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £50 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | $1 / £3 / €3 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | $1 / £3 / €3 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | $1 / £3 / €3 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| 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 | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | Up to £500 or £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | £500 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | £100 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | €20 minimum | £4.95 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | €20 minimum | £4.95 | |
| ETFs - Fee | From $1 | £4.95 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0.03/0.06/0.08% | £4.95 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £30 |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Saxo | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 36 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 9 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Saxo | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Saxo | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | Saxo Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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