Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs Bestinvest, 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, Trading 212 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 - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £144.75 per year.
12 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £119.40 - £179.40 per year.
36 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £238.20 - £357.60 per year.
120 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £654 - £714 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £1 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £50 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 it comes to trading in the UK, both Trading 212 and Bestinvest provide a range of investment choices, each with its own strengths. Both platforms offer share and ETF trading, with Trading 212 also enabling users to trade Contracts for Difference (CFDs) and investment trusts. Bestinvest excels in offering funds trading, including a selection of investment trusts, and uniquely provides advisory services for investors seeking personalized guidance. While neither platform offers options like crypto trading, spread betting, or bond trading, these services cater to a broad spectrum of investment interests.
For investors prioritizing platform ratings, Trading 212 and Bestinvest both earn a commendable 4.5 stars for their investment choices according to UK.StockBrokers.com. Despite this equal rating, Bestinvest holds a slight edge in the rankings, positioned at #10 against Trading 212's #16 out of 21 brokers reviewed. This suggests that while investor satisfaction in investment choices is similarly high for both platforms, Bestinvest's overall range and advisory options might offer a more appealing package for those prioritizing varied investment opportunities and professional guidance.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | 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.
Trading 212 and Bestinvest offer UK traders distinct features tailored to different levels of investment needs. Both platforms allow users to add notes to charts and create alerts for stock price updates, enhancing investment tracking. While both offer browser-based trading, Trading 212 stands out with the ability to display significantly more technical indicators, offering 106 compared to Bestinvest's 36. This difference gives Trading 212 users access to more advanced analytical tools. However, Bestinvest offers the unique ability to overlay stock data on charts, a feature not specified for Trading 212.
When it comes to drawing tools, Trading 212 offers 27 options, providing more flexibility for chart analysis compared to Bestinvest's 9. Both platforms allow traders to create alerts for stock price updates, a handy feature for active traders. Notably, Trading 212 provides real-time market data, which can be crucial for making timely investment decisions, while this feature is unspecified for Bestinvest. Ultimately, the choice between the two may boil down to whether a user values advanced charting features and real-time data or the ability to incorporate stock overlays in their analysis.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 36 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 9 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays |
When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Bestinvest for retirement accounts, UK investors have some important differences to consider. Trading 212 provides an ISA account, allowing users to save without paying taxes on profits. Bestinvest also offers an ISA, ensuring flexibility in tax-free savings across both platforms. However, when it comes to Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), Bestinvest takes the lead by offering this option, enabling investors to manage their pension funds more directly. Trading 212, on the other hand, does not currently provide SIPP accounts, which might influence your choice if a self-managed pension scheme is crucial to your retirement planning strategy.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Trading 212 and Bestinvest for UK users, both brokers provide iPhone and Android apps, making them accessible to a wide range of mobile users. However, in terms of app quality, Trading 212 is a standout performer. It boasts a stellar 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and is ranked third among 21 brokers for its mobile app experience. In contrast, Bestinvest's mobile app holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 16th, indicating a less impressive user experience compared to Trading 212. Therefore, for those prioritizing mobile app performance, Trading 212 emerges as the superior option.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK looking for educational resources, Trading 212 and Bestinvest offer varying levels of support. Bestinvest excels with its educational client webinars, which are archived for on-demand viewing, and includes content on share trading, funds, and retirement. In contrast, Trading 212 provides educational resources on share trading and funds but does not offer webinars or specific retirement education. These differences are reflected in their ratings by UK.StockBrokers.com, where Trading 212 receives 4 stars and a rank of 13 out of 21 brokers for beginner education, while Bestinvest garners 5 stars and a rank of 6. Both platforms, however, provide valuable information for those starting their investment journey.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers Trading 212 and Bestinvest, UK investors will find both platforms provide essential tools for informed decision-making. Bestinvest stands out by offering detailed research reports for funds, a feature that Trading 212 does not appear to provide. Both brokers excel in offering insight into portfolio allocation by asset class, allowing users to view how their investments are distributed. For shares and ETFs research, both Trading 212 and Bestinvest offer comprehensive support. Investors interested in CFDs will find Trading 212 to be a suitable choice, as Bestinvest does not appear to cover this area. However, those looking for bonds research may want to consider other options, as neither platform currently provides research specifically for bonds.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Trading 212 or Bestinvest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Trading 212 to be a better trading platform overall.
Trading 212 offers commission-free share dealing and is a great option for those looking to simply execute share or ETF trades. Novice investors or those looking for more diversification through mutual funds may find better options elsewhere.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| 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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While Trading 212 offers crypto trading options, Bestinvest does not provide the capability to trade cryptocurrencies.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | ||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Trading 212 | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £50 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £144.75 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £119.40 - £179.40 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £238.20 - £357.60 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £654 - £714 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £60 or £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £500 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £100 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| ETFs - Fee | 0 | £4.95 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0 | £4.95 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £30 |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | 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) |
| Platforms & Tools | Trading 212 | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 36 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 9 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | Trading 212 | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | Bestinvest | |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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