Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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, XTB offers better pricing than Bestinvest 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.
For UK investors weighing their options between XTB and Bestinvest, understanding their investment offerings is a helpful start. Both XTB and Bestinvest allow users to trade shares and ETFs, catering to those interested in these popular investment types. While both brokers refrain from offering cryptocurrency trading and spread betting, XTB stands out by featuring CFD trading, a service not available with Bestinvest. On the other hand, Bestinvest appeals to investors seeking funds and investment trusts, which aren't part of XTB's roster.
When it comes to advisor services, Bestinvest provides guidance that XTB does not offer, potentially giving it an edge for those who prefer professional assistance. Despite these differences, both platforms boast an impressive rating of 4.5 stars out of five for their investment choices, as rated by UK.StockBrokers.com. However, in terms of ranking, Bestinvest is positioned slightly higher at #10 compared to XTB's #13 among 21 brokers. This gives Bestinvest a slight lead in the context of available investment choices, but both platforms present solid options depending on your specific investment needs.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | 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.
XTB and Bestinvest both offer browser-based platforms with notes and stock overlays on charts, but their toolsets differ. XTB lets you show corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends on charts and includes index overlays, which Bestinvest lacks. Bestinvest counters with more charting depth: 9 drawing tools versus XTB’s 4, and 36 technical indicators versus XTB’s 13.
For alerts and data, the trade-offs continue. Bestinvest supports alerts for stock price updates, while XTB does not. However, XTB provides real-time market data, whereas Bestinvest does not. If you value corporate events on charts, index overlays, and live data, XTB stands out; if you want more indicators, extra drawing tools, and price alerts, Bestinvest may suit you better.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 13 | 36 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 4 | 9 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers XTB and Bestinvest for UK investors, it's essential to examine their retirement account options. Both brokers offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), providing a tax-efficient way to invest. However, when it comes to Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), a popular choice for retirement savings, the options differ. Bestinvest supports SIPP accounts, making it a versatile choice for those looking to manage their retirement savings, while XTB does not currently offer SIPPs. This difference is crucial for investors focused on building a retirement portfolio through a SIPP.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking insights into mobile trading platforms, both XTB and Bestinvest offer applications compatible with iPhone and Android devices. XTB's mobile app has earned a commendable 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, positioning it as the 6th best among 21 brokers in the category. In contrast, Bestinvest's app is rated at 3.5 stars, placing it 16th on the same list. When comparing mobile trading experiences, XTB's app appears to deliver a more highly regarded performance, suggesting a potentially smoother and more efficient user experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources between XTB and Bestinvest, UK readers will find that Bestinvest has a more comprehensive offering. Bestinvest holds educational webinars and archives them for on-demand viewing, while XTB does not provide these resources. Both brokers offer training on share trading, but only Bestinvest extends its educational content to encompass topics such as funds and retirement planning. In terms of ratings and rankings, UK.StockBrokers.com rates Bestinvest with a perfect 5 stars and places it at 6th out of 21 brokers for beginner education, whereas XTB receives a commendable 4.5 stars but ranks lower at 9th place. Beginner investors looking for an all-encompassing educational experience may therefore lean towards Bestinvest.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
For UK investors comparing market research, XTB and Bestinvest both offer shares and ETF research, and neither provides bond research. Bestinvest, however, goes further with funds research and research reports for funds, plus a clear view of portfolio allocation by asset class—features XTB does not offer. If you want insights on funds and to see how your investments are split across assets, Bestinvest is the more suitable choice, while XTB fits those focused mainly on shares and ETFs.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, XTB or Bestinvest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found XTB to be a better trading platform overall.
XTB has set itself up as a strong competitor in commission-free share trading. Its low fees and solid educational content will make XTB particularly attractive to newer investors. It does not, however, offer an ISA or SIPP.
| Feature |
XTB
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Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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Both XTB and Bestinvest do not offer cryptocurrency trading options, making them similar in terms of crypto investment opportunities for traders looking to trade digital assets.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | XTB Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | XTB | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | XTB | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £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) | |||
| 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 | N/A | Up to £500 or £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | N/A | £500 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | N/A | £100 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | N/A | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £4.95 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £30 |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Bestinvest | |
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| 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 | XTB | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 13 | 36 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 4 | 9 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | XTB | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | XTB | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | XTB | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | XTB Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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