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.
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.
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 - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £144.75 per year.
12 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £119.40 - £179.40 per year.
36 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £238.20 - £357.60 per year.
120 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Bestinvest would cost £654 - £714 per year.
3 fund trades per year - XTB would cost £0 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 comparing investment options between XTB and Bestinvest, both brokers allow for share trading and ETF trading, making them viable choices for those interested in these investment types. However, the two platforms diverge in other areas. XTB stands out by providing CFD trading, yet it doesn't offer funds trading or investment trusts, which Bestinvest does. Despite these differences, neither broker provides opportunities to trade cryptocurrency, engage in spread betting, or trade various types of bonds.
The brokerage services also differ in terms of advisory support; Bestinvest offers advisor services, whereas XTB does not. Interestingly, both XTB and Bestinvest receive a commendable 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices. Yet, XTB is ranked 14th out of 18 brokers, and Bestinvest’s ranking remains unspecified. This makes understanding the nuances of each platform essential for aligning with your personal investment strategy and advisory needs.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When it comes to charting features and trading tools, XTB and Bestinvest offer unique benefits, catering to different user needs. XTB stands out with the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on its charts, a feature that Bestinvest lacks. For traders who rely heavily on technical analysis, XTB provides an impressive array of 39 technical indicators and 20 drawing tools, while Bestinvest offers 36 indicators and just 9 drawing tools. Additionally, both platforms allow users to add personal notes to their charts, enabling a more customized trading experience.
For those interested in overlays, Bestinvest provides the option to add stock overlays to charts, unlike XTB, which does not offer this feature. However, XTB compensates by offering real-time market data, a capability Bestinvest doesn't provide. Both platforms are equipped with browser-based trading platforms and support creating alerts for stock price updates, keeping traders informed of market movements. Each platform has its unique strengths, making it essential to choose based on the trader's specific priorities and requirements.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 36 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 9 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online brokers XTB and Bestinvest for retirement accounts, it's essential to note that both offer ISA accounts, providing tax-efficient investment opportunities for UK residents. However, a key difference arises with SIPP accounts: while Bestinvest offers these self-invested personal pensions, giving you more control over your retirement savings, XTB does not provide SIPP accounts. This distinction may influence your choice depending on how you wish to manage your retirement investments.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile apps of online brokers XTB and Bestinvest, both provide convenient options for iPhone and Android users, catering to the needs of on-the-go investors. XTB's mobile app enjoys a higher acclaim, receiving a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and securing the 10th position out of 18 brokers for mobile app performance. In contrast, Bestinvest's app has been given a more modest 3.5-star rating, enhancing its offerings to users without a specific ranking among its peers. Overall, XTB appears to offer a more robust mobile trading experience based on user feedback and industry rankings.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors at XTB and Bestinvest, there's a notable distinction. Bestinvest offers an impressive range of educational webinars that clients can view live or archive for on-demand access. XTB, in contrast, does not provide such webinar options. Both platforms offer education on share trading, but Bestinvest extends its educational reach further by covering topics like funds and retirement, areas where XTB falls short. In terms of recognition, XTB boasts a commendable 4.5-star rating for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 8th out of 18 brokers. Bestinvest, however, outshines with a perfect 5-star rating, showcasing its superior commitment to educating novice investors.
| 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.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers XTB and Bestinvest, there are notable differences and similarities to consider. XTB does not provide research reports for funds, whereas Bestinvest does. Both platforms allow users to see portfolio allocation by asset class, ensuring transparency over investments. In terms of shares and ETFs research, both XTB and Bestinvest offer strong capabilities. However, a key difference is in funds research, where Bestinvest has the edge by including this feature, while XTB does not. On the other hand, XTB offers research on CFDs, which Bestinvest does not provide. Neither platform offers research on bonds, making this a neutral factor for investors interested in this asset type.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | 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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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 | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| 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) | £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) | N/A | £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 | N/A | £4.95 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £30 |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | 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 | XTB | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 36 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 9 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | XTB | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | 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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