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.
If you're considering online brokers for your investment needs in the UK, XTB and Bestinvest both bring solid options to the table, each with its own strengths. XTB offers share trading, ETF trading, and the possibility to engage in CFD trading. However, it lacks some options like crypto trading, funds, and advisory services, which might be vital for those seeking a more diverse investment portfolio. Meanwhile, Bestinvest also provides share trading along with investment in ETFs and funds, and it uniquely offers investment trusts and advisor services, but it doesn't include CFD trading as part of its suite.
When it comes to ratings, both brokers receive 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices. Bestinvest is ranked slightly higher at 10th place, compared to XTB’s 13th out of 18 brokers, indicating a slightly broader appeal in terms of available investment options. While XTB excels in specialized trading like CFDs, Bestinvest shines in offering a more comprehensive advisory service and a variety of funds and investment trusts, which might appeal to investors looking for guidance and wider investment choices.
| 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 |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When it comes to trading tools, XTB stands out with its ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts—a feature not available with Bestinvest. For those who enjoy charting, XTB offers 20 drawing tools compared to Bestinvest's 9, and provides 39 technical indicators opposed to Bestinvest's 36. Both platforms allow users to add notes to charts, enhancing your ability to track your trading strategies and insights over time. However, neither platform supports adding index overlays, though Bestinvest does have the option for stock overlays.
Both XTB and Bestinvest offer browser-based trading platforms and support the creation of alerts to keep you updated on stock price changes, ensuring you never miss crucial market movements. Yet, when it comes to accessing real-time market data, XTB has the edge over Bestinvest, catering to those who prioritize up-to-the-minute information for making informed decisions. Overall, while both brokers offer a solid range of tools for traders, XTB may appeal more to those looking for advanced charting capabilities and real-time data.
| 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 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.
When comparing the mobile apps offered by online brokers XTB and Bestinvest, both cater to iPhone and Android users in the UK. However, user satisfaction differs significantly according to UK.StockBrokers.com. XTB shines with a mobile app rating of 4.5 stars, ranking it 6th among 18 brokers. In contrast, Bestinvest's mobile app earns a modest rating of 3.5 stars, placing it at 16th. These rankings suggest that XTB provides a more highly regarded mobile trading experience for its users compared to Bestinvest.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educating beginner investors, Bestinvest stands out for UK readers. Offering educational client webinars that are available both live and on-demand, Bestinvest provides comprehensive resources covering share trading, funds, and retirement planning. In contrast, XTB offers education specifically on share trading but lacks in topics like funds and retirement. It also does not provide webinars or recorded sessions. While XTB receives a solid 4.5-star rating and ranks 9th for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com, Bestinvest boasts a 5-star rating and a higher 6th place rank, making it a more complete choice for beginner investors seeking to enhance their knowledge.
| 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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of XTB and Bestinvest, there are several key differences and similarities to consider. Both XTB and Bestinvest provide insights into portfolio allocation by asset class and offer research on shares and ETFs, catering to investors looking to diversify their portfolios. However, while XTB excels in offering research for CFDs, Bestinvest stands out by providing in-depth reports for funds—a service not available through XTB. On the other hand, neither platform offers research on bonds, which may be a drawback for investors interested in fixed income securities. Ultimately, the choice between XTB and Bestinvest may depend on specific research needs, particularly whether one prioritizes funds or CFDs.
| 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
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| 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) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | XTB Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
Trading 212 Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
XTB Review
IG Group Review
eToro Review
Saxo Review
CMC Invest Review
Freetrade Review
Halifax Review
Vanguard Review