Updated October 13, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Bestinvest vs Trading 212
Bestinvest
Trading 212
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | BestinvestReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Trading 212ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £4.95 | £0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs |
| Platforms | Mobile app | Trading 212 App, Web Platform |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | ISA, SIPP, Joint |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Financial Conduct Authority, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.95% | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Founded is lower at Bestinvest: 1986 vs 2006.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Trading 212: £0 vs £4.95.
- Markets: only Bestinvest offers Funds.
- Markets: only Trading 212 offers Forex, CFDs.
- Platforms: only Bestinvest offers Mobile app.
- Platforms: only Trading 212 offers Trading 212 App, Web Platform.
- Account types: only Bestinvest offers Jisa.
- Account types: only Trading 212 offers Joint.
- Support channels: only Bestinvest offers Phone.
- Features: only Trading 212 offers Fractional shares, Demo account.
Our verdict on each
Bestinvest
Bestinvest blends self directed investing with managed portfolios, while many platforms push one route alone. It gives households a guided path with coaching, planning tools and market insight across ISAs, pensions and junior accounts on an online platform with mobile access.
Trading 212
Trading 212 suits UK beginners who want to start small and pay nothing to hold or trade. Stock trades cost £0, the account fee is £0, deposits start at £1, and help runs through help centre only, with no phone or chat route for anyone who needs a person.
Score breakdown
| Area | Bestinvest | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.3 | 9.3HigherStock trade fee of £0 and account fee of £0, with no inactivity charge of £0 and a minimum deposit of £1. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 8.9 |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 9.4 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Bestinvest | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 21380045KC28948FNE32 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
What each covers
| Markets | Bestinvest | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Bestinvest | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
Where these facts come from
Bestinvest
- bestinvest.co.uk: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Trading 212
- en.wikipedia.org: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- helpcentre.trading212.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Bestinvest | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 377 of 654 | 110 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 260 of 358 | 75 of 358 |
| Stocks and shares ISAs | 19 of 25 | 4 of 25 |
| Pensions and SIPPs | 15 of 23 | 2 of 23 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Bestinvest | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Limited | Trading 212 Markets Ltd |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Cyprus |
| Founded | 1986Lower | 2006 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Bestinvest | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% to 0.4% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | £50 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash | Not confirmed |
Savings
| Fact | Bestinvest | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Rate type | Not confirmed | Variable |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Access terms | Not confirmed | Flexible Cash ISA with instant access; withdraw and add money at any time, interest paid monthly |
| Account kind | Not confirmed | ISA |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Bestinvest | Trading 212 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £1below the median | £15 |
| Stock trade fee | £4.95highest quarter | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0at the median | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.95%above the median | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
Median across 77 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Bestinvest
Pros
- Online platform plus mobile app with thousands of shares and funds
- Ready made Portfolios built and managed by parent company teams
- Expert coaching plus planning tools and sector insights
Cons
- Online opening and management offers no branch based service
- Self directed selection requires confidence across thousands of assets
- Ready made routes follow parent company investment decisions
Trading 212
Pros
- Stock trades cost £0 and the account fee is £0, so holding a portfolio costs nothing
- The inactivity fee is £0, so a dormant account is not quietly charged
- The minimum deposit is £1, far below the €10 bunq asks
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, so there is no live phone or chat route
- Trading 212 Markets Ltd is authorised by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission on MiCA CASP 21380045KC28948FNE32, so the Financial Conduct Authority is not the only supervisor involved
- Markets cover stocks, etfs and forex, which leaves funds, bonds and options outside the range offered here
Who each suits
Bestinvest
Who it suits
- New investors wanting coaching alongside self directed choice
- Parents planning junior investments and pensions for children
- Households seeking ISAs, pensions and general accounts together
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders wanting branch meetings and in person dealing
- Investors seeking fully independent portfolio control
Trading 212
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a first UK investing account
- Savers who want tax-free cash in a flexible Cash ISA
- Small regular investors using fractional shares in small amounts
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants a phone line, since support runs on help centre only
- Readers wanting a lower entry amount than £1, since CFI asks $0
Country by country
| Country | Bestinvest | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Bestinvest
What can investors choose on the platform?+
The platform covers shares, funds, exchange traded funds and investment trusts. Clients can build portfolios themselves or follow expert ideas and monthly lists showing popular assets among investors.
What are Ready-made Portfolios?+
Ready made Portfolios are managed investment selections designed for simpler decision making. They are built and managed by teams at Evelyn Partners, which is identified as the parent company.
Trading 212
How much does it cost to open and hold an account?+
The account fee is £0 and the stock trade fee is £0, so there is no charge to hold or to trade. It ranks 1 of 142 on account fee in our data. The only other cost line recorded is the inactivity fee at £0.
What is the smallest amount I can start with?+
The minimum deposit is £1, which puts the entry point low. That ranks 83 of 218 on our minimum deposit data. For comparison, bunq asks a minimum deposit of €10, so Trading 212 asks less of a first deposit than bunq does.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Bestinvest
Trading 212