Bestinvest Review

UK long-term fund and SIPP investors

FCA

Founded 1986 · United Kingdom · Evelyn Partners

Why investors choose this broker

No fund dealing fees
No US share dealing fees
Free withdrawal and no exit fees
SIPP fee is competitive with no setup charge

Review summary

Bestinvest is a UK investment platform offering stocks, funds, ETFs and ready-made portfolios across ISA, SIPP and general investment accounts, backed by Evelyn Partners.

Pros

No fund dealing fees
No US share dealing fees
Free withdrawal and no exit fees
SIPP fee is competitive with no setup charge
Free unlimited investment coaching sessions
Over 3,700 funds, shares, ETFs and investment trusts available
Flexible ISA - withdraw and replace without losing allowance
FSCS protection up to £85,000

Cons

£4.95 per UK share and ETF trade
FX conversion fee of 0.95% on US shares and foreign currency transactions
SIPP minimum charge of £120 per year even on small balances
No fractional shares
No demo account
Limited to UK and US shares only - no European or Asian exchanges
Mobile app redirects to browser for some investment actions

Company background

Bestinvest was founded in 1986 and operates as a trading name of Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Limited, part of the Evelyn Partners group, which manages over £67 billion of assets as of September 2025. Bestinvest was acquired by Tilney in 2014 and retained as a separate execution-only brand through the 2020 merger that formed Tilney Smith & Williamson, rebranded Evelyn Partners in June 2022. In February 2026, NatWest Group announced an agreement to acquire Evelyn Partners for approximately £2.7 billion, subject to regulatory approval. The platform targets self-directed UK investors who want to manage ISAs, SIPPs and general investment accounts, with the option to invest in ready-made portfolios built by the Evelyn Partners team.

Fees and pricing

Bestinvest charges an annual platform fee on invested assets. For funds and UK shares the fee is 0.40% on the first £250,000, 0.20% on £250,000 to £500,000, 0.10% on £500,000 to £1,000,000, and 0% above £1,000,000. For ready-made portfolios and US shares the fee starts at 0.20% up to £500,000. ISA and general investment accounts have an annual fee cap of £2,000; SIPPs carry a minimum of £120 per year. Fund dealing is free. UK shares and ETFs cost £4.95 per online trade. US share dealing has no dealing fee but a 0.95% FX conversion charge applies. There are no deposit, withdrawal or inactivity fees and no exit fee when transferring away.

Regulation and safety

Bestinvest is a trading name of Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Limited (FRN 165169), authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Client assets are held in ring-fenced accounts with third-party custodians, separate from company assets. Eligible clients are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000 per person.

Platform experience

Bestinvest offers a web platform and mobile apps for iOS and Android. The iOS app is rated 3.8 on the App Store. Users can access over 3,700 funds, shares, ETFs and investment trusts, including more than 1,800 funds, around 530 ETFs, over 230 investment trusts and over 1,200 individual stocks. Ready-made Smart and Expert portfolios are available with ongoing charges starting at approximately 0.30% per year. Research tools include the Spot the Dog fund analysis and a Best Funds list. Free unlimited coaching sessions from Level 4-qualified coaches are a distinguishing feature.

Pros and cons

Bestinvest's main strengths are free fund dealing, competitive SIPP pricing, no exit fees, free investment coaching, a flexible ISA and FSCS protection. The main drawbacks are the £4.95 per UK share and ETF trade, the 0.95% FX conversion charge, the £120 minimum SIPP annual fee, and the absence of fractional shares, a demo account or share markets beyond the UK and US.

Ready to open an account at Bestinvest?

Open an account directly with the broker. Confirm current fees and account eligibility on the broker's website before depositing.

Open Account

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Trading fees & commissions

Annual platform fee is 0.40% on funds and UK shares (first £250,000) and 0.20% on ready-made portfolios and US shares, with a SIPP minimum of £120 per year. UK share and ETF dealing costs £4.95 per trade; fund dealing is free.

Fees

Item	Fee
Sipp	Annual platform fee: 0.40% on other funds and UK shares (first £250,000); 0.20% on ready-made portfolios and US shares; minimum £10/month (£120/year). No setup fee; no drawdown setup fee
Funds	Fund dealing (buy and sell): Free; dividend reinvestment: Free; limit orders: Free
Account	Annual platform fee: 0.40% on funds and UK shares up to £250,000; 0.20% on £250,000-£500,000; 0.10% on £500,000-£1,000,000; 0% above £1,000,000. Annual platform fee cap: £2,000 for ISAs and Investment Accounts
Custody	Included in annual platform fee
Deposit	Free
Inactivity	Free
Stamp Duty	0.5% on UK share purchases (government charge)
Withdrawal	Free. No exit fee; Bestinvest will contribute up to £500 toward exit fees charged by a transferring provider
Fx Conversion	0.95% on US share trades and other foreign currency transactions

Trading platform & features

Platforms

Bestinvest Web Platform
iOS app
Android app

Regulation and investor protection

Bestinvest is a trading name of Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA, FRN 165169). Client assets are held in ring-fenced accounts with third-party custodians and are eligible for FSCS protection up to £85,000.

Broker FAQs

Is Bestinvest safe?

Bestinvest is a trading name of Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Limited, authorised and regulated by the FCA. Client assets are held in ring-fenced accounts with third-party custodians and are eligible for FSCS protection up to £85,000.

Is Bestinvest a scam?

No. Bestinvest is a trading name of Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 165169) and has operated as an investment platform since 1986.

Is Bestinvest regulated and by whom?

Yes. Bestinvest is a trading name of Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with FRN 165169.

Does Bestinvest keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Yes. Bestinvest holds client assets in ring-fenced accounts with third-party custodians, separate from company assets.

What happens to my money if Bestinvest goes bankrupt?

Client assets are held in ring-fenced accounts with third-party custodians, meaning they are not part of Bestinvest's own balance sheet. Eligible clients are also covered by the FSCS up to £85,000 per person.

What products does Bestinvest offer?

Bestinvest offers stocks, funds, ETFs, investment trusts, bonds and ready-made portfolios across ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP, Junior SIPP, general investment account and business account wrappers.

Does Bestinvest offer an ISA?

Yes. Bestinvest offers a Stocks and Shares ISA. It is a flexible ISA, meaning investors can withdraw and replace money in the same tax year without it counting toward the annual ISA allowance.

Does Bestinvest offer a SIPP?

Yes. Bestinvest offers a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). There is no setup fee and no drawdown setup fee, but a minimum annual service charge of £120 applies.

Does Bestinvest offer ready-made portfolios?

Yes. Bestinvest offers Smart and Expert ready-made portfolios built and managed by the Evelyn Partners investment team, with ongoing charges starting at approximately 0.30% per year.

Can I buy fractional shares on Bestinvest?

No. Bestinvest does not offer fractional shares; share purchases are made in whole units only.

What does Bestinvest charge for UK share trades?

Bestinvest charges £4.95 per online trade for UK shares and ETFs. Telephone dealing costs £30 per trade.

What does Bestinvest charge for fund trades?

Fund buying and selling is free at Bestinvest. Dividend reinvestment and limit orders on funds are also free.

What does Bestinvest charge for US shares?

There is no dealing fee for US shares, but a foreign exchange conversion charge of 0.95% applies to the transaction value.

Is there a withdrawal fee at Bestinvest?

No. Bestinvest does not charge a withdrawal fee or an exit fee when transferring to another provider. Bestinvest will also contribute up to £500 toward any exit fees charged by a transferring provider.

Does Bestinvest charge an inactivity fee?

No. Bestinvest does not charge an inactivity fee.

What is Bestinvest's annual platform fee?

For funds and UK shares the fee is 0.40% on the first £250,000, reducing in tiers to 0% above £1,000,000. For ready-made portfolios and US shares the fee starts at 0.20%. The ISA and investment account fee is capped at £2,000 per year; the SIPP has a minimum annual charge of £120.

Does Bestinvest have a demo account?

No. Bestinvest does not offer a demo or practice account.

Does Bestinvest have a mobile app?

Yes. Bestinvest offers apps for iOS and Android. Users can view account balances and buy or sell investments from the app.

Is Bestinvest good for beginners?

Bestinvest offers free unlimited investment coaching from qualified coaches, ready-made portfolios and a straightforward account opening process, which may suit investors who are new to self-directed investing. However, the absence of a demo account and fractional shares may limit the experience for some beginners.

Is Bestinvest good for long-term investing?

Bestinvest is designed around long-term investing, offering ISAs, SIPPs and a range of funds and ready-made portfolios. The tiered fee structure means costs fall as portfolio values grow, and the SIPP is competitively priced for pension accumulation.

Bottom line

Bestinvest suits investors who want a UK-regulated ISA or SIPP focused on long-term fund and portfolio investing, with free fund dealing, no exit fees and qualified coaching support. It may not suit investors who trade UK shares or ETFs frequently, want fractional shares or a demo account, or need access to share markets beyond the UK and US.

Bestinvest

UK long-term fund and SIPP investors

Open Account

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.