Updated October 13, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Bestinvest vs Firstrade
Facts checked September 26, 2026.
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Bestinvest |  Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £4.95 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, FundsCovers more |
| Platforms | Mobile app | Web, iOS, Android, IPad |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | SIPC, FINRA |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.95% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers |
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at Firstrade: 1985 vs 1986.
- Markets: only Firstrade offers Options.
- Platforms: only Bestinvest offers Mobile app.
- Platforms: only Firstrade offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Account types: only Bestinvest offers ISA, SIPP, Jisa.
- Account types: only Firstrade offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Features: only Firstrade offers Demo account, Options, Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only Bestinvest offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Firstrade offers Commission free.
- Audience: only Firstrade offers Experienced, Day traders.
Our verdict on each
Bestinvest
Bestinvest is an online investment platform known for pairing wide investment choice with expert coaching and planning tools. It suits newcomers and steady investors who want ISAs, pensions and junior accounts with clear guidance while they shape long term goals.
Firstrade
Firstrade is a US commission-free broker for retail savers who want retirement accounts and low costs in the same place. Protection is listed as SIPC up to USD 500,000, the minimum deposit is $0, and the trade-off is a market list limited to US equities, funds and options.
Score breakdown
| Area | Bestinvest | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2 | 9.5HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts $0; transfers run Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 9.6 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Bestinvest | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 34642 |
Additional countries for Bestinvest: 1. Additional countries for Firstrade: 1.
How they place
| Ranking | Bestinvest | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 249 of 471 | 47 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 53 of 86 | 10 of 86 |
| Brokers for beginners | 64 of 88 | 13 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Bestinvest | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Demo account, Options, Mobile app, Fractional sharesCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners, Experienced, Day tradersCovers more |
| Legal entity | Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Limited | FIRSTRADE SECURITIES INC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 1986 | 1985Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Bestinvest | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% to 0.4% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | £50 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Bestinvest | Firstrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $25 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.95%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0lowest quarter | $0.625 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Bestinvest
Pros
- Operates with over 40 years of experience dating back to 1986.
- Offers expert coaching and smart planning tools alongside investment choice.
- Covers more than 3,000 shares and funds plus ETFs and investment trusts.
Cons
- Management of investments happens online and through the mobile app.
- Ready-made Portfolios are built and managed by the parent company teams.
Firstrade
Pros
- Regulated in the US by FINRA and SIPC, with protection stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000 and a membership record at SIPC member 34642.
- A traditional IRA, a Roth IRA and a joint account all sit in ira, roth ira and joint under the commission-free pricing in commission free, so retirement and shared accounts hold at the same cost.
- Fractional shares and a demo account sit in demo account, options and mobile app, which helps the beginners and day traders named in beginners, experienced and day traders start small.
Cons
- The market list in stocks, etfs and options covers stocks, ETFs, options and funds, a narrow range next to eToro at stocks, etfs and forex and CFI at stocks, etfs and forex.
- Live chat and email are not among the listed support channels (phone and help centre), which pair a phone line with a help centre.
- An ISA and a SIPP are not among the listed account types (ira, roth ira and joint), which cover a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA and a joint account.
Who each suits
Bestinvest
Who it suits
- New investors wanting coaching with investment choice
- Parents arranging junior ISAs and pensions for children
- Planners using ISAs and SIPPs for long term goals
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders seeking face to face branch service
- Investors wanting fully independent portfolio management
Firstrade
Who it suits
- US savers who want commission-free stock and ETF trading inside a retirement account, since the list in ira, roth ira and joint covers an IRA and a Roth IRA.
- Investors who trade in small amounts, because fractional shares in demo account, options and mobile app work alongside a $0 entry point.
- Day traders in US equities, named in beginners, experienced and day traders with a mobile app among the platforms in Web, iOS and Android.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want forex, CFDs or crypto alongside equities: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex, while Firstrade stays within stocks, etfs and options.
- UK and European savers who need a tax wrapper, since ira, roth ira and joint names no ISA or SIPP. Vantage, which sets $5 as its entry point, is worth pricing alongside.
Country by country
| Country | Bestinvest | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Bestinvest
Which accounts does Bestinvest provide?+
Bestinvest provides ISAs, Self-invested Personal Pensions, a general investment account without annual limits, and junior versions for children. You can hold Ready-made Portfolios inside these accounts or select your own investments. The range supports goals from daily investing to retirement and childhood saving.
Who runs Bestinvest and its Ready-made Portfolios?+
Bestinvest has helped investors make the most of their money since 1986, building over 40 years of experience. Its Ready-made Portfolios are built and managed by expert teams at its parent company Evelyn Partners. That relationship gives hands off investors professional portfolio management within the platform.
Firstrade
What does it cost to trade stocks and options?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the options contract fee is $0, so nothing is charged per trade on either side. The pricing model listed is commission free, which matches that, and the same terms apply to stocks and options contracts. A reader comparing quotes will find the same line on both markets.
Are there account or inactivity fees?+
The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so an account can sit open and untouched without an annual charge or a dormant penalty. That suits a saver who funds a retirement account and does not trade every month, since holding a small balance costs nothing beyond the trades themselves.
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