Phillip Nova vs Bestinvest: Which Broker Wins in 2026?

Regulation & Safety

Both brokers are overseen by respected tier-1 regulators, giving traders a baseline level of confidence in fund security and operational transparency. Phillip Nova operates under the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), one of Asia's most rigorous financial watchdogs known for strict capital adequacy and client asset segregation rules.

Bestinvest, meanwhile, is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), a globally respected authority that enforces strong investor protection standards including the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Neither broker carries an inherent safety disadvantage based on jurisdiction alone.

Where Phillip Nova pulls ahead in our rating is through its longer operational history in the multi-asset trading space combined with consistent regulatory standing, helping it edge out Bestinvest in our 'Best for Regulation' award category despite both being tier-1 licensed.

Fees, Spreads & Commissions

Pricing is where Bestinvest genuinely shines. It advertises spreads from 0.0 pips, undercutting Phillip Nova's quoted 0.6 pips starting spread. Neither broker charges a standalone commission on top of spreads, and both waive deposit and withdrawal fees entirely.

However, context matters here — Bestinvest's 0-pip spreads apply to its stocks and ETF-focused offering, a very different cost structure compared to Phillip Nova's forex, CFD, and crypto spread model. Comparing the two head-to-head on 'pips' isn't a perfect apples-to-apples measure given the different asset classes involved.

For active forex and CFD traders, Phillip Nova's 0.6 pip starting spread remains competitive within that asset class, while Bestinvest is simply not built for leveraged FX or crypto trading at all.

Markets & Leverage

Phillip Nova offers considerably broader market access, spanning Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, and Crypto — five asset classes in total. This versatility makes it a strong single-platform solution for traders who want to diversify across multiple instrument types without switching providers.

Bestinvest, by contrast, focuses squarely on Stocks and ETFs, reflecting its heritage as a traditional long-term investment platform rather than a leveraged trading venue. This narrower scope will suit buy-and-hold investors but limits flexibility for active or short-term traders.

Leverage also diverges sharply: Phillip Nova offers up to 1:20, while Bestinvest caps out at 1:1, essentially meaning no leveraged exposure. Traders seeking margin-based strategies will find only one of these two brokers viable.

Platforms & Trading Tools

Phillip Nova supports three distinct platform options: a Proprietary Web terminal, a Proprietary Mobile app, and the dedicated POEMS platform, giving traders flexibility to choose their preferred interface or device.

Bestinvest offers a more streamlined two-platform setup, consisting of a Proprietary Web portal and a Proprietary Mobile app. This is perfectly adequate for straightforward stock and ETF investing but lacks the specialized tooling that active traders may expect.

Neither broker currently offers third-party platform integration such as MetaTrader, which may be a consideration for traders who prefer industry-standard charting and automated strategy tools.

Account Accessibility

Both brokers are highly accessible from a capital standpoint, with Phillip Nova and Bestinvest each requiring a $0 minimum deposit to open an account. This removes a common barrier to entry for newer traders testing either platform.

With deposit and withdrawal fees waived across both brokers, the ongoing cost of moving funds in and out is effectively neutral, letting traders focus their cost comparison purely on spreads and platform fit.

Our Verdict

Phillip Nova earns our 'Best Overall' and 'Best for Beginners' awards thanks to its wider asset coverage, higher leverage ceiling, and richer platform ecosystem, backed by a 3.4/5 rating versus Bestinvest's 3.2/5. It's the stronger pick for traders wanting one account that spans forex, CFDs, indices, commodities, and crypto.

Bestinvest earns the 'Best for Low Fees' award on the strength of its 0-pip spread pricing, and remains a sound choice for long-term stock and ETF investors who have no need for leverage or multi-asset trading.

In short: choose Phillip Nova if you want breadth, leverage, and platform variety; choose Bestinvest if your focus is low-cost, straightforward equity and fund investing under FCA oversight.