Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AJ Bell vs Capital.com, 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, Capital.com offers better pricing than AJ Bell 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 - AJ Bell would cost £100 per year, while Capital.com would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £135 per year, while Capital.com would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £255 per year, while Capital.com would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £495 per year, while Capital.com would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £0 per year, while Capital.com would cost £20 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.
When it comes to investment choices, AJ Bell and Capital.com present distinct offerings for aspiring investors. AJ Bell stands out by providing a broader array of options, including share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. However, it does not support crypto trading, spread betting, or CFDs. In contrast, Capital.com focuses primarily on share trading and CFDs, offering fewer traditional investment products. Both platforms do not support crypto trading or provide advisor services, making them relatively straightforward for independent investors.
AJ Bell's expansive range of investment products has earned it a high rating of 5 stars for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Capital.com receives a more modest 2.5 stars. This difference is underscored by their respective rankings among 18 brokers—AJ Bell is a top contender at #3, whereas Capital.com hovers near the bottom at #17. Whether you prioritize a wide selection of traditional investments or a focus on CFDs, these platforms offer distinct pathways tailored to different investment preferences.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of AJ Bell and Capital.com, it's clear they each have their strengths. AJ Bell excels in providing users with the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on their charts. This feature is beneficial for those who rely on corporate events to make informed trading decisions. They also support index and stock overlays, enhancing the charting experience. However, when it comes to drawing tools and technical indicators, AJ Bell offers 8 and 31 respectively, which is less than Capital.com's impressive 18 drawing tools and 77 technical indicators. This makes Capital.com a strong choice for traders who prioritize diverse chart customization.
For those who want additional chart interaction, Capital.com allows traders to add notes, a feature not available in AJ Bell's toolkit. Both platforms offer browser-based trading, real-time market data, and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, ensuring that traders stay informed and responsive in fast-moving markets. In summary, AJ Bell might be better suited for traders looking for comprehensive corporate event data and overlay features, while Capital.com is ideal for those who value extensive chart tools and the flexibility to annotate their trading insights.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 77 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 18 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing the retirement account offerings of AJ Bell and Capital.com, there are notable differences to consider. AJ Bell stands out by providing both Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), catering to those looking to invest tax-efficiently and save for retirement. Unfortunately, Capital.com does not offer these specific account types, meaning investors who specifically seek ISAs or SIPPs will find AJ Bell the more suitable option for their retirement planning needs.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing AJ Bell and Capital.com, both online brokers provide mobile app options for iPhone and Android users, ensuring flexibility and convenience across popular devices. AJ Bell's app is rated 4 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com and holds a commendable 3rd place among 18 brokers for its mobile app performance. In contrast, Capital.com boasts a slightly higher app rating of 4.5 stars; however, it ranks 11th out of 18 brokers for mobile apps. This comparison indicates that while Capital.com might offer a higher-rated app experience, AJ Bell is positioned higher overall in terms of mobile app rankings according to UK.StockBrokers.com.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors seeking educational resources, AJ Bell and Capital.com offer different levels of support and expertise. AJ Bell stands out with a wealth of educational client webinars, all available on demand, covering topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement. Such comprehensive coverage contributes to AJ Bell's impressive 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, ranking it third among 18 brokers. In contrast, Capital.com does not provide educational webinars, either live or archived, and lacks offerings on key investment topics like share trading, funds, and retirement. Consequently, Capital.com receives a modest 3.5-star rating and is placed 17th in the UK.StockBrokers.com rankings. Thus, for novices eager to learn, AJ Bell proves significantly more advantageous.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers AJ Bell and Capital.com, AJ Bell stands out as a more comprehensive choice. AJ Bell provides extensive research reports across funds, shares, ETFs, and bonds. It also offers insights into portfolio allocation by asset class, making it a robust option for those seeking in-depth analysis and guidance. On the other hand, Capital.com focuses on providing CFDs research and also enables users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, but it lacks the broader research capabilities that AJ Bell offers. This makes AJ Bell a superior choice for investors looking for detailed market intelligence across a wide range of investment areas.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | No |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, AJ Bell or Capital.com? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found AJ Bell to be a better trading platform overall.
You can invest in an extensive range of investments through AJ Bell. Charges are on the high side for those with large portfolios in mutual funds and those looking to execute one-off share deals; but its new app, called Dodl, offers much lower fees and also offers a more slim-lined and user-friendly service. Educational and research materials are strong, too.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
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Capital.com
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Both AJ Bell and Capital.com do not offer crypto trading, making them similar in this aspect for investors looking for online brokers without cryptocurrency options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | Capital.com | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Capital.com Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | AJ Bell | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £20 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.50 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.50 | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £100 | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £255 | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £495 | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.50 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £875 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £875 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | AJ Bell | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 77 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 18 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | AJ Bell | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AJ Bell | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Capital.com Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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