Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AJ Bell vs CMC Invest, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
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, AJ Bell offers better pricing than CMC Invest for share dealing.
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.
AJ Bell vs CMC Invest: both UK online brokers offer share dealing along with access to ETFs, funds, and investment trusts. Neither supports crypto or CFD trading, and neither provides adviser services. Spread betting isn’t specified for either provider.
AJ Bell adds more fixed‑income choice by offering trading in corporate bonds and UK government bonds (gilts), which CMC Invest does not. For investment choices, UK.StockBrokers.com rates AJ Bell 5 stars (ranked 4th of 21) and CMC Invest 4 stars (ranked 14th of 21).
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
CMC Invest
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|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
AJ Bell vs CMC Invest: For charting and trading tools, AJ Bell is the stronger pick. It can display corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) on charts and offers 8 drawing tools plus 31 technical indicators. By contrast, CMC Invest doesn’t support corporate events on charts and has no drawing tools or indicators. Neither broker lets you add notes to charts or apply index or stock overlays.
On platforms and data, AJ Bell provides a browser-based trading platform and price alerts, but not real-time market data. CMC Invest lacks a browser platform, yet it does offer price alerts and real-time market data. In short, AJ Bell suits UK investors who want richer chart analysis on the web, while CMC Invest suits those who prioritise live pricing and can live without advanced charting.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
CMC Invest
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|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
For UK investors exploring retirement account options, both AJ Bell and CMC Invest offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), providing a solid foundation for tax-efficient investing. AJ Bell is known for its user-friendly platform, appealing to those seeking a seamless experience, while CMC Invest stands out with competitive fees and cutting-edge tools. Each broker caters to a range of investment needs, making either a viable choice for building a retirement portfolio through ISAs and SIPPs. Consider key features such as cost structures, investment options, and platform usability when choosing between these providers to ensure alignment with your financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors comparing online brokers, both AJ Bell and CMC Invest offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. UK.StockBrokers.com rates AJ Bell’s app 4 stars and ranks it 12th out of 21 brokers, while CMC Invest’s app earns 3.5 stars and ranks 13th. With the same device coverage but a slightly higher score and placement, AJ Bell edges CMC Invest for mobile app quality, though both deliver convenient on-the-go investing across iOS and Android.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
AJ Bell vs CMC Invest for beginner investor education in the UK: AJ Bell offers client webinars with an on-demand archive, while CMC Invest provides no webinars or archive. Both cover share trading and retirement, but only AJ Bell includes education on funds. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, AJ Bell earns 5 stars and ranks 6th out of 21 brokers for beginner education, whereas CMC Invest scores 2.5 stars and ranks 16th. For those who want webinars and wider learning topics, AJ Bell is the stronger pick; CMC Invest may suit beginners focused on shares and retirement basics.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
Comparing AJ Bell and CMC Invest for market research, AJ Bell stands out for UK investors thanks to downloadable fund research reports and the ability to view your portfolio allocation by asset class—features CMC Invest doesn’t offer. Both platforms provide research on shares, ETFs and funds, but only AJ Bell adds bond research. If you want fuller research coverage and clear asset breakdowns, AJ Bell is the better fit; if you just need core share and ETF insights, CMC Invest covers the basics.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, AJ Bell or CMC Invest? 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 the Dodl app offers much lower fees and also offers a more slim-lined and user-friendly service. Educational and research materials are strong, too.
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CMC Invest
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Neither AJ Bell nor CMC Invest offer cryptocurrency trading, highlighting a common limitation among online brokers focused on more traditional investment options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250 | £1 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £1.50 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £1.50 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | £83.88 / £131.88 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £83.88 / £131.88 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £875 | £83.88 / £131.88 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £875 | £83.88 / £131.88 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | £0 |
| Broker Screenshots | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | No | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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