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AJ Bell vs CMC Invest 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

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.

AJ Bell
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes
CMC Invest
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes

Fees

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, CMC Invest 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 CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.

12 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £135 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.

36 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £255 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.

120 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £495 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.

3 fund trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £0 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 per year.

query_stats 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.

Investment Choices

When comparing AJ Bell and CMC Invest for their investment choices, AJ Bell stands out with a broader range of options. Both platforms offer share trading, ETFs, funds trading, and investment trusts. However, AJ Bell offers additional options like corporate and government bonds, which CMC Invest does not. Neither service supports crypto or CFD trading, spread betting, or advisory services. These differences are significant for investors seeking extensive bond trading options.

In terms of ratings, AJ Bell is highly rated, securing a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, ranking 5th out of 21 brokers. CMC Invest, while still impressive, is rated at 4.5 stars and ranks 14th. This distinction reflects AJ Bell's broader investment offerings, making it a preferred choice for those looking for a wider array of traditional investment options.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info Yes Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes No
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info No No
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

When comparing AJ Bell and CMC Invest on their trading tools, AJ Bell stands out with a wide array of features designed to enhance the trader's experience. AJ Bell allows users to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature that is absent in CMC Invest. In terms of charting tools, AJ Bell offers 8 drawing tools and 31 technical indicators, which provide traders with more analytical resources, whereas CMC Invest offers none. AJ Bell also supports index and stock overlays, further enriching the charting capabilities, features not available with CMC Invest.

Additionally, AJ Bell provides a browser-based trading platform, whereas CMC Invest does not. Both brokers do offer the ability to create alerts for stock price updates and provide real-time market data, ensuring traders stay informed. However, neither AJ Bell nor CMC Invest allows users to add personal notes to charts. For UK traders seeking a platform with extensive analytical features, AJ Bell appears to deliver a more comprehensive set of tools compared to CMC Invest.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Web Platform info Yes No
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 31 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 0
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No

ISAs and SIPPs

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.

Mobile App

Comparing AJ Bell and CMC Invest for mobile trading apps, both platforms offer convenient iPhone and Android apps, catering to the needs of UK investors who prefer trading on the go. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both AJ Bell and CMC Invest share an impressive mobile app rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, highlighting their reliability and user-friendly design. However, in a broader ranking of 21 brokers, AJ Bell edges out as the better choice, holding the 9th position, whereas CMC Invest follows at 11th. This makes AJ Bell a slightly more favored option for those seeking a top-tier mobile trading experience.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

For UK beginners eager to learn the ropes in investing, AJ Bell and CMC Invest offer valuable educational resources, but they are quite different in their approaches. AJ Bell stands out with its client webinars, which are not only live but also archived for on-demand viewing, catering efficiently to various learning paces. While both platforms cover essential topics like share trading, funds, and retirement, CMC Invest does not currently provide webinars, limiting its interactive learning options. Additionally, AJ Bell receives top marks from UK.StockBrokers.com, scoring 5 stars for beginner education and ranking 5th out of 21 brokers. In contrast, CMC Invest, though still solid with education on key investing topics, has a 4-star rating and ranks 15th, reflecting its different focus and approach. For learners prioritizing accessibility and variety in educational formats, AJ Bell may offer a more comprehensive starting point.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When comparing the market research features of AJ Bell and CMC Invest, UK investors will find that both brokers provide research reports for funds, shares, and ETFs, making it easy to stay informed about key investment opportunities. AJ Bell excels further by offering insights into bonds and the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, unlike CMC Invest, which doesn't offer these features. However, neither AJ Bell nor CMC Invest provide research on CFDs, which may be a consideration for those interested in this type of trading. Ultimately, for investors interested in comprehensive market research, particularly in bonds and detailed portfolio insights, AJ Bell offers a more complete package compared to CMC Invest.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Research - Funds info Yes Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes No

AJ Bell vs CMC Invest Winner

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 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 logoAJ Bell
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with AJ Bell or CMC Invest?

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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Compare

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Overall Rating AJ Bell CMC Invest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Review AJ Bell Review CMC Invest Review
Winner check_circle
Investments AJ Bell CMC Invest
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No
Funds info Yes Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info Yes No
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes No
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info No No
Trading Fees AJ Bell CMC Invest
Minimum Deposit info £0 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £5 £0
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £3.50 £0
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £3.50 £0
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £100 £0 / £120 / £300 info
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £135 £0 / £120 / £300
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £255 £0 / £120 / £300
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £495 £0 / £120 / £300
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £79.50 £120
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £0 - £625 £120 info
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £625 - £875 £120 info
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £875 £120 info
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £875 £120 info
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info £5 N/A
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info £5 N/A
ETFs - Fee info £5 £0
Investment Trusts - Fee info £5 £0
Telephone Dealing Fee info £25 £0
Broker Screenshots AJ Bell CMC Invest
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools AJ Bell CMC Invest
Web Platform info Yes No
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 31 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 0
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No
Research AJ Bell CMC Invest
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - Funds info Yes Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes No
Education AJ Bell CMC Invest
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Overall Summary AJ Bell CMC Invest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Review AJ Bell Review CMC Invest Review
Winner check_circle
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