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.
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.
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 and CMC Invest are prominent choices for UK investors seeking diverse investment options. AJ Bell shines with its comprehensive offerings, including share trading, ETF trading, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. With a stellar 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, AJ Bell secures the 5th position among 21 brokers for investment choices, highlighting its strong market presence and wide range of financial products.
CMC Invest also offers an impressive array of investment options such as share trading, ETF trading, funds, and investment trusts, earning it a respectable 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. While it doesn't offer trading with corporate or government bonds like AJ Bell, CMC Invest stands at the 14th spot in overall ranking out of 21 brokers, providing a competitive alternative for investors looking for a robust collection of assets.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the online trading tools of AJ Bell and CMC Invest, AJ Bell stands out with several features that cater to investors looking for detailed charting capabilities. AJ Bell offers an impressive range of 8 drawing tools and 31 technical indicators, which facilitate in-depth market analysis. In addition, its platform allows users to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on the charts, and includes options to add index and stock overlays. AJ Bell also provides a browser-based trading experience complemented by real-time market data and the ability to set price alerts for stocks, making it a comprehensive platform for UK traders.
On the other hand, CMC Invest appears to adopt a more streamlined approach, offering real-time market data and the capability to set alerts for stock price changes. However, it lacks many of the advanced charting features provided by AJ Bell, such as drawing tools, technical indicators, and the ability to display corporate events on charts. For traders who rely heavily on technical analysis and comprehensive charting, AJ Bell's platform may provide a more suitable array of tools compared to CMC Invest. Nonetheless, both platforms ensure up-to-date information on market movements, catering to varying needs of traders in the UK.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
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.
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.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, AJ Bell stands out with a comprehensive offering. AJ Bell provides educational client webinars that users can access live or watch later on demand, covering essential topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement. CMC Invest also offers education on share trading, funds, and retirement but does not currently provide live or archived webinars for new investors. This distinction may influence those who prefer flexible learning schedules. AJ Bell's educational resources receive a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, positioning them as the 5th best among 21 brokers. On the other hand, CMC Invest earns a respectable 4-star rating but ranks 15th, suggesting room for improvement in this area.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing market research features for online brokers AJ Bell and CMC Invest, both platforms provide research reports for funds, shares, and ETFs, which can be valuable for investors looking for insights into different investment options. However, AJ Bell stands out by offering additional research capabilities, including insights into bonds and the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, making it a comprehensive choice for those who want a clear overview of their investment distribution. CMC Invest, while offering strong research support on funds, shares, and ETFs, does not currently offer the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class or research on bonds. For UK investors, this difference might influence the selection between these two brokers depending on their investment strategy needs.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
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
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CMC Invest
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While AJ Bell does not offer crypto trading, CMC Invest provides access to cryptocurrency investments, catering to users interested in digital assets.
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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 | |||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £100 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £255 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £495 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.50 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £875 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £875 | £120 | |
| 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 | |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | ||
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
| Education | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | CMC Invest | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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