Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AJ Bell vs Freetrade, 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 Freetrade 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 Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
12 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £135 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
36 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £255 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
120 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £495 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
3 fund trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £1 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 weighing AJ Bell against Freetrade for online trading in the UK, it’s crucial to consider the range of investment options they each provide. AJ Bell stands out with an array of offerings, allowing users to trade shares, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. In contrast, Freetrade offers a more streamlined selection with share trading, ETF trading, and investment trusts, but lacks offerings in bonds and funds. This comprehensive selection earns AJ Bell a top-notch 5-star rating for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Freetrade garners a respectable 4-star rating. AJ Bell is further ranked as the fifth-best out of 21 brokers, compared to Freetrade’s seventeenth position, underscoring their broader appeal for investors seeking diverse investment opportunities.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | 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.
In a comparison of trading tools, AJ Bell stands out with its ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on its charts. Investors will appreciate AJ Bell's offering of 8 drawing tools and 31 technical indicators—tools which are not available with Freetrade. Both brokers provide a browser-based trading platform and real-time market data, catering to traders who need immediate access to information.
AJ Bell further enhances its charting capabilities by allowing users to add index and stock overlays, providing a more comprehensive analysis. Though both AJ Bell and Freetrade allow users to set alerts for stock price updates, if you’re looking for advanced chart features like adding notes or overlays, AJ Bell clearly leads the way. However, for those seeking a simpler, less feature-rich experience, Freetrade remains a straightforward option.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | 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 |
When comparing AJ Bell and Freetrade for UK investors looking at retirement accounts, both brokers offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP), making them attractive choices for those planning their financial future. While AJ Bell provides a comprehensive suite of investment options and tools aimed at experienced investors, Freetrade appeals to beginners with its easy-to-use app and straightforward investing approach. Whether you value AJ Bell's extensive resources or Freetrade's simplicity will depend on your personal investing needs and experience level.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing online brokers AJ Bell and Freetrade for their mobile apps, both provide options for iPhone and Android users in the UK. AJ Bell receives a commendable rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it in the 9th spot out of 21 brokers, indicating its strong mobile app performance. Meanwhile, Freetrade garners a solid 4-star rating, ranking 12th, offering a reliable choice for those prioritizing accessibility on the go. Both platforms cater well to mobile-savvy investors, making it easier to manage portfolios seamlessly from smartphones.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For those new to investing, selecting the right online broker with accessible educational resources is important. AJ Bell excels in this area, offering educational webinars and on-demand access for flexible learning, while Freetrade does not provide these specific webinars. Both AJ Bell and Freetrade offer educational materials on share trading, fund management, and retirement planning, ensuring beginners have a comprehensive understanding of essential investment topics. However, AJ Bell distinguishes itself with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranked 5th among 21 brokers for beginner education, compared to Freetrade's 3.5-star rating and 16th position. For UK beginners seeking quality education on investing basics, AJ Bell presents a stronger option.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 the market research features of AJ Bell and Freetrade for UK investors, AJ Bell and Freetrade both provide research on shares and ETFs, and they allow users to view portfolio allocation by asset class. However, AJ Bell takes a lead by offering detailed research reports for funds and bonds, a feature not available with Freetrade. While both platforms cater to essential market research needs, AJ Bell may be more appealing for investors seeking in-depth insights into fund and bond investments.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, AJ Bell or Freetrade? 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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Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
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When comparing online brokers, AJ Bell does not offer crypto trading, whereas Freetrade also does not provide a crypto trading option.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | Freetrade | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | AJ Bell | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | 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 | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £1 | |
| 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 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £255 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £495 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.50 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £875 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £875 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 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 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | AJ Bell | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | 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 | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AJ Bell | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | Freetrade | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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