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.
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, Freetrade 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 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 comparing AJ Bell and Freetrade for online investment options, both brokers offer robust opportunities for trading shares, ETFs, and investment trusts. However, AJ Bell stands out by providing access to additional options, including funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds, making it a more comprehensive choice for investors looking for a wider range of financial instruments. Neither AJ Bell nor Freetrade facilitates crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, and both lack advisory services.
The ranking by UK.StockBrokers.com highlights AJ Bell's superior investment offerings, awarding it a commendable 5-star rating and a #3 rank out of 18 brokers in terms of investment choices. In contrast, Freetrade, while still a strong contender, receives a 4-star rating and is positioned at #13 in the same category. This positions AJ Bell as a more versatile platform for those seeking a broader spectrum of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| 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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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When it comes to trading tools, AJ Bell provides a comprehensive suite compared to Freetrade. AJ Bell stands out by offering features that enhance chart analysis like displaying corporate events—such as earnings, splits, and dividends—directly on charts, a functionality absent in Freetrade. For those who value detailed charting options, AJ Bell exceeds expectations with eight drawing tools and 31 technical indicators, where Freetrade offers none.
Both AJ Bell and Freetrade cater to traders with browser-based platforms and alert systems for stock price updates, ensuring you are always in the loop. However, AJ Bell adds further depth with the ability to add both index and stock overlays on charts, pushing its charting capabilities to a more advanced level than Freetrade. While neither platform allows users to add notes to charts, they both support real-time market data, keeping traders updated with the latest information.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | 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 | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When it comes to choosing an online broker for retirement accounts, AJ Bell and Freetrade both offer options that might suit your needs. If you're considering an ISA, both AJ Bell and Freetrade provide such accounts, allowing you to save tax-efficiently. When it comes to SIPP accounts, which are specifically for retirement savings, both AJ Bell and Freetrade also offer these options. This means that whether you're interested in saving for general tax advantages or focusing more on building a retirement fund, both platforms have you covered with both ISA and SIPP accounts available.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both AJ Bell and Freetrade provide robust mobile trading experiences with dedicated apps for iOS and Android users. Rated 4 out of 5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, AJ Bell's mobile app stands out, securing a commendable third place among 18 brokers. Freetrade, also rated 4 stars, holds a respectable eighth position in the same ranking, showcasing its competitive features and user satisfaction. For investors seeking reliable tools on the go, both options promise functionality and ease of use, offering seamless trading experiences on both Apple and Android devices.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing AJ Bell and Freetrade for beginner investor educational resources, AJ Bell stands out due to its comprehensive offerings, including educational webinars that are available on demand, covering vital topics like share trading, funds, and retirement. In contrast, Freetrade does not provide webinars but does offer resources on the same topics. AJ Bell's superior offerings are reflected in its 5-star rating and #3 ranking from UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, whereas Freetrade receives a 3.5-star rating and ranks #9. This makes AJ Bell a more robust choice for those seeking extensive educational support in their investment journey.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing AJ Bell and Freetrade for their market research features, AJ Bell stands out by offering comprehensive research reports for funds, whereas Freetrade does not. Both platforms allow users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, providing a clear overview of investments. In terms of research, both brokers provide access to insights on shares and ETFs. However, AJ Bell extends its offerings with research on bonds, something Freetrade lacks. Neither AJ Bell nor Freetrade currently provides research for CFDs, making AJ Bell a more robust option for investors seeking in-depth market analysis across a wider variety of financial instruments.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| 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 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
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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Neither AJ Bell nor Freetrade currently offer crypto trading, making both online brokers similar in this aspect, allowing potential investors to focus on their other unique features for stock and investment opportunities.
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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 | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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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 | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | AJ Bell | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | Freetrade | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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