Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AJ Bell vs Halifax, 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, Halifax 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 Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.
12 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £135 per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.
36 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £255 per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.
120 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £495 per year, while Halifax would cost £1,176 per year.
3 fund trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £0 per year, while Halifax 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.
Choosing between AJ Bell and Halifax for your investment needs depends on the kind of trading opportunities you're seeking. AJ Bell stands out as a top contender, ranked #3 by UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment options, offering share trading and a wide range of choices including ETFs, funds, corporate and government bonds, as well as investment trusts. Meanwhile, Halifax, while also highly rated, ranked #7, doesn't support share trading and has the advantage of offering advisor services, which could be appealing if you need professional guidance.
Neither AJ Bell nor Halifax provides options for crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, making them less suited for those interested in these markets. Both platforms, however, offer robust options for trading ETFs and funds, corporate and government bonds, along with investment trusts. With AJ Bell rated 5 stars for its comprehensive investment choices and Halifax matching that rating, your decision may ultimately hinge on whether you need access to certain trading areas or advisory services.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of AJ Bell and Halifax, AJ Bell stands out with its advanced charting capabilities. AJ Bell offers the ability to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature not available with Halifax. Additionally, AJ Bell provides eight drawing tools and 31 technical indicators for charting, allowing for more detailed market analysis, while Halifax does not include any of these features. Both brokers provide browser-based trading platforms and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, but only AJ Bell offers real-time market data and the option to add index and stock overlays to charts, giving traders a more comprehensive view of market trends.
For investors who prioritize in-depth chart analysis and real-time data, AJ Bell proves to be a superior choice over Halifax. Although neither provider offers the ability to add notes to charts, AJ Bell's extensive tools and features cater to those looking for a robust trading experience. In contrast, Halifax's more limited offering may appeal to traders who prefer a simpler trading environment without the need for advanced charting functionalities. Ultimately, AJ Bell's innovative tools place it ahead in the realm of online trading and market analysis.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 comparing the online brokers AJ Bell and Halifax for retirement accounts, both offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), giving investors options tailored to their savings goals. AJ Bell is known for its user-friendly platform and competitive fees, catering to those who appreciate straightforward investment management. Meanwhile, Halifax stands out with its long-standing reputation and a wide range of financial products, appealing to customers who value robust support and stability. Whether you’re prioritizing cost-effectiveness or long-term trustworthiness, both AJ Bell and Halifax provide solid choices for managing ISAs and SIPPs.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile apps of AJ Bell and Halifax, both platforms offer iPhone and Android applications, making them accessible on a wide range of devices. However, AJ Bell's app stands out with a 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the #3 spot out of 18 brokers for mobile apps. In contrast, Halifax's app holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks at #14, indicating a noticeable difference in user satisfaction and app performance.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing educational resources for beginner investors, AJ Bell stands out significantly against Halifax. AJ Bell provides a wealth of resources, including educational webinars available both live and archived for on-demand viewing, covering key topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement planning. In contrast, Halifax does not offer webinars and lacks educational content on these specific subjects. AJ Bell's comprehensive educational support earns it a stellar 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 3rd out of 18 brokers for beginner education. Conversely, Halifax's offerings are comparatively limited, resulting in a 3.5-star rating and a 16th place ranking. For new investors seeking thorough educational guidance, AJ Bell clearly offers a more robust learning experience.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing AJ Bell and Halifax for their market research features, AJ Bell stands out by offering research reports for funds, a feature not available with Halifax. AJ Bell also provides insights into portfolio allocation by asset class, while Halifax lacks this capability. Both brokers offer research for shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, making them suitable for diverse investment strategies. However, neither AJ Bell nor Halifax provides research for CFDs. This makes AJ Bell a more comprehensive choice for investors seeking detailed fund research and portfolio allocation analysis alongside standard market research tools.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, AJ Bell or Halifax? 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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Halifax
|
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Both AJ Bell and Halifax do not provide cryptocurrency trading options, making them similar in this aspect while investors seek alternative online brokers for crypto investments.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | Halifax | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | AJ Bell | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £9.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £100 | £83.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £150 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £255 | £378 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £495 | £1,176 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.50 | £64.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £875 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £875 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £5 | £9.5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £5 | £9.5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5 | £9.5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | £9.5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | AJ Bell | Halifax | |
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| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | AJ Bell | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | Halifax | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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