Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Hargreaves Lansdown vs AJ Bell, 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, Hargreaves Lansdown 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 - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year, while AJ Bell would cost £100 per year.
12 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year, while AJ Bell would cost £135 per year.
36 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year, while AJ Bell would cost £255 per year.
120 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year, while AJ Bell would cost £495 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1 per year, while AJ Bell 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.
In the UK, when considering online brokers for diverse investment options, both Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell stand out with strong offerings. Each platform provides share trading, making them attractive alternatives for stock investors. For those interested in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts, both brokers offer these products to their users. However, neither platform currently supports crypto trading, spread betting, or contract for difference (CFD) trading. Notably, Hargreaves Lansdown offers advisor services, adding an extra layer of support that AJ Bell lacks in this regard.
Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell both earn a commendable five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for the breadth of their investment choices, affirming their reputation as top contenders in the UK brokerage landscape. Despite this, Hargreaves Lansdown is ranked slightly higher than AJ Bell, taking the fourth spot compared to AJ Bell's fifth in investment choices among 21 brokers. This subtle difference reflects a competitive edge for Hargreaves Lansdown in offering diverse investment opportunities to UK investors.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | Yes | |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools of Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell, both platforms provide a comprehensive set of features to assist UK traders. Both brokers allow users to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, and they both offer browser-based trading platforms with the capability to add index and stock overlays. Traders can also set up alerts for stock price updates and access real-time market data on both platforms. These shared functionalities ensure that users have access to vital information needed for informed trading decisions.
However, some differences emerge when delving into charting tools. Hargreaves Lansdown provides 11 drawing tools and 15 technical indicators, while AJ Bell offers fewer drawing tools, at 8, but compensates with 31 technical indicators, providing a more detailed analysis framework. While neither platform supports the addition of notes to charts, the array of available tools ensures that both Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell cater to different trader preferences, making each suitable depending on individual charting needs and analytic depth.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 31 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 8 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When considering online brokers in the UK for retirement planning, Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell both stand out as solid choices, offering a range of account options designed to suit various needs. Both brokers provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), allowing you to invest for your future with potential tax advantages. Hargreaves Lansdown is well-known for its strengths in customer service and a user-friendly platform, making it an attractive option for those who value simplicity and support. AJ Bell, on the other hand, often appeals to cost-conscious investors with competitive fees. By comparing the features, fees, and customer support each broker offers, you can better determine which might be the right fit for your retirement savings journey.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking efficient mobile trading options, Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell both offer impressive smartphone apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both apps receive a commendable rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, reflecting their reliability and user-friendly design. However, when comparing overall rankings among 21 brokers, AJ Bell slightly edges out its competitor by securing the 9th position, while Hargreaves Lansdown follows closely at 10th. This indicates that while both brokers provide excellent mobile platforms, AJ Bell has a marginally higher app ranking for investors on the move.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
Both Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell excel in their educational offerings for beginner investors in the UK, providing engaging client webinars and comprehensive resources on share trading, funds, and retirement. While both platforms host live webinars, AJ Bell also allows users to access these on demand. In independent evaluations by UK.StockBrokers.com, both brokers received a top-tier rating of 5 stars for their beginner education, with Hargreaves Lansdown slightly edging out AJ Bell by securing the 4th rank among 21 brokers, compared to AJ Bell’s 5th-place standing.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | 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 it comes to market research features, both Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell provide comprehensive options for UK investors. They both offer research reports for funds, as well as the ability to see portfolio allocation by asset class, helping investors make informed decisions. Each platform provides research on shares, ETFs, and funds, giving users a broad understanding of various investment options. Additionally, investors can access bonds research on both platforms. However, neither Hargreaves Lansdown nor AJ Bell currently offers research specifically focused on CFDs. Overall, both online brokers present a comparably rich set of research tools catering to diverse investment needs.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Hargreaves Lansdown or AJ Bell? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Hargreaves Lansdown to be a better trading platform overall.
As the U.K.’s biggest investment platform for individual investors, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a wide range of investment choices for either beginners or seasoned investors. However, its fees are generally more expensive than rival brokers, which can become an issue for large investment pots.
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Hargreaves Lansdown
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AJ Bell
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While both Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell provide robust online brokerage services, neither offers cryptocurrency trading, compelling investors interested in crypto assets to look elsewhere for such investment opportunities.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Hargreaves Lansdown | AJ Bell | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | AJ Bell Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Hargreaves Lansdown | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Hargreaves Lansdown | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | £5 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | £3.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | £3.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. | £100 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. | £135 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. | £255 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. | £495 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £79.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £1,125 | £0 - £625 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | Up to £625 | £625 - £875 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,250 | £875 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | Up to £1,000 | £875 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | £5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | £5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | AJ Bell | |
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| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Hargreaves Lansdown | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 31 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 8 | |
| Charting - Notes | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Hargreaves Lansdown | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown | AJ Bell | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | AJ Bell Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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