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.
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.
For UK investors seeking a platform with varied investment options, both Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell stand out as strong contenders. Each offers share trading, ETF trading, as well as a broad array of funds trading. Investors can also trade corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts on both platforms. While neither platform supports crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, Hargreaves Lansdown distinguishes itself by offering advisor services, which AJ Bell does not.
Both platforms are highly rated, receiving five stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices. However, in terms of rankings among 21 brokers, Hargreaves Lansdown is ranked slightly higher at #4, compared to AJ Bell's rank at #5. This ranking suggests a slight edge for Hargreaves Lansdown, possibly attributed to its comprehensive service offerings, including advisory support.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
AJ Bell
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|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For charting, Hargreaves Lansdown offers more depth than AJ Bell. HL supports 11 drawing tools and 109 technical indicators, plus the option to add stock overlays, though it can’t show corporate events on charts and doesn’t allow notes or index overlays. AJ Bell shows corporate events on charts, but has fewer drawing tools (8), fewer indicators (31), and doesn’t support notes, index overlays or stock overlays.
Both brokers provide a browser-based trading platform and price alerts. If live pricing matters, note that Hargreaves Lansdown offers real-time market data, while AJ Bell does not. In short, HL suits investors who want richer charting and live data, whereas AJ Bell fits those who value seeing earnings, splits and dividends directly on charts.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 109 | 31 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 8 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
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.
UK investors comparing Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell will find both offer iPhone and Android apps. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, each mobile app earns 4 out of 5 stars, though AJ Bell ranks slightly higher for Mobile Apps overall (9th of 21 brokers) compared with Hargreaves Lansdown (10th of 21). For day-to-day investing on the go, both are solid choices, with AJ Bell narrowly ahead in the league table.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK comparing Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell, both brokers offer live educational webinars with on-demand replays and clear learning on share trading, funds, and retirement. UK.StockBrokers.com rates each provider 5 out of 5 for beginner education, with Hargreaves Lansdown ranked 4th and AJ Bell 5th out of 21 brokers. In short, both are excellent choices for starting out, with Hargreaves Lansdown edging AJ Bell on overall ranking.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | 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 UK online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell, both platforms provide a comprehensive suite of resources for investors. They each offer research reports for funds and offer insights into portfolio allocation by asset class. Additionally, both Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell provide extensive research support, covering areas such as shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds. This array of features ensures that investors on either platform have access to essential market insights for a well-rounded investment strategy.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| 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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AJ Bell
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| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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Both Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell do not offer cryptocurrency trading, making them more traditional platforms focused on established investment options rather than emerging digital assets.
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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 | No | No | |
| Mutual 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 | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Trading Fees | Hargreaves Lansdown | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100 | £250 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | £5 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | £1.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | £1.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | Up to £1,125 | £0 - £625 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £1125 - £1750 | £625 - £875 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £1750 - £3000 | £875 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £3,000 - £4,000 | £875 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | £5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | £5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £11.95 | £5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £11.95 | £5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | AJ Bell | |
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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 | 109 | 31 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 8 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| 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 | 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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