Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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, IG 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.
IG and AJ Bell both cover core investments like share dealing, ETFs, and investment trusts. IG also offers crypto and CFD trading, which can suit more active traders. AJ Bell does not support crypto or CFDs, but it does offer funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds (gilts), which IG doesn’t. Neither firm provides adviser services.
For investment choice, UK.StockBrokers.com rates both brokers 5 stars; however, AJ Bell ranks higher overall for Investment Choices (#5 of 21) than IG (#11 of 21). In simple terms: pick IG if you want access to crypto and CFDs; pick AJ Bell if you want funds and bonds alongside shares, ETFs, and trusts.
| Feature |
IG
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AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Comparing IG vs AJ Bell for trading tools, both platforms let UK investors display corporate events — earnings, splits and dividends — directly on charts, and they support index and stock overlays. IG offers a wider set of charting tools, with 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators, while AJ Bell provides 8 drawing tools and 31 indicators. IG also lets you add notes to charts, a feature AJ Bell does not provide.
Both IG and AJ Bell offer a browser-based trading platform with price alerts and real-time market data for quick updates. If you want deeper charting and the ability to annotate your analysis, IG is the more feature-rich choice; if you mainly need the essentials with event markers, overlays and alerts, AJ Bell covers the basics.
| Feature |
IG
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 31 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 8 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
For UK investors exploring online brokers for retirement accounts, both IG and AJ Bell present appealing options. IG provides both ISA and SIPP accounts, catering to a range of saving and investment needs. Likewise, AJ Bell offers the same account types, making it simple for individuals planning for retirement to select between these two platforms. Whether prioritizing flexibility or comprehensive features, both IG and AJ Bell deliver accessible ISA and SIPP solutions, accommodating the diverse financial goals of UK investors.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK traders seeking top-tier mobile trading experiences, both IG and AJ Bell provide comprehensive iPhone and Android apps. IG shines with a stellar 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it at the impressive second position among 21 brokers for mobile apps. In contrast, AJ Bell is rated slightly lower at 4.5 stars, securing a respectable ninth place ranking. This makes IG particularly attractive for those prioritizing mobile functionality, although AJ Bell remains a strong contender with its own reliable app offerings.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors comparing IG and AJ Bell on educational resources, both brokers run client webinars and offer them on demand, and both provide learning on funds and retirement. AJ Bell also teaches share trading, while IG does not. Even so, UK.StockBrokers.com rates both 5 stars for beginner education, with IG ranked 1st out of 21 brokers and AJ Bell 5th—so IG is the higher-ranked pick for top-rated, accessible webinars and learning, while AJ Bell is a good choice if you want share trading guidance included.
| Feature |
IG
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
IG vs AJ Bell for market research: both brokers provide research reports for funds and let you view your portfolio allocation by asset class. IG offers research on shares and ETFs and publishes fund reports, but it lacks a dedicated funds research area and does not cover bonds. AJ Bell goes further with research on shares, ETFs, funds and bonds, alongside fund reports. For UK investors seeking broader coverage—especially on funds and bonds—AJ Bell is the stronger pick, while IG suits those focused on shares and ETFs with clear portfolio breakdowns.
| Feature |
IG
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, IG or AJ Bell? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found IG to be a better trading platform overall.
IG is an investment platform aimed at experienced investors looking to make frequent trades on the stock market, with thousands of shares, trusts and ETFs to trade. It offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use trading platform that is used by both private and professional investors.
| Feature |
IG
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AJ Bell
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|---|---|---|
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IG vs AJ Bell: IG offers cryptocurrency trading, while AJ Bell does not support crypto trading, making IG the better choice for investors seeking crypto exposure.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | AJ Bell | |
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| Review | IG Review | AJ Bell Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | IG | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £5 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £3.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £3.50 | |
| 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 | N/A | £0 - £625 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | N/A | £625 - £875 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | N/A | £875 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | N/A | £875 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | AJ Bell | |
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| Platforms & Tools | IG | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 31 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 8 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | IG | AJ Bell | |
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| Review | IG Review | AJ Bell Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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