IG vs AJ Bell 2026
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.
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.
Comparing IG vs AJ Bell for UK investment choices: both let you buy and sell shares, ETFs, and investment trusts. IG also offers crypto and CFD trading, while AJ Bell does not. AJ Bell provides access to funds, corporate bonds, and UK government bonds (gilts), which IG does not. Neither platform offers an advice service, and spread betting availability is not specified here.
Both are rated 5 out of 5 for investment choices by UK.StockBrokers.com; AJ Bell ranks 4th of 21 brokers, while IG ranks 6th. Choose IG if you want crypto or CFDs alongside shares and ETFs. Choose AJ Bell if you need funds or bond investing as part of your portfolio.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| 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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For charting, both IG and AJ Bell let you show corporate events such as earnings, splits and dividends on the chart. IG offers 19 drawing tools versus AJ Bell’s 8, and 33 technical indicators compared with AJ Bell’s 31. IG also supports adding notes to charts and includes index and stock overlays, features AJ Bell does not offer.
On platforms and data, both brokers provide a browser-based trading platform and let you set price alerts. The key difference is data speed: IG delivers real-time market data, while AJ Bell does not, which can help UK investors who want live prices when timing trades.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
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.
IG vs AJ Bell for mobile trading in the UK: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, but IG’s app stands out with a 5/5 rating and a #2 of 21 ranking for Mobile Apps, while AJ Bell’s app holds a 4/5 rating and ranks #12, according to UK.StockBrokers.com—making IG the stronger pick if app quality is your priority.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors comparing IG and AJ Bell, both brokers offer live client webinars with on‑demand replays and provide clear guides on funds and retirement. AJ Bell also teaches share trading, which IG does not. UK.StockBrokers.com rates both 5 stars for beginner education, yet IG ranks 1st out of 21 brokers while AJ Bell ranks 6th—making IG the stronger overall choice for learning, with AJ Bell appealing if you want extra help on share trading.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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|---|---|---|
| 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.
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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 | £250 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £5 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £1.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £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 | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| 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 | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| 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 |