Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AJ Bell vs IG, 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, AJ Bell offers better pricing than IG 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 IG would cost £136 per year.
12 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £135 per year, while IG would cost £96 per year.
36 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £255 per year, while IG would cost £108 per year.
120 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £495 per year, while IG would cost £360 per year.
3 fund trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £0 per year, while IG 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.
When comparing online investment options, AJ Bell and IG each bring their strengths to the table, catering to different investor needs. AJ Bell shines as a versatile platform, offering share and ETF trading, along with a strong selection of funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. However, it does not support crypto trading, spread betting, or CFDs. Rated five stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for its extensive investment range, AJ Bell ranks fifth among 18 brokers in the UK, making it an excellent choice for those interested in a broad spectrum of traditional investment vehicles.
On the other hand, IG is recognized for its robust share and ETF trading services, also providing access to CFDs, which AJ Bell lacks. Like AJ Bell, IG does not offer options for crypto trading, spread betting, or advisory services, and its investment choices do not include funds, corporate bonds, or government bonds. With a solid rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, IG ranks 11th out of 18 brokers, appealing to investors seeking CFD opportunities within a comprehensive trading platform. Both AJ Bell and IG meet the key needs of different segments in the investor community, ensuring tailored solutions for varying financial goals.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| 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 IG, both platforms offer the capability to display key corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends on their charts, enhancing trader insights. However, AJ Bell comes with 8 drawing tools for chart customization, while IG provides a more extensive set of 19 drawing tools, giving users greater flexibility in technical analysis. For technical indicators, AJ Bell offers 31, slightly less than IG's 33, which may provide traders with a broader range of analytical options on IG's platform.
A noteworthy difference between the two is that AJ Bell lacks the ability to add notes to charts, a feature provided by IG that can benefit traders who like to annotate their charts. In terms of overlays, AJ Bell allows users to add both index and stock overlays, whereas IG does not support these options. Both brokers offer browser-based trading platforms and support creating alerts for stock price updates, alongside providing real-time market data, ensuring traders have the tools needed to stay informed and react promptly to market changes.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
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IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 33 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 19 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
For those looking to invest in their retirement with online brokers, AJ Bell and IG both offer flexible options. AJ Bell provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) as part of their retirement planning solutions, making them a robust choice for those wanting to manage their investments efficiently. Similarly, IG also offers both ISAs and SIPPs, ensuring investors have access to tax-efficient savings and retirement accounts. Whether you choose AJ Bell or IG, both platforms support ISAs and SIPPs, catering to various investing needs and preferences, while providing a range of investment products and user-friendly platforms.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile apps of online brokers AJ Bell and IG, both offer apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility regardless of your device preference. AJ Bell's app holds a solid 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, reflecting a robust performance though it places them at #9 out of 18 brokers in the Mobile Apps category. In contrast, IG’s app shines brighter with a flawless 5-star rating, securing the impressive #2 spot among brokers according to UK.StockBrokers.com. Whether you're an AJ Bell user satisfied with a reliable app or seeking IG’s highly-rated experience, both brokers provide robust mobile platforms for trading on the go.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, both AJ Bell and IG offer valuable support, though they differ slightly. AJ Bell provides webinars and archived sessions on topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement. In contrast, IG also covers webinars, both live and on demand, and focuses their content on share trading and retirement, but lacks education on funds. Both brokers receive a top-notch rating of 5 stars for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com. However, in a ranking among 18 brokers, AJ Bell is positioned at #5 while IG takes the top spot at #1. Regardless of these rankings, both platforms offer solid educational resources to get beginner investors started on the right foot.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers AJ Bell and IG, both provide research reports for funds, with AJ Bell slightly edging out by offering more comprehensive insights. AJ Bell allows users to see their portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not available with IG. Both platforms provide research on shares and ETFs; however, AJ Bell also offers research on funds and bonds, while IG lacks these but compensates with research on CFDs. This makes AJ Bell a more robust option for diverse asset research, whereas IG caters more to those interested in CFDs.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, AJ Bell or IG? 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.
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IG
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While both online brokers AJ Bell and IG do not offer crypto trading, potential investors might consider other factors when choosing between them, such as fees, user experience, and the range of available investment options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | IG | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | IG Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | AJ Bell | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | £0-£10 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £3 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £3 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £100 | £136 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £96 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £255 | £108 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £495 | £360 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.50 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | £0 / £96 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £0 / £96 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £875 | £0 / £96 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £875 | £0 / £96 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5 | £0 - £8 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | £0 - £8 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | £50 |
| Broker Screenshots | AJ Bell | IG | |
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| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 33 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 19 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | AJ Bell | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | AJ Bell | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | IG | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | IG Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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