Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Investor vs AJ Bell, 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, Interactive Investor 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 - Interactive Investor would cost £79.83 per year, while AJ Bell would cost £100 per year.
12 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £107.76 per year, while AJ Bell would cost £135 per year.
36 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £203.52 per year, while AJ Bell would cost £255 per year.
120 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £538.68 per year, while AJ Bell would cost £495 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £0 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.
When it comes to choosing an online broker in the UK, both Interactive Investor and AJ Bell stand out as top contenders with a range of investment options. Investors can trade shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (also known as gilts), and investment trusts with either platform. However, services such as cryptocurrency trading, spread betting, CFD trading, and advisor services are absent from both brokers. This makes them suitable for traditional investors looking to explore the core areas of the stock market.
Based on reviews from UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Investor and AJ Bell both receive excellent five-star ratings for their investment offerings. Among 18 brokers surveyed, Interactive Investor is ranked slightly higher at number three, while AJ Bell comes in at number five. These ratings highlight their popularity and effectiveness among UK investors, providing insightful guidance for those deciding between these two well-regarded platforms.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | 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.
When comparing the trading tools of Interactive Investor and AJ Bell, both platforms allow you to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends on their charts, as well as supporting index and stock overlays. However, Interactive Investor stands out by offering a greater variety of drawing tools and technical indicators, with 18 drawing tools and 104 technical indicators compared to AJ Bell's 8 drawing tools and 31 indicators. Additionally, Interactive Investor provides the unique capability of adding notes to charts, a feature not available in AJ Bell's platform.
Both Interactive Investor and AJ Bell offer user-friendly browser-based trading platforms, complete with the ability to set up alerts for stock price updates and access real-time market data. These similarities ensure a solid foundation for investors looking to stay informed. While each has its strengths, Interactive Investor offers a more comprehensive suite of charting tools, making it a potentially better choice for those who rely heavily on technical analysis.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 31 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 8 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When comparing UK online brokers Interactive Investor and AJ Bell, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). These accounts allow you to grow your investments tax-efficiently and plan for retirement. Whether you're looking at Interactive Investor or AJ Bell, you'll find essential options for managing your savings and retirement funds effectively. Both brokers provide a range of services designed to meet your financial planning needs, ensuring you have access to valuable options for your future.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
In the competitive world of online brokering, both Interactive Investor and AJ Bell stand out with their user-friendly mobile applications available for both iPhone and Android users. Interactive Investor, ranked 7th out of 18 brokers by UK.StockBrokers.com for its mobile apps, has received a commendable rating of 4.5 stars, showcasing its strong performance in mobile trading. Similarly, AJ Bell matches this rating with its own 4.5-star rated app, though it is slightly lower ranked, sitting at 9th place among its peers. Both platforms cater effectively to the needs of mobile traders in the UK, providing accessible and reliable means to manage investments on the go.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK-based beginner investors seeking educational resources, both Interactive Investor and AJ Bell offer comprehensive tools to get started. Each platform hosts webinars to educate clients, all of which are available on demand for later viewing, ensuring flexibility in learning. Topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement are well-covered by both brokers, making them excellent choices for gaining investment knowledge. When looking at ratings, both Interactive Investor and AJ Bell shine equally bright with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. However, Interactive Investor edges ahead slightly in the rankings, securing the #2 spot out of 18 brokers, compared to AJ Bell's commendable #5 placement.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
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.
Interactive Investor and AJ Bell both cater to UK investors who are keen on comprehensive market research, offering insights across shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds. Both platforms provide detailed research reports for funds, ensuring users have the necessary analysis to make informed decisions. When it comes to portfolio management, Interactive Investor and AJ Bell both allow investors to view their portfolio allocations by asset class, which supports well-rounded investing strategies. However, neither platform extends research services to CFDs. With these offerings, Interactive Investor and AJ Bell serve as robust choices for those seeking extensive market research tools in the UK.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| 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, Interactive Investor or AJ Bell? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Investor to be a better trading platform overall.
The standout feature at Interactive Investor (ii) is its low flat-rate fees. Other investment platforms typically favour percentage fees for fund investing, although more brokers are now opting for flat fees. Our view is that Interactive Investor is a great platform for any investor, offering a wide range of investments for cheap prices on the whole.
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AJ Bell
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Both Interactive Investor and AJ Bell are online brokers that do not offer crypto trading options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Investor | AJ Bell | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | AJ Bell Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Investor | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Investor | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £5 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £3.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £3.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.83 | £100 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £107.76 | £135 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £203.52 | £255 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £538.68 | £495 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £71.85 | £79.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £59.88 - £143.88 | £0 - £625 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £143.88 | £625 - £875 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £143.88 | £875 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £143.88 | £875 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £3.99 | £5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £3.99 | £5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3.99 | £5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £3.99 | £5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £49 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Investor | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Interactive Investor | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 31 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 8 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Investor | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Investor | 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 | Interactive Investor | AJ Bell | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | AJ Bell Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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