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.
Interactive Investor and AJ Bell both emerge as solid contenders for online investors seeking diverse investment options. Their platforms support trading in shares, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. However, neither provides the ability to trade cryptocurrencies, engage in spread betting, or participate in CFD trading. Advisory services are also missing from both brokers' offerings, reflecting their focus on self-directed investment opportunities.
In terms of user ratings, both Interactive Investor and AJ Bell have earned a commendable 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices. Despite this even footing in customer satisfaction, AJ Bell takes a slight edge in overall ranking, placing third among 18 brokers. Meanwhile, Interactive Investor secures a respectable fifth place. Such ratings highlight both firms as popular choices, but AJ Bell holds a marginal lead in the competitive landscape.
| 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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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of Interactive Investor and AJ Bell, both platforms allow users to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, making it easier to visualize important market events. However, Interactive Investor stands out by offering 18 drawing tools, more than double the 8 available with AJ Bell, allowing for greater flexibility in charting. Moreover, Interactive Investor provides an extensive collection of 104 technical indicators, which significantly surpasses the 31 offered by AJ Bell. This abundance of tools and indicators can be crucial for traders who rely on detailed market analysis.
In terms of additional features, Interactive Investor also offers the ability to add notes to charts, a function not available with AJ Bell. Both platforms support index and stock overlays, enhancing the ability to compare performance and market trends. Further common features include browser-based trading platforms, stock price alert creation, and real-time market data, ensuring users have comprehensive tools at their disposal. Despite the similarities, the superior number of drawing tools and technical indicators, along with the ability to annotate charts, positions Interactive Investor as a more versatile option for traders seeking in-depth analytical capabilities.
| 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 the retirement account offerings of online brokers Interactive Investor and AJ Bell, both platforms provide similar options that cater to those planning for the future. Interactive Investor and AJ Bell each offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), a popular choice for tax-efficient investing. Additionally, both companies provide Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) accounts, allowing users to take control of their retirement savings. These shared offerings make either broker a versatile option for investors looking to manage their investments effectively, highlighting the flexibility both Interactive Investor and AJ Bell offer to their clients.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Interactive Investor and AJ Bell, both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android users. However, there are some differences in user satisfaction and rankings. Interactive Investor's app is highly regarded with a 4.5-star rating awarded by UK.StockBrokers.com. Despite this, it holds the #12 rank among 18 brokers for mobile apps. In contrast, AJ Bell's app has a slightly lower rating of 4 stars but ranks higher at #3 out of 18 brokers, indicating a strong overall performance and client satisfaction in the mobile trading experience. This comparison highlights the strengths of each app, making it clear that while Interactive Investor excels in user ratings, AJ Bell leads in overall rank.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors offered by Interactive Investor and AJ Bell, both platforms provide robust options, including educational client webinars that are archived for on-demand viewing. They cover essential topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement, ensuring comprehensive learning opportunities. Both brokers have received top ratings from UK.StockBrokers.com, with Interactive Investor earning a perfect 5-star rating and ranking first out of 18 brokers, while AJ Bell also holds a 5-star rating but is ranked third. This makes Interactive Investor slightly more distinguished in terms of beginner education quality, though AJ Bell remains a strong contender for learning resources.
| 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.
When comparing the market research features of Interactive Investor and AJ Bell, both platforms offer robust options for investors. Each provides research reports for funds, allowing users to make informed decisions. They both enable investors to view portfolio allocation by asset class, offering a clear picture of their investments. In terms of research on specific securities, both Interactive Investor and AJ Bell provide insights into shares, ETFs, and funds. Additionally, they both extend their research capabilities to bonds. However, neither platform offers research on CFDs, which might be a consideration for those interested in such instruments. Overall, Interactive Investor and AJ Bell present comprehensive research tools for investors looking to deepen their market understanding.
| 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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| Overall Rating |
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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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