Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AJ Bell vs Lloyds Bank, 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, Lloyds Bank 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 AJ Bell vs Lloyds Bank for investment choices, both providers let you trade UK and international shares, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. Neither supports crypto or CFD trading.
Advice is the key difference: AJ Bell does not offer adviser services, while Lloyds Bank does. For investment choice specifically, UK.StockBrokers.com rates AJ Bell 5/5 (ranked 4th of 21 brokers) and Lloyds Bank 4.5/5 (ranked 7th), suggesting AJ Bell edges it for range, while Lloyds may suit those who want access to advice.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
AJ Bell vs Lloyds Bank: for charting, AJ Bell lets you show corporate events like earnings, splits and dividends directly on charts, while Lloyds Bank does not. AJ Bell provides 8 drawing tools (Lloyds Bank doesn’t specify a number), and 31 technical indicators. Lloyds Bank offers far more indicators at 93, plus the option to add notes to charts (AJ Bell does not). Neither provider supports index or stock overlays.
Both AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank have browser-based trading platforms for UK investors and let you set price alerts. Real-time market data isn’t available with either, so expect delayed quotes. In short, choose AJ Bell if you want corporate events shown on charts, or Lloyds Bank if you prefer a wide range of indicators and the ability to annotate your charts.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Lloyds Bank
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|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 93 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing retirement account options in the UK, both AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) to cater to diverse investment needs. AJ Bell provides a range of online investment services, which can appeal to customers looking for a flexible and user-friendly platform for managing their retirement savings. Lloyds Bank, a longstanding financial institution, also offers ISAs and SIPPs, delivering traditional banking services alongside their investment products, which might attract customers who prefer banking with a well-established entity. Both options allow customers to effectively manage and grow their retirement savings, but the choice may ultimately depend on personal preference for digital experience with AJ Bell or the reassurance of a big bank with Lloyds.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank offer iPhone and Android investing apps in the UK, but AJ Bell edges ahead on user ratings: UK.StockBrokers.com gives AJ Bell 4 out of 5 stars and ranks it 12th of 21 brokers for mobile apps, while Lloyds Bank scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 14th. If you need an iPhone or Android app from a well-known provider, both fit the bill, though AJ Bell may deliver a slightly better mobile experience based on these scores.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
AJ Bell outshines Lloyds Bank for beginner investor education in the UK, offering live and on‑demand client webinars plus straightforward guidance on share trading, funds and retirement; Lloyds Bank has no webinars, no on‑demand archive and no dedicated learning in those areas. Reflecting this, UK.StockBrokers.com rates AJ Bell 5/5 stars and ranks it 6th of 21 for beginner education, while Lloyds Bank scores 4/5 stars and ranks 11th of 21.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When it comes to market research features, both AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank provide comprehensive research reports for funds, along with insights for shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, catering to diverse investment strategies. However, AJ Bell edges ahead with the added capability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not available with Lloyds Bank. This feature can be particularly useful for investors looking to fine-tune their investment strategies with a clear visual breakdown of their portfolio. Overall, both platforms offer solid research options, but AJ Bell provides an extra layer of insight with its detailed portfolio allocation feature.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, AJ Bell or Lloyds Bank? 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 the Dodl app 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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Lloyds Bank
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Both AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank do not offer crypto trading options, making neither suitable for investors looking to trade cryptocurrencies.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | Lloyds Bank | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Lloyds Bank Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | AJ Bell | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Mutual 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 | |||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250 | £1 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £1.50 | £8 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £1.50 | £8 | |
| 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 | £0 - £625 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £875 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £875 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £5 | £9.50 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £5 | £9.50 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5 | £9.50 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | £35 |
| Broker Screenshots | AJ Bell | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 93 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | ||
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | AJ Bell | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | AJ Bell | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | Lloyds Bank | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Lloyds Bank Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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