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.
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 Lloyds Bank 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 Lloyds Bank would cost £95 per year.
12 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £135 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £40 - £172 per year.
36 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £255 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £40 - £328 per year.
120 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £495 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £40 / £1,000 per year.
3 fund trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £0 per year, while Lloyds Bank 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.
In the UK market, both AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank cater to investors with a variety of options, making them commendable choices for diversifying portfolios. AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank offer share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts, providing a broad spectrum of opportunities for investment. Neither platform provides crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading. A notable advantage of Lloyds Bank is the availability of advisor services, unlike AJ Bell. Both institutions boast a five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, though AJ Bell is ranked higher at #5 compared to Lloyds Bank’s #8 among 21 brokers.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When considering trading tools, AJ Bell provides a more comprehensive experience compared to Lloyds Bank. AJ Bell's platform allows users to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature not available with Lloyds Bank. Additionally, AJ Bell stands out with 8 drawing tools and 31 technical indicators for charting, whereas Lloyds Bank offers neither. Users with AJ Bell can also add index and stock overlays to their charts, enhancing their analytical capabilities, which Lloyds Bank does not support.
Both AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank offer browser-based trading platforms and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates. However, AJ Bell distinguishes itself further by providing real-time market data, a crucial feature that Lloyds Bank lacks. While neither platform allows adding notes to charts, AJ Bell's comprehensive toolset makes it a more appealing choice for traders seeking detailed analysis features.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | 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.
If you're choosing between online broker AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank for managing your investments, both offer mobile apps on iPhone and Android devices, ensuring accessibility regardless of your smartphone preference. AJ Bell's app stands out with a UK.StockBrokers.com rating of 4.5 stars, demonstrating a strong performance and earning it the 9th spot out of 21 brokers. In contrast, Lloyds Bank's app is rated at 3.5 stars and ranks 17th, suggesting room for improvement. This comparison highlights AJ Bell as the better option for those who prioritise higher-rated mobile capabilities for their trading and investment needs.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners seeking investor education, AJ Bell stands out with its comprehensive resources, including live and archived webinars, covering key topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement planning. Unlike Lloyds Bank, which does not offer educational webinars or extensive topic-specific training, AJ Bell provides a more in-depth learning experience for novice investors. Rated 5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, AJ Bell ranks 5th out of 21 brokers, demonstrating its commitment to novice investors. In comparison, Lloyds Bank, rated 4 stars and ranked 14th, offers relatively fewer educational tools for beginners.
| 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 comparing the market research features of online broker AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank for UK investors, both platforms provide comprehensive research reports for funds, allowing users to make informed decisions. AJ Bell distinguishes itself by offering insights into portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not available with Lloyds Bank. Both AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank offer extensive research on shares, ETFs, and bonds, catering to diverse investment preferences. However, neither platform provides research for CFDs. Overall, AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank are strong options for investors seeking reliable research content, with AJ Bell offering slightly more detailed portfolio insights.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 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.
| Feature |
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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 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | £8 - £11 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £8 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £8 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £100 | £95 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £40 - £172 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £255 | £40 - £328 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £495 | £40 / £1,000 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.50 | £44.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | £40 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £40 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £875 | £40 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £875 | £40 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £5 | £8 - £11 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £5 | £8 - £11 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5 | £8 - £11 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | £8 - £11 | |
| 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 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | AJ Bell | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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