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, Lloyds Bank 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 - 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.
AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank both offer a broad range of investment choices that cater to diverse investor needs. Both institutions provide share trading, enabling customers to buy and sell stocks with ease. They also facilitate trading in ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts, allowing investors to build a varied portfolio. However, neither AJ Bell nor Lloyds Bank currently offers crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, which may be a limitation for those seeking exposure to these markets. While AJ Bell does not offer advisor services, Lloyds Bank provides this option, offering expert guidance to its investors.
When it comes to ratings and rankings, AJ Bell stands out with an impressive 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, securing the 3rd spot out of 18 brokers. Similarly, Lloyds Bank also garners a 5-star rating for its investment offerings but ranks 8th among its peers. This suggests both platforms are highly regarded for their investment selections, yet AJ Bell is slightly more favored in terms of customer satisfaction and overall ranking in investment choices.
| 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 |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank, AJ Bell clearly stands out with its robust charting features. AJ Bell allows users to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on the charts, an option not available with Lloyds Bank. While AJ Bell offers 8 drawing tools and 31 technical indicators to enhance chart analysis, Lloyds Bank lacks both. Although neither platform offers the option to add notes to charts, AJ Bell lets users include both index and stock overlays to their charts, which Lloyds Bank does not support.
Both AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank provide browser-based trading platforms and the capability to create alerts for stock price updates. However, AJ Bell distinguishes itself by offering real-time market data, a feature not available with Lloyds Bank. For traders who rely on detailed charting and real-time insights, AJ Bell presents a more comprehensive toolset than Lloyds Bank.
| 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 online broker AJ Bell to Lloyds Bank regarding their retirement account offerings, both providers offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). AJ Bell, known for its user-friendly online platform, provides a range of investment options and management tools appealing to those interested in managing their portfolio. Meanwhile, Lloyds Bank offers ISAs and SIPPs as part of its broader banking services, which might appeal to those looking for convenience and a more integrated approach to their financial needs. Both institutions cater to individuals looking to plan effectively for retirement, offering robust solutions for saving and investment.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank offer convenient mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, providing easy access to manage your investments on the go. However, if you're comparing their mobile app performance, AJ Bell takes the lead with a higher rating of 4 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, compared to Lloyds Bank's 3.5 stars. Out of 18 brokers, AJ Bell's app is impressively ranked at #3 for mobile app experience, while Lloyds Bank trails behind at #15. Whether you prioritize higher app performance or brand familiarity, understanding these differences can help you decide which broker's mobile app better suits your needs.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors seeking comprehensive educational resources, AJ Bell significantly outshines Lloyds Bank. AJ Bell offers live and on-demand webinars, covering key investment topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement, which are crucial for building foundational knowledge. In contrast, Lloyds Bank does not provide webinars or targeted educational content in these areas. Reflecting this disparity, AJ Bell earns a 5-star beginner education rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and ranks third out of 18 brokers, whereas Lloyds Bank receives a 4-star rating and occupies the 15th position. This comparison highlights AJ Bell’s strong commitment to investor education, making it an excellent choice for novice investors.
| 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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank, both platforms offer comprehensive research reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and bonds. However, AJ Bell stands out by providing a detailed view of portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature Lloyds Bank lacks. Neither platform offers research on CFDs, so users interested in that particular area may need to look elsewhere. Overall, AJ Bell provides a slightly more robust toolset for those wanting a detailed overview of their investment portfolio.
| 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 |
AJ Bell
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both AJ Bell and Lloyds Bank do not offer crypto trading options, making neither suitable for investors looking to trade cryptocurrencies.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| 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, £10, £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 | ||
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | ||
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | £35 |
| Broker Screenshots | AJ Bell | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | AJ Bell Review | Lloyds Bank Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
IG Group Review
Saxo Review
eToro Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Trading 212 Review
XTB Review
CMC Invest Review
Vanguard Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
Halifax Review
Freetrade Review