Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AJ Bell vs Robinhood UK, 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, Robinhood UK 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 Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £135 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £255 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £495 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £0 per year, while Robinhood UK 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.
For UK investors seeking diverse investment options, AJ Bell stands out compared to Robinhood UK. While both platforms allow users to trade shares, AJ Bell offers a broader array of choices, including the trading of ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. In contrast, Robinhood UK limits its offerings to share trading, missing out on these additional investment opportunities. Neither platform offers crypto trading, spread betting, CFD trading, or advisor services, aligning them in some areas but highlighting AJ Bell's superior range of investing possibilities.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, AJ Bell impresses with a 5-star rating for investment choices, securing the 5th spot out of 21 brokers. Conversely, Robinhood UK earns a 3-star rating, placing it 20th in the same category. This comparison underscores AJ Bell’s commitment to providing comprehensive investment options for UK investors, establishing it as a more versatile choice for those seeking to diversify their portfolios.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| 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 AJ Bell with Robinhood UK for trading tools, AJ Bell provides a more comprehensive charting experience. AJ Bell allows users to display corporate events directly on charts, an option Robinhood UK does not offer. With 8 drawing tools and 31 technical indicators, AJ Bell stands out compared to Robinhood UK, which offers none and only 3, respectively. Additionally, AJ Bell permits the addition of both index and stock overlays to charts, features not available through Robinhood UK.
Both AJ Bell and Robinhood UK offer browser-based trading platforms with real-time market data and the ability to create stock price alerts, ensuring that traders remain informed. However, neither brokerage supports adding personal notes to charts. For those keen on in-depth technical analysis, AJ Bell offers more options that may appeal to dedicated investors looking to leverage detailed charting capabilities.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 3 |
| 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 AJ Bell and Robinhood UK for retirement account options, AJ Bell emerges as a more comprehensive choice for UK investors seeking tax-efficient savings. AJ Bell offers both Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP), catering to those who want to grow their savings and plan for retirement. Meanwhile, Robinhood UK does not provide either ISA or SIPP accounts, limiting its appeal for those focused on UK-specific retirement and tax-efficient investment options. With AJ Bell, investors can take advantage of the benefits offered by ISAs and SIPPs, making it a more suitable option for UK retirement planning.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When choosing an online broker in the UK, AJ Bell and Robinhood UK both offer iPhone and Android apps to cater to mobile investors. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, AJ Bell's app garners a 4.5-star rating, ranking it 9th among 21 brokers for its mobile experience. In comparison, Robinhood UK’s app has a respectable 4-star rating, placing it 13th. These ratings reflect user preferences and performance, with AJ Bell slightly ahead in terms of user satisfaction and app quality.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
Choosing between AJ Bell and Robinhood UK as a beginner investor hinges on their educational offerings. AJ Bell shines with educational webinars, both live and on-demand, covering essential topics like share trading, funds, and retirement, offering a comprehensive learning journey. In contrast, Robinhood UK provides basic resources on share trading but lacks content on funds and retirement, and doesn't host any webinars. This comprehensive approach has earned AJ Bell a 5-star rating and a #5 ranking out of 21 brokers for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Robinhood UK trails with a 3.5-star rating and a #20 ranking.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 AJ Bell and Robinhood UK, AJ Bell stands out with a comprehensive set of tools for investors. AJ Bell provides research reports for funds, while Robinhood UK does not offer this feature. AJ Bell also allows users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature missing in Robinhood UK. Both platforms offer research for shares and ETFs, but AJ Bell goes further with research on funds and bonds, which Robinhood UK lacks. Neither platform covers CFDs research, making AJ Bell the more versatile choice for UK investors seeking detailed market insights.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, AJ Bell or Robinhood UK? 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
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Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
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When comparing online brokers, neither AJ Bell nor Robinhood UK offers crypto trading, making them equal in this financial service aspect.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | Robinhood UK | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | AJ Bell | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £100 | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £255 | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £495 | £0 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.50 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £875 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £875 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | AJ Bell | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 3 | |
| 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 | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | AJ Bell | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | Robinhood UK | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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