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.
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.
When it comes to investment choices, AJ Bell significantly outshines Robinhood UK in catering to the varied needs of investors. In the UK, AJ Bell offers a comprehensive platform for various investments including share trading, ETFs, funds, and both corporate and government bonds, positioning itself as a versatile choice for those seeking a broad scope of options. Meanwhile, Robinhood UK limits its options primarily to share trading, leaving out crucial investment vehicles such as ETFs, funds, and bonds.
UK.StockBrokers.com rates AJ Bell with an impressive 5 out of 5 stars for its diverse investment offerings, ranking it 5th out of 18 brokers for investment choices. In contrast, Robinhood UK receives a modest 3-star rating and is ranked 20th, highlighting its relatively limited range. For UK investors prioritizing a wide array of investment opportunities, AJ Bell emerges as the stronger option compared to Robinhood UK.
| 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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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
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.
For UK investors comparing mobile apps, AJ Bell and Robinhood UK both provide iPhone and Android solutions, ensuring accessibility across major devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, AJ Bell's app receives a commendable rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, positioning it at #9 out of 18 brokers for mobile app performance. Meanwhile, Robinhood UK's app garners a respectable 4-star rating, ranking it #13 among peers. This comparison highlights AJ Bell's slightly superior offering regarding user satisfaction and industry ranking, aiding users in selecting a broker that best meets their mobile trading needs.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors seeking educational resources, AJ Bell and Robinhood UK present distinct offerings. AJ Bell leads with client webinars, both live and on-demand, covering crucial topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement planning. In contrast, Robinhood UK lacks webinar support and focuses solely on share trading education. AJ Bell excels with a perfect 5-star rating for beginner education, ranking 5th out of 18 brokers according to UK.StockBrokers.com. Robinhood UK trails with a 3.5-star rating, positioned at 20th. This makes AJ Bell a more comprehensive choice for novices in the UK looking for extensive learning tools.
| 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 | No | No | |
| 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 | |
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| Website 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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