Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs AJ Bell, 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, Trading 212 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 - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while AJ Bell would cost £100 per year.
12 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while AJ Bell would cost £135 per year.
36 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while AJ Bell would cost £255 per year.
120 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while AJ Bell would cost £495 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £1 per year, while AJ Bell 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 searching for a flexible online trading platform, Trading 212 and AJ Bell offer varying investment choices. Both platforms allow users to trade shares, ETFs, and investment trusts. While Trading 212 extends its services with the ability to trade CFDs, AJ Bell caters to different preferences by allowing funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds (gilts). It’s worth noting that neither platform provides crypto trading, spread betting, or advisor services. This breadth of offerings places AJ Bell in a favorable position for those seeking diverse investment opportunities, receiving a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, compared to Trading 212's 4.5-star score.
In terms of ranking among UK brokers for investment choices, AJ Bell stands strong at #5 out of 18, reflecting its comprehensive array of investment options. Contrarily, Trading 212, which mainly emphasizes share and CFD trade, is ranked #16 by UK.StockBrokers.com. Thus, AJ Bell might be more suited for investors who desire extensive options, while Trading 212 could appeal to those focused primarily on specific trading types like shares and CFDs. As always, the best choice depends on the individual’s investment strategy and preferences.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Trading 212 and AJ Bell, UK investors will notice differences in their trading tools. Trading 212 excels in providing comprehensive charting features, offering 27 drawing tools and a remarkable 106 technical indicators. This makes it an excellent choice for chart enthusiasts who like to dive deep into data analysis. Additionally, Trading 212 allows users to add notes to charts, enhancing their ability to keep track of personal insights. In terms of accessibility, both platforms offer browser-based trading, ensuring ease of use without the need for additional software installation.
On the flip side, AJ Bell provides useful features by allowing the display of corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts. This can be particularly valuable for those who focus on fundamental analysis. Moreover, AJ Bell enables traders to add both index and stock overlays to charts, providing a broader perspective of market relationships. Despite offering fewer drawing tools (8) and technical indicators (31), AJ Bell suits investors looking for integrated fundamental data and multifaceted chart views. Both platforms support real-time market data and stock price alerts, ensuring traders stay informed of market moves.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 31 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 8 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
When choosing between Trading 212 and AJ Bell for retirement investment accounts, UK residents will notice a key difference in the types of accounts each broker offers. Both Trading 212 and AJ Bell provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing for tax-efficient investing. However, when it comes to Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), only AJ Bell offers this option, providing a clear advantage for those specifically looking to invest in a SIPP for their retirement planning. Choosing between the two largely depends on whether your focus is solely on ISAs or if you also need access to a SIPP. While Trading 212 accommodates ISA investors, AJ Bell caters to both ISA and SIPP account holders, making it a broader option for comprehensive retirement investment needs.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Trading 212 and AJ Bell both offer convenient mobile apps for iPhone and Android users in the UK, making trading on the go a breeze. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212's app shines with a top-notch 5-star rating, ranking it #3 among 18 brokers for mobile app usability. Meanwhile, AJ Bell's mobile app receives a commendable 4.5-star rating, securing the #9 spot in the same list. Whether you're using Trading 212 or AJ Bell, you can access your investment portfolio anytime, anywhere with their reliable mobile solutions.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational support from online brokers, AJ Bell and Trading 212 offer some contrasting options. AJ Bell stands out with its educational client webinars, including archived sessions for on-demand viewing, which Trading 212 lacks. Both platforms provide resources on share trading and funds, but AJ Bell takes an additional step by offering resources on retirement, unlike Trading 212. This comprehensive educational approach earns AJ Bell a higher rating of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com compared to Trading 212’s 4-star rating. Additionally, AJ Bell is ranked 5th out of 18 brokers, while Trading 212 is positioned 13th for beginner education support.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
For UK investors seeking comprehensive market research tools, both Trading 212 and AJ Bell offer a range of features, but they cater to slightly different needs. Trading 212 provides portfolio allocation insights by asset class, along with research on shares, ETFs, and CFDs, making it a good fit for those interested in these areas. However, it lacks research reports for funds and bonds, which might be essential for some investors. In contrast, AJ Bell offers extensive research support, including reports on funds and bonds, alongside capabilities for shares and ETFs. While it doesn't provide CFDs research, AJ Bell supports investors looking for a broader spectrum of market insights, particularly those who prioritize funds and bonds analysis.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Trading 212 or AJ Bell? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Trading 212 to be a better trading platform overall.
Trading 212 offers commission-free share dealing and is a great option for those looking to simply execute share or ETF trades. Novice investors or those looking for more diversification through mutual funds may find better options elsewhere.
| Feature |
Trading 212
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AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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Both Trading 212 and AJ Bell do not offer crypto trading, making them similar choices for investors who are not focused on cryptocurrency investments.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | AJ Bell | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | AJ Bell Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Trading 212 | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £5 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £3.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £3.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £100 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £135 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £255 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £495 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £79.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £0 - £625 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £625 - £875 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £875 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £875 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | 0 | £5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0 | £5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | AJ Bell | |
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| Platforms & Tools | Trading 212 | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 31 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 8 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | AJ Bell | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | AJ Bell Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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