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 exploring different online brokers, Trading 212 and AJ Bell both extend share trading and ETF trading options, making them appealing for those looking to diversify portfolios. Trading 212 shines with its offering in CFD trading and investment trusts, earning a strong 4.5 star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices. However, AJ Bell surpasses with its impeccable 5-star rating, offering a broader selection that encompasses funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts, which might appeal to investors seeking a wider range of traditional investment products.
Although AJ Bell is ranked higher at #5 out of 21 brokers compared to Trading 212’s #16 ranking, both platforms cater to different investor needs. Trading 212 might attract those interested in modern trading options like CFDs, while AJ Bell’s robust array of bonds and funds could be better suited for those seeking to hold a more traditional investment portfolio. Both brokers support share and ETF trading, meeting fundamental investment needs with slightly different emphases on additional offerings.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools available from Trading 212 and AJ Bell, both platforms offer unique advantages tailored to different trading needs. Trading 212 shines with an extensive range of 27 drawing tools and a remarkable 106 technical indicators, ideal for traders who value detailed chart customization and in-depth analysis. It also allows users to add notes directly to charts, offering enhanced functionality for personal tracking. On the other hand, while Trading 212 lacks some features like displaying corporate events and adding overlays directly to charts, it compensates with a user-friendly, browser-based platform that supports real-time market data and custom alerts for stock price updates.
AJ Bell, meanwhile, caters to those who prioritize visualizing corporate events and index or stock overlays on charts, enhancing decision-making through a comprehensive overview of market activities. Despite offering a smaller selection of drawing tools and technical indicators, with 8 and 31 respectively, AJ Bell provides a balanced toolkit for traders who value the integration of corporate events into their analysis. Like Trading 212, AJ Bell also offers a browser-based platform with real-time market data and the ability to set price alerts, ensuring timely updates for informed trading decisions.
| 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 | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
When comparing Trading 212 and AJ Bell for UK investors looking at retirement account options, both platforms provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), making them appealing choices for tax-efficient investing. However, if you're considering a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP), AJ Bell distinguishes itself by offering this type of retirement account, whereas Trading 212 does not. This difference makes AJ Bell a more comprehensive option for investors prioritizing a broader range of retirement account selections, particularly those focusing on pension planning.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking user-friendly mobile trading platforms, both Trading 212 and AJ Bell offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212's app receives a commendable 5-star rating, securing the third spot among 21 brokers, while AJ Bell's app garners a respectable 4.5 stars, ranking ninth. These ratings highlight Trading 212's superior mobile experience, though AJ Bell remains a strong contender in the market. Both options ensure convenient access to trading on the go, tailored for a variety of investor needs.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the beginner investor educational resources between Trading 212 and AJ Bell, a few distinctions emerge. AJ Bell provides educational webinars along with archived sessions for viewing on demand, while Trading 212 does not offer these webinars. Both platforms cover education on share trading and funds, but AJ Bell extends its educational support to retirement topics, unlike Trading 212. In terms of beginner education ratings by UK.StockBrokers.com, AJ Bell shines with five out of five stars and ranks fifth out of 21 brokers, showcasing its comprehensive approach. Meanwhile, Trading 212 earns a respectable four-star rating and is ranked thirteenth. These factors make AJ Bell a more advantageous choice for beginner investors seeking extensive educational resources in the UK.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Trading 212 and AJ Bell, UK investors will find several notable differences. Trading 212 excels in CFD research and provides users with the ability to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, as well as conduct thorough research on shares and ETFs. However, it lacks research reports for funds and bonds. AJ Bell, on the other hand, offers investors a comprehensive suite of research tools, including detailed reports for funds and bonds, alongside research capabilities for shares, ETFs, and an overview of portfolio allocation by asset class. While both platforms provide solid coverage of shares and ETFs, AJ Bell stands out with its extensive fund and bond research, making it an appealing choice for those seeking deeper insights in these areas.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | 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
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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Trading 212 offers crypto trading, while AJ Bell does not, making Trading 212 a more versatile option for investors interested in cryptocurrency.
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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 | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | ||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| 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 | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | AJ Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | 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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