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.
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, Trading 212 offers better pricing than AJ Bell for share dealing.
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 the best online brokerages for diverse investment options, Trading 212 and AJ Bell stand as prominent choices with their unique offerings. Trading 212 is well-regarded for providing share trading, ETF trading, CFD trading, and investment trusts, earning a commendable 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. However, it misses out on some other asset types like funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds, which AJ Bell provides. Although ranked 16th in investment choices out of 21 brokers, Trading 212's user-friendly platform may appeal to those prioritizing shares and CFDs.
In contrast, AJ Bell caters to investors looking for a more comprehensive array of investment vehicles, including share and ETF trading alongside funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds. This broader selection contributes to AJ Bell's 5-star rating and secures its higher ranking of 5th place in investment choices, per UK.StockBrokers.com. While neither platform features crypto trading, spread betting, or advisor services, AJ Bell's extensive range of options makes it a strong contender for those seeking versatility in their investment strategy.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For UK investors comparing trading tools, both Trading 212 and AJ Bell offer browser-based platforms with real-time market data and price alerts. AJ Bell lists 8 drawing tools and 31 technical indicators, and can display corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) on charts. It also supports index and stock overlays. Trading 212’s counts for drawing tools and indicators aren’t specified, and it doesn’t show corporate events or allow index/stock overlays, but it does let you add notes to charts (AJ Bell does not).
If you want richer chart context and more built-in indicators, AJ Bell may suit you better. If adding notes to charts is important and you mainly need live prices and alerts on the web, Trading 212 could be a good fit. Both platforms cover the essentials of browser access, real-time data, and price alerts.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 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.
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.
For UK beginners comparing investor education, AJ Bell outshines Trading 212. AJ Bell runs educational client webinars and keeps recordings available on demand, while Trading 212 offers no webinars. Both brokers cover share trading, but only AJ Bell provides learning on funds and retirement. Reflecting this breadth, UK.StockBrokers.com rates AJ Bell 5/5 stars and ranks it 5th of 21 for beginner education, versus Trading 212’s 4.5/5 stars and 13th place. If you want live and on-demand lessons plus wider topic coverage, AJ Bell is the more complete choice.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research tools of Trading 212 and AJ Bell for UK investors, AJ Bell stands out with its comprehensive research reports for funds, an area where Trading 212 falls short. Both platforms, however, allow users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, ensuring transparency in investment composition. In terms of research offerings, Trading 212 covers shares and ETFs, but lacks in providing insights into funds and bonds. AJ Bell excels here, offering research across shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, making it a more informative choice for those seeking detailed investment analysis. Whether you're prioritizing broad research or specific features, AJ Bell offers a more extensive suite of tools to guide investment decisions.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
AJ Bell
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| 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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| 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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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 | |
| Mutual 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 | |||
| 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) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £0 - £625 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £0 | £625 - £875 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £875 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £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 | 31 | ||
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 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 | |||
| 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) | No | 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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