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.
Trading 212 and AJ Bell offer competitive investment choices, catering to a range of investor needs. Both platforms provide share trading and the opportunity to invest in ETFs and investment trusts. However, Trading 212 distinguishes itself by offering CFD trading, an option that is not available with AJ Bell. On the other hand, AJ Bell provides a broader array of options by allowing trading in funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds, which Trading 212 does not. Neither platform offers crypto trading, spread betting, or advisor services.
When it comes to their standings in investment choice rankings, AJ Bell outperforms Trading 212. AJ Bell receives a full 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking third out of 18 brokers. Trading 212, while commendable with a 4.5-star rating, stands at the eleventh position. This comparison underscores AJ Bell's superior versatility in investment options, appealing to those seeking a wider range of assets, while Trading 212 remains an attractive choice for those focused on CFDs and core investment vehicles.
| 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 in terms of trading tools, each platform offers distinct advantages depending on user needs. Trading 212 stands out with a robust selection of 27 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators for charting, appealing to users who prefer detailed technical analysis. It also allows traders to add notes directly to charts, a feature AJ Bell does not provide. On the other hand, AJ Bell offers the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends on charts, which can be crucial for fundamental analysis. Moreover, AJ Bell enables users to add index and stock overlays to charts, enhancing the comparative analysis capabilities.
Both platforms ensure a seamless trading experience with browser-based platforms and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates, as well as access to real-time market data. While Trading 212 provides a more extensive suite of drawing tools and indicators, AJ Bell’s strengths lie in its chart overlay features and corporate event displays. Ultimately, the choice between these brokers depends on whether you prioritize a detailed technical toolset or advanced overlay capabilities combined with corporate event insights.
| 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 comparing online brokers Trading 212 and AJ Bell, there are key differences in their retirement account offerings. Both Trading 212 and AJ Bell provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), making them viable options for tax-efficient savings. However, if you're looking for a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) account, AJ Bell is the better choice, as Trading 212 does not currently offer SIPPs. This makes AJ Bell a more versatile option for those seeking comprehensive retirement planning solutions.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing mobile app offerings, both Trading 212 and AJ Bell provide apps for iPhone and Android devices, ensuring accessible platforms for users on both operating systems. Trading 212's mobile app boasts a top-tier rating of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, highlighted for its user-friendly and comprehensive features. Despite its impressive ranking of #9 out of 18 brokers for mobile apps, it slightly trails behind AJ Bell, which, although receiving a solid 4-star rating, ranks higher at #3, indicating robust user satisfaction and effectiveness. Both brokerages offer strong mobile solutions, but prospective users might consider the slight differences in user rankings and ratings when making their choice.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing educational resources for beginner investors, Trading 212 and AJ Bell offer distinct experiences. AJ Bell excels with its comprehensive educational webinars, both live and on-demand, covering essential topics like share trading, funds, and retirement planning. In contrast, Trading 212 lacks webinar offerings, focusing more on educational content related to share trading and funds. AJ Bell’s broader educational scope is reflected in its higher beginner education rating—5 stars compared to Trading 212's 4 stars—according to UK.StockBrokers.com. Additionally, AJ Bell is ranked 3rd out of 18 brokers for beginner education, while Trading 212 holds the 11th position. For those prioritizing accessible and diverse learning, AJ Bell stands out as the more robust option.
| 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.
When comparing Trading 212 and AJ Bell for market research features, AJ Bell provides more comprehensive research options. AJ Bell offers research reports for funds and bonds, both of which are not available with Trading 212. However, both platforms allow users to see portfolio allocations by asset class and provide shares and ETFs research. Trading 212 distinguishes itself by offering CFDs research, a feature AJ Bell lacks. Ultimately, the choice between Trading 212 and AJ Bell depends on the investor's need for extensive fund and bond research or a focus on CFDs research.
| 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
|
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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| Education |
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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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