Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AJ Bell vs XTB, 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, XTB 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 XTB would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £135 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £255 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £495 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £0 per year, while XTB 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 choosing between AJ Bell and XTB for your investment needs, it's essential to understand their offerings. AJ Bell provides a broad range of options, including share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts, but does not offer crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading. On the other hand, XTB also allows for share and ETF trading, differing by offering CFD trading but missing out on funds, bonds, and investment trusts. Neither platform provides crypto trading or spread betting.
AJ Bell shines with a 5-star rating for its investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 5th out of 21 brokers, thanks to its extensive range of available options. Meanwhile, XTB holds a respectable 4.5-star rating, placing 13th in the same category. While both brokers have their strengths, AJ Bell's varied selection might appeal more to those interested in traditional investments like bonds and trusts, whereas XTB offers unique opportunities with CFDs.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes |
| 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.
When comparing the online trading tools offered by AJ Bell and XTB, there are some key differences to consider. Both brokers allow users to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends on their charts. However, AJ Bell offers only 8 charting drawing tools compared to XTB's 20. In terms of technical indicators, AJ Bell provides 31, while XTB offers 39. A notable difference is the ability to add personal notes to charts, a feature available with XTB, but not AJ Bell. On the other hand, AJ Bell supports adding index and stock overlays to charts, which XTB does not.
Both AJ Bell and XTB provide browser-based trading platforms, giving you the flexibility to trade from anywhere with internet access. Users can create alerts for stock price updates and access real-time market data with both brokers. While AJ Bell provides certain features like index and stock overlays, XTB compensates with a wider range of drawing tools and the ability to annotate charts. As a UK investor, selecting the right platform might depend on the specific trading tools and features that suit your trading style best.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
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XTB
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|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 39 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing AJ Bell and XTB for retirement accounts in the UK, key differences can be noted in their offerings. Both AJ Bell and XTB provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing for tax-efficient saving. However, when it comes to Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), AJ Bell stands out as it offers these accounts, while XTB does not. This distinction makes AJ Bell a more comprehensive choice for investors seeking both ISAs and SIPPs for their retirement planning. Meanwhile, potential investors with XTB will need to consider alternative providers if SIPPs are part of their retirement strategy.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of AJ Bell and XTB, both platforms provide apps for iPhone and Android users, catering to a wide range of mobile traders. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, each app scores an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars, reflecting their user-friendly interfaces and functionality. However, in a ranking of 21 brokers, there is a slight difference in their overall standings, with XTB being ranked 6th and AJ Bell positioned at 9th place. This indicates that while both apps are highly rated, XTB has a marginal edge in the broader mobile trading landscape.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors offered by AJ Bell and XTB, AJ Bell stands out significantly. AJ Bell provides comprehensive educational webinars that are available both live and on-demand, allowing investors to learn at their own pace. In contrast, XTB does not offer webinars. AJ Bell covers a broad spectrum of topics, including share trading, funds, and retirement, while XTB focuses only on share trading. AJ Bell's dedication to educating beginners is reflected in its 5-star rating and impressive #5 rank out of 21 brokers by UK.StockBrokers.com, whereas XTB holds a 4.5-star rating and is ranked #9. For UK investors seeking in-depth educational support, AJ Bell emerges as the stronger choice.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 AJ Bell and XTB for market research features, AJ Bell stands out as a comprehensive option for UK investors interested in diverse asset classes. AJ Bell provides valuable research reports for funds that XTB does not offer. Both brokers allow users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, ensuring a clear understanding of investment distributions. Investors can access shares and ETFs research with either broker, but AJ Bell also excels by offering bonds research, a feature absent from XTB. In contrast, XTB specializes in offering CFDs research, which AJ Bell lacks. Overall, AJ Bell is a stronger choice for those seeking detailed insights into funds and bonds, while XTB caters to traders focused on CFDs.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, AJ Bell or XTB? 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.
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XTB
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When comparing online brokers AJ Bell and XTB, neither offers crypto trading, highlighting a similarity in their investment options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | XTB | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | AJ Bell | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
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| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 39 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 20 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | AJ Bell | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AJ Bell | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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