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AJ Bell vs XTB 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

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.

AJ Bell
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes
XTB
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP:

Fees

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.

query_stats 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.

Investment Choices

For UK investors seeking versatile online brokers, AJ Bell and XTB both offer share and ETF trading. However, AJ Bell emerges as a more diversified choice with options to trade funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. Ranked 5th out of 21 brokers for investment choices by UK.StockBrokers.com, AJ Bell receives a flawless 5-star rating. This suggests a broad spectrum of investment opportunities catering to varied financial goals.

Conversely, XTB provides a specialised approach with share, ETF, and CFD trading, accompanied by a 4.5-star rating and a ranking of 13th for investment choice. While it lacks certain investment products offered by AJ Bell, XTB delivers a strong focus on areas like CFD trading, appealing to traders interested in leveraged products. Whether you prefer diversified investment portfolios or more focused trading options, both brokers present distinct advantages tailored to different investor preferences.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
XTB logoXTB
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes
Investment Trusts info Yes
Spread Betting info Yes
Crypto Trading info
Advisor Services info
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

When comparing AJ Bell and XTB as online brokers in the UK, both platforms offer the ability to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends on their charts, alongside providing real-time market data and browser-based trading platforms. AJ Bell allows users to add index and stock overlays to charts, whereas XTB's focus seems to lean more heavily on charting tools, offering 20 drawing tools compared to AJ Bell's 8, and 39 technical indicators, surpassing AJ Bell's 31. Additionally, XTB provides the option to add notes on charts, a feature not available with AJ Bell.

For traders keen on comprehensive chart analysis, XTB might appear attractive due to its broader array of drawing tools and technical indicators. However, AJ Bell appeals to those who value the ability to add both index and stock overlays. Despite these differences, both brokers ensure their users can set alerts for stock price updates, catering to traders who prioritize staying informed in dynamic markets. Each platform presents unique tools that can be advantageous, depending on a trader's needs.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
XTB logoXTB
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 31 39
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 20
Charting - Notes info Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes

ISAs and SIPPs

When comparing retirement account options from online brokers AJ Bell and XTB, there are notable differences tailored for UK investors. AJ Bell offers both Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making it a versatile choice for those seeking a comprehensive retirement strategy. While XTB does provide ISAs, it currently does not offer SIPPs, which may limit its appeal for those specifically looking to include a SIPP in their retirement planning. Both platforms feature options for those interested in tax-efficient savings, yet AJ Bell's inclusion of SIPPs offers broader choices for long-term retirement savings.

Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.

Mobile App

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.

Beginners and Education

When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors, AJ Bell and XTB offer different strengths. AJ Bell excels with its comprehensive offerings, including client webinars that are available live and on-demand, covering essential topics like share trading, funds, and retirement planning. Conversely, XTB provides resources for share trading but lacks webinars and educational materials on funds and retirement. AJ Bell achieves a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, ranking 5th out of 21 brokers, while XTB holds a respectable 4.5-star rating, positioned at 9th. Overall, AJ Bell highlights a wider range of educational options for novices compared to XTB.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
XTB logoXTB
Client Webinars info Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When comparing AJ Bell and XTB in terms of market research features, both platforms offer valuable insights, but with some differences. AJ Bell provides comprehensive research reports for funds, with the added ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class. It also supports in-depth research on shares, ETFs, and bonds, offering a well-rounded resource for UK investors seeking detailed financial information. On the other hand, XTB matches AJ Bell in providing shares and ETFs research, along with the ability to see portfolio allocation by asset class. However, it stands out by offering research on CFDs, a feature not available with AJ Bell. Overall, AJ Bell is the preferred choice for those interested in funds and bonds research, while XTB caters to investors looking for CFD insights.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
XTB logoXTB
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes
Research - Funds info Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes

AJ Bell vs XTB Winner

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.

Feature AJ Bell logoAJ Bell
XTB logoXTB
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with AJ Bell or XTB?

While AJ Bell does not offer crypto trading, XTB provides the option to trade cryptocurrencies, making it a more suitable choice for investors interested in digital assets.

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating AJ Bell XTB
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Review AJ Bell Review XTB Review
Winner check_circle
Investments AJ Bell XTB
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes
Funds info Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes
Investment Trusts info Yes
Spread Betting info Yes
Crypto Trading info
Advisor Services info
Trading Fees AJ Bell XTB
Minimum Deposit info £0 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £5 £0
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £3.50 £0
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £3.50 £0
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £100 £0
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £135 £0
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £255 £0
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £495 £0
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £79.50 N/A
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £0 - £625 0
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £625 - £875 0
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £875 0
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £875 0
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info £5 N/A
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info £5 N/A
ETFs - Fee info £5 £0
Investment Trusts - Fee info £5 N/A
Telephone Dealing Fee info £25 N/A
Broker Screenshots AJ Bell XTB
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools AJ Bell XTB
Web Platform info Yes Yes
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 31 39
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 20
Charting - Notes info Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes
Research AJ Bell XTB
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes
Research - Funds info Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes
Education AJ Bell XTB
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes
Client Webinars info Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes
Overall Summary AJ Bell XTB
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Review AJ Bell Review XTB Review
Winner check_circle
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