Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs ATC Brokers
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  ATC Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | $2,000 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | FCA, CIMACovers more |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Intl wire USD 40 |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | MT4, MT Pro |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 200:1 |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- ATC Brokers scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only ATC Brokers offers CIMA.
- ATC Brokers is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Stocks, ETFs, Bonds.
- Markets: only ATC Brokers offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only AJ Bell offers Web platform, Mobile app.
- Platforms: only ATC Brokers offers MT4, MT Pro.
- Features: only AJ Bell offers Mobile app.
- Features: only ATC Brokers offers Demo account.
Our verdict on each
AJ Bell
AJ Bell pairs a flat £3.50 with FCA regulation and FSCS up to GBP 85,000 of cover, so it suits UK savers who want four wrapper types. Deals in shares cost £5 and currency conversion adds 0.75%, which leaves it short of the cheapest names on our data.
ATC Brokers
ATC Brokers suits experienced UK and European traders who want a properly regulated account rather than a cheap one to start. The minimum deposit of $2,000 is well above the site median of €4.64, and the firm answers to the FCA in GB and CIMA in Cayman Islands.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | ATC Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4HigherA flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.2Minimum deposit sits at $2,000 against a site median of €4.64, and a demo account is available. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.9 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.3Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | AJ Bell | ATC Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | FCA 591361 | |
| Cayman Islands | Not confirmed | CIMA 1448274 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | AJ Bell | ATC Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Which one suits you
Pick AJ Bell if offer matter most.
Pick ATC Brokers if trust and regulators matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
ATC Brokers
- compareforexbrokers.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- atcbrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokersome.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- fxleaders.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | ATC Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Demo account |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2005 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | ATC Brokers | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £5highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
Median across 38 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
AJ Bell
Pros
- Four account types in one place: isa, sipp and lisa.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 of cover on eligible money.
- A flat £3.50 annual charge against a market median of €0.
Cons
- Dealing shares costs £5, where eToro charges $0.
- The account fee places AJ Bell 111 of 138 brands on our data.
- Support runs on chat and help centre only, with no phone line listed.
ATC Brokers
Pros
- Regulated in GB by the FCA under licence 591361 and in KY by CIMA under licence 1448274
- Investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 on UK-regulated business
- Markets span forex, cfds and crypto
Cons
- A minimum deposit of $2,000 is high next to the site median of €4.64
- A wire transfer costs Intl wire USD 40
- Leverage of 200:1 on retail accounts magnifies losses
Who each suits
AJ Bell
Who it suits
- You want an FCA-regulated broker with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the account and do not need the lowest dealing cost.
- Your saving changes shape over time and you want ISA, SIPP, LISA and Junior ISA under one roof, since isa, sipp and lisa all sit here.
- You are a regular UK investor who prefers a flat £3.50 to a percentage-based platform charge.
Who should look elsewhere
- You trade very often, because eToro charges $0 on stock deals against £5 here.
- You are starting with almost nothing, since Vantage takes $5 and CFI takes $0 against the £25 asked for here.
- You want phone support, as AJ Bell lists chat and help centre and nothing wider.
ATC Brokers
Who it suits
- Experienced traders who already know how much they want to deposit
- UK residents who want the money covered by a UK protection scheme
- Traders who want forex, CFDs, crypto and metals on the same account
Who should look elsewhere
- Beginners testing small amounts, who face a high minimum deposit
- Anyone wanting many share and ETF listings, since the market list centres on forex, cfds and crypto
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | ATC Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
AJ Bell
What does AJ Bell charge to hold an account?+
The account fee is a flat £3.50 a year. That sits above the market median of €0 and well below the €219.24 at the expensive end of our data, so it is a mid-range holding cost rather than a free account.
How much does it cost to buy shares?+
A dealing in shares costs £5. The market median is €0 and the highest figure on our data is €17.54, so frequent dealing adds up quickly and investors who trade rarely feel it least.
ATC Brokers
How much do I need to deposit to start?+
The minimum deposit is $2,000. That is a high starting point, and it sits well above the site median of €4.64. If you want to test the service first, a demo account is available, so you can learn the platform without funding anything.
Who regulates ATC Brokers?+
Regulators are listed as FCA and CIMA. In GB the firm holds FCA licence 591361, and in KY it holds CIMA licence 1448274. Two licences in two jurisdictions means you should confirm which entity your account sits under before you transfer money.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- AJ Bell vs Vanguard
- AJ Bell vs Trading 212
- AJ Bell vs Interactive Brokers
- AJ Bell vs InvestEngine
- AJ Bell vs Charles Schwab
- AJ Bell vs Freetrade
- AJ Bell vs Fidelity
- AJ Bell vs M1
- AJ Bell vs Nutmeg
- AJ Bell vs Exness
- AJ Bell vs Titan
- AJ Bell vs Public
- AJ Bell vs Saxo
- AJ Bell vs ActivTrades
- AJ Bell vs XTB
- AJ Bell vs NAGA
- AJ Bell vs eToro
- AJ Bell vs Bitpanda
- AJ Bell vs Empower Personal Dashboard
- ATC Brokers vs Robinhood
- ATC Brokers vs EBC Financial Group
- AJ Bell vs CapTrader
- AJ Bell vs Lightyear