Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs AvaTrade
Where AJ Bell and AvaTrade differ
| Compare |  AJ Bell | AvaTrade ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | $100 |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Crypto, Bonds |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | No deposit or withdrawal fees |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $50 |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- AvaTrade scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.7.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Funds.
- Markets: only AvaTrade offers Forex, CFDs, Options.
- Platforms: only AJ Bell offers Web platform, Mobile app.
- Platforms: only AvaTrade offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO.
- Features: only AvaTrade offers Demo account, Copy trading.
- Pricing model: only AJ Bell offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only AvaTrade offers Commission free.
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.
AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a commission-free CFD and forex broker for traders who want no deposit or withdrawal charges and free stock dealing, and who can start at a minimum deposit of $100. The catch is an inactivity fee of $50 on dormant accounts, so this suits active traders rather than occasional investors.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | AvaTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.7HigherStock dealing costs $0 with no deposit or withdrawal fees, offset by an inactivity fee of $50. |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | Not confirmed |
Feature by feature
| Markets | AJ Bell | AvaTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | AJ Bell | AvaTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 89 of 471 |
Licences and countries
| Country | AJ Bell | AvaTrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Sources behind this comparison
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
AvaTrade
- forexsuggest.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingcritique.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | AvaTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, Copy tradingCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | AvaTrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $50highest quarter | $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.
AvaTrade
Pros
- Stock dealing is free, with a stock trade fee of $0
- No deposit or withdrawal fees, so funding and getting money out cost nothing
- A demo account, a mobile app and copy trading are all offered
Cons
- Dormant accounts attract an inactivity fee of $50
- The minimum deposit of $100 is higher than the site median of €4.64
- Copy trading sits well below the site average of 9.6%
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.
AvaTrade
Who it suits
- Traders who keep an account active and want free deposits and withdrawals
- Anyone who wants to trade forex, CFDs, options and crypto in one place
- Copy traders who want to follow other people's positions as well as run their own
Who should look elsewhere
- Investors who need a tax-sheltered investment account
- Anyone who would leave a balance sitting untouched for long periods
- CFI or Vantage suit people who want a lower starting deposit
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | AvaTrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
AvaTrade
What does it cost to trade stocks at AvaTrade?+
Stock dealing carries a stock trade fee of $0, and pricing is commission-free, so there is no separate dealing commission layered on top. Other costs are thinner too: funding an account carries no deposit fee.
What is the smallest amount needed to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That sits above the site median of €4.64 and above the lower quartile of €0, so it is a higher starting bar than many brokers on the site.
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