Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Axi
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  Axi |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | $5 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | commission-free deposits and withdrawals |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Axi Trading Platform |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 67.24% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:30 |
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Key differences
- Axi scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.7.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only Axi offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only AJ Bell offers Web platform, Mobile app.
- Platforms: only Axi offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Axi Trading Platform.
- Support channels: only AJ Bell offers Chat.
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.
Axi
Axi is a low-cost multi-asset broker for retail traders who want forex, CFDs, stocks, ETFs and crypto in one account with a small entry deposit. Funding is commission-free deposits and withdrawals, and the entry cost of $5 suits people starting with modest sums.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Axi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.9HigherMinimum deposit of $5, an inactivity fee of $10, and commission-free deposits and withdrawals keep entry costs low. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.1Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Axi |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 134 of 471 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | AJ Bell | Axi |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Feature by feature
| Markets | AJ Bell | Axi |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Axi |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Solaris EMEA Ltd |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2007 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Axi | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £5highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10above the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 67.24%below the median | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
Median across 47 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.
Axi
Pros
- A minimum deposit of $5 keeps the entry point low
- Access to stocks, etfs and forex from a single account
- Trading platforms include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and Axi Trading Platform, plus mobile app
Cons
- An inactivity fee of $10 applies to dormant accounts
- Support runs on help centre only
- Retail accounts that lose money stand at 67.24%
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.
Axi
Who it suits
- Traders who hold forex, CFDs, shares, ETFs and crypto together
- Retail investors who want a small starting deposit
- MetaTrader users who prefer their own charting environment
Who should look elsewhere
- People wanting phone or live chat help, since support is help centre only
- Long term investors who would be hit by an inactivity fee of $10
- Beginners who should weigh that 67.24% of retail accounts lose money
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Axi |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Axi
What is the minimum deposit at Axi?+
The minimum deposit is $5, which sits below the site median of €4.64. That low entry point suits retail investors who want to fund an account in small steps rather than commit a large sum up front.
What markets can I trade on Axi?+
One account covers stocks, etfs and forex. That mix lets retail investors move between currencies, indices, shares, ETFs and crypto without opening separate accounts at different brokers.
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