Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Axos Invest
Where AJ Bell and Axos Invest differ
| Compare |  AJ Bell | Axos Invest ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £5 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | Joint, Roth IRA, IRA |
| Minimum deposit | £25 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.80 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Axos Invest scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Axos Invest offers SIPC.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Bonds.
- Markets: only Axos Invest offers Options.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers ISA, SIPP, Lisa.
- Account types: only Axos Invest offers Joint, Roth IRA, IRA.
- Pricing model: only AJ Bell offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Axos Invest 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.
Axos Invest
Axos Invest suits US savers who want a managed ETF portfolio alongside self-directed trading in one account. It earns its place on protection, with SIPC up to USD 500,000, while the options contract fee of $0.80 is the cost to watch if you trade options often.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Axos Invest |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.7HigherThe $100 entry point sits above the €25 site median, and the ranking on minimum investment is 43 of 82. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.9 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.7Higher |
Which one suits you
Pick AJ Bell if offer matter most.
Pick Axos Invest if cost matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Axos Invest |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 172 of 471 |
What each covers
| Markets | AJ Bell | Axos Invest |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | AJ Bell | Axos Invest |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Axos Invest |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | AXOS INVEST LLC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Axos Invest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25above the median | Not confirmed | £20 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.80highest quarter | $0.625 |
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.
Axos Invest
Pros
- One platform covers the managed portfolio and self-directed dealing across stocks, etfs and options.
- The managed range is ETF based, listed as etf, so diversification comes from funds rather than hand-picked shares.
- A mobile app is included, listed under mobile app, for checking the portfolio away from a desktop.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line listed for account questions.
- Account choice stops at joint, roth ira and ira, so the wrappers offered by some rivals are not part of the platform.
- The managed entry point of $100 sits above the €25 site median, and options add $0.80 a contract on top.
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.
Axos Invest
Who it suits
- US savers who want retirement wrappers, since the platform lists joint, roth ira and ira.
- Readers who keep trading costs down, since stock trades cost $0 and the pricing model is commission free.
- Couples investing together, since a joint account forms part of joint, roth ira and ira.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to begin with no outlay, since Acorns Checking asks $0.
- Readers who prefer a smaller euro ticket, since Vivid Standard opens at €2.
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Axos Invest |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
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.
Axos Invest
What does it cost to trade stocks and options on Axos Invest?+
Axos Invest charges $0 for a stock trade on the self-directed side, and the pricing model is listed as commission free. Options carry a contract fee of $0.80, so a strategy leaning on options pays more per trade than one that only buys shares and funds.
How much do I need to start a managed portfolio?+
The managed portfolios start at $100, so a single transfer of that size opens the account. That is lighter than eToro, which asks $500 for its portfolios, and it leaves room to add money in stages rather than committing a large sum on day one.
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