Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Bitpanda
Where AJ Bell and Bitpanda differ
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  Bitpanda |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | €1 |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | €1 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Metals |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | FMA (Austria), BaFin (Germany), Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), AT FMA |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Free deposits |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | Not confirmed |
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
- Bitpanda scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Bitpanda offers FMA (Austria), BaFin (Germany), Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA).
- Bitpanda is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only Bitpanda offers Crypto, Metals.
- Support channels: only AJ Bell offers Chat.
- Features: only Bitpanda offers Crypto, Fractional shares, 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.
Bitpanda
Bitpanda suits retail investors in Europe who want one app for shares, ETFs, crypto and metals, starting from a minimum deposit of €1. Regulated in Austria, Germany and Malta, it charges €1 for a stock trade, a per-trade cost active traders will notice.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Bitpanda |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.9HigherA minimum deposit of €1 and stock trade fees of €1, with free deposits, sit well against the site medians. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.7 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 10.0Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Bitpanda |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 11 of 471 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | AJ Bell | Bitpanda |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Choosing between them
Pick AJ Bell if offer matter most.
Pick Bitpanda if cost matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Bitpanda
- bitpanda.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Bitpanda |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Bitpanda GmbH |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Austria |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Bitpanda | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Bitpanda
Pros
- The minimum deposit is €1, low against the site median of €4.64
- A stock trade costs €1 and deposits are free
- Regulated by the FMA, BaFin and the MFSA, with investor protection stated as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000
Cons
- Stock trade fees of €1 are higher than a commission-free model, where eToro charges $0
- Support runs on help centre only
- A flat stock trade fee of €1 does not suit frequent small trades
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.
Bitpanda
Who it suits
- Beginners building a first portfolio in euro amounts
- Investors who want shares and crypto in one app
- Retail investors who value a low deposit of €1
Who should look elsewhere
- Active traders, since eToro charges $0 on a stock trade
- Anyone wanting phone or live chat help, as support runs on help centre
- Anyone wanting to start without funding, since CFI asks for a minimum deposit of $0 against €1 here
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Bitpanda |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Bitpanda
What is the minimum deposit at Bitpanda?+
The minimum deposit is €1, below the site median of €4.64, and Bitpanda ranks at 75 of 213 brands on that measure. Money can also be added at no charge, since deposits are free.
How much does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade costs €1. That sits above a commission-free model, where eToro charges $0, and Bitpanda ranks at 116 of 161 brands on stock trade fees, so the cost per order is the figure to weigh.
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