Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs CapTrader
Where AJ Bell and CapTrader differ
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  CapTrader |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | $2,000 |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | $2 |
| Account fee | £3.50 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Free withdrawal, bank transfer deposits |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Trader Workstation TWS, CapTrader Desktop, Trading App |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | €2 |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- CapTrader scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.7.
- Markets: only CapTrader offers Forex, CFDs, Options.
- Platforms: only AJ Bell offers Web platform, Mobile app.
- Platforms: only CapTrader offers Trader Workstation TWS, CapTrader Desktop, Trading App.
- Support channels: only AJ Bell offers Chat.
- Features: only CapTrader offers Demo account, Fractional shares.
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.
CapTrader
CapTrader suits experienced traders who want stocks, forex, CFDs, options, futures, crypto, bonds and funds under one roof with no account or inactivity fee. The catch is the entry size: a minimum deposit of $2,000 puts it out of reach for a small first account.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | CapTrader |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.7HigherAccount fee and inactivity fee of $0 and $0 set against a $2,000 entry and $2 a trade. |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.2 |
| Trust | 8.6 | Not confirmed |
Licences and countries
| Country | AJ Bell | CapTrader |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | AJ Bell | CapTrader |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 19 of 471 |
Where these facts come from
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
CapTrader
- captrader.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokerchooser.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | CapTrader |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional sharesCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | CapTrader | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $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.
CapTrader
Pros
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and forex, so instruments do not need splitting across brokers.
- Platform choice of Trader Workstation TWS, CapTrader Desktop and Trading App covers desktop terminals and mobile trading.
- Trading costs read plainly: $2 a stock trade and €2 an options contract.
Cons
- Minimum deposit of $2,000 ranks 197 of 213 on our data, against $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage.
- Stock trade fee of $2 ranks 124 of 161, while eToro charges $0 a trade.
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone or chat channel listed.
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.
CapTrader
Who it suits
- Traders running a mixed book of stocks, etfs and forex rather than one narrow market.
- Anyone who dislikes dormant account charges, with an inactivity fee of $0.
- Desktop users who prefer the Trader Workstation TWS or CapTrader Desktop over a simple app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Small first-time accounts: CFI starts at $0 and Vantage at $5, well below CapTrader's $2,000.
- Cost-first stock buyers: eToro charges $0 a trade against CapTrader's $2.
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | CapTrader |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
CapTrader
What is the minimum deposit?+
The minimum deposit is $2,000, which is the main hurdle for a first account. On our data that places CapTrader at 197 of 213. CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5, so a smaller start is easy elsewhere.
Are there account or inactivity fees?+
Neither applies. The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so leaving money untouched does not trigger a charge. CapTrader ranks 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 56 on inactivity fee.
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