Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Charles Schwab
Where AJ Bell and Charles Schwab differ
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | $0 |
| Account fee | £3.50 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Thinkorswim, Schwab Mobile |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.075% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Charles Schwab scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Charles Schwab offers SIPC.
- Markets: only Charles Schwab offers Options, Futures.
- Platforms: only AJ Bell offers Web platform, Mobile app.
- Platforms: only Charles Schwab offers Thinkorswim, Schwab Mobile.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers ISA, SIPP, Lisa.
- Account types: only Charles Schwab offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Support channels: only Charles Schwab offers Phone.
- Features: only Charles Schwab offers 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.
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab suits investors who want a wide US market range at a low running cost, with $0 on stock trades and an account fee of $0. It is less suited to those who want forex, CFDs or crypto on the same account.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 9.1HigherStock trades cost $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0. Options contracts add $0.65. |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.6 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | AJ Bell | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | AJ Bell | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | AJ Bell | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 16514 |
Additional countries for AJ Bell: 1. Additional countries for Charles Schwab: 1.
Where these facts come from
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Charles Schwab
- schwab.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- moneysmart.hk: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- bankrate.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- public.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 137 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 41 of 86 | 28 of 86 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | AJ Bell | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $5,000 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Charles Schwab | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.075%highest quarter | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $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.
Charles Schwab
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and there is an account fee of $0, so holding a balance costs nothing to keep open
- No inactivity charge either, with an inactivity fee of $0, so an unused account is not billed
- Markets run stocks, etfs and options, which covers shares, exchange traded funds, options, futures, bonds and funds in one place
Cons
- Options contracts carry a fee of $0.65 each, so a derivative trade costs more than the $0 charged on a stock trade
- The listed markets are stocks, etfs and options, and forex, contracts for difference and crypto are not among them
- Support runs on chat, phone and help centre, and email is not among those channels
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.
Charles Schwab
Who it suits
- Investors buying US shares and exchange traded funds who care about what each trade costs
- Retirement savers who want tax-advantaged accounts next to a taxable account
- Fractional share investors building a position gradually with small monthly amounts
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting forex, contracts for difference or crypto, where eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex against Schwab's stocks, etfs and options
- Traders who want a per contract derivative fee waived, since options cost $0.65 here
- Investors starting a managed portfolio with less than the $5,000 the service asks for
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Charles Schwab
How much does it cost to trade stocks at Charles Schwab?+
Stock trades cost $0, and there is no account charge on top, with the account fee at $0. Trading is commission free, so the cost of a buy or sell is not driven by a per trade ticket. Options are the exception, priced at $0.65 per contract.
Is there an inactivity fee if I leave my account empty?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so an unused brokerage account is not billed for sitting still. That keeps a dormant account free to hold, which matters if you fund once and add to it occasionally. The same applies to the account fee, which is $0.
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