Updated October 14, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Davy Select
Where AJ Bell and Davy Select differ
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  Davy Select |
|---|---|---|
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Central Bank of Ireland |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%Lower | 1% |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | Joint, Corporate |
| Minimum deposit | £25 | Not confirmed |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- AJ Bell scores higher overall: 8.7 vs 8.6.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Davy Select offers Central Bank of Ireland.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at AJ Bell: 0.75% vs 1%.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers ISA, SIPP, Lisa.
- Account types: only Davy Select offers Joint, Corporate.
- Support channels: only AJ Bell offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Davy Select offers Email, Phone.
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.
Davy Select
Davy Select describes an Irish execution-only service for investors who make their own decisions without financial advice. The provider warns that investments can lose value.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Davy Select |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4HigherA flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.0 |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.6 |
Side by side, item by item
| Account types | AJ Bell | Davy Select |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | AJ Bell | Davy Select |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for AJ Bell: 1. Additional countries for Davy Select: 1.
A third option
ActivTrades has currency conversion fee at 0.5%, against 0.75% for AJ Bell and 1% for Davy Select.
ActivTrades reviewWhat we checked
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Davy Select
- davyselect.ie: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokerchooser.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Davy Select |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 204 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 41 of 86 | 46 of 86 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Davy Select |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | J & E Davy Unlimited Company |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Davy Select | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25above the median | Not confirmed | £20 |
| Stock trade fee | £5highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €50highest quarter | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | 1%highest quarter | 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.
Davy Select
Pros
- Davy Select clearly describes execution-only investing without financial advice.
Cons
- Investments can lose value, and the service does not provide financial advice in this execution-only model.
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.
Davy Select
Who it suits
- Investors comfortable making their own investment decisions and evaluating the risk that investments can lose value.
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Davy Select |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | No | Yes |
| 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.
Is my money protected at AJ Bell?+
Yes. AJ Bell is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and eligible investments are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 if the firm fails. That limit is a ceiling on compensation, not a promise that every loss is covered.
Davy Select
Does execution-only include financial advice?+
Davy Select describes the service as execution-only, where customers make their own investment decisions without financial advice.
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