Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Deriv
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | $5 |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Deriv scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.7.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Funds.
- Markets: only Deriv offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only AJ Bell offers Web platform, Mobile app.
- Platforms: only Deriv offers Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader.
- Support channels: only AJ Bell offers Chat.
- Features: only Deriv offers Demo account, Crypto.
- Pricing model: only AJ Bell offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Deriv 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.
Deriv
Deriv suits beginners and day-traders who want a $0 stock trade fee, a $5 minimum deposit and a demo account to practise on. Most retail accounts here lose money, at 74%, so the cheap entry is not a reason to trade lightly.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.9HigherAn inactivity fee of $25 is the weak spot, against $0 at Vantage. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.9 |
| Trust | 8.6 | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 160 of 471 |
Pick AJ Bell if, pick Deriv if
Pick AJ Bell if offer matter most.
Pick Deriv if cost matter most.
Where these facts come from
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Deriv
- deriv.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokeranalysis.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxempire.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- fxleaders.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, CryptoCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Day traders, Beginners |
| 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 | Deriv | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $25highest quarter | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74%above the median | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
Median across 47 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.
Deriv
Pros
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and forex, so no second broker is needed
- demo account, mobile app and crypto covers a demo account and a mobile app alongside Deriv Trader and Deriv MT5
- Built for beginners and day traders (day traders and beginners) rather than experienced traders only
Cons
- An inactivity fee of $25 applies to dormant balances, against $0 at Vantage
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone line or live chat listed
- Deriv reports that 74% of retail accounts lose money, above the 70.15% site median
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.
Deriv
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a demo account and a small minimum deposit before going live
- Day-traders who want stocks, etfs and forex in a single account
- Traders already comfortable with charting platforms, since Deriv MT5 is one of the platforms listed (Deriv MT5 and Deriv Trader)
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone leaving money parked for long: Vantage lists an inactivity fee of $0
- Traders who want futures in the same account: the markets at eToro, stocks, etfs and forex, include them
- Traders who want the smallest possible entry: CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Deriv
What does it cost to open a Deriv account?+
The minimum deposit is $5, so the account opens on a small balance. Stock trades are charged at $0, which sits inside a commission-free model, so no commission is added per trade. Beginners and day traders are the stated audience.
Will I be charged if my account sits idle?+
Yes. Deriv charges an inactivity fee of $25 on an account left unused, which is the main cost trap here. Vantage lists an inactivity fee of $0 by comparison, so a dormant balance is cheaper elsewhere. Move money you are not using rather than leaving it parked.
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