Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Dodl
AJ Bell vs Dodl: the differences
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  Dodl |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £5 | £0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | free deposits and withdrawals |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Dodl app |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, JisaCovers more | ISA, SIPP, Lisa |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.8% |
Same on both: Minimum deposit (£25), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000), Currency conversion fee (0.75%).
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Key differences
- Dodl scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Dodl offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Dodl: £0 vs £5.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Bonds.
- Platforms: only AJ Bell offers Web platform, Mobile app.
- Platforms: only Dodl offers Dodl app.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers Jisa.
- Support channels: only Dodl offers Email.
- Pricing model: only Dodl 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.
Dodl
Dodl is an AJ Bell app aimed at UK beginners who want to sidestep dealing costs entirely. Stock trades cost £0 and cash earns 3.8%, so the saving comes from the fee-free model rather than from a richer market list.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Dodl |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.9Higher |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.2Stock trade fee of £0 across isa, sipp and lisa, plus free deposits and withdrawals, undercuts priced platforms. |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.6 |
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Dodl |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 185 of 490 | 168 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 40 of 85 | 34 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 12 of 21 | 8 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 11 of 22 | 7 of 22 |
| Lifetime ISA providers | 6 of 13 | 5 of 13 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | AJ Bell | Dodl |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom |
Available in 1 country for both.
Choosing between them
Pick AJ Bell if markets and account types matter most.
Pick Dodl if cost and stock trade fee matter most.
What we checked
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Dodl
- dodl.co.uk: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.dodl.co.uk: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Dodl |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | AJ Bell |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Dodl | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25at the median | £25at the median | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £5highest quarter | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | 0.75%highest quarter | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.8%highest quarter | 3% |
Median across 34 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.
Dodl
Pros
- Stock trades cost £0, the lowest stock trade fee recorded in this comparison
- free deposits and withdrawals means moving money in and out adds nothing to a portfolio
- Cash held with the account earns interest of 3.8% while you save for a purchase
Cons
- Cash interest of 3.8% is a variable rate, so the return on uninvested money can move
- Dealing runs on Dodl app only, which suits casual investors less well than a desktop platform
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line for urgent account problems
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.
Dodl
Who it suits
- UK beginners opening a first stocks, ETFs and funds portfolio
- Investors who want dealing fees at £0 and want to keep cash earning 3.8%
- Savers setting aside money in an ISA, SIPP or LISA before investing
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who need a desktop dealing platform, because dealing sits on Dodl app
- Anyone wanting phone support, since help runs on email, chat and help centre
- Investors who trade often in foreign currency, where 0.75% charges apply
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Dodl |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | 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.
Dodl
What does it cost to buy shares at Dodl?+
A stock trade costs £0, which is the figure that stands out on this platform. The pricing model is commission-free rather than low-fee, so dealing is designed to cost nothing. Money in and out is also free deposits and withdrawals, so a transfer adds nothing extra. The one charge to watch is 0.75% on currency conversion when you buy shares priced outside sterling.
Is my money protected at Dodl?+
Dodl is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and eligible balances are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000. That protection is a stated limit on a claim to the firm, not a promise that investments cannot fall in value. The company operating the app is AJ Bell, so the account sits with an established UK provider rather than an offshore entity.