Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Fidelity
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | $0 |
| Account fee | £3.50 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, ForexCovers more |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | SEC, FINRA, SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.375% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Fidelity scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Fidelity offers SEC, FINRA, SIPC.
- Markets: only Fidelity offers Options, Futures, Forex.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers ISA, SIPP, Lisa.
- Account types: only Fidelity offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Support channels: only AJ Bell offers Chat, Help centre.
- Support channels: only Fidelity offers Phone, Community.
- Features: only Fidelity offers Fractional shares, Demo account, Crypto.
- Pricing model: only AJ Bell offers Low fees.
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.
Fidelity
Fidelity is a US brokerage that suits investors who want to hold and trade without a standing charge: its minimum deposit, account fee and inactivity fee all sit at $0, $0 and $0. Stock dealing is commission-free, with SIPC protection recorded as SIPC up to USD 500,000.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 9.1HigherSite ranks it 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 161 on stock trade fee. |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.8Higher |
Licences and countries
| Country | AJ Bell | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 23292 |
Additional countries for AJ Bell: 1. Additional countries for Fidelity: 1.
What each covers
| Markets | AJ Bell | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | AJ Bell | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 46 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 41 of 86 | 9 of 86 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto, Options, FuturesCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1946 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Phone, Community |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | AJ Bell | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, ESG, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Fidelity | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.375%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.
Fidelity
Pros
- Costs sit at the floor: stock trade fee $0, account fee $0, inactivity fee $0 and minimum deposit $0
- The client entity is listed on the SIPC register as SIPC member 23292, with protection recorded at SIPC up to USD 500,000
- Account types cover retirement and shared holdings: ira, roth ira and joint
Cons
- Support runs on phone and community only, so that list carries no chat or email channel
- Options contracts cost $0.65 each, the main charge where stock dealing is free
- Margin borrowing is priced at 12.375%, a cost on top of the free equity dealing
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.
Fidelity
Who it suits
- Retirement savers, since ira, roth ira and joint are all listed as account types
- Buyers investing small amounts, as fractional shares sit in fractional shares, demo account and mobile app
- Traders who want stocks, bonds, funds, options, futures and forex in one place, as stocks, etfs and options shows
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want CFDs, since stocks, etfs and options leaves them out and CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex
- Anyone who prefers a required opening deposit, since $0 sets none where Vantage asks $5
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Fidelity
What does it cost to trade stocks at Fidelity?+
Stock dealing is commission-free, with a stock trade fee of $0. The account fee is $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so there is no standing charge to hold the account. Options contracts are the exception, at $0.65 each.
Is there an inactivity fee if I stop trading?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so an idle account is not charged for sitting still. On the site it ranks 1 of 56 brands measured for that fee. With the account fee at $0, a dormant account carries no listed running cost.
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