Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs FP Markets
AJ Bell vs FP Markets: the differences
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | A$100 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Forex, CFDs |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | ASIC, SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.5% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- FP Markets scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only FP Markets offers ASIC, SIPC.
- FP Markets is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Stocks, ETFs, Bonds.
- Markets: only FP Markets offers Forex, CFDs.
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.
FP Markets
FP Markets suits traders who want a regulated broker with a real protection scheme behind the money, not the lowest entry cost. It is regulated in Australia and the US, and the US entity carries SIPC cover of SIPC up to USD 500,000. The catch is the entry hurdle: a minimum deposit of AUD 100.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.6Higher |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.6 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.5Higher |
Pick AJ Bell if, pick FP Markets if
Pick AJ Bell if offer matter most.
Pick FP Markets if trust matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | FP Markets | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £5highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.5%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.
FP Markets
Pros
- Regulated in Australia and the US, with the US entity covered by SIPC up to USD 500,000.
- A single, named legal entity, RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC, holds the SIPC membership, licence SIPC member 71021.
- A focused product: forex and cfds, without a wider asset mix to learn.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of AUD 100 is well above the site median of €4.64.
- A limited market list, forex and cfds, so it does not cover shares, ETFs or crypto.
- The cost score is 3.1, one of the weaker parts of the profile.
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.
FP Markets
Who it suits
- Traders who weight regulator and protection scheme above a low starting amount
- Anyone happy to trade a single market pair of products, forex and cfds
- US clients who want the SIPC scheme, SIPC up to USD 500,000, behind the account
Who should look elsewhere
- Small starters, who will find AUD 100 a high way in
- Investors wanting shares, ETFs or crypto, since forex and cfds covers neither
- eToro users who want a much wider asset list, stocks, etfs and forex
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
FP Markets
What is the minimum deposit at FP Markets?+
The minimum deposit is AUD 100. That is a high way in, and it sits well above the site median of €4.64. Anyone starting with a small amount should look at a broker with a lower entry figure before committing.
Is my money protected at FP Markets?+
The US-facing entity, RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC, is covered by SIPC up to USD 500,000. That protection belongs to the US entity, so clients of other entities in the group should check which scheme applies to them before depositing.
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