Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Freetrade
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | £1Lower |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | £0Lower |
| Account fee | £3.50 | £0Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%Lower | 0.99% |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | App, Web |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, JisaCovers more | ISA, SIPP, Jisa |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1% |
Same on both: Markets (Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds), Regulators (Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Freetrade scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.7.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Freetrade: £1 vs £25.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Freetrade: £0 vs £5.
- Account fee is lower at Freetrade: £0 vs £3.50.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at AJ Bell: 0.75% vs 0.99%.
- Platforms: only AJ Bell offers Web platform, Mobile app.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App, Web.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers Lisa.
- Support channels: only Freetrade offers Email.
- Features: only Freetrade offers Fractional shares, Demo account.
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.
Freetrade
Freetrade suits UK beginners who want to buy shares, ETFs, bonds and funds without paying a dealing charge or an annual account fee. Regulation sits with the Financial Conduct Authority and holdings are covered by the FSCS, though a currency conversion fee of 0.99% applies and support runs on email, chat and help centre only.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 9.0HigherStock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 9.1A UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. |
| Trust | 8.6Higher | 8.5 |
Which one suits you
Pick AJ Bell if currency conversion fee and account types matter most.
Pick Freetrade if cost, minimum deposit, stock trade fee, and account fee matter most.
Feature by feature
| Markets | AJ Bell | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | AJ Bell | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
| Jisa | Yes | Yes |
The bill, worked out
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
AJ Bell
£281
48 × £5 + 1 × £3.50 + 0.75% of 5,000
Freetrade
£49.50
48 × £0 + 1 × £0 + 0.99% of 5,000
Freetrade costs £231.50 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 185 of 490 | 171 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 40 of 85 | 36 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 12 of 21 | 9 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 11 of 22 | 8 of 22 |
| Junior ISA providers | 8 of 14 | 5 of 14 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Freetrade Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2016 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Freetrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25at the median | £1lowest quarter | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £5highest quarter | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | 0.99%highest quarter | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1%lowest 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.
Freetrade
Pros
- Dealing commission of £0 and an account fee of £0 keep the running cost of an ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA low.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, with protection stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- Fractional shares and a demo account let you size positions in small amounts and practise before committing money.
Cons
- A currency conversion fee of 0.99% applies whenever you hold investments in more than one currency.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line listed for account or transfer questions.
- The account range is limited to isa, sipp and jisa, so there is no general investment account for shares outside a wrapper.
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.
Freetrade
Who it suits
- UK beginners opening a stocks and shares ISA or Junior ISA with small monthly amounts
- Long-term investors who want to hold a simple share and ETF portfolio without a dealing charge
- SIPP holders who prefer an app and web platform to a phone-only service
Who should look elsewhere
- People who need a general investment account outside a tax wrapper
- Investors who trade frequently in several currencies, because the 0.99% conversion fee applies each time
- Anyone who wants to speak to support by phone, as support runs on email, chat and help centre only
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Freetrade
How much does it cost to buy shares on Freetrade?+
The dealing charge is £0 and the account fee is £0. Those two cover the trading and holding side of a stocks and shares ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA. The charge that appears is currency conversion at 0.99%, which only shows up if part of your portfolio sits in another currency.
Who regulates Freetrade and is my money protected?+
Freetrade Limited is regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, with register reference 783189. Protection for eligible holdings is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000, which is the ceiling the scheme pays if the firm cannot return your money. It covers firm failure rather than market losses.