Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs InvestEngine
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25Lower | £100 |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | £0Lower |
| Account fee | £3.50 | £0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more | ETFs |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Free |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Web, iOS, Android |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | ISA, SIPP, Corporate |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 0% |
Same on both: Regulators (Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Minimum deposit is lower at AJ Bell: £25 vs £100.
- Stock trade fee is lower at InvestEngine: £0 vs £5.
- Account fee is lower at InvestEngine: £0 vs £3.50.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Stocks, Bonds, Funds.
- Platforms: only AJ Bell offers Web platform, Mobile app.
- Platforms: only InvestEngine offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers Lisa, Jisa.
- Account types: only InvestEngine offers Corporate.
- Support channels: only AJ Bell offers Chat.
- Support channels: only InvestEngine offers Email.
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.
InvestEngine
InvestEngine suits beginners who want their money spread across ETFs without picking shares themselves. Costs stay thin: an account fee of £0, a stock trade fee of £0 and a single portfolio management charge of 0.25%, with deposits and withdrawals free.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 9.0Higher |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.8The isa, sipp and corporate account range wraps one ETF plan for savers and firms alike. |
| Trust | 8.6Higher | 8.4 |
Which one suits you
Pick AJ Bell if offer, minimum deposit, and markets matter most.
Pick InvestEngine if cost, stock trade fee, and account fee matter most.
Feature by feature
| Markets | AJ Bell | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | AJ Bell | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 185 of 490 | 187 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 40 of 85 | 41 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 12 of 21 | 13 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 11 of 22 | 12 of 22 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | InvestEngine (UK) Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2019 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | AJ Bell | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | £1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | InvestEngine | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25at the median | £100above the median | £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 | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 0%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.
InvestEngine
Pros
- An account fee of £0 and a stock trade fee of £0 leave almost nothing to pay for holding or trading.
- Investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000, with the platform regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
- The platform list covers Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares make small regular buys work.
Cons
- Shares are not among its markets (etfs), so the range stays on funds rather than a general dealing list.
- Support runs on email and help centre, with no phone number for urgent account questions.
- Cash waiting to be invested earns 0%.
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.
InvestEngine
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a curated portfolio and can start from a minimum investment of £1.
- ISA and SIPP holders in the UK who would rather not pay an account fee.
- Investors who only need help by email and are happy to stay inside a single asset class.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, for anyone who wants to open with a minimum deposit of $0 rather than £100.
- Vantage, for anyone who wants a smaller entry point, since its minimum deposit is $5.
- eToro, for traders who want share dealing, because shares are not among its markets (etfs).
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
InvestEngine
What does it cost to hold an InvestEngine account?+
The account fee is £0 and a stock trade costs £0, so buying and holding leaves most of the pot intact. The only ongoing charge is the portfolio management fee of 0.25%, which is taken on the portfolio rather than per trade. Cash left uninvested earns 0%.
Is my money protected if the platform fails?+
The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator named on the licence, and the platform states investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The account is run by InvestEngine (UK) Limited, a UK company, so UK rules and the protection scheme both apply to the account.