Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Lightyear
AJ Bell vs Lightyear: the differences
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £5 | $1 |
| Account fee | £3.50 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | 0.35%Lower |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | Corporate |
| Minimum deposit | £25 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42% |
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Key differences
- Lightyear scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Lightyear: 0.35% vs 0.75%.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers ISA, SIPP, Lisa.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Features: only AJ Bell offers Mobile app.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
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.
Lightyear
Lightyear suits you if you want stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto in a place with clear upkeep costs and email based help. Your stock trades cost $1, account upkeep sits at €0 and inactivity stays at €0 while cover reaches EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 9.1HigherUpkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.7HigherCover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | AJ Bell | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | AJ Bell | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | AJ Bell | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Not confirmed | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Which one suits you
Pick AJ Bell if offer matter most.
Pick Lightyear if cost, markets, and currency conversion fee matter most.
What we checked
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 38 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | AJ Bell | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25above the median | Not confirmed | £20 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | 0.35%below the median | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42%below the median | 3% |
Median across 43 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.
Lightyear
Pros
- Account upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 keep quiet months calm
- You can hold stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares available for smaller positions
- You can begin from €1, below many peers, with cash interest at 2.42%
Cons
- Stock trades at $1 look pricey beside ActivTrades at $0 for frequent equity orders
- Currency conversion at 0.35% adds cost when you trade outside your base currency
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so you use email and help centre without phone or chat
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.
Lightyear
Who it suits
- You want upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 and prefer XTB only if ticket fees matter more
- You seek stocks, ETFs and crypto from modest sums starting at €1 rather than eToro style ranged pricing
Who should look elsewhere
- You trade stocks very often and want ticket fees of $0 from ActivTrades rather than fees of $1
- You want phone or chat help rather than help on email and help centre, so XTB may suit you better
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Lightyear
What will I pay to trade stocks and keep the account open?+
Stock orders carry fees of $1. Account upkeep sits at €0 and inactivity stays at €0. Currency conversion applies at 0.35% when your trade currency differs from your account currency.
Who regulates Lightyear and where can I check it?+
Lightyear names Estonian Financial Supervision Authority and Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) as its supervisors. Oversight sits in Estonia under MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54. You can check the licence details on the relevant public register before you fund an account.
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