Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs M1
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | 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 |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 5.9% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | Up to 50% of portfolio value |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.35% |
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Key differences
- M1 scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only M1 offers SIPC.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only M1 offers Crypto.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers ISA, SIPP, Lisa.
- Account types: only M1 offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Support channels: only AJ Bell offers Chat.
- Features: only M1 offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
- 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.
M1
M1 is a low-cost brokerage built for retirement savers and small investors who want shares, ETFs and crypto in a single account. Stock trades run at $0 and it places 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, though the managed portfolios want $10,000 to start.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 9.5Higher |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 9.0Costs carry the offer: 0% management fee, $0 stock trades and a $0 minimum deposit. |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.6 |
What we checked
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
M1
- m1.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- millennialmoneyman.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- thecollegeinvestor.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- bestroboadvisors.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 145 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 41 of 86 | 29 of 86 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | M1 FINANCE LLC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | AJ Bell | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $10,000 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | M1 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 5.9%below the median | 8.75% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.35%above 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.
M1
Pros
- Placing 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, so an account opens without a funding hurdle.
- Placing 1 of 161 brands on stock trade fees, with a stock trade costing $0.
- Uninvested cash earns 3.35%, and Pie portfolios mix etf, cash and crypto.
Cons
- Margin borrowing at 5.9% can cost more over a held position than the $0 trade fee saves.
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone or live chat listed.
- Managed portfolios want $10,000 to start, well above the $0 brokerage entry point.
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.
M1
Who it suits
- Self-directed investors who want to trade shares and ETFs without a per-trade charge.
- Retirement savers, since accounts include ira, roth ira and joint.
- People who want crypto alongside equities in the same account, under stocks, etfs and crypto.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who need forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and M1 stops at stocks, etfs and crypto.
- Readers who want a wider asset list in the same app, because CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Managed portfolio buyers starting below $10,000, a floor that sits well above the $5 deposit Vantage asks to open an account.
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
M1
What does it cost to trade shares at M1?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the account opens with a $0 minimum deposit, so there is no per-trade commission and no funding hurdle. The running cost sits in the spread and in currency conversion when shares priced in dollars are bought. Margin borrowing is charged at 5.9% and is the line most likely to run up a bill.
Is my money protected at M1?+
Protection runs through the scheme listed as SIPC, with cover stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. It is the only regulator on file, so there is a single scheme to claim against and a single register to check. The membership record reads SIPC member 69670. The stated figure is a ceiling on the payout, not a stand-in for the balance itself.
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