Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Police Friendly
AJ Bell vs Police Friendly: the differences
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25Lower | £50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more | Stocks, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, JisaCovers more | ISA, Lisa, Jisa |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Police Friendly scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Police Friendly offers Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority.
- Minimum deposit is lower at AJ Bell: £25 vs £50.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers ETFs, Bonds.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers SIPP.
- Support channels: only AJ Bell offers Chat, Help centre.
- Support channels: only Police Friendly offers Email, Phone.
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.
Police Friendly
Police Friendly is a UK friendly society for long-term savers, not active traders, offering ISA, Lifetime ISA and Junior ISA accounts with a minimum deposit of £50. Regulated in the UK and backed by FSCS up to GBP 85,000, it fits households saving steadily for a home or a child's future.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.6HigherLow entry at £50 on isa, lisa and jisa accounts, offset by a charge on non-qualifying withdrawals. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 9.1 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.2Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 185 of 490 | 138 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 40 of 85 | 29 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 12 of 21 | 5 of 21 |
| Lifetime ISA providers | 6 of 13 | 3 of 13 |
| Junior ISA providers | 8 of 14 | 4 of 14 |
Where these facts come from
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Police Friendly
- policefriendly.org.uk: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1893 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Email, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Police Friendly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25at the median | £50above the median | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £5highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
Median across 25 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.
Police Friendly
Pros
- A minimum deposit of £50 makes the entry point manageable for steady savers.
- All three wrappers, isa, lisa and jisa, sit with one provider.
- Members are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 if the firm fails.
Cons
- A government charge cuts non-qualifying withdrawals, which limits access before the account matures.
- The investment range is limited to stocks and funds, with no wider market for ISA money.
- The £50 minimum deposit runs ahead of CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5.
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.
Police Friendly
Who it suits
- UK savers who want ISA, Lifetime ISA and Junior ISA accounts under one roof.
- Police service members and their families, drawn to a provider run as Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited.
- Long-term investors content with a stocks and funds range and no trading tools.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after a wide market range: eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with the smallest possible deposit: CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5.
- Shoppers who judge cost by the entry deposit alone, since £50 sits above CFI at $0.
Current offers
Police Friendly
Current offer
Bonus
Open a Lifetime ISA - Earn up to GBP50 in Gift Cards: Up to GBP50 gift card
Pay GBP100 or more per month, or GBP50+ with Escalator; GBP30-99 gets GBP25; quote AUTUMN26
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Police Friendly
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is £50, which is more than some rivals ask at the start. CFI opens at $0 and Vantage at $5, so Police Friendly suits savers who can commit a modest sum each month rather than the smallest possible stake.
Is my money protected if the provider fails?+
Investors are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 under the UK compensation scheme, and the firm is authorised under the reference 110026. The regulator named is Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority, which supervises both conduct and prudential standards.