Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs tastyfx
Where AJ Bell and tastyfx differ
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Forex |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | NFA, CFTC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Deposits free, $15 wire withdrawal fee |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Tastyfx platform, MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | Corporate, IRA |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 50:1 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 8% |
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Key differences
- tastyfx scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only tastyfx offers NFA, CFTC.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Stocks, ETFs, Bonds.
- Markets: only tastyfx offers Forex.
- Platforms: only AJ Bell offers Web platform, Mobile app.
- Platforms: only tastyfx offers Tastyfx platform, MT4, MT5.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers ISA, SIPP, Lisa.
- Account types: only tastyfx offers Corporate, IRA.
- Support channels: only tastyfx 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.
tastyfx
tastyfx suits beginners who want to trade currency pairs without paying commission, with a minimum deposit of $0 and a single market of forex. The account is held in the US, and your money sits with SIPC cover of SIPC up to USD 500,000.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 9.6Higher |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.4HigherOffer score rests on commission-free pricing, a minimum deposit of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0. |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.5Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| Investment platforms and apps | 41 of 86 | 12 of 86 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | AJ Bell | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | AJ Bell | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | AJ Bell | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | NFA 0509630 |
Additional countries for AJ Bell: 1. Additional countries for tastyfx: 1.
Sources behind this comparison
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
tastyfx
- tastyfx.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forexcryptohub.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingfinder.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- cashbackforexusa.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- forexsuggest.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | IG US LLC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Chat, Email, Help centre, PhoneCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | tastyfx | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £5highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 8%highest quarter | 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.
tastyfx
Pros
- No minimum to start, a minimum deposit of $0 against a site median of €4.64
- The pricing model is commission-free, so you pay for the spread inside the trade rather than a ticket fee
- No inactivity charge, at $0 and first in the site ranking on inactivity fee, 1 of 56
Cons
- The market list is limited to forex, so a share or bond holding is not available here
- Wire withdrawals cost, at Deposits free, $15 wire withdrawal fee
- Retail currency trading runs to a typical loss rate of 72.13% across the brokers compared, and leverage of 50:1 magnifies it
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.
tastyfx
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a first currency account in the US
- Traders who want to practise on a demo before risking money
- Anyone who wants a commission-free structure rather than a per-trade ticket
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants shares, ETFs or bonds, since forex is the only market offered
- Retirement savers who need a wider account range than corporate and ira
- People who withdraw by wire often, because Deposits free, $15 wire withdrawal fee applies
Current offers
tastyfx
Current offer
Bonus
Deposit match bonus and trading rebates up to 15%: up to 15% rebates
new accounts
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
tastyfx
What is the minimum deposit at tastyfx?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so you can fund an account from a small starting amount rather than waiting for a larger balance. That places tastyfx first in the site ranking on minimum deposit, 1 of 213, against a site median of €4.64.
Does tastyfx charge any commission on trades?+
The pricing model is commission-free, so there is no separate ticket fee per trade. The cost of a currency trade is built into the spread you trade through. The only market on offer is forex, so this structure applies to currency pairs.
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