Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs TradeUP
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £5 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | ETFs, Options, Stocks |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Minimum deposit | £25 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- TradeUP scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only TradeUP offers SIPC.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only TradeUP offers Options.
- Pricing model: only AJ Bell offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only TradeUP offers Commission free.
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.
TradeUP
TradeUP suits retail investors who want free stock dealing and low options costs from a US broker holding SIPC membership. Stock trades cost $0 and investor protection stands at SIPC up to USD 500,000. Markets are limited to etfs, options and stocks, so it suits single market US investors.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 9.0HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts cost $0.65, with no account charge listed. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.6 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | AJ Bell | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 188 of 471 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | AJ Bell | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | TRADEUP SECURITIES INC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | TradeUP | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25above the median | Not confirmed | £20 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.625 |
Median across 38 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.
TradeUP
Pros
- Stock trades carry a fee of $0 on a commission free model
- Options contracts cost $0.65
- Client accounts sit with SIPC protection of SIPC up to USD 500,000
Cons
- Trading is limited to etfs, options and stocks
- The regulated entity is TRADEUP SECURITIES INC, so claims are made in the US
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.
TradeUP
Who it suits
- Retail investors buying and holding US shares and ETFs
- Options traders who keep contract costs low
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, which covers a wider set of stocks, etfs and forex
- Vantage, which adds forex, cfds and stocks
- CFI, which lists stocks, etfs and forex
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
TradeUP
How much does it cost to buy shares?+
Buying and selling shares carries a fee of $0, and the pricing model is commission free. There is no listed account charge or inactivity charge to offset that, so the dealing cost sits entirely on the trade.
What does an options contract cost?+
An options contract is charged at $0.65. Options are part of the etfs, options and stocks range, so contracts can be traded alongside shares and ETFs in the same account.
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