Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Vanguard Investor UK
AJ Bell vs Vanguard Investor UK: the differences
| Compare |  AJ Bell | Vanguard Investor UK ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25Lower | £500 |
| Account fee | £3.50Lower | £48 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more | ETFs, Funds |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, JisaCovers more | ISA, SIPP, Jisa |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Regulators (Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Vanguard Investor UK scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.7.
- Minimum deposit is lower at AJ Bell: £25 vs £500.
- Account fee is lower at AJ Bell: £3.50 vs £48.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers Stocks, Bonds.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers Lisa.
- Support channels: only AJ Bell offers Chat, Help centre.
- Support channels: only Vanguard Investor UK offers 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.
Vanguard Investor UK
Vanguard Investor UK suits beginners who want a simple fund and ETF portfolio inside an ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA, backed by a long-established UK regulated provider. The trade-off is the entry price: a minimum deposit of £500 and a flat account fee place it behind rivals that ask for less to start.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4HigherA flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.2Cost rests on a £48 account fee and a £500 minimum deposit, both above the cheapest entries in the field. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.2Higher |
Licences and countries
| Country | AJ Bell | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom |
Available in 1 country for both.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 185 of 490 | 181 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 40 of 85 | 38 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 12 of 21 | 10 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 11 of 22 | 9 of 22 |
| Junior ISA providers | 8 of 14 | 6 of 14 |
Sources behind this comparison
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Vanguard Investor UK
- moneytothemasses.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- vanguardinvestor.co.uk: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Vanguard Asset Management |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1975 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Phone |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | AJ Bell | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.2% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | £500 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Vanguard Investor UK | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25at the median | £500highest quarter | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £5highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | £48highest quarter | £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.
Vanguard Investor UK
Pros
- A 0.2% management fee keeps the ongoing fund charge low, which fits the low-cost model listed in low fees.
- Investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000 under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), so the money sits inside a UK regulated structure.
- The audience named is beginners, and the range of etfs and funds keeps the choice simple for a first account.
Cons
- The £48 account fee is a fixed platform charge, where the account fee at eToro is $0.
- A £500 minimum deposit sits far above the $0 minimum deposit at CFI and the $5 minimum deposit at Vantage.
- Support runs on phone only, so anyone expecting written help or a live chat route has a single line.
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.
Vanguard Investor UK
Who it suits
- UK beginners, the audience named in beginners, who would rather hold etfs and funds than pick shares, and who can commit £500 at the outset rather than the $0 CFI asks for.
- Parents opening a Junior ISA and adults building a retirement pot, since isa, sipp and jisa all come from one provider with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the money. That matters more here than a lower entry level at Vantage, where the minimum deposit is $5.
- Savers who value a flat £48 fee and a 0.2% management fee over the $0 account fee at eToro, and who are content with support on phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting small: £500 is far above the $0 minimum deposit at CFI and the $5 minimum deposit at Vantage.
- Savers who want no fixed platform charge, since the account fee here is £48 against $0 at eToro.
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Vanguard Investor UK
What does Vanguard Investor UK charge to hold an account?+
The platform charges an account fee of £48, and money has to be committed at a minimum deposit of £500 before the account opens. On top of that sits the management fee of 0.2% on the funds and ETFs held. The cost picture is therefore a fixed platform charge plus an ongoing fund charge, rather than a charge on each trade.
How much do I need to deposit to open an account?+
The stated minimum deposit is £500, and the minimum investment is £500, so the money has to be in place before the account gets going. A saver starting with a smaller balance would have to look elsewhere: CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0 and Vantage a minimum deposit of $5.