Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Vanguard
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AJ Bell |  Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | $0 |
| Account fee | £3.50 | $20 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Vanguard scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.7.
- Markets: only Vanguard offers Options.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers ISA, SIPP, Lisa.
- Account types: only Vanguard offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Pricing model: only AJ Bell offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Vanguard 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.
Vanguard
Vanguard suits beginner US investors who want straightforward retirement investing without a trading bill, with stock trades at $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The catch is an account fee of $20, plus $1 for every options contract traded.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4A flat annual fee of £3.50 and £5 a dealing sit mid-table, while currency conversion costs 0.75%. | 8.9HigherStock trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, but the account itself carries an account fee of $20. |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | Not confirmed |
Feature by feature
| Markets | AJ Bell | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | AJ Bell | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
Where these facts come from
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Vanguard
- investor.vanguard.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investguiding.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- vanguard.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 193 of 471 | 128 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 41 of 86 | 26 of 86 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | The Vanguard Group, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | AJ Bell | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Vanguard | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1highest quarter | $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.
Vanguard
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account opens at $0, so entry costs nothing
- stocks, etfs and options covers the range most long term investors need in one place
- Account types include ira, roth ira and joint, which suits retirement saving
Cons
- An account fee of $20 applies to the account whatever the trade volume
- Options cost $1 per contract against $0 for stock trades
- Forex, crypto and CFDs are not among its stocks, etfs and options
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
Who it suits
- Beginners building a retirement pot in the US
- Investors holding funds and ETFs alongside individual stocks
- Anyone who accepts an account fee to keep trading costs low
Who should look elsewhere
- Day traders who want no account fee, since eToro charges $0
- Traders wanting forex, crypto or CFDs alongside shares, which CFI lists in stocks, etfs and forex
- Anyone put off by an opening balance, since Vantage requires $5 where Vanguard asks $0
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
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
What does it cost to buy shares at Vanguard?+
Buying shares costs $0, and the account opens at a minimum deposit of $0. The running cost is an account fee of $20 rather than a charge on each trade, so frequent trading does not add commission.
Is there an account fee?+
There is. The account fee is $20, and it is the main ongoing cost here. Investors who expect to hold rather than trade repeatedly can absorb it, while active traders would feel it more on smaller balances.
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