Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Freetrade
AJ Bell
Freetrade
Higher score in this comparison
AJ Bell vs Freetrade: the differences
| Compare | AJ BellReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | FreetradeReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | £1Lower |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | £0Lower |
| Account fee | £3.50 | £0Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%Lower | 0.99% |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | App, Web |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, JisaCovers more | ISA, SIPP, Jisa |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1% |
Same on both: Markets (Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds), Regulators (Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)), 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. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Freetrade scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.7.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Freetrade: £1 vs £25.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Freetrade: £0 vs £5.
- Account fee is lower at Freetrade: £0 vs £3.50.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at AJ Bell: 0.75% vs 0.99%.
- Platforms: only AJ Bell offers Web platform, Mobile app.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App, Web.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers Lisa.
- Support channels: only Freetrade offers Email.
- Features: only Freetrade offers Fractional shares, Demo account.
Our verdict on each
AJ Bell
AJ Bell suits UK savers who want a dealing platform, a pension and a tax wrapped account in the same place, with stated protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 for careful planners. The per-deal charge of £5 makes it a weaker fit for frequent traders.
Freetrade
Freetrade suits UK beginners and anyone opening an ISA or a pension, since dealing carries no charge and the platform is built for small, regular buys. Its overall score of 3.3 is held back by a narrow market list and support without a phone line.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5 | 9.1HigherBoth charges sit at the floor: account fee £0, stock trade fee £0, ranked 1 of 166. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 9.0Accounts listed are isa, sipp and jisa, features cover fractional shares, mobile app and demo account, and the minimum deposit is £1. |
| Trust | 8.6Higher | 8.5 |
Which one suits you
Pick AJ Bell if currency conversion fee and account types matter most.
Pick Freetrade if cost, minimum deposit, stock trade fee, and account fee matter most.
Licences and countries
| Country | AJ Bell | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom |
Available in 1 country for both.
Sources behind this comparison
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Freetrade
- freetrade.io: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 293 of 654 | 273 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 213 of 358 | 197 of 358 |
| Stocks and shares ISAs | 14 of 25 | 11 of 25 |
| Pensions and SIPPs | 10 of 23 | 8 of 23 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Freetrade Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2016 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Freetrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25above the median | £1below the median | £15 |
| Stock trade fee | £5highest quarter | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%above the median | 0.99%highest quarter | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1%lowest quarter | 2.875% |
Median across 77 listed providers.
Pros and cons
AJ Bell
Pros
- The account fee of £3.50 is a set figure on the dealing account, which makes the holding cost easy to budget.
- You can open an account from a minimum deposit of £25, a small opening balance for a dealing platform.
- The accounts listed as isa, sipp and lisa mean an individual savings account, a pension, a lifetime account and a junior account all sit with the same provider.
Cons
- Each deal costs £5, so the platform punishes anyone who trades often rather than holds.
- Support runs on chat and help centre only, so anyone who wants a phone line will not find one here.
- Currency conversion adds 0.75% on top of the dealing charge, so a global portfolio carries a further, quieter cost.
Freetrade
Pros
- Dealing is commission free: the stock trade fee is £0 and the account fee is £0, so keeping the account open costs nothing in fees.
- A minimum deposit of £1 lets a position build up gradually, and cash waiting to be invested earns 1%.
- The account list is isa, sipp and jisa, so a pension, a tax-sheltered investment account and a junior account sit under the same login.
Cons
- Currency conversion costs 0.99%, where the typical fee across ISA and SIPP listings is 0.75%, putting it at the pricier end of that set for anyone buying in dollars or euros.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line among them, which is awkward when a position is moving fast.
- The market list stops at stocks, etfs and bonds, so anyone wanting forex or derivatives finds fewer instruments here than at a trading-focused broker.
Who each suits
AJ Bell
Who it suits
- Savers who want a dealing account and a pension under the same regulated firm, since the accounts listed as isa, sipp and lisa cover the main UK wrappers.
- People who plan to hold rather than trade often, because the per-deal charge of £5 works against frequent dealing.
- Investors who put weight on UK oversight and a stated protection limit, given Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with a smaller sum than £25, where CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0.
- People who want a phone conversation with support, since help here runs on chat and help centre only; bunq suits those after a bank relationship rather than a dealing platform.
- Anyone whose need is borrowing rather than investing, where Fiesta Credito MX sits under CONDUSEF in a different market.
Freetrade
Who it suits
- Beginners taking small first steps, since the stated audience is beginners and fractional shares plus a demo account sit in fractional shares, mobile app and demo account.
- ISA and pension savers who want isa, sipp and jisa under a single login with a minimum deposit of £1.
- Cost-focused investors, for whom an account fee of £0 and a stock trade fee of £0 keep holding inexpensive.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants everyday banking rather than isa, sipp and jisa: bunq is a bank account with a minimum deposit of €10, so it fits savers who need a current account, not a dealing platform.
- Traders who want a market range wider than stocks, etfs and bonds: CFI is the one to weigh instead, with a minimum deposit of $0.
- People after a lender rather than an investment account: Fiesta Credito MX is regulated by CONDUSEF, so it serves borrowing in Mexico rather than investing in the UK.
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
AJ Bell
What does it cost to open and run an account?+
You need a minimum deposit of £25 to get going, which is a small opening balance for a dealing account. After that the account itself costs £3.50, and each deal you place costs £5. Add 0.75% if you convert pounds into another currency, and keep in mind that frequent trading is where a per-deal charge adds up fastest.
Is my money protected at AJ Bell?+
Your money sits with a firm regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK regulator, and the stated investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000. That figure is the ceiling on what the protection scheme pays if the firm fails, not a return on your investments, so a fall in the value of your holdings is not covered by it. Account opening and dealing happen under the same firm.
Freetrade
What does it cost to hold and trade shares?+
The account fee is £0 and the stock trade fee is £0, on a commission-free model, so opening and holding an account adds no charge. The cost that does appear is currency conversion at 0.99% whenever you buy or sell something priced in another currency. Budget for that if your holdings are not all in sterling.
How much do I need to start investing?+
The minimum deposit is £1, which keeps the entry point low. Cash waiting to be invested earns 1%, so the balance is not idle while you decide what to hold. A small starting amount suits regular contributions rather than a single lump sum, and the account fee adds nothing to the running cost.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
AJ Bell
Freetrade