Updated October 18, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs ii
AJ Bell
Higher score in this comparison
ii
What sets them apart
| Compare | AJ BellReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | iiReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | £0Lower |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | £3.99Lower |
| Account fee | £3.50Lower | £71.88 |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | Free transfers in/out; free next-day withdrawals, GBP15 same-day |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile appCovers more | Mobile app |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, Jisa | ISA, SIPP, Jisa, Joint |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 0.8% |
Same on both: Markets (Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000), Currency conversion fee (0.75%).
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Key differences
- AJ Bell scores higher overall: 8.7 vs 8.6.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only ii offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Minimum deposit is lower at ii: £0 vs £25.
- Stock trade fee is lower at ii: £3.99 vs £5.
- Account fee is lower at AJ Bell: £3.50 vs £71.88.
- Platforms: only AJ Bell offers Web platform.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers Lisa.
- Account types: only ii offers Joint.
- Support channels: only AJ Bell offers Chat.
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.
ii
ii suits investors who want tax efficient and family accounts with ISA, SIPP and jisa alongside stocks, ETFs and funds through Mobile app. Stock trades cost £3.99 and the account fee is £71.88, so active traders should balance dealing charges against portfolio growth.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | ii |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5 | 8.6HigherLow entry hurdle with minimum deposit of £0 balanced by dealing charges |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.9Choice across stocks, ETFs and funds held within ISA, SIPP and jisa via Mobile app |
| Trust | 8.6Higher | 8.5Oversight from Financial Conduct Authority with cover of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
The bill, worked out
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
AJ Bell
£281
48 × £5 + 1 × £3.50 + 0.75% of 5,000
ii
£300.90
48 × £3.99 + 1 × £71.88 + 0.75% of 5,000
AJ Bell costs £19.90 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 28, 2026.
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | ii |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 293 of 654 | 322 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 213 of 358 | 234 of 358 |
| Stocks and shares ISAs | 14 of 25 | 17 of 25 |
| Pensions and SIPPs | 10 of 23 | 13 of 23 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | ii |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Interactive Investor Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | ii | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25above the median | £0lowest quarter | £15 |
| Stock trade fee | £5highest quarter | £3.99highest quarter | £0 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | £71.88highest quarter | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%above the median | 0.75%above the median | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 0.8%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.
ii
Pros
- Begin with £0 and invest across stocks, ETFs and funds without funding pressure
- Hold ISA, SIPP and family accounts through ISA, SIPP and jisa in a single provider
- Cover of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 under Financial Conduct Authority for added assurance
Cons
- Account fee of £71.88 applies whether you trade or leave holdings untouched
- Stock trades cost £3.99 versus $0 at ActivTrades
- Foreign trades carry conversion costs of 0.75% on top of dealing charges
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.
ii
Who it suits
- Investors building ISA and SIPP holdings with junior and joint accounts included
- Buy and hold investors focused on shares, funds and bonds with mobile access
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders sensitive to per order costs may prefer ActivTrades where stock trade fee is $0 rather than £3.99
- Investors comparing entry levels may consider XTB with minimum deposit of €0 or eToro with minimum deposit of $50
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | ii |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
ii
What does ii charge for share dealing and account holding?+
Stock trades cost £3.99 and the account fee is £71.88. The account fee covers holding of investments across wrappers and applies on top of dealing charges. Check how often you expect to trade before judging value against infrequent use.
Is ii regulated and is money protected?+
ii is provided by Interactive Investor Services Limited and regulated by Financial Conduct Authority. Client cover is FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Protection applies within scheme limits and does not remove market risk, so holdings can still fall in value.
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AJ Bell