Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
AJ Bell vs Police Friendly
AJ Bell
Police Friendly
Higher score in this comparison
AJ Bell vs Police Friendly: the differences
| Compare | AJ BellReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Police FriendlyReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25Lower | £50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more | Stocks, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals | 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa, JisaCovers more | ISA, Lisa, Jisa |
| Stock trade fee | £5 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £3.50 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
Same on both: 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
- Police Friendly scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only AJ Bell offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Police Friendly offers Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority.
- Minimum deposit is lower at AJ Bell: £25 vs £50.
- Markets: only AJ Bell offers ETFs, Bonds.
- Account types: only AJ Bell offers SIPP.
- Support channels: only AJ Bell offers Chat, Help centre.
- Support channels: only Police Friendly offers Email, Phone.
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.
Police Friendly
Police Friendly runs a UK stock and shares ISA, LISA and JISA range from £50, run by Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited. It suits savers building a tax sheltered pot in stocks and funds who value a named legal entity and FSCS cover, and who can leave the money invested.
Score breakdown
| Area | AJ Bell | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5 | 8.7HigherOpening a stocks and shares ISA, LISA or JISA needs £50, and a non qualifying withdrawal carries 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.2Higher |
Where these facts come from
AJ Bell
- ajbell.co.uk: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Police Friendly
- policefriendly.org.uk: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AJ Bell | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 293 of 654 | 210 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 213 of 358 | 153 of 358 |
| Stocks and shares ISAs | 14 of 25 | 7 of 25 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AJ Bell | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1893 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Email, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AJ Bell | Police Friendly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25above the median | £50above the median | £15 |
| Stock trade fee | £5highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £3.50above the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%above the median | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
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.
Police Friendly
Pros
- Three tax sheltered options in one place: an ISA, a LISA and a JISA
- Low entry point at £50 to open
- Stocks and funds available to invest through stocks and funds
Cons
- A non qualifying withdrawal is hit by 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals
- Investments are limited to stocks and funds, with no wider market list given
- Support runs on email and phone only
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.
Police Friendly
Who it suits
- UK savers building a tax sheltered pot for the long term
- Parents saving for a child through the JISA account type
- Savers who want a named legal entity behind the account
Who should look elsewhere
- People trading shares frequently, since investable markets run to stocks and funds
- Anyone likely to need the money early, because of 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals
Current offers
Police Friendly
Current offer
Bonus
Open a Lifetime ISA - Earn up to GBP50 in Gift Cards: Up to GBP50 gift card
Pay GBP100 or more per month, or GBP50+ with Escalator; GBP30-99 gets GBP25; quote AUTUMN26
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | AJ Bell | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Police Friendly
What accounts can I open with Police Friendly?+
You can open an individual savings account, a lifetime individual savings account or a junior individual savings account. The range is listed at isa, lisa and jisa. The account runs under Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited.
How much do I need to put in to start?+
The minimum deposit is £50, which is a low starting point for a tax sheltered account. Once the account is open you can invest that money in the assets listed at stocks and funds.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
AJ Bell
Police Friendly