Both are FCA-regulated and FSCS-protected. The real difference is fees, account types and how each platform feels to use. Verified against each provider’s published charges.
Fees verified July 2026. Capital at risk. Information, not financial advice.
Investors who want funds and shares on one platform without paying Hargreaves Lansdown prices.
Fund investors who value guidance, tools and phone support.
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Account availability verified July 2026. Capital at risk. Information, not financial advice.
Reviewers repeatedly mention that the platform is easy to use and communication is clear. AJ Bell has been Which? Recommended for eight years running.
Occasional gripes about transfer times and the dealing charge compared with app-only rivals.
Read AJ Bell reviews on TrustpilotReviewers highlight helpful phone support and a straightforward transfer process.
The £7.50 share dealing charge and dated parts of the website draw criticism.
Read Fidelity reviews on Trustpilot| Fee | AJ Bell | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 0.25% on funds up to £250k (tiered lower above); shares capped at £3.50/month in an ISA and £10/month in a SIPP | 0.35% up to £250k (0.20% above); £90/year flat if under £25k without a regular savings plan |
| Share dealing | £5.00 per trade | £7.50 per online trade |
| Fund dealing | £1.50 per trade | Free |
| FX fee | 0.75% on the first £10k, tiered lower above | 0.75% tiered |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Platform fee applies, no separate ISA charge | Platform fee applies |
| SIPP | Platform fee applies, capped at £120/year for shares | Platform fee applies |
| Withdrawals | Free | Free |
| Minimum to start | £25/month or £500 lump sum | £25/month or £1,000 lump sum |
AJ Bell sits in the sweet spot between cheap app-only brokers and expensive full-service platforms. You get funds, shares, ETFs, a well-regarded SIPP and a Lifetime ISA, with caps that keep costs sensible for share investors.
It suits people who want one account for everything, particularly ETF investors who benefit from the £3.50 monthly cap in an ISA. Fund-heavy portfolios above six figures should compare the 0.25% fee against a flat-fee platform like Interactive Investor.
Fidelity is a solid full-service choice for fund investors. Fund dealing is free, the ETF and share service fee is capped at £90 a year, and the guidance content is some of the best of the big platforms.
Costs are less friendly if you trade shares often or hold a small account without a regular savings plan. Compare it against AJ Bell if you want similar breadth with lower dealing charges.
It depends on what you hold and how often you trade. AJ Bell's platform fee is 0.25% on funds up to £250k (tiered lower above); shares capped at £3.50/month in an ISA and £10/month in a SIPP, against 0.35% up to £250k (0.20% above); £90/year flat if under £25k without a regular savings plan at Fidelity. On dealing, AJ Bell charges £5.00 per trade for shares and £1.50 per trade for funds, while Fidelity charges £7.50 per online trade for shares and free for funds. Fees verified July 2026.
AJ Bell is best for investors who want funds and shares on one platform without paying Hargreaves Lansdown prices. Fidelity is best for fund investors who value guidance, tools and phone support. Both are FCA regulated and covered by the FSCS.
On AJ Bell's ISA: Platform fee applies, no separate ISA charge. On Fidelity's ISA: Platform fee applies. Neither offers a flexible ISA, so anything you withdraw still counts against your annual allowance. Minimums are £25/month or £500 lump sum at AJ Bell and £25/month or £1,000 lump sum at Fidelity.
AJ Bell offers a SIPP (platform fee applies, capped at £120/year for shares). Fidelity offers a SIPP (platform fee applies).
AJ Bell scores 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot (Excellent) from around 14,000 reviews. Fidelity scores 4.6 out of 5 (Excellent) from over 6,500 reviews. Occasional gripes about transfer times and the dealing charge compared with app-only rivals. The £7.50 share dealing charge and dated parts of the website draw criticism.
Yes. UK platforms accept ISA and SIPP transfers in, and you start the transfer with the receiving provider rather than the one you are leaving. AJ Bell charges free on withdrawals and Fidelity charges free. Transfer as cash and you are out of the market while it settles; transfer in specie and you keep your holdings but it takes longer.
AJ Bell or Fidelity, the account is the easy part. What decides when you can retire is how much goes in and for how long. Delphina works that out from what you already hold and what you pay in each month.
Free to check. No card required. Takes about two minutes.