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.
Beginners who want a simple app and are happy with shares and ETFs.
Investors who want funds and shares on one platform without paying Hargreaves Lansdown prices.
Tick what you need. No account, no email. The answer is on this page.
Tick what you need above and we'll tell you which of the two covers it.
Account availability verified July 2026. Capital at risk. Information, not financial advice.
Around seven in ten reviewers rate it excellent, citing the clean app and helpful customer service.
Critical reviews focus on the 0.99% FX fee on the free plan and features being moved behind subscriptions.
Read Freetrade reviews on TrustpilotReviewers 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 Trustpilot| Fee | Freetrade | AJ Bell |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | £0 on Basic; Standard £4.99/month; Plus £9.99/month (annual billing) | 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 |
| Share dealing | £0 commission | £5.00 per trade |
| Fund dealing | ETFs only, £0 commission | £1.50 per trade |
| FX fee | 0.99% Basic, 0.59% Standard, 0.39% Plus | 0.75% on the first £10k, tiered lower above |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Included on all plans | Platform fee applies, no separate ISA charge |
| SIPP | Included on all plans | Platform fee applies, capped at £120/year for shares |
| Withdrawals | Free | Free |
| Minimum to start | £2 | £25/month or £500 lump sum |
Freetrade helped bring commission-free investing to the UK and keeps a free tier that now includes an ISA and a SIPP. The app is one of the simplest ways to buy your first share.
The catch is the FX fee. On the free plan you pay 0.99% every time you buy or sell a US stock, which adds up quickly. If most of your money goes into US shares, either upgrade to a paid plan for lower FX fees or compare against Trading 212's flat 0.15%.
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.
It depends on what you hold and how often you trade. Freetrade's platform fee is £0 on Basic; Standard £4.99/month; Plus £9.99/month (annual billing), against 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 at AJ Bell. On dealing, Freetrade charges £0 commission for shares and eTFs only, £0 commission for funds, while AJ Bell charges £5.00 per trade for shares and £1.50 per trade for funds. Fees verified July 2026.
Freetrade is best for beginners who want a simple app and are happy with shares and ETFs. AJ Bell is best for investors who want funds and shares on one platform without paying Hargreaves Lansdown prices. Both are FCA regulated and covered by the FSCS.
On Freetrade's ISA: Included on all plans. On AJ Bell's ISA: Platform fee applies, no separate ISA charge. Freetrade offers a flexible ISA and AJ Bell does not. Minimums are £2 at Freetrade and £25/month or £500 lump sum at AJ Bell.
Freetrade offers a SIPP (included on all plans). AJ Bell offers a SIPP (platform fee applies, capped at £120/year for shares).
Freetrade scores 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot (Great) from over 7,000 reviews. AJ Bell scores 4.8 out of 5 (Excellent) from around 14,000 reviews. Critical reviews focus on the 0.99% FX fee on the free plan and features being moved behind subscriptions. Occasional gripes about transfer times and the dealing charge compared with app-only rivals.
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. Freetrade charges free on withdrawals and AJ Bell 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.
Freetrade or AJ Bell, 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.
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