VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

AJ Bell Alternatives & Competitors

Checking

Replacement verdicts

Alternatives to AJ Bell

Curated replacements grouped by fit, tradeoffs, pricing flexibility, and platform access. Use this list to decide which AJ Bell competitor is worth testing first.

Looking for a AJ Bell replacement? We've profiled 20 alternatives by workflow fit, pricing flexibility, caveats, and platform access. Whether you need a free option to trial, mobile-ready workflows, or API integrations, this list helps you choose what to test first.

Visit AJ Bell Tool details

Disclosure: outbound links may include affiliate or sponsor links

Which Alternative Should You Use?

Hargreaves Lansdown

Closest replacement

Best for: UK investors looking for broad funds, shares, ETFs, bonds, ISA, LISA, junior, trust, and pension accounts in one established platform.

Hargreaves Lansdown best matches the base workflow on brokerage trading, portfolio tracking, and portfolio watchlists.
Hargreaves Lansdown shares Other pricing with the base tool.

Watch for: Percentage platform charge: Funds and most listed assets carry 0.35% entry-tier account charges, with different tiers, caps, and junior-account exceptions.

Open an HL account

Details Compare

DEGIRO

Quality-checked pick

Best for: European investors looking for low-cost self-directed access to stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, options, and futures.

DEGIRO best matches the base workflow on brokerage trading, portfolio tracking, and portfolio watchlists.
DEGIRO shares Other pricing with the base tool.

Watch for: Execution-only broker: DEGIRO does not provide investment advice or portfolio management.

Open DEGIRO account

Details Compare

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Strong runner-up

Best for: U.S. self-directed investors who need several account types, research, retirement administration, and multiple trading platforms.

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley best matches the base workflow on brokerage trading, portfolio tracking, and market monitoring.
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley lists Free pricing, so compare the current plan against your existing setup.

Watch for: Low default cash rate: The standard Bank Deposit Program pays 0.01% below $500,000 under the current tier schedule.

Details Compare

interactive investor

Strong runner-up

Best for: UK investors with larger or consolidated portfolios who prefer flat monthly platform fees to percentage custody charges.

interactive investor best matches the base workflow on brokerage trading, portfolio tracking, and portfolio watchlists.
interactive investor lists Subscription pricing, so compare the current plan against your existing setup.

Watch for: Monthly subscription required: Funded accounts pay £5.99, £14.99, or £39.99 monthly, so small portfolios may find percentage or free platforms cheaper.

Join interactive investor

Details Compare

Detailed Alternatives

I want to

Pay lessFill a gapUpgrade overall

Our ranked order by workflow overlap and quality.

1

Closest replacement

Hargreaves Lansdown

Bottom line: UK investors looking for broad funds, shares, ETFs, bonds, ISA, LISA, junior, trust, and pension accounts in one established platform.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Advanced Order Types
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Funds have a tiered annual account charge starting at 0.35%; listed assets are generally 0.35% capped at £150 per account annually.
One-off online fund trades cost £1.95; listed-security trades cost £6.95 or £3.95 after 20+ prior-month trades.
Overseas share FX is tiered at 0.99%, 0.50%, and 0.20% by trade value.
Cleared GBP cash earns variable interest with different tiers for taxable, ISA, SIPP, and drawdown accounts.

Lose

Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.
Investment-account cash earns wrapper-specific variable interest; Cash savings hub rates are a separate product.

Watch out

Useful when you want to add portfolio analytics instead of mirroring the current workflow.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Brokerage use requires an approved account and applicable UK residence/wrapper eligibility, and Platform, dealing, FX, tax, levy, and product charges can apply.
Percentage platform charge: Funds and most listed assets carry 0.35% entry-tier account charges, with different tiers, caps, and junior-account exceptions.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Hargreaves LansdownTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open an HL account Compare

Full review and details

2

Quality-checked pick

DEGIRO

Analyst pickTested by us

Bottom line: European investors looking for low-cost self-directed access to stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, options, and futures.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Advanced Order Types
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Smart/Direct Routing
News
Calendar
flatexDEGIRO Bank SE provides execution-only service without investment advice or portfolio management.

Lose

Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.
Investment-account cash earns wrapper-specific variable interest; Cash savings hub rates are a separate product.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on filings and transcript research and advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Trading requires an approved brokerage account, and Transaction, handling, currency-conversion, connectivity, and market-data fees can apply.
Execution-only broker: DEGIRO does not provide investment advice or portfolio management.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
DEGIROTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open DEGIRO account Compare

Full review and details

3

Drop-in replacement

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Bottom line: U.S. self-directed investors who need several account types, research, retirement administration, and multiple trading platforms.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Advanced Order Types
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Options
$0 online U.S. exchange-listed stock and ETF commissions; options cost $0.65 or $0.50 per contract by activity tier.
Eligible listed Reg-NMS fractions start at $5 and support quantities to three decimal places during the rollout.
The default Bank Deposit Program pays 0.01%, 0.05%, or 0.15% APY by current balance tier.

Lose

Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.
Investment-account cash earns wrapper-specific variable interest; Cash savings hub rates are a separate product.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on portfolio watchlists and advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Brokerage features require an approved account and cleared funding, and Options, margin, futures, crypto and specialized registrations require separate eligibility.
Low default cash rate: The standard Bank Deposit Program pays 0.01% below $500,000 under the current tier schedule.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
E*TRADE from Morgan StanleyTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open E*TRADE Compare

Full review and details

4

interactive investorDrop-in replacementSubscriptionPaid only

4

Drop-in replacement

interactive investor

Bottom line: UK investors with larger or consolidated portfolios who prefer flat monthly platform fees to percentage custody charges.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Advanced Order Types
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Core costs £5.99 monthly up to £100,000; Plus is £14.99 and Premium £39.99 with no portfolio limit.
Online UK/US listed trades cost £3.99 on Core/Plus or £2.99 on Premium.
Fund trades cost £3.99, £1.49, or zero; other international trades cost £9.99, £7.99, or £5.99 by plan.
FX costs 0.75% Core, 0.75% then 0.25% Plus, or 0.25% Premium.

Lose

Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.
Investment-account cash earns wrapper-specific variable interest; Cash savings hub rates are a separate product.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on filings and transcript research and advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, The monthly subscription begins when the account is funded and used, and Core has a £100,000 portfolio limit and excludes Junior ISA and family benefits.
Monthly subscription required: Funded accounts pay £5.99, £14.99, or £39.99 monthly, so small portfolios may find percentage or free platforms cheaper.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
interactive investorSubscription
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Join interactive investor Compare

Full review and details

5

Merrill EdgeDrop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

5

Drop-in replacement

Merrill Edge

Bottom line: U.S. Bank of America customers valuing linked banking, immediate eligible transfers, and relationship-level visibility.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Advanced Order Types
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Options
$0 online stock and ETF commissions and $0 option base commission plus $0.65 per contract.
Linked eligible Bank of America transfers can be real time; external bank, wire, check, and account-transfer funding are supported.
Standard bank-sweep rates are currently 0.01%, 0.05%, or 0.15% by balance tier.

Lose

Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.
Investment-account cash earns wrapper-specific variable interest; Cash savings hub rates are a separate product.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on portfolio watchlists, filings and transcript research, and advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Brokerage use requires an approved Merrill account, and Options, margin, trust, estate and business accounts have additional rules.
Low standard cash rate: The standard bank sweep pays 0.01% below $1 million under the current rate sheet.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Merrill EdgeTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open Merrill Edge Compare

Full review and details

6

Interactive Brokers (IBKR)Drop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

6

Drop-in replacement

Interactive Brokers (IBKR)

Analyst pickTested by us

Bottom line: Active investors who need global multi-asset access, advanced orders, APIs, and volume-based commissions.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Advanced Order Types

Gain

Smart/Direct Routing
Paper Trading
Options
Screeners

Lose

Downloadable Tax Reports
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on portfolio watchlists.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Brokerage account has no recurring platform fee in the profile, but trading commissions and add-on fees vary by product, and Real-time market data and Level II data generally require subscriptions.
Commission and market-data details vary by market: The record contains separate stock, ETF, options, futures, crypto, and market-data pricing notes by region and product.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Interactive Brokers (IBKR)Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open IBKR account Compare

Full review and details

7

Trading 212Drop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

7

Drop-in replacement

Trading 212

Bottom line: Eligible investors looking for app-first commission-free stock and ETF execution with multi-currency Invest accounts.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Advanced Order Types
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Invest supports direct beneficial ownership of supported stocks and ETFs; CFDs are distinct leveraged derivatives.
Trading commission and custody are free for Invest, ISA, and SIPP; Invest currency conversion is generally 0.15% and 0.4% for the Australian offer.
Most Invest and ISA instruments support fractional market, limit, stop, and stop-limit orders.
Fractions receive proportional dividends and voting support but cannot be transferred to another broker.

Lose

Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.
Investment-account cash earns wrapper-specific variable interest; Cash savings hub rates are a separate product.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Trading requires an approved personal account in a supported residence, and FX costs vary by product and entity; taxes, spreads, product costs, and CFD financing can also apply.
Invest and CFD are different products: Invest positions represent beneficial ownership of supported securities. CFDs are leveraged derivatives without ownership of the underlying asset.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Trading 212Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open Trading 212 Compare

Full review and details

8

FreetradeDrop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

8

Drop-in replacement

Freetrade

Bottom line: UK tax residents looking for commission-free app-first investing with a free GIA, ISA, and SIPP.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Advanced Order Types
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Basic includes GIA, Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior Stocks and Shares ISA, and SIPP with no monthly subscription.
Standard costs £5.99 monthly or £59.88 annually; Plus costs £11.99 monthly or £119.88 annually.
Freetrade dealing commission is zero; non-GBP FX is 0.99% Basic, 0.59% Standard, or 0.39% Plus.
Cash interest is plan-dependent and capped: 1% to £1,000, 2.5% to £2,000, or 3.5% to £3,000.

Lose

Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.
Investment-account cash earns wrapper-specific variable interest; Cash savings hub rates are a separate product.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on filings and transcript research and advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, An approved UK-resident brokerage account is required, and Basic charges 0.99% FX on non-GBP trades and pays 1% AER only up to £1,000 cash.
UK tax residents only: Opening requires UK tax residence and a qualifying same-name GBP account. U.S. citizens and dual nationals are not accepted.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
FreetradeTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open Freetrade Compare

Full review and details

9

SMARTBROKER+Drop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

9

Drop-in replacement

SMARTBROKER+

Bottom line: Eligible European residents who want a depot without custody fees and with low-cost gettex execution.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

gettex orders in eligible securities cost €0 from €500 or €1 below €500 under the published premium-partner conditions.
Savings-plan execution is €0 for eligible stocks, ETFs, ETCs, funds and crypto ETPs.
Residents of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and Luxembourg can apply, subject to approval.
The separate Baader Bank interest account pays a variable 2.00% to €100,000 and 1.75% from €100,000 to €1 million as reviewed.

Lose

Advanced Order Types
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on market monitoring.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, An approved depot and app-based identity verification are required, and €0 execution is conditional on gettex, premium-partner eligibility and €500 order value.
Nine-country eligibility: New accounts are limited to residents of nine named European countries and exclude people subject to U.S. tax.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
SMARTBROKER+Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open SMARTBROKER+Compare

Full review and details

10

Scalable CapitalDrop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

10

Drop-in replacement

Scalable Capital

Bottom line: European investors comparing low-cost broker plans for stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, crypto ETPs, derivatives, and savings plans.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Wealth Management
FREE costs €0 per month and PRIME+ costs €4.99. Through August 31, 2026, eligible EIX and gettex trades cost €0.99 on FREE and €0 on PRIME+ above €250. From September 1, gettex trades will cost €1.99 on both plans. Xetra currently costs €1.99. Savings plan executions are free.
Earn variable 2.5% annual interest on uninvested cash per current EU pricing pages; PRIME+ can distribute cash across up to five banks for up to 5 x €100,000 statutory deposit protection, otherwise cash may be held at banks or in money-market funds.
The broker lists more than 1.8 million derivatives from seven issuers. PRIME+ includes eligible trades above €250 through supported venues until the stated venue rules change.

Lose

Advanced Order Types
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on filings and transcript research.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Brokerage use requires an eligible Scalable account, and FREE and PRIME+ plans have different order-fee rules.
Region-limited broker: Coverage is focused on supported European countries and local regulatory/product availability.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Scalable CapitalTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Compare Scalable costs Compare

Full review and details

11

CIBC Investor's EdgeDrop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

11

Drop-in replacement

CIBC Investor's Edge

Bottom line: Canadian residents who want self-directed brokerage linked to CIBC banking.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Options
Standard online stock and ETF trades cost $6.95, or $4.95 under Active Trader pricing.
Over 180 selected ETFs can trade commission-free when the live list and holding rules are met.
All ordinary CAD and USD brokerage credit balances currently pay 0%.

Lose

Advanced Order Types
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on market monitoring and advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, An approved Canadian-resident brokerage account is required, and Standard equity and options trades are paid.
Canada-only opening: Individual opening is limited to eligible Canadian residents.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
CIBC Investor's EdgeTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open CIBC Edge Compare

Full review and details

12

Monex SecuritiesDrop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

12

Drop-in replacement

Monex Securities

Bottom line: Japan residents who need Japanese and U.S. securities in one self-directed account.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Options
Domestic per-order commissions start at ¥55 and top out at ¥1,070 under the published online tiers.
U.S. security commissions are 0.495%, with a $0 minimum and $22 maximum before other charges.
One Share buys eligible Japanese securities below the standard lot from one share.

Lose

Advanced Order Types
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on market monitoring and advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Applicants must be Japan residents and pass identity, My Number and linked-bank checks, and Domestic, U.S., odd-lot, currency and derivative transactions use different schedules.
Japan residents only: The ordinary account is limited to Japan residents and is restricted when a customer becomes non-resident.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Monex SecuritiesTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open Monex Securities Compare

Full review and details

13

Rakuten SecuritiesDrop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

13

Drop-in replacement

Rakuten Securities

Bottom line: Japan residents who need Japanese and U.S. securities, funds, bonds, and derivatives in one account.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Options
Zero Course domestic cash-equity brokerage is ¥0 when its SOR/R-Cross conditions are accepted.
U.S. stock and ETF commissions are 0.495%, with a $0 minimum and $22 maximum before other charges.
Kabumini trades eligible Japanese shares below the standard lot from one share.

Lose

Advanced Order Types
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on market monitoring and advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Applicants must be Japan residents and pass identity, tax and account screening, and Zero Course domestic pricing has SOR/R-Cross and electronic-service conditions.
Japan residents only: The modeled account is not open as a general overseas route, and non-resident customers face restrictions.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Rakuten SecuritiesTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open Rakuten Securities Compare

Full review and details

14

SBI SecuritiesDrop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

14

Drop-in replacement

SBI Securities

Bottom line: Japan residents who need domestic shares, U.S. securities, funds, bonds, and derivatives in one account.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Options
Zero Revolution lists ¥0 brokerage for eligible domestic cash, margin and S-share orders under its conditions.
U.S. security commissions are 0.495%, with a $0 minimum and $22 maximum before other charges.
S-shares provide eligible Japanese securities below the standard lot from one share.

Lose

Advanced Order Types
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on market monitoring and advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Applicants must be Japan residents and pass identity, My Number and bank-account checks, and Domestic zero brokerage requires electronic-delivery and course conditions.
Japan residents only: SBI limits opening to domestic residents and states it does not hold overseas securities-business licenses.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
SBI SecuritiesTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open SBI Securities Compare

Full review and details

15

Charles SchwabDrop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

15

Drop-in replacement

Charles Schwab

Bottom line: U.S. investors who want brokerage, trading platforms, research, tax workflows, and several asset classes in one account.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Advanced Order Types

Gain

Options
Paper Trading
Smart/Direct Routing
News

Lose

Downloadable Tax Reports
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on portfolio watchlists and filings and transcript research.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Brokerage use requires an approved Schwab account, and Options, futures, forex, margin, and API workflows require separate approval or authorization.
Advanced products need approval: Options, futures, forex, margin, and crypto access have separate approval, risk, and eligibility requirements.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Charles SchwabTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open Schwab account Compare

Full review and details

16

Vanguard BrokerageDrop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

16

Drop-in replacement

Vanguard Brokerage

Bottom line: U.S. long-term investors who center portfolios on Vanguard mutual funds and ETFs.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Online stocks and ETFs trade at $0 commission; standard options cost $1 per contract.
Vanguard ETF dollar-based orders start at $1, while non-Vanguard securities are not generalized as fraction-eligible.
Vanguard Cash Deposit pays 1.75% variable APY as of August 20, 2026 and is eligible for program-bank FDIC coverage.
VMFXX is the alternative settlement fund and is a money-market security with SIPC eligibility, not an FDIC deposit.

Lose

Advanced Order Types
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on portfolio watchlists and market monitoring.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, New accounts require eligible U.S. status, address, and identity details, and Options, margin and specialized registrations require approval or separate rules.
Fractional scope is narrow: Dollar-based ETF trading is documented for Vanguard ETFs, not generalized to non-Vanguard stocks and ETFs.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Vanguard BrokerageTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open Vanguard Compare

Full review and details

17

Revolut (Invest)Drop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

17

Drop-in replacement

Revolut (Invest)

Analyst pickTested by us

Bottom line: Revolut customers who want investing inside the same money app.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Alerts
News
ETF Analysis
Wealth Management

Lose

Advanced Order Types
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Useful when you want to add news and alerts instead of mirroring the current workflow.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Investing requires eligible Revolut account and country availability, and Commission-free order allowances vary by plan.
Fees depend on region and plan: Commission-free order allowances, execution commissions, Trading Pro pricing, crypto, commodities, and robo-advisor availability vary by entity and country.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Revolut (Invest)Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via support.

Open Revolut Invest Compare

Full review and details

18

Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)Drop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

18

Drop-in replacement

Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)

Bottom line: U.S. investors looking for $0 online stock and most ETF trades, research, tax documents, and several account types.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Advanced Order Types

Gain

Smart/Direct Routing
Order Book / Level II
News
Financials

Lose

Downloadable Tax Reports
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on portfolio watchlists and advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, Brokerage use requires an approved Fidelity account, and Options, international trading, margin, crypto, and active-trader workflows have separate rules or approvals.
Not all trades are free: Options contracts, secondary bonds/CDs, crypto transactions, professional options fees, regulatory fees, and certain ETF purchase service fees can apply.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open Fidelity account Compare

Full review and details

19

BMO InvestorLineDrop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

19

Drop-in replacement

BMO InvestorLine

Bottom line: Canadian residents who want self-directed investing through a BMO brokerage.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Options
Standard online stock and ETF trades cost $9.95, or $3.95 for qualifying active traders.
More than 100 selected ETFs can qualify for commission-free trading.
Standard ordinary CAD, USD and registered brokerage cash currently earns 0%.

Lose

Advanced Order Types
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on market monitoring, filings and transcript research, and advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, An approved Canadian self-directed brokerage account is required, and Standard equity and options trades are paid.
Canada-only opening: The reviewed individual opening flow is for eligible Canadian residents.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
BMO InvestorLineTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open BMO InvestorLine Compare

Full review and details

20

RBC Direct InvestingDrop-in replacementTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionPaid only

20

Drop-in replacement

RBC Direct Investing

Bottom line: Canadian residents who want self-directed investing through an RBC brokerage.

Keep

Brokerage
Portfolio
Watchlist
Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

Options
Standard online stock and ETF trades cost $9.95, or $6.95 under Active Trader pricing.
Selected ETFs and online mutual-fund trades can carry a $0 RBC commission.
Gold and silver certificates have a 100-ounce minimum and a $43 minimum commission.

Lose

Advanced Order Types
Share custody is 0.25% with monthly caps from £2.50 to £10 depending on the account wrapper.
Fund custody is generally 0.25% on the first £250,000, 0.10% on the next £250,000, then zero.
Online dealing costs £5 for listed securities or £1.50 for funds; frequent share dealing can fall to £3.50.
International dealing FX is tiered at 0.75%, 0.50%, and 0.25% by trade value.

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on market monitoring, filings and transcript research, and advisor and client reporting.
Free-plan limits: Signup required, An approved self-directed brokerage account is required, and Standard equity and options trades are paid.
Canada-only public opening: The reviewed public account-opening offer establishes eligibility for Canadian residents only.

Price: AJ BellTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
RBC Direct InvestingTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
Free tier: Paid only
Replacement: Drop-in replacement

Pricing checked 2026-08-23 via pricing.

Open RBC Direct Compare

Full review and details

What This Shortlist Tells You

Hargreaves Lansdown is the closest drop-in replacement with overlapping coverage in Brokerage, Portfolio, and Watchlist while adding Funds have a tiered annual account charge starting at 0.35%; listed assets are generally 0.35% capped at £150 per account annually. and One-off online fund trades cost £1.95; listed-security trades cost £6.95 or £3.95 after 20+ prior-month trades. features (workflow overlap ~100%).

Round out your stack with new coverage areas like Smart/Direct Routing, News, Calendar, and Options.

Coverage Snapshot

Where alternatives already align

Most shared categories across the top matches.

Brokerage×20Portfolio×20Watchlist×20Downloadable Tax Reports×17Advanced Order Types×10

New angles introduced

Categories the alternatives add beyond AJ Bell.

Options+11News+5Smart/Direct Routing+4Order Book / Level II+3Alerts+2APIs & Data Feeds+2Calendar+2Paper Trading+2

Access & Pricing

Free options

0/20

0 picks introduce a free tier you can start with.

Mobile ready

20/20

20 matches support mobile alongside AJ Bell.

API availability

2/20

2 of the shortlisted tools expose API endpoints for automation-heavy workflows.

Quality checks

3 starred / 3 tested

3 tools are flagged as analyst picks; 3 have been hands-on tested.

Avg. coverage overlap

89%

Average percentage of categories shared with the base tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best alternatives to AJ Bell?

AJ Bell users most often consider Hargreaves Lansdown, DEGIRO, and E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley as their go-to alternatives.

Which workflows do the top AJ Bell alternatives cover?

Expect deep coverage across Advanced Order Types, Brokerage, Downloadable Tax Reports, Portfolio, and Watchlist, so you can port most AJ Bell workflows without much friction.

Keep Exploring

Wide Moat StocksBrowse the current moat score ranking and company-level moat notes.

Short InterestDaily tracker for heavily shorted stocks and short squeeze candidates.

Stock RankingsBacktested ranking systems for quality, value, momentum, and more.

Live AnalyticsSee what users are clicking, searching, and voting for across the site.

Research ToolsFind screeners, data platforms, portfolio trackers, and research tools.

Feedback

Missing an alternative, or is a listing out of date? Tell me and I will look.

Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.