★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: AJ Bell checked July 17, 2026
Tool Comparison
AJ Bell vs FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
Pick AJ Bell if
AJ Bell
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You care about brokerage, advanced order types, and downloadable tax reports, things FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) doesn't offer
Pick FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) if
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
Free • Paid plans available · Web · Mobile
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You care about alerts, compounding calculator, and screeners, things AJ Bell doesn't offer
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
AJ Bell and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, portfolio and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) simply does more: 10 categories to AJ Bell's 5, including alerts, compounding calculator, and screeners. AJ Bell counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
AJ Bell
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
- Broader coverage
- FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)10 vs 5 categories
- Asset coverage
- FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)Adds commodities and currencies
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction | Free • Paid plans available |
Free tier | No | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 5 | 10 |
Regions | Europe, North America | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | 4 signals: Latency: 15-min Delayed and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more |
Capabilities | — | Universe builder |
| Try it | Visit AJ Bell | Visit FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) |
Where each one shines
What AJ Bell and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What AJ Bell and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) each do best.What AJ Bell does best
- Dealing Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP, Junior SIPP, trust, and eligible company access.
- More than 4,000 funds plus UK and international shares, ETFs, investment trusts, gilts, and bonds.
- Wrapper-specific share account-charge caps and tiered fund account charges.
- Regular investing, limit orders, stop losses, portfolio monitoring, watchlists, and research tools.
- Variable interest on cleared GBP cash, with different rates for Dealing, ISA, SIPP, and drawdown accounts.
What FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) does best
- Tracking global equities, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, commodities, and currencies through FT market pages.
- Watchlists, portfolio tracking, alerts, equity screeners, fund screeners, and a compound growth calculator from the markets tools hub.
- Tools for building watchlists and manual portfolios with a free FT account, then connect instrument pages to related FT news.
- Support for setting price or news alerts and manage delivery through the site or myFT email preferences.
- World Markets and sector pages for interactive charts, overlays, and performance comparisons.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for AJ Bell and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times), side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for AJ Bell and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times), side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsMutual Funds | StocksETFsMutual FundsBondsCommoditiesCurrencies |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | EuropeNorth America | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Not specified | 15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
Data granularity | Not specified | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Not specified | Manual |
Export formats | CSVPDF | PDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Universe builder |
Vendor & support | AJ Bell Securities LimitedCountry: United KingdomSupport: Phone and Email | The Financial Times Ltd.Country: United KingdomSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | Free“Free (Registered)” |
| Entry paid plan | — | Subscription“FT Digital (Subscriber)” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between AJ Bell and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)?
AJ Bell leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) puts more weight on portfolio, watchlist, and alerts. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is AJ Bell or FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) free to use?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. AJ Bell is paid-only. If budget matters, start with FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Should I choose AJ Bell or FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick AJ Bell if brokerage and advanced order types matter to you; go with FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) if you'd rather have alerts and compounding calculator. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do AJ Bell and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) adds commodities and currencies on top.
Can I export data from AJ Bell and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)?
AJ Bell exports to CSV. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: AJ Bell or FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; AJ Bell doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with AJ Bell or FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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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.