★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
AJ Bell vs Zacks (Zacks.com)
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 Zacks (Zacks.com) doesn't offer
Pick Zacks (Zacks.com) if
Zacks (Zacks.com)
Free • From $20.75/mo · Web · Mobile
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about screeners, ETF screeners, and news, 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 Zacks (Zacks.com) 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. Zacks (Zacks.com) simply does more: 12 categories to AJ Bell's 5, including screeners, ETF screeners, and news. AJ Bell counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
AJ Bell
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Zacks (Zacks.com)
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- Zacks (Zacks.com)
- Free trial
- Zacks (Zacks.com)30 days
- Broader coverage
- Zacks (Zacks.com)12 vs 5 categories
- Real-time data
- Zacks (Zacks.com)
- Asset coverage
- AJ BellAdds bonds
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 • From $20.75/mo |
Free tier | No | Yes |
Free trial | — | 30 days |
Plan limits | — | 4 limits: Premium Annual: annual price usd: 249, Ultimate Monthly: trial promo: $1 for 30 days shown on current product page +2 more |
| 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 | 12 |
Regions | Europe, North America | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | 3 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 more |
Capabilities | — | Factors: Value, Momentum, and Growth |
| Try it | Visit AJ Bell | Visit Zacks (Zacks.com) |
Where each one shines
What AJ Bell and Zacks (Zacks.com) each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What AJ Bell and Zacks (Zacks.com) each do best.What AJ Bell does best
- Open Dealing, Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP, Junior SIPP, trust, or eligible company accounts.
- Choose from more than 4,000 funds plus UK and international shares, ETFs, investment trusts, gilts, and bonds.
- Pay wrapper-specific account charges, with caps for listed assets and tiered charges for funds.
- Set up free regular investments from £25 a month, limit orders, stop losses, watchlists, portfolio monitoring, and research.
- Earn variable interest on cleared GBP cash, with rates that differ by account type.
What Zacks (Zacks.com) does best
- Zacks Rank scores from #1 to #5 and Zacks Industry Rank on company pages for earnings-revision research.
- Comparison tools for Value, Growth, and Momentum Style Scores alongside the rank when screening or reviewing individual stocks.
- Screening for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds with hundreds of filters, with 45+ Premium Screens gated behind paid access.
- Direct access to ticker pages with analyst forecasts, earnings estimates, price targets, company research, and related market context.
- Review Price-Consensus-EPS Surprise charts that connect historical estimates, actual earnings, and surprise patterns.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for AJ Bell and Zacks (Zacks.com), side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for AJ Bell and Zacks (Zacks.com), side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsMutual Funds | StocksETFsMutual Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | EuropeNorth America | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Not specified | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | Not specified | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Not specified | Manual |
Export formats | CSVPDF | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Factors: Value, Momentum, and Growth |
Vendor & support | AJ Bell Securities LimitedCountry: United KingdomSupport: Phone and Email | Zacks Investment Research |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 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 |
| Entry paid plan | — | $20.75/mo“Premium Annual”annual price usd: 249 |
| Tier 2 | — | $41.25/mo“Investor Collection Annual” |
| Tier 3 | — | $59/mo“Investor Collection Monthly” |
| Tier 4 | — | $249.58/mo“Ultimate Annual”annual price usd: 2,995 · trial promo: $1 for 30 days shown on current product page |
| Top plan | — | $299/mo“Ultimate Monthly”trial promo: $1 for 30 days shown on current product page |
| Free trial | — | 30 days |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between AJ Bell and Zacks (Zacks.com)?
AJ Bell leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Zacks (Zacks.com) puts more weight on screeners, ETF screeners, and watchlist. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is AJ Bell or Zacks (Zacks.com) free to use?
Zacks (Zacks.com) has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. AJ Bell is paid-only. If budget matters, start with Zacks (Zacks.com) and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Should I choose AJ Bell or Zacks (Zacks.com)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick AJ Bell if brokerage and advanced order types matter to you; go with Zacks (Zacks.com) if you'd rather have screeners and ETF screeners. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do AJ Bell and Zacks (Zacks.com) cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. AJ Bell also handles bonds.
Does AJ Bell or Zacks (Zacks.com) have real-time data?
Zacks (Zacks.com) offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. AJ Bell runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Can I export data from AJ Bell and Zacks (Zacks.com)?
AJ Bell exports to CSV. Zacks (Zacks.com) is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: AJ Bell or Zacks (Zacks.com)?
Zacks (Zacks.com) 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 Zacks (Zacks.com)?
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.