This comparison pits AJ Bell against Capital.com across fees, regulation, and long term investing features. The axis of tension lies in commission models and long term access.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose AJ Bell if you want lower platform fees at scale and access to a Stocks & Shares ISA and SIPP with drawdown. You also get AIM shares inside ISA for inheritance tax planning.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 3.9/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $500 | $20▼ lower |
| Spreads from | N/A | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | $10/month (after 3 months) |
| Deposit fee |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AJ Bell | Capital.com |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | — |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Pass | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Fail | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Pass | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: AJ Bell rates 4.2/5 and Capital.com rates 3.9/5. AJ Bell has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Capital.com starts from 0.6. Current spread data is not available for AJ Bell. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
Capital.com has $20, while AJ Bell requires at least $500. This makes Capital.com more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both AJ Bell and Capital.com hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
Capital.com stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
AJ Bell lists maximum leverage of 1:1, while Capital.com lists up to 20:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
AJ Bell supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Capital.com supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Capital.com offers commission-free stock trading while AJ Bell does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
Both AJ Bell and Capital.com are covered by a compensation scheme according to our data, providing an additional safety net for your stock investments. Confirm the specific scheme and coverage limit that applies to your account before depositing.
Choose Capital.com if…
Choose Capital.com if you want access to 4,000+ share CFDs and AI trading insights. You also benefit from commission-free trading and access to 25 exchanges.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
AJ Bell leads with ISA and SIPP options.
Capital.com suits active traders with advanced tools.
Capital.com offers a lower entry barrier.
Capital.com provides broader exchange access.
| Free |
| Deposit methods | Bank TransferDebit Card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPayPalApple PayGoogle Pay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank Transfer | Bank transferCardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | Yes |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | Yes | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | No | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA | MAS CMA CySEC FCA ASIC |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | 2 offers | None |
|---|
AJ Bell outperforms Capital.com on the editorial score by 0.3 points. Its higher Trust & Regulation score underpins the edge.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
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