AJ Bellvs
This comparison pits AJ Bell against Hargreaves Lansdown in a battle of cost, breadth of investment options, and platform reliability. The key tension centers on exchange access.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose AJ Bell if you want lower fund platform fees at scale. You also get a regular investment option at £1.50 per order.
Choose if…
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
| Min deposit | $500 | $1▼ lower |
| Spreads from | N/A | N/A |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
| Deposit fee |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AJ Bell | Hargreaves Lansdown |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Pass | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Fail | Fail |
| Stock screener tool | Pass | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: AJ Bell rates 4.2/5 and Hargreaves Lansdown rates 4.3/5. Hargreaves Lansdown 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.
Hargreaves Lansdown has $1, while AJ Bell requires at least $500. This makes Hargreaves Lansdown more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both AJ Bell and Hargreaves Lansdown 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.
For beginners, Hargreaves Lansdown requires a lower minimum deposit ($1), lowering the barrier to entry. Both brokers otherwise share similar beginner-facing criteria in our data. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each brokers's site.
AJ Bell lists maximum leverage of 1:1, while Hargreaves Lansdown lists up to 1:1. 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 Hargreaves Lansdown supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Neither AJ Bell nor Hargreaves Lansdown is listed as offering commission-free trading in our data. Compare each broker's commission schedule directly, as fees vary by account type and the markets you trade.
Both AJ Bell and Hargreaves Lansdown 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 Hargreaves Lansdown if you want the UK's largest platform with over £150bn AUA. You also access AIM shares inside ISA and a full drawdown SIPP.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Hargreaves Lansdown wins for safety & regulation with top trust rating and FSCS protection.
| Free |
| Free |
| Deposit methods | Bank TransferDebit Card | Bank TransferDebit Card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank Transfer | Bank Transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | No | No |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA | FCA |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | 2 offers | 2 offers |
|---|
Hargreaves Lansdown is best for long-term investors due to broader investment universe and full drawdown SIPP.
Hargreaves Lansdown wins for active traders thanks to stronger platform tools and in-house research.
HL wins for beginners with a $1 minimum and broad access.
Hargreaves Lansdown offers broader global market access with 20 exchanges.
AJ Bell wins for low cost trading due to lower fund platform fees at scale.
AJ Bell and Hargreaves Lansdown are closely matched, with exchange access as the clearest differentiator (AJ Bell 15 vs HL 20).
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
Score 4.3 / 5
Personalised recommendation
Answer 6 quick questions and we’ll match you with the brokers that best fit your trading style, experience level, and country.
