This head-to-head pits AJ Bell and Windsor Brokers against each other on fees, product scope, and regulation, hinting at a divergent outcome depending on what you value.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose AJ Bell if you want ISA and SIPP wrappers for long-term investing, a proprietary platform, and dividend reinvestment.
Choose if…
Choose Windsor Brokers if you want short selling, multilingual support, and CySEC regulation with ICF compensation.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 3.4/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $500 | $100▼ lower |
| Spreads from | N/A | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $8/lot |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AJ Bell | Windsor Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| 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 | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
AJ Bell rates 4.2/5 versus 3.4/5 for Windsor Brokers. AJ Bell edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Windsor Brokers starts from 0. Current spread data is not available for AJ Bell. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
Windsor Brokers has $100, while AJ Bell requires at least $500. This makes Windsor Brokers more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both AJ Bell and Windsor Brokers 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.
Windsor Brokers 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 Windsor Brokers lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Windsor Brokers charges $8 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for AJ Bell are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
AJ Bell supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Windsor Brokers supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. AJ Bell has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile. Windsor Brokers has exclusive access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.
Neither AJ Bell nor Windsor Brokers 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 Windsor Brokers 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.
Equally matched; both hold regulation and compensation schemes.
AJ Bell wins for long-term investing with ISA and SIPP wrappers.
Windsor Brokers is best for active traders with MT4/MT5 access.
AJ Bell offers simpler regular investments and ISA/SIPP options.
AJ Bell provides access to 15 exchanges, more than Windsor.
AJ Bell is best for low-cost trading due to lower platform fees at scale.
| N/A |
| 0.8 pips |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferDebit card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transfer | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | Yes | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | No | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA | CySEC FSCA |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
|---|
| Active bonuses | 2 offers | None |
|---|
AJ Bell is the editorial winner, with a higher overall score driven by stronger trust/regulation and ISA/SIPP long-term investing support.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.4 / 5
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