- Experts commend AJ Bell Stocks & Shares ISA for its low-cost structure and comprehensive investment options, highlighting a total rating of 5.0/5 across multiple criteria including pricing and customer service. They note the appeal of being able to earn interest on uninvested cash, while pointing out high phone dealing charges as a drawback.
- Across 1103 user reviews on Good Money Guide, averaging 4.2/5, customers frequently praise the platform's user-friendliness, responsive customer service, and transparent fee structure. However, some users express concerns about platform stability and the need for improvements in the app's functionality, indicating a mix of positive experiences and areas for enhancement.
Expert rating
Our expert rating is the average of the areas listed here, each scored out of 5 by our team.Our experts have rated AJ Bell Stocks & Shares ISA across five key areas of our review framework.
- Pricing5.0
- Market Access5.0
- Online Platform5.0
- Customer Service5.0
- Research & Analysis5.0
Pros
- Pick your own shares, funds and bonds or use their investing ideas
- Low ISA account fees capped at £2.50 a month for shares
- Lots of account types
Cons
- High phone dealing charges
See full expert review
Our verdict
AJ Bell won the Good Money Guide Award in 2024 for “Best Stocks and Shares ISA” for its low-cost online investing platform for the UK DIY investor where you can invest stocks in more than 20 markets, over 4,000 funds, ETFs, and bonds.
How does AJ Bell's ISA work?
AJ Bell's ISA is a stocks and shares ISA which means that you are invested in the stock market. AJ Bell does not offer cash ISA like Hargreaves Lansdown do with their Active Savings product. However, AJ Bell do pay interest on uninvested cash so if you want to keep some money outside the risks of the stock market you can earn interest on your cash.
Fees: AJ Bell charges 0.25% of the value of your portfolio for their ISA. But, share account fees are capped at £3.50 a month. Dealing costs are £1.50 for funds and £5 for shares but drop to £3.50 where there were 10 or more online share deals in the previous month.
AJ Bell Special Offers:
- Recommend a friend, and you’ll both get £100 gift vouchers – When you recommend a friend to AJ Bell that invests more than £10,000 within 120 days in a GIA, LISA, SIPP or ISA, you and your friend can get £100 Amazon gift vouchers.
- Switch your share dealing account and receive up to £500 to cover exit fees – If you transfer your share dealing general investment account valued at more than £20,000 to AJ Bell they will help cover any exit fees charged by your current provider. They will cover £35 per investment moved and up to £100 for general exit fees, up to an overall maximum of £500 per person.
- Free subscription to Shares Magazine worth £220
Get a free subscription to Shares (worth over £220 per year) by maintaining a balance of £4,000 or more across your AJ Bell investing accounts.
Customer reviews for AJ Bell
Customer ratings come from reviews left on this site. Every review is read and approved before it is published.Based on 1,103 reviews
- Excellent46%
- Very good35%
- Basic15%
- Poor3%
- Bad2%
Read customer reviews
AJ Bell’s investment ISA is one of the cheapest around, especially for large accounts. A stocks and shares ISA is a tax-efficient investment account in which you can invest up to £20,000 per year. When you invest in a socks and shares ISA, you pay no tax on any capital gains or income from your investments.
AJ Bell’s stocks and shares ISA offers a number of advantages. These include:
- Wide investment range – Access to a vast range of investments including stocks, over 2,000 funds, and ETFs
- Accessibility – View your account online 24/7 and deal on the go with AJ Bell’s mobile app
- Regular savings – Invest from £25 per month using the regular investment service and pay £1.50 per deal
- Low-costs – Deal from £1.50 per trade and you’ll never pay more than £9.95 per online deal.
Fees and charges for AJ Bell ’s stocks and shares ISA are listed below and are quite competitive. For example, the 0.25% custody charge on the first £250,000 of assets is lower than rival Hargreaves Lansdown’s equivalent charge (0.45% on the first £250,000 of funds).
ISA Charges & Fees
| Buying and selling investments (per deal) | |||
| Funds (including unit trusts and OEICs) online | £1.50 | ||
| Shares (including investment trusts, ETFs, gilts, and bonds) | £9.95 | ||
| Shares, where there were 10 or more share deals in the previous month | £4.95 | ||
| Funds custody charge (including unit trusts, OEICs, and structured products) | |||
| On the first £250,000 of funds | 0.25% | ||
| For funds between £250,000 and £1m | 0.10% | ||
| For funds between £1m and £2m | 0.05% | ||
| For funds over £2m | No charge | ||
| Shares custody charge (including investment trusts, ETFs, gilts, and bonds) | 0.25% | (max £3.50 per month) | |
The main attraction of this stocks and shares ISA, relative to competitors’ products, is the range of investments on offer. There are many funds to choose from and many international stocks available. On the downside, trading fees are higher than those offered by some other platforms such as Freetrade and Trading 212, which offer commission-free trading.
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.
Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.
Richard’s contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as The Sunday Times, BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.
Under Richard’s leadership, the Good Money Guide has evolved into a valuable destination for comprehensive information and expert guidance, specialising in trading, investment, and currency exchange. His commitment to delivering high-quality insights has solidified the Good Money Guide’s standing as a well-respected resource for both customers and industry colleagues.
