# AJ Bell vs Lightyear AJ Bell rings up the costs. Lightyear keeps them down. When you invest, your capital is at risk. Wondering if it's time to leave AJ Bell for Lightyear? Compare fees, FX rates and more - so you can decide which is right for your investing and saving needs. ## Key takeaways Lightyear offers a cost-effective alternative to AJ Bell with no platform or transaction fees on stocks & ETFs and lower FX fees (0.1% vs. 0.75%). AJ Bell offers a non-flexible Stocks & Shares ISA, whereas Lightyear offers a Cash ISA and a Stocks & Shares ISA, both of which are Flexible ISAs. - Currency conversion (FX) - Platform fees - Cash ISA: AER - Stocks & Shares ISA - ETFs: per order - US stocks: per order - EU stocks: per order - UK stocks: per order Pricing data sourced from ajbell.co.uk, and correct as of 3rd June 2026. The AJ Bell fees for trading ETFs and stocks are based on trades in the previous month. If you had more than 10 share deals in the previous month then the £5.00 charged is reduced to £3.50. AJ Bell's FX fee in their ISA is 0.75% on the first £10,000 going down to 0.50% on the next £10,000 and to 0.25% on values over £20,000. ## Price comparison AJ Bell rings up the costs. Lightyear keeps them down. By default, this projection assumes a 5.00% annual growth rate - this is purely illustrative and is not a reliable indicator of future performance. We assume a 50:50 split of the yearly investment amount between stock and ETF investments, over a 10 year period. All ETFs are assumed to be in GBP (Pounds), and all stock purchases in USD (Dollars), incurring FX fees. We assume all purchases use newly invested funds (i.e. holdings are not sold, or sold and reinvested) and that the amount invested increases by 2% each year. It is your responsibility to check your investments are within any ISA annual contribution limit, where applicable. AJ Bell projection is based on their [Stocks & Shares ISA](https://www.ajbell.co.uk/isa/stocks-shares-isa/charges). Charges include a £5.00 transaction fee when executing 9 or fewer trades per month, a 0.75% FX fee on conversions up to £10,000, a 0.50% FX fee on the next £10,000, and 0.25% on FX conversions above this amount. There is also a 0.25% account fee which is capped to £3.50 per month (£42 per year) when investing in exchange-traded instruments, as per our assumptions. ## AJ Bell vs Lightyear: FAQs ### Which is cheaper, AJ Bell or Lightyear? AJ Bell and Lightyear have different pricing structures tailored to different types of investors. - AJ Bell charges a platform fee of **0.25% annually**, capped at £3.50/month (or £42/year) for shares accounts. Stock and ETF trades cost £5.00 per order, though this reduces to £3.50 if you executed more than 10 trades in the previous month. AJ Bell does not offer a multi-currency account and charges up to 0.75% FX fee for currency conversions when trading non-GBP stocks. - Lightyear charges no platform fees and offers stock and ETF trades with zero execution fees. Lightyear’s FX fee is lower, at 0.1%, and it supports multi-currency accounts to help investors reduce unnecessary conversions. For investors prioritising cost-efficiency, Lightyear’s lower trading fees and absence of platform fees could make it a more economical choice, particularly for investors who focus on ETFs or those investing internationally. ### Is the AJ Bell ISA flexible? No, the AJ Bell Stocks & Shares ISA is not flexible. This means that if you withdraw funds during the tax year, you cannot replace them without affecting your annual ISA allowance. Investors who require greater flexibility may want to consider alternatives that offer flexible ISA options. AJ Bell does not offer a Cash ISA. Lightyear offers a [Stocks & Shares ISA](/stocks-and-shares-isa) and a [Cash ISA](/cash-isa), and both are [flexible](/blog/just-how-flexible-are-flexible-isas). ### Can I earn interest on cash held with AJ Bell? Yes, AJ Bell pays interest on uninvested GBP cash balances, but the rates are **tiered** and depend on the amount held. The latest rates are shown in the table above. AJ Bell does not pay interest on uninvested USD or EUR balances. ### Can I transfer stocks from AJ Bell to Lightyear? Yes, you can transfer stocks from AJ Bell to Lightyear. Lightyear accepts transfers of whole shares, provided each position is worth at least **£/$/€1,000**. However, Lightyear does not support non-qualified stock options (NSOs). To start a transfer, read our [guide to stock transfers](/help/trading-and-investments/stock-transfer). ## Other providers to compare with - Hargreaves Lansdown: No-one grieves high fees once they've moved to Lightyear. - Freetrade: Free trades can cost you. Invest wisely. - Moneybox: Break out of the box. Lightyear offers smarter investing and low fees. - Revolut: The real revolution is smarter investing. - Interactive Investor: Their fees may be flat, but they could also be flattening your returns. - Trading 212: Your future isn’t a bet. Invest with purpose. ## Disclaimer This comparison is for educational purposes only and should in no way be taken as investment advice. When investing, your capital is at risk. Seek guidance if necessary. --- Canonical: https://lightyear.com/en-gb/comparison/aj-bell-vs-lightyear