AJ Bell
First Trade
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Overview
AJ Bell was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in UK, while First Trade was established in 2008 and is based in USA. AJ Bell holds licences including Central Bank of UAE, while First Trade is regulated by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) among others. AJ Bell serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; First Trade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at AJ Bell and $5 at First Trade.
| Feature | AJ Bell | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $5 |
| Regulation | Central Bank of UAE | Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) |
| Founded | 1997 | 2008 |
| Country | UK | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between AJ Bell and First Trade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. AJ Bell has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $5 at First Trade). First Trade charges withdrawal fees while AJ Bell does not, giving AJ Bell an edge for frequent withdrawers. First Trade charges deposit fees; AJ Bell does not. Overall, First Trade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | AJ Bell | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $5 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
AJ Bell offers MT5, cTrader, while First Trade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. First Trade edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | AJ Bell | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Desktop,Android,iPhone,Mac | MT4,WEB |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how AJ Bell and First Trade compare. First Trade runs regular live webinars; AJ Bell does not. First Trade has a video library; AJ Bell does not. First Trade publishes daily market commentary; AJ Bell does not. First Trade integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); AJ Bell does not. First Trade maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. First Trade scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | AJ Bell | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. AJ Bell accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while First Trade supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | AJ Bell | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both AJ Bell and First Trade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | AJ Bell | First Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |