Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AJ Bell vs Saxo, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, AJ Bell offers better pricing than Saxo for share dealing.
Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.
5 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £100 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 per year.
12 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £135 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 per year.
36 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £255 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 per year.
120 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £495 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 per year.
3 fund trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £0 per year, while Saxo would cost £0 per year.
What type of trader are you?
New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.
When comparing AJ Bell and Saxo, both online brokers shine in terms of investment options, earning them a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. Both brokers are highly recognized for their share and ETF trading capabilities, offering a robust selection for investors seeking diverse portfolios. Additionally, AJ Bell and Saxo support trading in funds, investment trusts, and both corporate and government bonds, making them versatile options for investors with a range of preferences.
However, differences arise with Saxo's additional offering of CFD trading, which AJ Bell does not provide. Despite neither broker supporting crypto trading, spread betting, or advisory services, this extra feature may appeal to more experienced traders eyeing Saxo. In rankings by UK.StockBrokers.com, Saxo takes the top spot out of 18 brokers for investment choices, with AJ Bell following closely at third place, highlighting each broker's strengths to meet various investing needs.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools offered by AJ Bell and Saxo, both platforms provide robust features for investors. AJ Bell stands out with its ability to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature Saxo does not offer. However, AJ Bell offers a modest set of 8 drawing tools and 31 technical indicators, while Saxo excels with 20 drawing tools and 64 technical indicators, providing more options for in-depth technical analysis. Additionally, Saxo users can enhance their trading experience by adding personal notes to charts, a feature unavailable with AJ Bell.
Both AJ Bell and Saxo allow users to add index and stock overlays on their charts, supporting comprehensive analysis and decision-making. They also share similar conveniences such as browser-based platforms for ease of access, real-time market data for timely insights, and features to set price alerts. Choosing between the two may come down to what specific tools and features traders prioritize, with AJ Bell offering great corporate event charting and Saxo providing enhanced technical analysis capabilities.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 64 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When comparing online brokers AJ Bell and Saxo, both platforms provide excellent options for retirement accounts. AJ Bell offers both Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making it a versatile choice for UK investors seeking tax-efficient savings and retirement planning. Similarly, Saxo also caters to these needs by providing access to ISAs and SIPPs, ensuring that users can benefit from flexible and tax-advantaged investing options. With both brokers offering these popular account types, investors can choose based on other factors such as fees, user experience, and investment options that best suit their personal financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When it comes to mobile trading, both AJ Bell and Saxo offer robust solutions for iPhone and Android users. AJ Bell's mobile app garners a respectable 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, earning it the #3 spot among 18 brokers. Meanwhile, Saxo's mobile app shines with a perfect 5-star rating, securing its position as the top-rated app. Both platforms provide investors with secure and versatile options for managing their investments on the go, but Saxo edges ahead with its outstanding user reviews and highest-ranking mobile trading app.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources between AJ Bell and Saxo, both online brokers provide educational webinars that are archived for convenient, on-demand viewing. AJ Bell stands out by offering in-depth educational content on share trading, funds, and retirement, which Saxo does not provide. Both brokers are highly rated for beginner education, each receiving 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com. Despite this equal rating, Saxo is ranked slightly higher, taking the #2 spot out of 18 brokers, whereas AJ Bell follows closely at #3. These rankings indicate that while both platforms excel in educating novice investors, AJ Bell offers a broader range of topics for those looking to deepen their investment knowledge.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers AJ Bell and Saxo, both platforms provide comprehensive resources for investors. AJ Bell and Saxo both offer research reports for funds and allow users to examine their portfolio allocation by asset class. Investors can access shares, ETFs, and bonds research on both platforms, though AJ Bell does not offer research on CFDs while Saxo does. Whether you choose AJ Bell or Saxo, you can expect detailed insights to help inform your investment decisions.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, AJ Bell or Saxo? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found AJ Bell to be a better trading platform overall.
You can invest in an extensive range of investments through AJ Bell. Charges are on the high side for those with large portfolios in mutual funds and those looking to execute one-off share deals; but its new app, called Dodl, offers much lower fees and also offers a more slim-lined and user-friendly service. Educational and research materials are strong, too.
| Feature |
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Saxo
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Both AJ Bell and Saxo do not offer crypto trading services, making them similar in their absence of cryptocurrency trading options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Saxo Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | AJ Bell | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.50 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.50 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £100 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £255 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £495 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.50 | 0.4% + 0% commission: £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | Up to £800 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £500 to £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £875 | Up to £1,998 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £875 | £1,000 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £5 | €20 minimum | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £5 | €20 minimum | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5 | From $1 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | From $1 / £3 / €10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | £50 |
| Broker Screenshots | AJ Bell | Saxo | |
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| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 64 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 20 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AJ Bell | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AJ Bell | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | Saxo | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Saxo Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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