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.
Your capital is at risk.
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 for investment options, both brokers offer strong choices for UK investors. AJ Bell and Saxo allow share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. However, AJ Bell does not offer CFD trading, which is available with Saxo. Both brokers share a top-tier 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices, highlighting their comprehensive range of offerings in the market.
Despite the similarities, Saxo achieves the top spot, ranked #1 out of 21 brokers for investment choices, while AJ Bell follows in the impressive #5 position. This ranking reflects Saxo's broader support, including CFD trading, which might be a decisive factor for investors seeking a more extensive trading platform. Both brokers remain excellent options for UK traders looking for diverse investment opportunities, depending on their specific trading needs.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the online brokers AJ Bell and Saxo, potential investors will notice distinctions in their trading tools that cater to different user preferences. Both platforms provide essential features like browser-based trading, real-time market data, and the ability to display stock and index overlays. However, AJ Bell sets itself apart by offering the option to display corporate events directly on its charts, a feature that's absent on Saxo. AJ Bell also supports users in tracking price movements with customizable alerts.
Saxo, on the other hand, boasts more extensive charting capabilities with a greater variety of tools, offering 20 drawing tools and 64 technical indicators compared to AJ Bell's 8 drawing tools and 31 technical indicators. Furthermore, Saxo allows users to personalize their charts by adding notes, a feature not available with AJ Bell. Both platforms aim to enhance trading experiences with practical functionalities, ensuring UK traders can make informed decisions tailored to their individual trading styles.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 64 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When comparing the online brokers AJ Bell and Saxo, UK investors looking for retirement account options have choices with both. AJ Bell offers Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), providing flexibility for those saving for the future. Similarly, Saxo also caters to diverse retirement planning needs by offering both ISA and SIPP accounts. This alignment in available account options from AJ Bell and Saxo ensures that investors can access tax-efficient savings vehicles to suit their retirement goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing AJ Bell and Saxo for their mobile app offerings, both brokers provide access to iPhone and Android users, ensuring a seamless trading experience on the go. AJ Bell's mobile app is rated 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com and ranks 9th out of 21 brokers, signifying a solid performance for UK investors. Meanwhile, Saxo boasts a top-rated mobile app with a 5-star rating, placing it at the top position among 21 brokers. This makes Saxo an excellent choice for those prioritizing mobile trading with the highest approval from UK.StockBrokers.com.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources, both AJ Bell and Saxo offer educational client webinars with the convenience of on-demand viewing. AJ Bell provides education on topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement, while Saxo's specific educational topics aren't detailed. Both brokers enjoy a perfect five-star rating for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com. However, Saxo holds a slightly higher rank, positioned at #3 among 21 brokers, compared to AJ Bell's #5 ranking. Both platforms are strong contenders for novice investors keen on learning, but Saxo's slightly higher rank may appeal to those prioritising overall beginner education reputation.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
For UK investors comparing the market research features of AJ Bell and Saxo, both brokers provide extensive research options. AJ Bell and Saxo offer research reports for funds, allowing you to make informed decisions about your investments. Both platforms let you view portfolio allocations by asset class, helping you maintain a balanced investment strategy. Whether you're interested in shares, ETFs, or bonds, AJ Bell and Saxo both cover these areas comprehensively, with research to guide your investment choices. However, if you're looking for research on CFDs, Saxo has the advantage with available reports, while AJ Bell does not offer CFD research. Overall, both AJ Bell and Saxo deliver strong market research options, with Saxo providing an edge in CFD research.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | 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 |
AJ Bell
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Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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While AJ Bell does not offer crypto trading, Saxo provides this feature, making it more suitable for investors interested in cryptocurrency markets.
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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 | Yes | ||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| 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 | Yes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AJ Bell | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | 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 | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| 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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