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.
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.
AJ Bell vs Saxo: both brokers support share dealing, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. Neither offers advisor services. Key differences lie in specialist markets: AJ Bell does not offer CFD or crypto trading, while Saxo offers both, widening Saxo’s toolkit for active traders who want derivatives or digital assets alongside core investments.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both AJ Bell and Saxo earn 5 out of 5 stars for investment choices, though Saxo ranks #1 out of 21 brokers and AJ Bell ranks #5. For UK investors who want the broadest menu, including crypto and CFDs, Saxo has the edge. If you prefer a simpler line-up focused on mainstream investments, AJ Bell covers the essentials.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
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Saxo
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|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
AJ Bell vs Saxo: For charting, AJ Bell lets you display corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) on charts, while Saxo does not. Saxo offers more drawing tools (20 vs 8) and more technical indicators (64 vs 31). Neither broker lets you add notes or index overlays, but Saxo supports stock overlays whereas AJ Bell does not.
Both brokers have a browser-based platform and let you set price alerts, though neither offers real-time market data. In short, AJ Bell may suit UK investors who want corporate events visible on charts, while Saxo may appeal if you want a larger toolkit and stock overlays.
| 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 | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
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.
UK investors comparing online brokers will find both AJ Bell and Saxo offer iPhone and Android apps, but UK.StockBrokers.com scores Saxo higher for mobile: 5 stars and ranked #1 of 21, versus AJ Bell’s 4 stars and #9 ranking. If top mobile experience is key, Saxo is the standout choice, while AJ Bell still delivers dependable iOS and Android access for trading and portfolio tracking.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
AJ Bell vs Saxo for UK beginner investor education: both brokers offer live educational webinars with on‑demand replays and cover share trading, funds, and retirement topics. UK.StockBrokers.com rates both 5/5 for beginner investor education, though Saxo ranks 3rd out of 21 brokers while AJ Bell ranks 5th. In short, each provides excellent learning resources, with Saxo holding a slight edge in overall ranking.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing AJ Bell and Saxo for their market research features, both online brokers present a comprehensive suite of tools for UK investors. They each provide research reports for funds, enabling users to make informed decisions. Investors can view portfolio allocations by asset class through both platforms, aiding in strategic planning. Whether you're interested in shares, ETFs, funds, or bonds, AJ Bell and Saxo both offer detailed research, ensuring diverse market insights are at your fingertips.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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Compared with online broker AJ Bell, which does not offer crypto trading, Saxo supports cryptocurrency trading, suiting investors seeking digital asset exposure.
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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 | |
| Mutual 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 | |||
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | $1 / £3 / €3 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £1.50 | $1 / £3 / €3 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £1.50 | $1 / £3 / €3 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £875 | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £875 | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £5 | €20 minimum | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £5 | €20 minimum | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5 | From $1 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | 0.03/0.06/0.08% | |
| 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 | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | AJ Bell | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| 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 | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | 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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