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 for UK investment choices: both brokers offer the essentials, including share dealing, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. Saxo also provides crypto and CFD trading, which AJ Bell does not. Neither offers adviser services. Details on spread betting were not provided for either broker.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both earn 5 stars for investment choices; out of 21 brokers, AJ Bell ranks #4 while Saxo ranks #2. If you only need mainstream investments, both fit well; if you want crypto or CFDs, Saxo has the edge.
| 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.
AJ Bell and Saxo both offer iPhone and Android apps for UK investors, but UK.StockBrokers.com rates AJ Bell’s mobile app 4 out of 5 stars and ranks it 12th of 21 brokers, while Saxo’s app earns 5 out of 5 stars and the #1 spot. If you want the highest-rated mobile experience, Saxo leads, while AJ Bell remains a well-rated choice for everyday investing.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors comparing AJ Bell and Saxo, both brokers offer live educational client webinars with recordings available on demand, and they cover core topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement planning. Each holds a 5-star beginner education rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, but rankings differ: out of 21 brokers, Saxo is #2 while AJ Bell is #6. If league-table position matters, Saxo edges it, though both provide accessible, well-rounded learning for newcomers.
| 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 the Dodl app 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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| Mobile App |
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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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