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 for investment options, both brokers offer a strong selection that caters to diverse needs. UK investors can trade shares, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts with both AJ Bell and Saxo. However, while AJ Bell does not offer CFD trading, Saxo provides this option, adding a layer of flexibility for traders interested in contracts for difference. Neither platform currently supports cryptocurrency trading or spread betting, and both do not offer advisor services.
In terms of recognition, AJ Bell and Saxo both receive a commendable five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for their wide range of investment choices. However, Saxo edges ahead in rank, taking the top spot out of 18 brokers, while AJ Bell is positioned at a respectable fifth place. This comparison highlights the strengths and slight differences between the two platforms, giving UK investors insights to help guide their choice.
| 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.
For UK traders seeking to compare AJ Bell and Saxo's trading tools, both platforms provide comprehensive browser-based trading with real-time market data and the capability to create alerts for stock price updates. AJ Bell stands out with its ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on their charts, a feature unavailable on Saxo. On the other hand, Saxo offers a more extensive range of charting tools with 20 drawing options and 64 technical indicators, compared to AJ Bell's 8 drawing tools and 31 technical indicators. Both platforms allow users to add index and stock overlays to charts, ensuring a detailed analysis of market trends.
While AJ Bell lacks the option to add personal notes to charts, Saxo provides this added flexibility, enhancing the user’s ability to customize their trading experience. Both platforms have strengths that make them appealing depending on the trader's need for in-depth market insight or convenience in monitoring corporate events. Whether prioritizing charting capabilities with Saxo or the detailed corporate event display with AJ Bell, UK traders have solid options tailored to varied trading strategies.
| 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 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.
For UK investors seeking user-friendly mobile applications, both AJ Bell and Saxo offer apps for iPhone and Android devices, ensuring convenience for their on-the-go clients. AJ Bell's mobile app garners a commendable 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it in the 9th position among 18 competitors. Meanwhile, Saxo impresses with a top-ranked performance, securing a 5-star rating and the number one spot in the same evaluation. These ratings highlight Saxo as a preferred choice for those prioritizing mobile app functionality in their trading experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources, both AJ Bell and Saxo provide valuable offerings, including webinars that can be attended live or viewed on-demand later. However, AJ Bell surpasses Saxo in terms of educational content scope, providing resources on share trading, funds, and retirement, while Saxo does not cover these areas. Despite this difference in educational topics, both platforms are highly rated for beginner education, each earning a perfect five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. When it comes to ranking among 18 brokers, Saxo edges out AJ Bell, holding the third spot compared to AJ Bell's fifth. This makes both brokers excellent choices for newcomers looking to expand their investment knowledge, with a slight advantage to Saxo in overall ranking.
| 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 AJ Bell and Saxo for market research features, both brokers provide a wealth of options for UK investors seeking insights across various asset classes. AJ Bell and Saxo offer comprehensive research reports for funds, helping you make informed decisions. They each allow users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, which assists in maintaining a balanced investment strategy. For those interested in shares, ETFs, and bonds, both platforms deliver valuable research to guide your investments. However, only Saxo offers specific research on CFDs, giving it an edge for those looking to explore contract for difference options.
| 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 |
AJ Bell
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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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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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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