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 it comes to online brokerage services in the UK, both AJ Bell and Saxo offer a variety of investment options tailored to different investor needs. AJ Bell provides share trading, ETF trading, funds trading, and allows investment in both corporate and government bonds, as well as investment trusts. However, it does not support crypto trading, CFD trading, or spread betting. Saxo, on the other hand, matches AJ Bell in offering share trading, ETF trading, funds trading, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. In addition, Saxo broadens its scope by also offering CFD trading, though like AJ Bell, it does not accommodate crypto trading or spread betting.
Despite differences in the availability of certain types of trading, both AJ Bell and Saxo share equal acclaim from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices, each receiving a five-star rating. However, while AJ Bell is ranked number five out of 21 brokers, Saxo stands at the top, ranked number one for investment choices. This makes Saxo an appealing option for those seeking a wider array of trading opportunities, particularly in CFDs, while AJ Bell continues to hold its ground with a comprehensive yet more conservative offering.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
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.
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.
When comparing AJ Bell and Saxo for beginner investor educational resources, both online brokers offer educational webinars and archives for on-demand viewing. However, AJ Bell provides a more comprehensive learning experience by covering essential topics like share trading, funds, and retirement, whereas Saxo does not offer specific education in these areas. Despite this, both brokers are highly rated by UK.StockBrokers.com, each receiving 5 stars for beginner education. In terms of ranking among 21 brokers, Saxo claims a slightly higher position at #3, compared to AJ Bell's #5 spot. For UK beginners eager to learn comprehensively about investing, AJ Bell may present a more well-rounded choice, especially for those interested in share trading and retirement planning. Saxo, however, holds higher overall rankings in this category.
| 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.
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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 | |
| 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 | £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 Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | Up to £800 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £500 to £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £875 | Up to £1,998 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £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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