Both are FCA-regulated and FSCS-protected. The real difference is fees, account types and how each platform feels to use. Verified against each provider’s published charges.
Fees verified July 2026. Capital at risk. Information, not financial advice.
Investors who want funds and shares on one platform without paying Hargreaves Lansdown prices.
Self-directed investors who want low-cost, no-platform-fee share dealing from a major UK bank.
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Account availability verified July 2026. Capital at risk. Information, not financial advice.
Reviewers repeatedly mention that the platform is easy to use and communication is clear. AJ Bell has been Which? Recommended for eight years running.
Occasional gripes about transfer times and the dealing charge compared with app-only rivals.
Read AJ Bell reviews on TrustpilotLong-standing customers value the low flat-fee share dealing and the Lloyds Banking Group backing; recent reviews praise the move into the Scottish Widows app.
Common gripes are the 1.5% FX fee on US shares and the dated feel of parts of the web platform.
Read Scottish Widows reviews on Trustpilot| Fee | AJ Bell | Scottish Widows |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 0.25% on funds up to £250k (tiered lower above); shares capped at £3.50/month in an ISA and £10/month in a SIPP | £0 on ISA and Share Dealing Account; SIPP 0.25% capped at £16.50/month |
| Share dealing | £5.00 per trade | £5.00 per UK trade (£0 commission on international, 1.5% FX applies) |
| Fund dealing | £1.50 per trade | £5.00 per trade |
| FX fee | 0.75% on the first £10k, tiered lower above | 1.5% |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Platform fee applies, no separate ISA charge | No annual charge |
| SIPP | Platform fee applies, capped at £120/year for shares | 0.25% per year, capped at £198 |
| Withdrawals | Free | Free (CHAPS same-day payment £25) |
| Minimum to start | £25/month or £500 lump sum | £50 |
AJ Bell sits in the sweet spot between cheap app-only brokers and expensive full-service platforms. You get funds, shares, ETFs, a well-regarded SIPP and a Lifetime ISA, with caps that keep costs sensible for share investors.
It suits people who want one account for everything, particularly ETF investors who benefit from the £3.50 monthly cap in an ISA. Fund-heavy portfolios above six figures should compare the 0.25% fee against a flat-fee platform like Interactive Investor.
Scottish Widows Share Dealing is the rebranded IWeb platform, now run by Halifax Share Dealing Limited inside Lloyds Banking Group. It charges no annual fee on the ISA or General Investment Account, £5 per UK trade and free regular investing through a Regular Investment Plan. For a buy-and-hold investor making occasional trades, the all-in cost can be very low.
The trade-off is the 1.5% FX charge on US and other non-GBP trades, which adds up quickly for global investors, and no Junior ISA. The SIPP is competitively priced at 0.25% capped at £16.50 a month. Compare it against Trading 212 or Freetrade if FX cost matters, and against AJ Bell or Hargreaves Lansdown if you want funds and full-service support.
It depends on what you hold and how often you trade. AJ Bell's platform fee is 0.25% on funds up to £250k (tiered lower above); shares capped at £3.50/month in an ISA and £10/month in a SIPP, against £0 on ISA and Share Dealing Account; SIPP 0.25% capped at £16.50/month at Scottish Widows. On dealing, AJ Bell charges £5.00 per trade for shares and £1.50 per trade for funds, while Scottish Widows charges £5.00 per UK trade (£0 commission on international, 1.5% FX applies) for shares and £5.00 per trade for funds. Fees verified July 2026.
AJ Bell is best for investors who want funds and shares on one platform without paying Hargreaves Lansdown prices. Scottish Widows is best for self-directed investors who want low-cost, no-platform-fee share dealing from a major UK bank. Both are FCA regulated and covered by the FSCS.
On AJ Bell's ISA: Platform fee applies, no separate ISA charge. On Scottish Widows's ISA: No annual charge. Scottish Widows offers a flexible ISA and AJ Bell does not. Minimums are £25/month or £500 lump sum at AJ Bell and £50 at Scottish Widows.
AJ Bell offers a SIPP (platform fee applies, capped at £120/year for shares). Scottish Widows offers a SIPP (0.25% per year, capped at £198).
AJ Bell scores 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot (Excellent) from around 14,000 reviews. Scottish Widows scores 4.6 out of 5 (Excellent) from over 13,000 reviews. Occasional gripes about transfer times and the dealing charge compared with app-only rivals. Common gripes are the 1.5% FX fee on US shares and the dated feel of parts of the web platform.
Yes. UK platforms accept ISA and SIPP transfers in, and you start the transfer with the receiving provider rather than the one you are leaving. AJ Bell charges free on withdrawals and Scottish Widows charges free (CHAPS same-day payment £25). Transfer as cash and you are out of the market while it settles; transfer in specie and you keep your holdings but it takes longer.
AJ Bell or Scottish Widows, the account is the easy part. What decides when you can retire is how much goes in and for how long. Delphina works that out from what you already hold and what you pay in each month.
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