Most people do not choose between these; their employer does. But if you are consolidating old pots or weighing a transfer, here is how the charges and reviews actually stack up.
Charges verified July 2026. Pension transfers are a big decision; this is information, not advice.
The charge gap between them is small next to whether you're saving enough at all.
See if you're on trackFree to check. No card required. Takes about two minutes.
Consolidating old pots with a household name, and workplace savers who want to manage everything in one app.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland customers who want their pension inside their banking app.
| Charge | Aviva | Scottish Widows |
|---|---|---|
| Annual charge | 0.35% up to £500k on the personal pension (nothing above £500k) | 0.25% to 0.50% on the Retirement Account, depending on pot size and investments |
| Workplace scheme charge | Set by your employer's scheme, capped at 0.75% for auto-enrolment defaults | Set by your employer's scheme, capped at 0.75% for auto-enrolment defaults |
| Fund charges | Typically 0.10% to 0.90% on top, most Aviva funds around 0.35% | Vary by fund; older policies can carry total charges up to 1.5% |
| Contribution charge | None | None on modern products |
| Transfers in | Free | Free |
| Drawdown | Included | Included on the Retirement Account |
The MyAviva app and the convenience of seeing pensions alongside insurance get consistent positive mentions.
Filtering reviews to pensions specifically shows a more mixed picture, with complaints about transfer delays and call wait times.
Read Aviva reviews on TrustpilotRecent reviews praise professional, knowledgeable phone staff, and the rating has improved markedly in recent years.
Longer-standing complaints centre on transfer speed and the admin on older policies.
Read Scottish Widows reviews on TrustpilotAviva runs pensions for millions of UK employees and offers a self-managed personal pension at 0.35% a year, dropping to nothing above £500,000. For a mainstream provider with full drawdown support, that pricing holds up well.
The experience depends on which Aviva you get. A modern workplace scheme in the app is slick; an older policy inherited through an acquisition may carry higher charges. If you hold an old Aviva pot, checking the actual charge is the single most useful thing you can do.
Scottish Widows runs pensions for millions of workplace savers and its modern Retirement Account starts at a competitive 0.25%. Integration with Lloyds Banking Group means Lloyds and Halifax customers can watch their pension next to their current account, which does wonders for engagement.
The name spans a century of products, though. If your Scottish Widows pension dates from before roughly 2010, it may be on much older terms, and comparing its actual charge against a modern alternative is worth an evening.
A small charge difference is worth optimising. Knowing whether you are saving enough in the first place is worth far more. Delphina models your pensions, ISAs and investments and tells you where you actually stand.
Free to check. No card required. Takes about two minutes.