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.
Long-standing workplace savers, and self-directed investors who want a SIPP under a recognisable brand.
| Charge | Aviva | Standard Life |
|---|---|---|
| Annual charge | 0.35% up to £500k on the personal pension (nothing above £500k) | Ready-made option 0.55% total (0.45% service charge + 0.10% fund charge); choose-your-own funds vary |
| 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% | Fund charges vary by option; over 50 investment choices on the personal pension |
| Contribution charge | None | None |
| Transfers in | Free | Free |
| Drawdown | Included | Included from age 55 (57 from 6 April 2028), no drawdown fees |
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 TrustpilotReviewers often mention the long brand heritage and the clarity of the app, and the personal pension page leads on 'no hidden charges' (no exit, transfer-in, switching or withdrawal fees).
Common gripes are legacy policy admin, slower responses on older workplace schemes, and the fact the modern personal pension is one product line among many older books.
Read Standard Life 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.
Standard Life has been writing UK pensions since 1825 and is now a brand of Standard Life plc, the life arm of what was Phoenix Group. The current consumer personal pension (branded Active Money) charges 0.55% on the ready-made option, has no platform or transfer-in fees, and can be opened from £1 in the app.
Most people with Standard Life today got there through an employer scheme that may have been sold by an older Standard Life entity years ago. The experience of those legacy policies is uneven and tends to drive the negative reviews, while the modern personal pension and Wrap SIPP get a cleaner reception.
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.