Every provider we track, with its published platform charging structure. The provider name opens the brand overview. Use Fees vs market for the pot-size calculator, or Review for the sourced write-up.
More on the small pots rule, tax on pension lump sums and your options for taking a pension.
Data as at 24 Jun to 24 Sept 2026. Each row shows when that provider’s fees were checked.
| Provider | Platform charging structure | Fees vs market | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| AJ Bell Youinvest | 0.25% to £250k, 0.10% £250k–£500k, 0% over £500k (shares & ETFs capped at £10/month) Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Aviva | 0.35% a year on the first £500,000, with no charge above £500,000 (drawdown included) Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Barclays Direct Investing (formerly Smart Investor) | £0 customer fee; SIPP administration £125 + VAT a year (£150); flexi-access drawdown £100 + VAT a year (£120) plus £75 + VAT set-up Fees checked 3 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Bestinvest | 0.40% up to £250k, 0.20% £250k-£500k, 0.10% £500k-£1m, 0% over £1m (minimum £120 a year, £10 a month) Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Charles Stanley Direct | 0.30% flat platform charge (minimum £60, capped at £600 a year); SIPP admin £100+VAT (waived over £30k); drawdown payroll £50+VAT a year; £25+VAT per ad-hoc withdrawal Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| CMC Invest | Premium plan £10.99 a month (£131.88 a year) for SIPP access; £0 dealing commission Fees checked 3 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| EQi | EQi subscription £4.99/mo under £50k or £10.99/mo at £50k+; SIPP administration £118.80 a year (Platform One); flexi-access drawdown £180 a year (£150 + VAT) Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Fidelity Personal Investing | 0.35% up to £250k, 0.20% over £250k (minimum £90 a year) Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | 0.35% first £250k, 0.25% £250k-£1m, 0.10% £1m-£2m, 0% over £2m (£150 annual cap for shares) Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| IG | £210/year SIPP admin fee plus a yearly drawdown income fee of £240 (monthly), £180 (quarterly) or £150 (twice-yearly or yearly), both via Options UK; £300 per crystallisation; no IG custody fee (removed January 2026). Our cost assumes quarterly income Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Interactive Investor | SIPP: Core £5.99/mo (£71.88/yr, pots up to £100k); Plus £14.99/mo (£179.88/yr); Premium £39.99/mo (£479.88/yr). Each price already includes the pension admin fee (£2.50/mo on Core, £6/mo on Plus and Premium) Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| InvestEngine | £0 SIPP account fee and £0 dealing; ETF ongoing charges apply Fees checked 3 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| J.P. Morgan Personal Investing (formerly Nutmeg) | Fully Managed: 0.75% on the first £100k then 0.35% above (Fixed Allocation: 0.45% then 0.25%) Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Legal & General | 0.25% service charge a year plus fund charge 0.14%–0.31% (four investment pathway funds; Personal Pension drawdown, not a full SIPP) Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Moneybox | Moneybox funds: 0.15% service fee capped at £150 a year (plus 0.29% fund fee). Other providers’ funds: 0.45% service fee on the first £100k, then 0.15% above (no cap) Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Penfold | Default Plan single all-in fee: 0.75% a year on the first £100k and 0.40% on the amount above; no benefits withdrawal fees Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| PensionBee | 0.50%–0.95% depending on plan, halved on the portion over £100k (≈0.70% on a typical plan) Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Scottish Widows | 0.25% a year, capped at £16.50/month (£198/year) - Share Dealing SIPP Fees checked 24 Jun 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Standard Life | 0.45% annual charge (Standard Life Personal Pension; plus ~0.10% fund charge), no dealing, switching or exit fees Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
| Vanguard | 0.15% flat fee (capped at £375 annually; minimum £48 a year, £4 a month, below £32,000) Fees checked 23 Sept 2026 |
Fees vs market | Review |
Royal London, Prudential, Aegon, Quilter, St James's Place, True Potential need a financial adviser, so their real cost includes an adviser’s fee. We compare them with other adviser platforms on advised drawdown.
The charging structures above are the platform or product charge each provider publishes. They are only part of what you pay. Fund charges apply on top and vary with what you hold — typically 0.10% to 0.50% a year for trackers, and more for actively managed funds. Some providers also apply dealing charges, drawdown set-up fees or annual drawdown administration fees, which are set out on the individual comparison pages.
Because the structures differ — percentage tiers, flat monthly fees, capped percentages — the cheapest provider changes with pot size. A flat fee that looks expensive on a £50,000 pot can be the cheapest option on a £500,000 one. That is why each comparison page takes a pot size rather than publishing a single ranking.
Free, impartial guidance: Pension Wise offers free appointments to people aged 50 or over with a defined contribution pension, and MoneyHelper’s investment pathways comparison tool compares drawdown providers’ ready-made options. Both are backed by the government.