Aviva vs Legal & General for drawdown: fees and features compared (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of what Aviva and Legal & General charge for pension drawdown, and what you get for it. On published charges alone, Legal & General works out cheaper at all three pot sizes modelled below.
Platform charges only.
What each one charges
Provider
Published fee structure
What it covers
Fees checked
Aviva
0.35% a year on the first £500,000, with no charge above £500,000 (drawdown included)
Platform charge only; fund charges extra
23 Sept 2026
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)
Platform charge only; fund charges extra
23 Sept 2026
Annual cost by pot size
Pot size
Aviva
Legal & General
Cheaper
£100,000 pot
£350
£250
Legal & General is cheaper
£250,000 pot
£875
£625
Legal & General is cheaper
£500,000 pot
£1,750
£1,250
Legal & General is cheaper
Legal & General is cheaper up to about £695k; above that, Aviva is cheaper (modelled between £10k and £1m).
Fund charges, dealing and withdrawal fees are extra. Platform charges assume you hold funds. Some platforms cap charges on shares, ETFs and investment trusts, which can be much lower. See how we compare.
Features compared
Feature
Aviva
Legal & General
What the charge covers
Platform charge only; fund charges extra
Platform charge only; fund charges extra
Investment range
2,000+
4 funds
Ready-made portfolios
Yes
Yes
Regular income payments
No extra charge
No extra charge
One-off withdrawals
No charge
Not confirmed
UFPLS lump sums
Not confirmed
Not confirmed
Minimum pot to start drawdown
£5,000
Not confirmed
FSCS protected
Yes
Yes
Fees checked
23 Sept 2026
23 Sept 2026
“Not confirmed” means the provider does not publish the figure or we have not yet checked it; it does not mean the charge is zero.
Which suits you?
Choose Aviva if you…
On the facts we hold, nothing stands out in Aviva’s favour; check the tables above against what matters to you.
Choose Legal & General if you…
want the lower platform charge at every pot size we model (£100,000 to £500,000)
This is comparison information, not advice.
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.
Pros and cons
Aviva
Pro: Major UK provider
Pro: No setup, switch or exit charges
Pro: Charge capped at £1,750 a year
Pro: Wide fund range plus shares and ETFs
Pro: Available direct from £25/month
Con: Pricier than the cheapest platforms for small pots
Con: Fund range narrower than whole-of-market brokers
Con: Platform less slick than specialist DIY brokers
Con: Better known for insurance than investing
Con: 0% tier only applies above £500,000
Legal & General
Pro: Low 0.25% service charge
Pro: Simple ready-made investment pathway funds
Pro: Strong financial stability and long heritage
Pro: User-friendly online platform and mobile app
Pro: Good customer service ratings (4.3/5)
Pro: No setup fees or exit charges
Pro: Free fund switches and rebalancing
Pro: FCA regulated with FSCS protection
Con: Only four investment pathway funds
Con: No SIPP, individual shares or third-party funds
Con: Not for investors who want to choose their own investments
Con: Whole-pot transfer only; can only crystallise once
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for drawdown, Aviva or Legal & General?
Legal & General is cheaper at all three pot sizes we model. Yearly platform charges for Aviva and Legal & General are £350 and £250 on a £100,000 pot; £875 and £625 on £250,000; and £1,750 and £1,250 on £500,000. Legal & General is cheaper up to about £695k; above that, Aviva is cheaper (modelled between £10k and £1m). Fund charges, dealing and withdrawal fees are extra.
What does Aviva charge for drawdown?
0.35% a year on the first £500,000, with no charge above £500,000 (drawdown included). Platform charge only; fund charges extra. Regular income payments: no extra charge. One-off withdrawals: no charge. UFPLS lump sums: not confirmed. We last checked these fees on 23 September 2026.
What does Legal & General charge for drawdown?
0.25% service charge a year plus fund charge 0.14%–0.31% (four investment pathway funds; Personal Pension drawdown, not a full SIPP). Platform charge only; fund charges extra. Regular income payments: no extra charge. One-off withdrawals: not confirmed. UFPLS lump sums: not confirmed. We last checked these fees on 23 September 2026.
What can I invest in with Aviva and Legal & General?
Aviva: 2,000+, including ready-made portfolios. Legal & General: 4 funds, including ready-made portfolios.
How do customers rate Aviva and Legal & General?
Aviva has a Trustpilot score of 4.3 out of 5 (checked 8 September 2026). Legal & General has a Trustpilot score of 4.3 out of 5 (checked 8 September 2026). Scores change over time, and they do not affect our cost comparison.
How do I choose between Aviva and Legal & General?
Start with the yearly cost at your own pot size, then check what you want to hold, how you plan to take income and whether you want ready-made portfolios. This page is comparison information, not advice. Free, impartial guidance on your options is available from MoneyHelper's Pension Wise service.