Best UK private pension providers

Private pensions in the UK refer to both your workplace pension (arranged by your employer) and any additional pension you set up yourself. We’re going to be focusing on the best private pensions you can create because you often don’t get a say about your workplace pension, so it’s out of your control.

Using the best possible pension provider you can get your hands on won’t guarantee you a perfect retirement, but it will put you on a solid path to achieve your goals. One of the great things about UK private pensions is the freedom you have to combine and control your pots. So it’s well worth taking advantage of those pension freedoms.

Best for customer satisfaction

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Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.

Free fund dealing
Low 0.45% SIPP fee
Top-rated customer service

Best for mobile app

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Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.

£100-£3,000 cashback

Flat monthly SIPP fee
Free regular investing
No drawdown charges

Best for ease of use

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Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.

Personal advisors as standard
Globally diversified portfolios, fully managed in-house
Single account fee, which reduces as your pot grows

Finder’s 10 best UK private pension providers for February 2026

• Best for 0% commission: Freetrade SIPP
• Best for customer satisfaction: Hargreaves Lansdown SIPP
• Best for beginners: CMC Invest SIPP
• Best for financial advice: Charles Stanley SIPP
• Best for investment choice: Interactive Investor SIPP
• Best for low fees: InvestEngine SIPP
• Best for mobile app: Moneybox Pension
• Best for funds: Aviva Pension
• Best for index funds: Vanguard Personal Pension SIPP
• Best for simplicity: AJ Bell Dodl

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Min investment	Min monthly investment	Number of funds	Transfer available	Brand description
Best for 0% commission
Freetrade SIPP	£0	£0	6200		More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it If you want to use Freetrade’s SIPP, you’ll need to sign up to the Plus plan which costs £11.99 a month (or £119.88 per year which works out at £9.99 a month). This gives you access to the Freetrade SIPP and also its flexible stocks and shares ISA, and means you can invest your pension commission-free in over 6,200 stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other assets from the UK, US and EU. On Freetrade Plus, you also get priority customer service, 5% interest on up to £3,000 of cash, and its lowest foreign exchange (FX) fee of 0.39% for 0% commission international trades. Pros & cons Pros 0% commission Simple, easy-to use platform Flat fee structure suits bigger pension pots 0.39% FX fee (Freetrade’s lowest) 5% on up to £3,000 of cash 6,200+ investments Cons You have to be on the Freetrade Plus plan Flat fees aren’t the best for smaller pension portfolios Tools and guidance are more limited than some other platforms No ready-made portfolios Only US, UK and Europe markets
Best for customer satisfaction
Hargreaves Lansdown SIPP	£100	£25	2500		Hargreaves Lansdown is the UK's biggest wealth manager. It's got three different retirement options. Capital at risk.	Go to site Capital at risk More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it HL not only topped our customer satisfaction table this year, it’s also won for the past 3 years. It’s definitely the private pension provider to beat when it comes to customer service. The HL SIPP fees start at 0.45% for holding the account (£200 annual fee cap for holding shares and percentage fund fee gets cheaper for large portfolios). You can invest for retirement from £25 per month and it’s free to buy or sell funds, but the commissions for stocks and other assets are steep, starting at £11.95 per trade. Pros & cons Pros Pension drawdown options available Free fund dealing Platform fee starts at 0.45% Lower commissions for frequent investing No commission if you set up a regular investment Excellent customer service Ready-made pension funds available Cons Expensive £11.95 commission for shares Fee structure is quite complex Could be simpler to navigate and use Some pension investors may not need all the tools
Best for beginners
CMC Invest SIPP	£1	£0	1,400+		More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it CMC Invest offers an excellent beginner-friendly app for setting up and managing your CMC Invest SIPP. It’s dead easy to navigate your way around the CMC Invest app. It usually costs £25 per month to subscribe to the CMC Invest Premium plan (which includes the SIPP), but you can get it for free for 12 months (saving £300!). There’s no commissions to pay when investing, you get a USD and EUR currency account, access to thousands of investments, and a flexible stocks and shares ISA thrown in for good measure. Pros & cons Pros Excellent app that’s simple to use 0% commissions Flat fee structure suits larger pensions Thousand of investments and mutual funds Cons Must manage your pension on the app No fractional shares Flat fee structure can be expensive for smaller pots
Best for financial advice
Charles Stanley SIPP	£0	£0	12000		Cashback: Get up to £1,500 cashback when you transfer your cash and/or investments to Charles Stanley Direct. T&Cs apply. Capital at risk.	Go to site Capital at risk More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Charles Stanley Direct has an excellent slogan “using technology where it’s helpful and people where it matters”. If you want a more hands-on approach with your pension and retirement (and by that we mean someone else’s hands), Charles Stanley lets you access its in-house financial advisers and planners to assist you with your pension planning and investing (for an additional fee). You can open and hold a SIPP pension account on its platform for £100 + VAT per year (no fee if your portfolio is over £30,000). However, there are a slew of other SIPP fees to watch out for, especially if you use Charles Stanley for pension drawdown. Pros & cons Pros Financial coaching and advice for extra fee No SIPP wrapper fee for pensions over £30,000 No fund commission with automated monthly investment No platform or commission fee for the Charles Stanley Multi-Asset Funds Cons £100 + VAT SIPP fee per year (for accounts under £30,000) Expensive £10 share dealing commission Fund commissions of £4 No fractional shares
Best for investment choice
Interactive Investor SIPP	£0	£25	3000		Cashback: New or existing customers can get £100-£3,000 cashback when opening a SIPP with at least £20,000 before 28 February. Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.	Go to site Capital at risk More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it To use ii’s SIPP, and access a mammoth selection of assets, you can sign up for the Pension Essentials plan for £5.99 a month (if your portfolio is under £50,000) or the Pension Builder plan for £12.99 a month once your portfolio balance hits the £50,000 threshold. Or if you’re on the Investor Essentials plan you can add a SIPP for an extra £5 a month, or if you’re on the Investor or Super Investor Plan, you can add the ii SIPP for £10 a month. If you set up a regular investment of at least £25 a month, you don’t have to pay any investing commission, but this starts at £3.99 per trade otherwise. Pros & cons Pros 40,000+ investments No commission for regular monthly investments Excellent mobile and desktop platform Loads of research and analysis from experts Pension fund ideas Cheaper flat fee for smaller pensions Cons Flat monthly fee will suit larger pensions No fractional shares Commissions aren’t the cheapest around
Best for low fees
InvestEngine SIPP	£100	£0	790+ ETFs		Welcome bonus: Get a welcome bonus of up to £100 when you invest at least £100. Use code “FINDER”. T&Cs apply.	Go to site Capital at risk More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it InvestEngine’s SIPP is relatively new, but it came out swinging with an extremely low 0.15% fee to use the account (capped at £200 per year). There’s no fee to buy or sell exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and you can get a managed SIPP for an additional 0.25% fee, making this one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) SIPP available to retirement savers in the UK. Pros & cons Pros No commission to buy or sell ETFs Zero platform fees for DIY SIPP Managed SIPP portfolio for 0.25% fee 790+ ETFs to choose from Excellent tools and features Cons Only ETFs available Limited options for managed portfolios Not much in-depth research
Best for mobile app
Moneybox Pension	£1	£0	3		Manage your money with an easy-to-use Moneybox app. Capital at risk.	Go to site Capital at risk More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Moneybox does an excellent job of catering to all types of pension savers with its slick, yet simple app. There’s no confusing jargon or complex fee structure here. It costs nothing to open an account and there’s no monthly subscription fee for the Moneybox pension (as with some other Moneybox accounts), but you still pay a platform fee of 0.45% for a pension up to £100,000 (and 0.15% on anything over that). Moneybox can also help you find and combine lost pensions and so much more, it’s a fantastic app. Pros & cons Pros 0.45% platform fee (0.15% after £100,000 pension) No commission to buy or sell investments Excellent app for investing and managing a pension Useful pension saving features Cons App-only pension platform Limited choice of investments Not many research or analysis tools Experienced investors may not like the simple approach
Best for funds
Aviva Pension	£25	£25	5,000+		More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it The Aviva self-invested personal pension (SIPP) is an excellent option for funds because there are over 5,000 to choose from, including Aviva’s very own curated list of 80 funds recommended by experts. It also offers 5 ready-made funds if you want a more simplified approach. The fee structure for the Aviva SIPP is simple too, there’s a 0.35% maximum account fee and it’s free to buy or sell funds with Aviva. You can get started investing with an Aviva SIPP from £25 per month (or a much steeper £5,000 lump sum). Pros & cons Pros Over 5,000 funds 0.35% platform fee No commissions for fund investing Ready-made fund options Access to shares, ETFs and investment trusts Invest monthly from £25 Competitive £4.99 for each trade in shares and other exchange-traded investments Cons Pension platform design could be more intuitive Uncapped fee structure No discount for regular pension investing High initial lump sum if you don't invest monthly
Best for index funds
Vanguard Personal Pension SIPP	£500	£100	423		More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Vanguard’s SIPP is our best option for index funds because this is the company that actually invented index funds. So, you get access to some of the best index funds in the world when using the Vanguard pension, and its pricing model means the fees are extremely cheap with a simple 0.15% annual fee (capped at £375 per year). The Vanguard SIPP is fairly limiting in terms of investment choice (Vanguard funds only). Pros & cons Pros Low 0.15% SIPP fee (capped at £375 per year) Access to some of the best and cheapest index funds and ETFs No commission to buy or sell funds Fractional pieces of funds available Mobile and desktop app for pension Cons Vanguard products only Limited range of investments and assets Not many research or analysis tools £500 initial lump sum £7.50 commission for live ETF dealing
Best for simplicity
AJ Bell Dodl	£100	£25	37		More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Dodl’s private pension ticks plenty of beginner must-haves: it’s cheap, easy to use, and doesn’t have an overwhelming choice of investments. But what makes it stand out is the app's simplicity. You’re not going to find thousands of pension investments here, but you will find an easy-to-use app that has a limited number of quality assets to suit most beginners saving into a retirement pot. The Dodl pension fee is a simple 0.15% (£1 per month minimum) and there’s no commission to buy or sell investments in your pension. Pros & cons Pros Low 0.15% fee (£1 per month minimum) A few asset types to choose from Excellent app that’s easy to use Cons Limited range of investments App-only pension platform Very basic and simple approach

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What makes a great private pension provider?

There are few universal elements that help make UK private pension providers stand out as a top option. Here are some key things to look out for when looking for the best private pension provider:

• Investment options. One of the best things about controlling and managing your pension is the ability to invest it how you choose. So, it’s extremely helpful if your pension or self-invested personal pension (SIPP) offers the investments that suit your strategy and goals.
• Low fees. Whether you’re just starting to save into a private pension or nearing retirement, keeping your investment fees low with your pension provider is one of the best ways to make sure savings go further and let you reach your retirement goals faster.
• Simple pricing. Unfortunately, some pensions are cheap, but you need a PhD to decipher all the fees and the industry is full of confusing and useless jargon. A great pension provider should be both affordable and clear when it comes to fees and costs.
• Clear interface. Your retirement investments and pension are a crucial part of your finances, it’s not an area to muck around with. The best pension providers in the UK should provide clear and useful ways to interact with your pension, whether that’s with a well-designed mobile app or intuitive. This way you can better understand and control your retirement investment portfolio.

Compare SIPP providers

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Min investment	Min monthly investment	Number of funds	Transfer available	Brand description
Promoted Hargreaves Lansdown SIPP	£100	£25	2500		Hargreaves Lansdown is the UK's biggest wealth manager. It's got three different retirement options. Capital at risk.	Go to site Capital at risk More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Charles Stanley SIPP	£0	£0	12000		Cashback: Get up to £1,500 cashback when you transfer your cash and/or investments to Charles Stanley Direct. T&Cs apply. Capital at risk.	Go to site Capital at risk More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Interactive Investor SIPP	£0	£25	3000		Cashback: New or existing customers can get £100-£3,000 cashback when opening a SIPP with at least £20,000 before 28 February. Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.	Go to site Capital at risk More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
AJ Bell SIPP	£500	£25	4000+		AJ Bell has two different pension options, a self managed pension and one that is managed for you. Capital at risk.	Go to site Capital at risk More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
CMC Invest SIPP	£1	£0	1,400+		More info Compare product selection Compare	loading

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How to pick a private pension provider

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you find a private pension provide:

• Do you want to consolidate your pensions? Most private pension providers in the UK should allow you to combine old workplace pensions to keep everything under one roof (just check you won’t forfeit any benefits if you do this though).
• Do you understand how the fees are structured? Ensure you’re completely clear on how fees are charged, you’ll normally pay a platform or account fee to the pension provider and then investment or fund fees on top.
• What do you want to invest in? Each private pension provider will offer various types of investments. Think about what you’d like to invest in and find a pension platform that offers what you want.
• Are you looking for an app? Some of the newer SIPPs have excellent apps to help bring the pension investing experience out of the dark ages and into the 21st century.

Private pension jargon buster

Here’s a quick overview of some key terms and phrases that you may have been scratching your head over:

• Defined contribution (DC) pension. This is what most private pensions in the UK are these days. A DC pension means that you contribute to a pot (and get tax relief on your contributions). When you reach retirement, you can choose what to do with that pot, whether that’s drawdown or buy an annuity or whatever else.
• Tax relief. When you contribute to a private pension in the UK, you’ll get a certain amount of tax relief that depends on your income tax bracket. Essentially it’s a government top up that replaces the tax you’d already paid on that money.
• Annuity. When you purchase an annuity with your pension pot, you get some sort of guaranteed income for a specified period, or for the rest of your life in some instances.
• Self-invested personal pension (SIPP). A SIPP is the most common type of private pension outside of workplace pensions. Plenty of providers and UK investment platforms offer SIPPs and they vary in terms of fees, investment options and features.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the best pension provider in the UK?

  This will depend on what you’re looking for as a retirement saver. Each private pension provider is designed with a target audience in mind, so it’s best to think about what type of investor you want to be and then you can find the best private pension to suit your style.

• What is considered a good private pension in the UK?

  A good private pension in the UK should have low fees, a wide range of investments, and helpful tools like calculators and projections. It should be flexible, letting you adjust your contributions or investments easily, and make it easy to track your progress as you head towards retirement.

• How do I choose a private pension?

  You should compare fees, investment options, brand reputation, and tools available. Look for a provider with a solid customer service track record, a user-friendly platform that’s free from jargon, and pension investments that fit your risk appetite and retirement goals. It’s also worth checking if they offer added benefits, like financial advice or ethical investment options.

• Who is the biggest pension provider in the UK?

  Legal & General is one of the biggest pension providers in the UK, with over £1 trillion in assets under management (AUM). Other major players include Aviva and Scottish Widows. There are also plenty of newer brands like AJ Bell, Hargreaves Lansdown and others.

Written by

George Sweeney, DipFA

Deputy editor

George is a deputy editor at Finder. He has previously written for The Motley Fool UK, Nasdaq, Freetrade, Investing in the Web, MoneyMagpie, Online Mortgage Advisor, Wealth, and Compare Forex Brokers. He's focused on making personal finance and investing engaging for everyone. To do this he draws from previous work and his Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA), sharing what he’s learnt. When he’s not geeking out about money, you’ll find him playing sports and staying active. See full bio

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