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    • Home • Advice • Common questions

    How do I compare SIPP charges when I make multiple monthly investments?

    06 February 2026

    Question by Carolyn

    I'm trying to compare SIPP provider charges, and it doesn't seem simple. My son has a SIPP with Bestinvest valued at £130,000 and pays about £38 per month. It doesn't seem to be one of the cheaper providers. However, he has about 13 funds

    in his SIPP and adds to them each month with no charge for these transactions. AJ Bell, for example, seems to charge for these transactions. Is that correct? How can he compare like-for-like to maybe find a cheaper provider?

    Answered by Boring Money

    You're absolutely right that comparing SIPP charges isn't simple, but our pension comparison tables can help you navigate the options.

    For a SIPP with £130,000, there are cheaper providers than Bestinvest. You're correct in taking transaction costs into account when comparing providers.

    Understanding transaction costs

    There's an important distinction between adhoc trades and regular investing:

    • Regular investing: Regular contributions into the same investment at a pre-determined amount

    • Adhoc trades: One-off fund purchases

    The 13 monthly transactions your son makes sound like regular investing trades, but it's important to confirm this, as many providers price adhoc trades and regular investing differently. At Bestinvest, both regular investing and adhoc fund trades are free.

    AJ Bell charges for comparison

    You're correct that AJ Bell charges for these transactions at £1.50 per regular investment or adhoc trade. For someone making 13 monthly investments, this means:

    • £19.50 in monthly trading fees

    • Approximately £27 in monthly custody fees (on a £130,000 pension)

    • Total: £46.50 per month

    This makes AJ Bell more expensive than Bestinvest for your son's scenario.

    Alternative SIPP providers to consider

    Some providers that could be cheaper than Bestinvest for your son's situation, while still offering open platforms with access to a wide range of funds, include:

    Interactive Investor - £14.99 per month

    • Free regular investing

    • £1.49 per adhoc fund trade

    • Fixed monthly fee becomes more cost-effective as assets grow

    Charles Stanley - 0.30% annual fee

    • No charges on automated monthly investments

    • £4 per adhoc fund trade

    • £50 free trading credit every 6 months

    Fidelity - 0.35% annual fee

    • Free fund trades and regular investing in funds

    Compare SIPP charges for regular investing across multiple funds. Use our comparison tables to find providers with free transactions for different-sized portfolios.

    Important reminder

    Always assess provider costs based on your personal circumstances, including your portfolio size, trading frequency, and investment preferences.

    Answered by

    Boring Money

    Here to help you understand your options and make smart money choices.

    Important stuffHolly and the team have worked in the finance industry for many years but we are not regulated to give you personal financial advice. For every story on this website about a good investment, or something which went up by 10% or made someone £200, we could also share a story about a bad investment, something which fell in value or lost someone £200. We aim to provide general information and pointers – and btw we are totally agnostic about which providers you might pick – but if you have complex affairs, want personalised advice or need specific recommendations, please look at advice pages and see if regulated digital or traditional financial advice would be the best solution for your needs. Boring Money Ltd is a limited company registered in England and Wales under registration number 09459832 and we have our registered office at 10 Lower Thames Street, London, England, EC3R 6AF.
    Risk warningAs is always the case with investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your portfolio can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change in the future.
    Boring Money Ltd is a limited company registered in England and Wales under registration number 09459832 and we have our registered office at 10 Lower Thames Street, London, England, EC3R 6AF.