Is AJ Bell Dodl good for investing?
Independent review by Boring Money
1 Jan, 2025
Investment expert’s opinion
Dodl is a lovely, pared-back app from credible parent brand AJ Bell. It's very competitively priced and offers a curated selection of funds and shares, which will avoid brainfry for those just finding their feet. Good option for a Lifetime ISA too if you have timeframes of 5 years + to build your pot. Just make sure you remember to diversify, as their nice fund range, and descriptions might make it too easy to pick sexy-sounding investments and put too many eggs in one basket.
*This is the view of investment expert Holly Mackay based on her first-hand customer experience as a test account holder. This does not constitute regulated advice. You can read more about Holly's investments here.
Who is AJ Bell Dodl?
Dodl – sometimes called AJ Bell Dodl - is an investment app owned by AJ Bell, one of the UK’s most popular investment platforms. Dodl describes itself as an 'easy-to-use, no-nonsense investment app', focused on a younger audience starting out on their investment journey. It aims to cut out all the jargon and fuss to make investing a simple, scare-free experience.
AJ Bell Dodl won the following at Boring Money’s Best Buy awards in 2025:
🏆 Best Buy LISA
🏆 Best for Low-Cost Pension>50k
Who is AJ Bell Dodl good for?
AJ Bell Dodl is a good choice for beginners with smaller amounts to invest who want a good app, low charges, and not too much choice so there’s less chance of getting overwhelmed. More experienced investors may find it a bit bare with limited choice and analytical tools. It’s also app-only, so not suited to those who prefer a desktop interface.
Pros and cons
Investments
Dodl users can invest in UK and US shares and AJ Bell funds. You can also get access to more funds and ETFs through a range of “themed” investment options.
Themed investments on Dodl are funds and ETFs that invest in a wide range of themes, such as regions (UK, US, Europe) and sectors (technology, financials, healthcare), as well as bonds and responsible investments.
Dodl users can also select from three of Vanguard’s LifeStrategy ready-made funds (40%, 60%, and 80%) with the ‘All-In-One' theme.
Dodl users can invest in a range of 8 AJ Bell funds, including a Responsible Growth fund for those interested in ESG investing, as well as a Pension Builder fund specifically designed for investors saving towards their retirement. The costs for these range from 0.31% for the Cautious fund up to 0.45% for the Responsible Growth fund.
Dodl offers nine regional themes. These come with a range of charges, starting from 0.05% for Across The Pond - which invests in some of the biggest US companies - to 0.30% for the Global Shariah fund – which invests in a range of companies via the Shariah-approved iShares World Islamic ETF.
Dodl offers eight sector themes. These have ongoing charges starting from 0.12% for Going For Gold - which invests in Invest in the gold market with the iShares Physical Gold ETC - to 0.40% for the Robo Revolution - which invests in the biggest robotics companies from around the world with the iShares Automation and Robotics ETF.
Dodl offers five bond themes. These have ongoing charges starting from 0.10% for The Government's IOU - which invests in the iShares GiltTrak index fund - to 0.29% for Lending The Way, which invests in the State Street Global High Yield Bond index fund.
Dodl offers two responsible themes for investors who value ESG consideration when selecting investments for their portfolio. These are A Greener World which costs 0.20% per year and The Good Guys which costs 0.18% per year.
Dodl offers three Vanguard LifeStrategy funds as part of its ‘All-In-One' theme. These are as follows: All-In-One (40% shares), All-In-One (60% shares) and All-In-One (80% shares). They all cost 0.22% per year.
Accounts
Stocks & Shares ISA | Pension (SIPP) | General Investment Account (GIA) | Lifetime ISA | Junior ISA |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | X |
Dodl AJ Bell has a Stocks & Shares ISA, where you can invest up to £20,000 every year completely tax-free.
For beginner investors who want access to a range of popular UK and US shares or value a “hands-off” investing approach, Dodl’s ISA is a great way to invest in simple products that won’t give you a headache.
There are no trading fees on Dodl so you don’t need to worry about incurring charges when you buy and/or sell investments, and the 0.15% annual account fee is very competitive.
You can set up a Dodl Investment ISA with a £100 lump sum payment, or a £25 monthly regular contribution. Bear in mind that you don’t earn any interest on uninvested cash in Dodl accounts – which many competitor platforms now offer.
Dodl AJ Bell offers a pension, where you can invest up to £60,000 every tax year to put towards your retirement savings.
As with the Investment ISA, Dodl SIPP users can select from a range of investments, including UK and US shares, AJ Bell funds and a range of “themed investments” based on funds and ETFs from different regions and sectors around the world.
One of the investment options targeted specifically at SIPP owners is AJ Bell’s Pension Builder fund, which comes with a 0.31% annual ongoing charge. If you had a Dodl SIPP invested in only this fund, your annual charge would amount to 0.46%.
Dodl’s SIPP has the same minimum investments as the ISA – a £100 lump sum or £25 monthly installments – and you can transfer existing pension pots at no extra cost. However, bear in mind that your existing pension provider may charge exit fees, so do check the small print before making a decision.
Dodl offers a Stocks & Shares Lifetime ISA, where you can invest up to £4,000 every tax year and benefit from a 25% government top-up.
Like with the regular ISA, Dodl Stocks & Shares LISA users can invest in a range of different investment options from individual US shares to themed investments. Those who value ESG consideration can even opt for the Responsible Growth fund, managed by Dodl’s parent firm AJ Bell.
As with all LISAs, there are limitations on how you can withdraw your savings – it must either be to buy your first home or to save for your retirement. Make sure to read our full LISA guide.
You can open a Dodl LISA with a £100 lump sum or £25 regular monthly installments.
Fees and charges
The cost of investing with Dodl depends on what you choose to invest in. However, there are no trading fees and a flat 0.15% annual account charge for all account types which is typically very competitive.
Fee Type | Amount |
Annual account fee | 0.15% (min. £1 per month) |
Trading fees | FREE |
Ongoing investment charges* | Range from 0.03 - 0.45% |
Foreign exchange fees | Depend on transaction value: range from 0.25% to 0.75% |
Fee Type | Amount |
Annual account fee | 0.15% (min. £1 per month) |
Trading fees | FREE |
Ongoing investment charges* | Range from 0.03 - 0.45% |
Foreign exchange fees | Depend on transaction value: range from 0.25% to 0.75% |
*Remember that there are additional ongoing charges for holding different investments in your Dodl account – e.g. 0.03% for Across The Pond or 0.45% for the AJ Bell Responsible Growth fund. Bear in mind that these investment fees will be charged on top of the 0.15% Dodl account fee.
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Most asked questions
Is AJ Bell Dodl safe?
Cash savings with Dodl are covered by the UK government’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which guarantees reimbursement up to the value of £85,000 per person in the event that Dodl and parent company AJ Bell fail. Any amount above this threshold is unlikely to be covered. Investments with Dodl, on the other hand, are not guaranteed - by their nature, investments can and will go up and down in value.
Who owns Dodl?
its own investment platform. It's one of the UK’s largest in the UK with almost half a million customers and over £81 billion in assets. AJ Bell is regulated by the UK financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), meaning Dodl is as well.
Visit the AJ Bell Dodl website for more information
Glossary
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Historically, money invested for more than five years grows more than cash savings. Remember that investments can also fall, so you might not get all of your money back. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.
