AJ Bell vs Penfold:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, AJ Bell had more branded searches than Penfold among pension providers in the United Kingdom. AJ Bell had about 3,400 branded searches, while Penfold had 2,900. AJ Bell made up 0.5% of all pension provider searches we track, and Penfold accounted for 0.42%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about pension providers, AJ Bell appeared in four of the five answers and Penfold in none.
Who do people search for more?
AJ Bell, about 17% more searches than Penfold
Who does AI mention more?
AJ Bell, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Penfold in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
AJ Bell, the only one of the two named
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Top pension providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, AJ Bell was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Penfold did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
PensionBee4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- AJ Bell4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Vanguard3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Aviva2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Nest1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Penfold0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about pension providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which pension provider should I use in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best pension providers in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best private pension in the UK for someone who is self-employed?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“private pension”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“pension providers”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.
Is AJ Bell or Penfold more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for AJ Bell and Penfold by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six pension providers we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for AJ Bell, Penfold. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Nest | Aviva | PensionBee | Vanguard | AJ Bell | Penfold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 89.4% | 7.3% | 1.5% | 0.97% | 0.51% | 0.35% |
| Nov 2025 | 91% | 6.1% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 0.42% | 0.36% |
| Dec 2025 | 89.5% | 7.4% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.49% | 0.36% |
| Jan 2026 | 89.3% | 7.3% | 1.5% | 1.1% | 0.49% | 0.36% |
| Feb 2026 | 89% | 7.3% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.59% | 0.44% |
| Mar 2026 | 88.3% | 7.3% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 0.72% | 0.53% |
| Apr 2026 | 87.1% | 8.8% | 1.8% | 1.3% | 0.61% | 0.52% |
| May 2026 | 89.1% | 7.3% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.51% | 0.44% |
| Jun 2026 | 87.4% | 8.8% | 1.8% | 1% | 0.49% | 0.52% |
| Jul 2026 | 87.9% | 8.8% | 1.4% | 0.85% | 0.5% | 0.42% |
| Aug 2026 | 87.6% | 8.8% | 1.8% | 0.84% | 0.57% | 0.42% |
| Sep 2026 | 87.7% | 8.8% | 1.8% | 0.84% | 0.5% | 0.42% |
How has the AJ Bell and Penfold comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Penfold took it in June 2026, AJ Bell took it in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AJ Bell’s share of searches among pension providers in the United Kingdom moved from 0.51% to 0.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.2K to 3.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Penfold’s share of searches among pension providers in the United Kingdom moved from 0.35% to 0.42%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 2.9K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom pension providers in September 2026?
1 change
Estimated monthly branded searches for AJ Bell in the United Kingdom fell 19% over 12 measured months, from 4.2K to 3.4K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AJ Bell’s and Penfold’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among pension providers
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