Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AJ Bell vs Vanguard UK Investor, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, AJ Bell offers better pricing than Vanguard UK Investor for share dealing.
Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.
5 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £100 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £135 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £255 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £495 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost £500 per year.
What type of trader are you?
New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.
AJ Bell and Vanguard UK Investor cater to different investment preferences within the UK investment landscape. AJ Bell provides a more comprehensive range of investment options, including share trading, ETFs, corporate bonds, gilts, and investment trusts, which positions it as a versatile choice for investors. Meanwhile, Vanguard UK Investor focuses primarily on ETFs and funds, reflective of its reputation for simplicity and lower-cost investment avenues, but lacks offerings in share trading and bonds.
When evaluated by UK.StockBrokers.com, AJ Bell secures a superior rating of 5 stars for investment choices, largely attributable to its extensive investment menu, crowning it in the fifth spot among 18 brokers. Conversely, Vanguard UK Investor garners a 3.5-star rating, ranking last in the same group, indicating room for improvement in diversifying its investment offerings. Overall, if a wide array of investment opportunities is vital, AJ Bell stands out, whereas Vanguard suits those who prefer straightforward ETF and fund investments.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing AJ Bell to Vanguard UK Investor for their trading tools, AJ Bell clearly offers a more comprehensive set of features. AJ Bell allows users to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on the charts, a feature absent from Vanguard's platform. With AJ Bell, traders can use eight different drawing tools and 31 technical indicators to conduct in-depth analysis; these tools are not available with Vanguard UK Investor. Both platforms support browser-based trading, but AJ Bell stands out by enabling added functionalities such as index and stock overlays on charts, which Vanguard does not offer.
Moreover, AJ Bell provides the ability to create custom alerts for stock price updates and access real-time market data, enhancing the user experience significantly. While AJ Bell brings a host of advanced charting and trading features to the table, Vanguard UK Investor falls short in comparison, lacking the basic tools and real-time updates that active traders often seek. Overall, for UK investors prioritizing full-featured charting and up-to-date market information, AJ Bell presents a more attractive option than Vanguard UK Investor.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers AJ Bell and Vanguard UK Investor for their retirement account offerings in the UK, both platforms provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). AJ Bell and Vanguard UK Investor each give users the flexibility to manage ISAs and SIPPs to build their retirement savings, ensuring both beginner and experienced investors have the necessary tools for investment growth within these tax-efficient accounts. This makes either option a solid choice for UK investors looking to secure their financial future through well-managed retirement accounts.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors comparing mobile app options, both AJ Bell and Vanguard UK Investor provide apps for iPhone and Android devices. AJ Bell stands out with a higher rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 9th among 18 brokers for mobile app experience. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor's mobile app has a lower rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 19th. Whether you're trading on the go or managing investments, AJ Bell's app is rated higher, offering a more favored mobile experience compared to Vanguard UK Investor.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors offered by AJ Bell and Vanguard UK Investor, AJ Bell emerges as the more comprehensive choice. AJ Bell provides live and archived educational webinars, covering important topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor offers resources on funds and retirement but does not provide live webinars or education on share trading. AJ Bell's commitment to education is reflected in its 5-star rating and #5 ranking out of 18 brokers by UK.StockBrokers.com, while Vanguard UK Investor holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #17. This makes AJ Bell a more appealing option for new investors seeking robust learning opportunities in the UK.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing AJ Bell and Vanguard UK Investor for market research features, both brokers provide research reports for funds, along with insights into portfolio allocation by asset class. AJ Bell stands out by offering research on shares and bonds, which Vanguard UK Investor does not provide. Both platforms support research on ETFs and funds, while neither offers research on CFDs. UK investors looking for a comprehensive range of research tools might find AJ Bell's offerings more appealing due to its additional focus on shares and bonds.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, AJ Bell or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found AJ Bell to be a better trading platform overall.
You can invest in an extensive range of investments through AJ Bell. Charges are on the high side for those with large portfolios in mutual funds and those looking to execute one-off share deals; but its new app, called Dodl, offers much lower fees and also offers a more slim-lined and user-friendly service. Educational and research materials are strong, too.
| Feature |
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Vanguard UK Investor
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Both AJ Bell and Vanguard UK Investor do not offer crypto trading, providing investors with robust platforms focused on traditional investment options instead.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | AJ Bell | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £500 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.50 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.50 | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £100 | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £255 | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £495 | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.50 | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £875 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £875 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5 | 0.02% to 0.14% | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | AJ Bell | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | AJ Bell | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AJ Bell | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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