Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Bestinvest vs Vanguard UK Investor, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
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, Bestinvest 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 - Bestinvest would cost £144.75 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £119.40 - £179.40 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £238.20 - £357.60 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £654 - £714 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £50 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.
When comparing the investment choices of Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor, UK investors will find notable differences. Bestinvest provides the option to trade shares, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, giving investors a diverse mix to consider. Additionally, they offer advisor services for those seeking professional guidance. Although Bestinvest does not provide options for crypto trading, spread betting, CFD trading, or trading in corporate or government bonds (gilts), they are recognized for their variety, earning a 4.5-star rating for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com and ranking 10th out of 21 brokers.
On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor focuses on a more targeted range of investment options, offering trading in ETFs and funds without options for share trading, crypto, spread betting, or investment trusts. Their lack of advisor services may suit experienced investors seeking a low-maintenance approach. Vanguard's investment choices receive a 3.5-star rating, placing them 18th in the same brokerage ranking. For those prioritizing specific market products with an emphasis on ETFs and funds, Vanguard's straightforward offerings might appeal more compared to Bestinvest's broader selection.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | Yes | |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools offered by Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor, several key differences emerge. Bestinvest provides a more comprehensive suite of charting features, including the ability to add notes and stock overlays to charts, a feature Vanguard UK Investor lacks. Bestinvest also offers nine drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, making it a strong choice for investors who rely on detailed charting for their investment strategies. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor does not offer any drawing tools or technical indicators, which might limit the accessibility of technical analysis for its users.
Both Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor provide a browser-based trading platform, facilitating easy access to trading tools without the need for additional software. However, Bestinvest goes a step further by allowing users to create alerts for stock price updates, giving traders an edge in monitoring market movements. While the availability of real-time market data and certain chart features like displaying corporate events and adding index overlays were not mentioned for both platforms, Bestinvest clearly provides a more feature-rich charting experience tailored for those seeking detailed technical analysis capabilities.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays |
When comparing retirement-focused online brokers in the UK, Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor both present attractive options for Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). Bestinvest offers a comprehensive suite of services, enabling investors to make informed choices with their ISAs and SIPPs. Similarly, Vanguard UK Investor provides appealing ISA and SIPP options, emphasizing user-friendly investment solutions. Both platforms cater to individuals seeking efficient and convenient ways to manage their retirement savings online. Whether you are considering Bestinvest or Vanguard UK Investor, you’ll find essential tools for growing your financial future through these popular account types.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor, both brokers cater to iPhone and Android users in the UK. Each app garners a respectable 3.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, reflecting a balanced performance in user satisfaction. However, in the arena of mobile app rankings, Bestinvest takes a slightly higher position at 16th place out of 21 brokers, compared to Vanguard UK Investor's 19th place. This nuanced difference in ranking suggests that while the mobile experiences are on par in quality, Bestinvest holds a narrow edge in overall user preference.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the beginner investor educational resources of Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor, UK readers will find some noteworthy differences. Bestinvest stands out by offering educational webinars on topics like share trading, funds, and retirement, all of which are also available on demand for flexible learning. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor provides archived webinars with a focus on funds and retirement but lacks content on share trading. Bestinvest shines with a five-star rating for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 6th out of 21 brokers, while Vanguard UK Investor comes in with a 3.5-star rating, placing it 17th. For beginners eager to explore share trading insights alongside flexible learning options, Bestinvest proves to be a more comprehensive choice.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing market research features for UK investors, both Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor offer comprehensive resources. Each provides research reports for funds and allows users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, making it easier for investors to understand their holdings. While both platforms deliver insights on ETFs and funds, only Bestinvest goes further by also offering shares research. However, neither offers research on CFDs or bonds, which may limit options for investors interested in those areas. Overall, for those seeking detailed research tools, especially in shares, Bestinvest may offer a slight edge in the UK market.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Bestinvest or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Bestinvest to be a better trading platform overall.
Bestinvest is a very good broker that should appeal to a wide range of investors. Fees are competitive, particularly if you invest in funds or US shares, and the investment options are extensive. The Bestinvest platform is relatively easy to use and the offer of a free 45 minute session with a financial coach can be a useful starting point for newer investors. Bestinvest is also a great option for a Junior SIPP, as it is one of very few UK brokers offering children’s pensions and with a low entry point.
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Bestinvest
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Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
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When comparing online brokers, it's important to note that neither Bestinvest nor Vanguard UK Investor offers cryptocurrency trading, which could influence decision-making for investors interested in diversifying their portfolios with digital assets.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Bestinvest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Bestinvest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | ||
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | ||
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Bestinvest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £50 | £500 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £144.75 | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £119.40 - £179.40 | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £238.20 - £357.60 | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £654 - £714 | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £60 or £120 | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £100 - £1,000 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £4.95 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £4.95 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £4.95 | 0.02% to 0.14% | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £4.95 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £30 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Bestinvest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Bestinvest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | Bestinvest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | ||
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Bestinvest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Bestinvest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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