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.
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, Vanguard UK Investor offers better pricing than Bestinvest 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.
Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor present distinct options for individuals seeking to navigate the financial market with online brokers. A standout feature of Bestinvest is its ability to facilitate share trading, in which Vanguard UK Investor falls short; neither platform provides options for crypto trading, spread betting, CFD trading, or trading corporate and government bonds. However, both brokers provide opportunities for trading ETFs and funds, though Bestinvest has an edge with the inclusion of investment trusts, which are not available through Vanguard UK Investor. Furthermore, Bestinvest offers advisory services, enhancing its appeal, whereas Vanguard UK Investor relies on a more self-directed approach without these services.
In terms of user ratings and rankings, Bestinvest outshines its counterpart with a commendable 4.5 out of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, while Vanguard UK Investor trails with 3.5 stars. Additionally, in a comparison of 18 brokers, Vanguard UK Investor holds the 16th position, contrasting with Bestinvest's non-disclosure in ranking, suggesting a more favorable perception of its investment offerings in the market.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing trading tools between Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor, Bestinvest clearly offers a broader range of features designed for more active traders. While both platforms don't display corporate events like earnings or dividends on charts, Bestinvest provides an array of nine drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, significantly more than Vanguard UK Investor, which offers none. For users interested in customizing their charts, Bestinvest allows the addition of notes and stock overlays, unlike Vanguard UK Investor, which does not support these features. Both platforms, however, fall short on displaying index overlays on charts.
In terms of other tools, both Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor offer browser-based trading platforms, which is convenient for users. However, Bestinvest surpasses Vanguard UK Investor with additional functionalities such as creating stock price alerts, a feature Vanguard lacks. It's important to note that neither platform provides real-time market data, which may be a consideration for traders requiring up-to-the-minute information. Overall, Bestinvest appears to cater more to those who desire a comprehensive set of tools for trading analysis.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When choosing between Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor for your retirement savings, both brokers offer attractive options. Bestinvest provides both Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), allowing for versatile investment approaches within the tax-efficient benefits these accounts offer. Similarly, Vanguard UK Investor also offers ISAs and SIPPs, making it a strong contender with a focus on low-cost investing and a broad selection of index funds. Whether you're prioritizing diversity in investment choices or cost-effectiveness, both Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor deliver robust solutions to meet your financial planning needs.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms are accessible on iPhone and Android devices, ensuring a versatile user experience. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor secure a rating of 3.5 out of five stars for their mobile apps, indicating a satisfactory level of functionality and user satisfaction. However, in broader rankings of 18 brokers evaluated for mobile app performance, Bestinvest remains unranked, while Vanguard UK Investor holds the 17th position. This comparison suggests that while both brokers offer comparable app ratings, differences in rankings might reflect varying strengths and customer expectations in the mobile investing environment.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the beginner investor educational resources of Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor, Bestinvest stands out by offering live, educational client webinars, unlike Vanguard. Both platforms provide archived webinars for on-demand viewing. In terms of educational content, Bestinvest covers a broader range by offering information on share trading, which Vanguard does not. However, both platforms deliver educational materials concerning funds and retirement. Bestinvest's focus on comprehensive educational support earns it a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Vanguard UK Investor receives a more modest 3.5 stars and ranks 14th among 18 brokers for beginner education.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms provide research reports for funds and let users view their portfolio allocation by asset class. Bestinvest takes the lead with a comprehensive offering, including research on shares, ETFs, and funds. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor focuses primarily on ETFs and funds, lacking research support for individual shares. Neither broker provides research for CFDs or bonds. While both serve basic research needs, Bestinvest caters to a broader range of investments, making it a more versatile choice for investors seeking detailed market insights.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| 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.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Bestinvest and Vanguard UK Investor do not offer crypto trading options for investors.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Bestinvest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Bestinvest Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Bestinvest | 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 | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| 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) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Platforms & Tools | Bestinvest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Bestinvest | 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 | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Bestinvest | 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 | Bestinvest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Bestinvest Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
IG Group Review
Saxo Review
eToro Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Trading 212 Review
XTB Review
CMC Invest Review
Vanguard Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
Halifax Review
Freetrade Review
