Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Capital.com 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 Capital.com 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 - Capital.com would cost N/A per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - Capital.com would cost N/A per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - Capital.com would cost N/A per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - Capital.com would cost N/A per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - Capital.com would cost £20 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 Capital.com and Vanguard UK Investor on available investment choices, both platforms offer unique advantages. Capital.com stands out with its share trading options and allows users to engage in CFD trading. However, it lacks other popular trading options like ETFs and funds, which are available with Vanguard UK Investor. On the other hand, Vanguard caters to investors interested in ETFs and funds, providing a more diverse array of choices in these areas. Despite these differences, neither platform provides offerings in crypto trading, spread betting, corporate or government bonds, investment trusts, or advisory services.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Vanguard UK Investor holds a slight edge over Capital.com in terms of investment choices, with a rating of 3.5 stars compared to Capital.com's 2.5 stars. In terms of ranking, Vanguard UK Investor is placed at #16 out of 18 brokers, just ahead of Capital.com, which sits at #17. This suggests that while both platforms have their merits, Vanguard’s focus on ETFs and funds might appeal to a broader range of investors looking for these options.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | No | No |
| Spread Betting | Yes | 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 the trading tools of Capital.com and Vanguard UK Investor, significant distinctions emerge. Capital.com excels in charting capabilities with 18 drawing tools and a robust set of 77 technical indicators, far exceeding Vanguard UK Investor, which offers none in these categories. Additionally, Capital.com users can add personal notes to charts and create alerts for stock price updates, features that Vanguard UK Investor lacks. Both platforms do not provide the ability to display corporate events, add index or stock overlays on charts, but each offers a browser-based trading platform to its clients.
While both platforms are accessible online, Capital.com stands out by providing real-time market data, giving users the ability to make informed trading decisions promptly. Vanguard UK Investor, however, does not offer real-time data, which may limit its appeal to more active traders looking for immediate market insights. Overall, Capital.com presents a more comprehensive suite of tools for traders seeking detailed analysis and timely market information.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 77 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online broker options for retirement accounts, Capital.com does not offer either ISA or SIPP accounts, which may limit choices for those planning for retirement. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor provides greater flexibility with both ISA and SIPP accounts available, catering to investors looking to optimize their savings for retirement in a tax-efficient manner. This makes Vanguard a more comprehensive choice for individuals in the UK looking to manage their retirement investments effectively.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both Capital.com and Vanguard UK Investor offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android devices, providing convenient access to trading for users on the go. Capital.com's app is well-regarded, earning a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it at a respectable #11 out of 18 brokers for mobile app experience. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor's mobile app holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #17, highlighting a noticeable difference in user satisfaction and functionality between the two platforms.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to beginner investor education, Capital.com and Vanguard UK Investor both have room for improvement, yet each offers unique strengths. Neither broker offers live educational webinars, but Vanguard stands out by providing on-demand archived webinars for flexible learning. While neither offers share trading education, Vanguard further distinguishes itself by offering educational resources on funds and retirement—topics that Capital.com does not cover. Despite these differences, both brokers receive the same rating of 3.5 stars for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com. However, Vanguard ranks slightly higher at #14 out of 18 brokers, compared to Capital.com's position at #17, signaling a modest edge for those beginning their investment journey.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | No | No |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When considering the market research features offered by online brokers, Capital.com and Vanguard UK Investor present contrasting options. Capital.com lacks research reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and bonds, but distinguishes itself by providing CFDs research and a feature to view portfolio allocation by asset class. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor excels in offering detailed research for funds and ETFs, alongside comprehensive research reports for funds, and also allows investors to view portfolio allocation by asset class. However, Vanguard UK Investor does not offer CFDs research nor bonds research. This makes Capital.com more suitable for those interested in CFD trading, while Vanguard UK Investor stands out for investors focusing on funds and ETFs.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | No | No |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | No | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Capital.com or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Capital.com to be a better trading platform overall.
Capital.com is a U.K. broker primarily known for CFDs (contracts for difference) and spread betting. While it previously offered the chance to buy and sell shares commission-free, you can no longer buy shares directly through Capital.com. Trading is limited to an unleveraged CFD account.
| Feature |
Capital.com
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Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
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Both Capital.com and Vanguard UK Investor do not offer crypto trading services, making them comparable for investors focused solely on traditional asset classes.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Capital.com | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Capital.com Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Capital.com | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | No | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | No | No | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Capital.com | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £20 | £500 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | N/A | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | N/A | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | N/A | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | N/A | 0.02% to 0.14% | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Capital.com | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Capital.com | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 77 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Capital.com | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | No | No | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | No | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Capital.com | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | No | No | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Capital.com | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | Capital.com Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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