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CMC Invest vs Vanguard UK Investor 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

In this head to head comparison of CMC Invest vs Vanguard UK Investor, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

CMC Invest
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes
Vanguard UK Investor
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £500
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes

Fees

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, CMC Invest 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 - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.

12 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.

36 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.

120 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.

3 fund trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost £500 per year.

query_stats 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.

Investment Choices

For UK investors seeking diverse investment opportunities, CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor present different options tailored to varying preferences. CMC Invest offers share trading, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, although it does not support crypto trading, spread betting, or bond trading. This array of tradable options is appealing to investors interested in traditional and investment trust offerings. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor simplifies its available investments to include ETFs and funds, excluding share trading, crypto, and investment trusts. Both brokers refrain from offering services such as spread betting, CFD trading, and advisor services.

Evaluations from UK.StockBrokers.com highlight CMC Invest's broader appeal with a 4.5-star rating for investment choices, ranking it 14th out of 18 brokers. Vanguard UK Investor follows with a 3.5-star rating, positioned at the 18th spot. These comparisons suggest that for those prioritizing share trading and investment trusts, CMC Invest could be more advantageous, while Vanguard UK Investor may cater to those seeking straightforward ETF and fund options without additional trading complexities.

Feature CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Vanguard UK Investor logoVanguard UK Investor
Share Trading info Yes No
CFD Trading info No No
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info Yes Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info No No
Investment Trusts info Yes No
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info No No
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

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4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

Trading Tools

When comparing CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor in terms of trading tools, both platforms fall short in offering advanced charting features. Neither broker provides the ability to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, or dividends on charts. Additionally, both CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor lack drawing tools, technical indicators, as well as the option to add notes or overlays to their charts. However, Vanguard UK Investor does have an advantage with its browser-based trading platform, which is not available with CMC Invest.

CMC Invest makes up for its lack of charting functionality by providing features like real-time market data and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, adding a layer of responsiveness for active traders. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor doesn't support real-time market data or stock price alerts, which may be a consideration for those who prioritise timely information. Each platform has its unique features, so the choice largely depends on your specific needs and preferences in online trading.

Feature CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Vanguard UK Investor logoVanguard UK Investor
Web Platform info No Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 0 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 0 0
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Stock Overlays info No No
Charting - Index Overlays info No No

ISAs and SIPPs

Catering to UK investors planning for retirement, both CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). These accounts are popular choices for tax-efficient savings and investment options. CMC Invest provides a flexible platform that allows investors to manage their ISAs and SIPPs efficiently, while Vanguard UK Investor is known for offering a range of low-cost funds that suit long-term retirement planning within these account types. Evaluating the platforms can help investors decide which broker aligns best with their financial goals and strategies.

Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.

Mobile App

If you're choosing between online brokers CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor and their mobile app offerings, here’s what you need to know. Both CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor provide iPhone and Android apps, ensuring accessibility no matter your device preference. However, according to UK.StockBrokers.com, CMC Invest outshines Vanguard UK Investor with a 4.5-star rating for its mobile app, compared to Vanguard’s 3.5-star rating. When ranked among 18 brokers for their mobile apps, CMC Invest lands at a respectable #11, while Vanguard UK Investor comes in at #19. These reviews suggest CMC Invest delivers a more superior mobile experience, making it a noteworthy choice for UK investors seeking reliable and user-friendly mobile trading.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

For UK readers looking to compare the beginner investor educational resources offered by CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor, it's important to note their distinct offerings. CMC Invest provides educational resources on share trading, funds, and retirement, achieving a 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and securing the 15th rank among 18 brokers. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor also covers education on funds and retirement but lacks materials on share trading. They have a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars and are ranked 17th. While both platforms do not offer live educational webinars, Vanguard provides archived webinars for on-demand viewing, offering a layer of flexibility not found with CMC Invest.

Feature CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Vanguard UK Investor logoVanguard UK Investor
Client Webinars info No No
Client Webinars (Archived) info No Yes
Education (Share Trading) info Yes No
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When comparing market research features between CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor, there are some notable differences and similarities. Both platforms provide research reports for funds, but when it comes to shares research, CMC Invest has the upper hand, offering insights that Vanguard UK Investor does not. For those interested in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), both platforms deliver research options. However, while Vanguard UK Investor allows you to assess your portfolio allocation by asset class, CMC Invest lacks this feature. Neither offers research for contracts for difference (CFDs) or bonds, making them less comprehensive for investors seeking insights in those areas. Overall, the choice between CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor largely depends on individual research needs and investment strategies.

Feature CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Vanguard UK Investor logoVanguard UK Investor
Research - Shares info Yes No
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info No No
Research - Funds info Yes Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info No Yes

CMC Invest vs Vanguard UK Investor Winner

Which broker is better overall, CMC Invest or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found CMC Invest to be a better trading platform overall.

CMC Invest offers commission-free trading of U.K.-listed shares and U.S. equities via a mobile app only. Though a newer entrant to the U.K. share dealing market and currently somewhat limited, it’s powered by global contender CMC Markets, making it likely that its offerings will expand.

Feature CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Vanguard UK Investor logoVanguard UK Investor
Overall Rating 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 2.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with CMC Invest or Vanguard UK Investor?

Both CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor do not offer crypto trading, highlighting a gap in their services for investors interested in cryptocurrency options.

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Compare

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Overall Rating CMC Invest Vanguard UK Investor
Overall Rating 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 2.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Review CMC Invest Review Vanguard UK Investor Review
Winner check_circle
Investments CMC Invest Vanguard UK Investor
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes Yes
Share Trading info Yes No
CFD Trading info No No
Funds info Yes Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info No No
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info No No
Investment Trusts info Yes No
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info No No
Trading Fees CMC Invest Vanguard UK Investor
Minimum Deposit info £0 £500
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £0 N/A
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £0 N/A
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £0 N/A
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 / £120 / £300 info N/A
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 / £120 / £300 N/A
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 / £120 / £300 N/A
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 / £120 / £300 N/A
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £120 £108
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £120 info Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15%
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £120 info £375
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £120 info £375
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £120 info £375
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info N/A N/A
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info N/A N/A
ETFs - Fee info £0 0.02% to 0.14%
Investment Trusts - Fee info £0 N/A
Telephone Dealing Fee info £0 N/A
Broker Screenshots CMC Invest Vanguard UK Investor
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools CMC Invest Vanguard UK Investor
Web Platform info No Yes
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 0 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 0 0
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Stock Overlays info No No
Charting - Index Overlays info No No
Research CMC Invest Vanguard UK Investor
Research - Shares info Yes No
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - Funds info Yes Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info No No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info No Yes
Education CMC Invest Vanguard UK Investor
Education (Share Trading) info Yes No
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info No No
Client Webinars (Archived) info No Yes
Overall Summary CMC Invest Vanguard UK Investor
Overall Rating 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 2.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Review CMC Invest Review Vanguard UK Investor Review
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