Written by StockBrokers.com
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.
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.
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.
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
|
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 | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
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
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | No | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
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.
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.
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
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | 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 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
|
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 | No | Yes |
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
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Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
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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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0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Invest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | CMC Invest Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | CMC Invest | 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 | No | No |
| Trading Fees | CMC Invest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £500 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £120 | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £120 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £120 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £120 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £120 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | 0.02% to 0.14% | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £0 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Invest | 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 | CMC Invest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | No | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | CMC Invest | 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 | No | Yes |
| Education | CMC Invest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | CMC Invest | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Mobile App |
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| Education |
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| Review | CMC Invest Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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