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.
CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor both offer options for traders keen on diversifying their investment portfolios, though their available choices differ significantly. CMC Invest stands out by offering share trading, giving users the opportunity to buy and sell individual company stocks, a feature that Vanguard UK Investor notably lacks. Both platforms provide access to trading ETFs and funds, keeping them competitive in these popular investment options. However, those interested in crypto trading, spread betting, CFD trading, or corporate and government bonds will need to explore other platforms, as neither broker supports these instruments.
For UK investors seeking investment trusts, CMC Invest again takes the lead, offering access where Vanguard does not. This broader range of options is reflected in CMC Invest's superior rating of 4.5 stars for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, compared to Vanguard's 3.5 stars. Additionally, CMC Invest is ranked 14th out of 18 brokers for investment choices, while Vanguard UK Investor is positioned at 18th, underscoring the former's relative advantage in providing diverse trading opportunities.
| 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 |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor in terms of trading tools, it's clear that both platforms lack some advanced features. Neither platform allows users to visualize corporate events such as earnings, splits, or dividends on charts. Both CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor also fall short in terms of offering drawing tools or technical indicators for charting, providing a rather basic charting experience. Additionally, neither allows users to add notes or overlays, like stock or index overlays, to their charts. However, Vanguard UK Investor does provide the convenience of a browser-based trading platform, whereas CMC Invest does not.
On the other hand, CMC Invest offers some unique benefits that could appeal to traders focused on price movements and real-time data. Unlike Vanguard UK Investor, CMC Invest provides real-time market data and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, allowing users to stay updated on market changes promptly. This can be a significant advantage for active traders who need to respond quickly to market conditions. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor lacks these functionalities, potentially limiting its competitiveness for those in need of immediate information and notifications. Overall, while both platforms have their limitations, each offers certain features that cater to different trading needs.
| 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 |
When choosing between online brokers like CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor for retirement planning, it's important to consider their offerings. Both CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing you to invest tax-efficiently. Additionally, they each offer Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) accounts, ensuring you have flexible options for your retirement savings. Whether you're drawn to CMC Invest's platform or Vanguard's offerings, both provide robust solutions for managing your retirement funds.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing mobile app offerings between CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor, both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android devices. However, there's a noticeable difference in user ratings and rankings. CMC Invest excels with a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it at 11th out of 18 brokers for mobile app performance. Meanwhile, Vanguard UK Investor lags behind with a 3.5-star rating and a lower ranking at 19th. This highlights CMC Invest's stronger emphasis on delivering a superior mobile trading experience compared to Vanguard UK Investor.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing educational resources for new investors, CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor each have unique strengths. Neither offers real-time educational webinars, but Vanguard stores archived webinars for on-demand viewing, which is a plus for learning at your own pace. For those interested in share trading education, CMC Invest is the go-to source, as Vanguard does not cover this topic. Both brokers provide resources focused on funds and retirement planning, catering to different investment interests. In terms of ratings, CMC Invest achieves a higher score of 4 stars for beginner education compared to Vanguard's 3.5 stars, according to UK.StockBrokers.com. While both companies rank towards the lower end among 18 brokers, CMC Invest stands at 15th, slightly ahead of Vanguard's 17th position, making it a somewhat stronger choice for novice investors looking for educational support.
| 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 |
|
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms offer robust research reports for funds, ensuring investors have insights into mutual funds. However, Vanguard UK Investor provides an advantage with the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not available with CMC Invest. For shares and ETFs research, CMC Invest stands out by providing comprehensive information, whereas Vanguard UK Investor only covers ETFs. Neither platform supports research for CFDs or Bonds, making them similar in these less common investment areas. Overall, the choice between the two might depend on whether you prioritize detailed shares research or portfolio visibility by asset class.
| 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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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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| Review | CMC Invest Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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