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.
When comparing investment choices between CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor, CMC Invest stands out with a broader range of offerings. CMC Invest enables its users to trade shares, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, although it does not support crypto trading, spread betting, CFD trading, government and corporate bonds, or offer advisor services. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor provides options for trading ETFs and funds but lacks the capability to trade shares or investment trusts, and similarly does not offer crypto trading, spread betting, CFD trading, government and corporate bonds, or advisor services.
In terms of user ratings and industry rankings, CMC Invest is rated more favorably with a 4.5-star rating for investment choices according to UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the 14th position out of 21 brokers. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor has a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 18th out of the same 21 brokers for investment offerings. This comparison highlights CMC Invest's superior standing with a wider selection of investment opportunities preferred by UK investors.
| 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.
For UK investors exploring mobile app options, both CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor provide apps for iPhone and Android devices. CMC Invest's app receives a high rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 11th out of 21 brokers for mobile apps. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor's app has a lower rating of 3.5 stars, ranking 19th. This positions CMC Invest as a more highly regarded choice among UK brokers for users seeking mobile trading options.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor for beginner investor educational resources, both platforms have unique offerings. Neither offers live educational webinars, but Vanguard UK Investor provides archived webinars for on-demand learning, while CMC Invest does not. For new investors keen on share trading, CMC Invest covers this topic, whereas Vanguard UK Investor does not. Both platforms provide educational content on funds and retirement planning. In terms of ratings, CMC Invest earns a 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, surpassing Vanguard UK Investor's 3.5-star rating. When ranked among 21 brokers, CMC Invest holds the 15th spot, outperforming Vanguard UK Investor's 17th position for beginner education.
| 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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| Mobile App |
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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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| 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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