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, Vanguard UK Investor offers better pricing than CMC Invest 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 CMC Invest with Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms offer a range of investment options suitable for various types of investors. CMC Invest stands out by offering share trading, which gives investors the opportunity to buy and sell individual stocks. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor focuses primarily on trading funds and ETFs but does not provide options for share trading. Both brokers support ETF and funds trading, but neither offers services like crypto trading, spread betting, CFD trading, or bond trading. CMC Invest has the added advantage of offering investment trusts trading, an option not available with Vanguard UK Investor.
When it comes to ratings, CMC Invest is rated higher at 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, compared to Vanguard’s 3.5 stars. Though the rankings are close, CMC Invest edges out Vanguard UK Investor by securing the 15th position among 18 brokers, while Vanguard stands at the 16th position. Both platforms lack advisor services, implying that they are better suited for self-directed investors who are comfortable managing their investments independently.
| 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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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 the mobile app offerings of CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms provide apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring seamless access for investors on the go. CMC Invest stands out with a robust mobile app experience, garnering an impressive 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and securing the #7 spot among 18 brokers. Meanwhile, Vanguard UK Investor offers a reliable, though less highly-rated, mobile app with a 3.5-star rating, placing it at #17 in the same ranking. This makes CMC Invest a preferable choice for investors seeking a highly-rated mobile trading experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors seeking educational resources, both CMC Invest and Vanguard UK Investor have something to offer, but with a few key differences. While neither provides live webinars, Vanguard UK Investor archives their educational sessions for on-demand viewing, which CMC Invest does not. When it comes to specific topics, CMC Invest covers share trading, funds, and retirement, whereas Vanguard focuses on funds and retirement but lacks share trading education. Rated by UK.StockBrokers.com, CMC Invest earns 4 stars compared to Vanguard's 3.5 stars for beginner education. Moreover, CMC Invest slightly edges out Vanguard in rankings, coming in at number 13 out of 18 brokers, while Vanguard sits at number 14.
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
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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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