Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of eToro vs Vanguard UK Investor, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
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, eToro 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 - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - eToro would cost $50 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 the investment choices of eToro and Vanguard UK Investor, eToro offers share trading and the ability to trade cryptocurrencies, CFDs, and ETFs, providing a wide array of digital assets and opportunities for different types of investors. Conversely, Vanguard UK Investor focuses on ETF and funds trading, catering to those who prioritize investments such as exchange-traded funds and traditional mutual funds. While eToro does not have options for funds or bond trading, Vanguard does not venture into crypto or CFD trading, making eToro a go-to choice for those interested in these emerging markets.
On the rating scale, eToro scores an impressive 4.5 stars for its investment choices, positioning it at rank 15 out of 21 brokers as per UK.StockBrokers.com. In comparison, Vanguard UK Investor receives a slightly lower 3.5-star rating, placing it at rank 18. This distinction underscores eToro's broader appeal and accommodating investment platform for those wanting diverse avenues, whereas Vanguard UK Investor remains a solid choice for users inclined towards traditional fund trading options.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | ||
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When it comes to trading tools, eToro provides a comprehensive suite that far surpasses what Vanguard UK Investor offers. eToro shines with an impressive arsenal of 56 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators, which are essential for detailed market analysis. In stark contrast, Vanguard does not offer any drawing tools or technical indicators, which could be a significant limitation for traders who rely on these features for charting. Moreover, in eToro, you can view corporate events directly on charts, add notes, and apply both index and stock overlays, making it a more versatile choice for those who value enhanced chart functionalities.
Both eToro and Vanguard UK Investor provide browser-based trading platforms, allowing you to trade from virtually anywhere. However, eToro goes further by enabling users to set up alerts for stock price updates and provides access to real-time market data, which are key aspects for staying updated in a fast-moving market. These additional features make eToro a robust choice for traders who need timely updates and customizable charting tools to make informed trading decisions, whereas Vanguard UK Investor does not offer these advanced functionalities.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 56 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
For UK investors seeking online brokers to manage their retirement savings, eToro and Vanguard UK Investor both offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), providing a tax-efficient way to invest. However, when it comes to Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), Vanguard UK Investor has an edge, as it offers these accounts for retirement savers looking for more flexibility in their pension investment choices, while eToro currently does not provide SIPP accounts. Both platforms, with their unique offerings, cater to different types of investors depending on their retirement planning needs and preference for investment products.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking a mobile trading platform, both eToro and Vanguard UK Investor provide iPhone and Android apps, ensuring accessibility on the go. However, eToro's mobile app shines with a top-tier rating of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com and is ranked 5th out of 21 brokers, making it a preferred choice for seamless trading. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor's mobile app holds a 3.5-star rating and is positioned 19th, suggesting that while functional, it may not offer the same level of user satisfaction and features as eToro’s app.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors looking to enhance their knowledge, both eToro and Vanguard UK Investor offer distinct educational resources. eToro excels with a 4.5-star rating and ranks 11th out of 21 on UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, providing comprehensive resources on share trading. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor, rated 3.5 stars and ranked 17th, focuses more on education around funds and retirement topics, with the added benefit of archived webinars available for on-demand viewing. While eToro does not offer archived webinars, its targeted approach to share trading education may appeal to those primarily interested in trading stocks, whereas Vanguard's resources may better serve those interested in a broader investment strategy. Both broker platforms cater to different learning needs, helping beginners navigate their investment journeys.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of eToro and Vanguard UK Investor, each platform provides unique advantages. Vanguard UK Investor stands out by offering research reports on funds, which eToro does not provide. However, both platforms allow investors to see their portfolio allocation by asset class, ensuring users can easily track their investments. When it comes to research on shares and CFDs, eToro takes the lead, offering insights that Vanguard UK Investor does not, while both platforms provide research on ETFs. Neither service offers specific research on bonds, highlighting a gap for investors interested in that area. Overall, the choice between eToro and Vanguard UK Investor hinges on the specific research needs of the investor, with each platform catering to different areas.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, eToro or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found eToro to be a better trading platform overall.
eToro offers a wide range of assets and instruments and is well-known for its ‘social trading’ approach. It has among the lowest fees and best mobile app experiences of brokers we tested in the U.K., and offers a great starting point for those new to stock trading. Our analysis finds it better suited to short-term traders than long-term investors.
| Feature |
eToro
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Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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In comparing online brokers, eToro, which offers cryptocurrency trading, provides a distinct advantage over Vanguard UK Investor, which currently does not support crypto trading.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | eToro | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | eToro Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | eToro | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | ||
| CFD Trading | Yes | ||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | |||
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | Yes | ||
| Advisor Services |
| Trading Fees | eToro | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | £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 | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £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 | N/A | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| 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 | eToro | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 56 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | eToro | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | ||
| Research - CFDs | Yes | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | eToro | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | eToro Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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