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.
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 options of eToro with Vanguard UK Investor, it's clear that both platforms cater to different investor needs. eToro stands out by offering a wide range of investment choices, including share and crypto trading, as well as trading in ETFs and CFDs. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor is best suited for those interested in funds trading and ETFs, but it lacks the variety offered by eToro, particularly in the trading of shares and cryptocurrencies. Neither platform offers spread betting, corporate or government bonds, investment trusts, nor advisor services, which may limit options for more diversified portfolios.
According to rankings by UK.StockBrokers.com, eToro boasts a higher rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars for its investment choices, securing the 9th position out of 18 brokers. Vanguard UK Investor, on the other hand, garners a 3.5-star rating and ranks 16th. These ratings highlight eToro’s broader appeal to those seeking varied and modern investment opportunities, whereas Vanguard UK Investor remains a strong candidate for investors primarily focused on funds and ETF investments.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | No | No |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | 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 it comes to trading tools, eToro stands out with a wide array of features that cater to both novice and experienced traders. Offering 56 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators for charting, eToro ensures a comprehensive and customizable trading experience. Users can also add notes, index overlays, and stock overlays to their charts, which can be particularly beneficial for detailed analysis and tracking. Moreover, eToro supports real-time market data and allows traders to set alerts for stock price updates, making it easier to stay informed and make timely decisions.
In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor offers a more basic set of trading tools. It lacks the ability to display corporate events, incorporate drawing tools, or utilize technical indicators on charts. Additionally, users cannot add notes or overlays, and there are no provisions for setting alerts for price updates. While both platforms provide a browser-based trading interface, Vanguard UK Investor does not offer real-time market data, potentially limiting its appeal to traders who rely on up-to-the-minute information and a more interactive user experience.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 56 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers eToro and Vanguard UK Investor, it's important to consider their offerings for retirement accounts. Both platforms provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISA), catering to those looking to save and invest tax-efficiently. However, for those interested in Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP) accounts, the choice narrows down to Vanguard UK Investor, as eToro does not offer a SIPP option. This distinction is crucial for investors focused on pension planning alongside their regular investment portfolio.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both eToro and Vanguard UK Investor offer mobile apps available on iPhone and Android, catering to users who prefer trading on their mobile devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, eToro's mobile app enjoys an impressive 5-star rating, positioning it at a notable 5th place out of 18 brokers for mobile app rankings. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor's app carries a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 17th among the same group. This suggests that eToro offers a more highly rated mobile trading experience compared to Vanguard UK Investor, making it potentially more appealing to traders seeking robust mobile functionality.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources, eToro and Vanguard UK Investor offer distinct focuses. eToro stands out by providing education on share trading, though it lacks webinars or content on funds and retirement. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor doesn't cover share trading but excels in educating clients on funds and retirement, with webinars available on demand. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, eToro is rated 4.5 stars, ranking 10th out of 18 brokers, indicating strong resources for beginners focusing on trading. Meanwhile, Vanguard UK Investor, rated 3.5 stars and ranked 14th, may appeal more to those interested in funds and retirement education.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | 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, several distinctions emerge. eToro offers robust research options for various asset types, including shares, ETFs, and CFDs, making it a versatile choice for those interested in diverse market analyses. Although eToro excels in these areas, it does not provide research reports for funds or bonds. On the contrary, Vanguard UK Investor stands out by providing detailed research reports for funds, catering to investors focused on this segment. Both platforms allow users to view portfolio allocations by asset class, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of investment distribution. Notably, Vanguard UK Investor does not offer research support for CFDs or shares, highlighting a key difference in their offerings.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | 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
|
|---|---|---|
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When comparing online brokers, eToro provides the advantage of offering cryptocurrency trading, unlike Vanguard UK Investor, which does not support crypto trading options.
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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 | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | No | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website 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 | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 56 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | eToro | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | 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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