Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Freetrade 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, Freetrade 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 - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - Freetrade would cost £1 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.
Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor both cater to UK investors, but they differ in the range of investment choices they offer. Freetrade stands out by providing share trading and investment trusts, although it skips on funds and bond offerings. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor focuses on funds, making it a preferred choice for investors seeking exposure in this area, but it doesn't support share or investment trust trading. Both platforms offer trading of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) but neither supports crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, keeping things straightforward for those interested in these particular choices.
When it comes to ratings from UK.StockBrokers.com, Freetrade edges slightly ahead with a 4-star rating for its investment choices, while Vanguard UK Investor follows with a 3.5-star rating. Interestingly, despite these ratings, Vanguard UK Investor is ranked 18th out of 18 for investment choices, while Freetrade sits just above at 17th place. This suggests that both brokers might not offer the breadth of choices that some investors seek, but each has its unique strengths depending on specific investment interests.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | 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 the trading tools available on Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor, UK traders looking for advanced charting options may find both services quite similar, as neither platform offers the ability to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, or dividends on charts. Additionally, both Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor fall short in offering drawing tools or technical indicators for charting. Traders hoping to enhance their charts with notes, index overlays, or stock overlays will find these features unavailable in both platforms. However, both Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor do provide a browser-based trading platform, ensuring accessibility for online traders.
Despite the similarities in charting limitations, Freetrade sets itself apart by offering the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, a feature not available with Vanguard UK Investor. Moreover, Freetrade provides real-time market data, allowing subscribers to stay informed with the latest market movements, while Vanguard UK Investor does not offer this capability. For UK investors prioritizing timely market updates and price alerts, Freetrade may be the preferred option between the two online brokers.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | 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 |
For UK investors evaluating online brokers for their retirement savings, Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor both present viable options. Both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing tax-efficient saving and investing. Additionally, they each provide Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), giving investors the flexibility to manage their pension savings more effectively. While Freetrade is known for its user-friendly app experience, attracting beginners and tech-savvy investors, Vanguard UK Investor is celebrated for its long-standing reputation in the investment world, with a focus on low-cost index funds. Understanding these differences can help investors decide which platform aligns better with their financial goals and preferences.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When choosing an online broker with mobile app options, UK investors have choices between Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor. Both offer iPhone and Android apps, providing accessibility across major platforms. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Freetrade's app is rated 4 out of 5 stars, edging out Vanguard UK Investor's app, which holds a 3.5-star rating. In terms of overall ranking among 18 brokers, Freetrade stands at 12th place for mobile apps, while Vanguard UK Investor trails at 19th. This indicates that while both apps are available and functional, Freetrade might offer a slightly better mobile experience for users seeking to trade on the go.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors evaluating educational resources, Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor both offer compelling, yet varied, options. Despite neither platform hosting live educational webinars, Vanguard UK Investor stands out with archived webinars available for on-demand viewing, which Freetrade does not provide. When it comes to specific topics, Freetrade offers educational content on share trading in addition to offering guidance on funds and retirement, making it slightly broader in scope in comparison to Vanguard UK Investor, which focuses only on funds and retirement. Despite these differences, both platforms receive an identical beginner education rating of 3.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com. However, Freetrade holds a slight edge in terms of rankings, coming in at 16th out of 18 brokers, while Vanguard UK Investor is ranked 17th. Whether an investor values diverse topic coverage or the convenience of archived webinars will influence the choice between these two options.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
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.
For UK investors seeking to compare market research features, Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor offer distinct advantages. Freetrade provides insights into shares and ETFs, allowing users to research and understand their investments in these securities. It also helps investors see their portfolio allocation by asset class, promoting a clearer financial strategy. However, it does not offer research reports for funds or other financial products like bonds and CFDs. Meanwhile, Vanguard UK Investor excels in delivering comprehensive research for funds and ETFs, although it lacks shares research capabilities. Similar to Freetrade, Vanguard also allows investors to view portfolio allocation by asset class, aiding in informed decision-making. However, neither platform offers detailed research on CFDs or bonds, making them less suitable for those seeking insights into these areas.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - CFDs | No | 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, Freetrade or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Freetrade to be a better trading platform overall.
Overall Freetrade is a great platform to help you get to grips with investing. Costs are low, and its user-friendly mobile app offers great investment inspiration. Sophisticated investors, however, may find that other platforms offer a wider range of investment options and tools.
| Feature |
Freetrade
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Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Website |
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In comparing Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor, it's important to note that neither broker offers the ability to trade cryptocurrencies, which may influence the decision-making process for investors interested in diversifying their portfolios with digital assets.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Freetrade | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | Freetrade Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Freetrade | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | No | 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 | Freetrade | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £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 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £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 | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Freetrade | 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 | Freetrade | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | 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 | Freetrade | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | No | 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 | Freetrade | 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 | Freetrade | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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| Review | Freetrade Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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