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.
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, Freetrade offers better pricing than Vanguard UK Investor for share dealing.
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.
Comparing Freetrade vs Vanguard UK Investor for investment choices: Freetrade offers share dealing alongside ETFs, funds, UK government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. It does not offer crypto, CFDs, or corporate bonds. Vanguard UK Investor focuses on ETFs and funds only, with no share dealing, gilts, investment trusts, crypto, CFDs, or corporate bonds. Vanguard provides advisor services, while Freetrade does not.
For investment choice ratings from UK.StockBrokers.com, Freetrade scores 4.5/5 and ranks 17th of 21 brokers; Vanguard UK Investor scores 3.5/5 and ranks 18th. In short, Freetrade suits DIY investors seeking wider market access, whereas Vanguard UK Investor fits fund-focused investors who want access to advice.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For UK investors comparing trading tools, both Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor keep charting very basic. Neither platform shows corporate events on charts, and both lack drawing tools, technical indicators, notes, and index or stock overlays. Each offers a browser-based platform, but neither provides real-time market data.
The key difference is alerts: Freetrade lets you set stock price alerts, while Vanguard UK Investor does not. If you want simple monitoring without advanced charts, Freetrade has a slight edge; if you’re focused on long‑term investing where chart features matter less, Vanguard may still fit the bill.
| 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.
For UK investors comparing Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor on mobile experience, both offer iPhone and Android apps, but Freetrade’s app is rated 4.5/5 by UK.StockBrokers.com and ranks 12th out of 21 brokers, while Vanguard UK Investor’s app scores 3.5/5 and ranks 19th; if app quality on iOS or Android matters, Freetrade has the edge, whereas Vanguard may appeal if you’re focused on its fund range and pricing despite a lower app rating.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners comparing Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor, neither offers live educational webinars or on-demand replays. Freetrade provides learning on share trading, funds and retirement, while Vanguard UK Investor focuses on funds and retirement only. On UK.StockBrokers.com, Freetrade scores 4/5 and ranks 16th of 21 for beginner education, edging Vanguard UK Investor at 3.5/5 and 17th—so if you want share-trading guidance, Freetrade is the better fit; for funds and retirement, both have materials.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| 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.
For UK investors comparing market research features, Vanguard UK Investor offers more than Freetrade: it provides fund research, ETF research, and research reports for funds, while Freetrade lacks research on shares, ETFs, and funds. Both platforms let you view portfolio allocation by asset class to check diversification. Neither offers shares or bonds research. If you want built-in research tools, Vanguard UK Investor is the stronger pick; Freetrade may suit those who prefer to source research elsewhere.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | No | 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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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 | |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| 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) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | £59.88 | £48 - £375 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £59.88 | £375 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £59.88 | £375 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £59.88 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £0 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Freetrade | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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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 | No | No | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | No | 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 | No |
| Overall Summary | Freetrade | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | Freetrade Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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