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, Vanguard UK Investor offers better pricing than Freetrade 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 offer different options for those looking to invest online. Freetrade allows users to trade shares, ETFs, and investment trusts, but does not support trading in crypto, spread betting, CFDs, funds, corporate bonds, or government bonds. Vanguard UK Investor, on the other hand, offers trading in ETFs and funds but lacks the capability for share trading, crypto, spread betting, CFDs, or any type of bond trading like Freetrade. Neither platform offers advisor services, making them ideal for self-directed investors who are comfortable managing their investment portfolios independently.
In terms of ratings, Freetrade scores a commendable 4 out of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, occupying the 13th position out of 18 brokers. Meanwhile, Vanguard UK Investor holds a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 16th among its peers. Investors should weigh these options based on their individual investment needs and the types of financial products they wish to incorporate into their strategies.
| 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 |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor in terms of their trading tools, both platforms limit their charting capabilities. Neither Freetrade nor Vanguard UK Investor support the display of corporate events like earnings, splits, or dividends on charts. Similarly, both lack drawing tools and technical indicators, and do not allow users to add notes, index overlays, or stock overlays to graphs. This can somewhat restrict users looking for advanced charting features.
Both platforms offer a browser-based trading experience, catering to users who prefer desktop access. Where Freetrade steps ahead is in offering real-time market data and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, features Vanguard UK Investor does not provide. This enhanced market responsiveness on Freetrade might appeal to active traders who require immediate data access and stock alerts.
| 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 |
When comparing online brokers for retirement accounts, Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor emerge as strong contenders for UK investors. Both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing users to invest without paying tax on dividends or capital gains. Additionally, Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) are available on both platforms, providing a tax-efficient way to save for retirement. While the main offerings of ISAs and SIPPs are identical, investors might consider other factors like fees, available investment options, and platform features to determine which broker best fits their financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When choosing between Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor for your investment needs via mobile apps, both platforms offer accessibility on iPhone and Android devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Freetrade’s mobile app is rated 4 out of 5 stars, while Vanguard UK Investor's app has a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars. In terms of overall ranking among 18 brokers, Freetrade holds the #8 spot for mobile apps, showcasing a stronger position compared to Vanguard UK Investor, which is ranked at #17. These insights highlight the user-friendly nature and performance of Freetrade's app in contrast to Vanguard's offering.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor in terms of educational resources for beginner investors, both have strengths and weaknesses. Neither platform offers live educational webinars, but Vanguard UK Investor provides the convenience of archived webinars available on demand, which Freetrade does not. Freetrade excels in educating on share trading and funds, while Vanguard focuses on funds and retirement. Both platforms offer similar resources for retirement education. Each is rated 3.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education; however, Freetrade ranks #9 out of 18 brokers, outperforming Vanguard UK Investor, which ranks #14. Overall, Freetrade may offer a slightly more comprehensive educational experience for beginners interested in share trading.
| 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 |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Freetrade and Vanguard UK Investor for market research features, there are key differences to consider. While Vanguard UK Investor provides comprehensive research reports for funds, this feature is absent in Freetrade. Both platforms offer the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, which is beneficial for assessing investment diversification. Freetrade excels in offering research for shares and ETFs, whereas Vanguard UK Investor provides detailed insights for ETFs and funds but lacks shares research. Neither platform supports research for CFDs or bonds, indicating a potential need to source this information externally based on individual trading strategies.
| 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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| Mobile App |
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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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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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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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| Education |
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| Review | Freetrade Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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