Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Halifax 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, Halifax 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 - Halifax would cost £83.50 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - Halifax would cost £150 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - Halifax would cost £378 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - Halifax would cost £1,176 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - Halifax would cost £0 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 it comes to investment choices for UK investors, Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor both offer a variety of options, though they differ in certain aspects. Halifax excels in versatility, providing the chance to trade in ETFs, corporate and government bonds, funds, and investment trusts. Notably, Halifax also offers advisory services, lending a personalized touch to your investment journey. In contrast, while Vanguard UK Investor is known for its ETF and fund trading options, it lacks the broader spectrum seen with Halifax's platforms, such as trading in corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts.
This variation in offerings is reflected in their respective ratings and rankings by UK.StockBrokers.com. Halifax boasts a commendable 5-star rating and is ranked 7th out of 21 brokers, highlighting its wide range of investment options. Meanwhile, Vanguard UK Investor receives a modest 3.5-star rating and ranks 18th, indicating potential limitations for investors seeking more diverse trading opportunities. Whether you prefer the extensive selection at Halifax or the focused approach of Vanguard, both brokers cater to different investing styles, allowing you to find the right fit for your portfolio needs.
| Feature |
Halifax
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | ||
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | Yes | |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools of Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor, it's apparent that both platforms offer a browser-based trading experience, making them easy to access and use. However, neither platform provides additional features such as the ability to display corporate events, add notes, or apply index and stock overlays on charts, limiting the depth of chart analysis for investors. If these features are important to you, it's noteworthy that neither Halifax nor Vanguard currently supports them, making them similar in their offerings in this area.
Further, both platforms lack drawing tools and technical indicators, which could be a drawback for traders focusing on technical analysis. On the plus side, Halifax stands out slightly by offering the ability to set alerts for stock price updates, providing an edge for investors keen on staying up to date with market fluctuations. Meanwhile, both Halifax and Vanguard are yet to offer real-time market data, which is an essential feature for active trading. Overall, while both platforms cater to basic trading needs, investors seeking advanced charting tools might find these offerings limited.
| Feature |
Halifax
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
When choosing between Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor for retirement planning in the UK, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). Halifax provides flexibility with its range of investment options, catering to individuals who value a comprehensive choice in managing their retirement savings. Vanguard UK Investor, on the other hand, is well-suited for those looking for simplicity and cost-effective investment solutions, with its focus on low-cost funds and straightforward account management. By offering both ISAs and SIPPs, each platform gives UK investors the opportunity to tailor their retirement planning in ways that suit their personal financial strategies and goals. Ultimately, the decision depends on personal preferences regarding investment choices, fees, and platform features.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
In the UK market, both Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor provide mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, offering a convenient way to manage investments on the go. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, each app receives a solid 3.5-star rating out of five, reflecting their decent performance and user satisfaction. When it comes to overall rankings out of 21 brokers, Halifax secures the 18th spot for its mobile app quality, slightly edging out Vanguard UK Investor, which is placed at 19th. This close ranking indicates that while both services provide essential mobile functionality for traders, they still have room for improvement compared to top competitors in the industry.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources between Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor, there are some differences in what they offer. Vanguard provides archived educational webinars for viewing at any time and covers key topics such as funds and retirement, giving beginner investors a comprehensive platform to learn from. In contrast, Halifax does not offer archived webinars or specific education on these topics. Both platforms are equally rated at 3.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, yet Vanguard holds a slightly better ranking at 17th out of 21 brokers, compared to Halifax's 18th place. This comparison suggests that Vanguard might be slightly more advantageous for beginners seeking education on investing, particularly in funds and retirement planning.
| Feature |
Halifax
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor for their market research features, each platform offers unique advantages. Halifax provides comprehensive research capabilities, covering shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds. However, it lacks in certain areas like research reports for funds, viewing portfolio allocation by asset class, and CFDs research. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor excels with its ability to offer research reports for funds and a detailed view of portfolio allocation by asset class, but it’s not as extensive in shares and bonds research compared to Halifax. Both platforms offer solid research on ETFs and funds, making them appealing to UK investors with different needs.
| Feature |
Halifax
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Halifax or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Halifax to be a better trading platform overall.
If you are already a Halifax bank customer, it may be worth signing up to Halifax online share dealing for simplicity. The charges are in line with some other brokers, but more expensive than others. If you have a large investment portfolio you may benefit from the low annual management fee of £36. If you are new to Halifax, there may be a better platform for you that is cheaper and easier to open.
| Feature |
Halifax
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Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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When comparing online brokers, Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor, it is important to note that neither platform currently offers cryptocurrency trading services.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Halifax | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Halifax Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Halifax | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | |||
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | ||
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Halifax | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £500 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £9.50 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £9.50 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £9.50 | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £83.50 | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £150 | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £378 | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,176 | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £64.50 | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £36 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £36 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £36 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £36 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £9.5 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £9.5 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £9.5 | 0.02% to 0.14% | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £9.5 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Halifax | 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 | Halifax | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | |||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | Halifax | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | ||
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
| Education | Halifax | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | |||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Halifax | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | Halifax Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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