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.
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, Halifax 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.
For UK investors comparing investment choices, Halifax offers a wider range than Vanguard UK Investor. Halifax supports share dealing, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. Vanguard UK Investor focuses on ETFs and funds only, with no share dealing, corporate bonds, gilts, or investment trusts. Neither platform offers crypto or CFD trading, and both provide adviser services.
On investment choice, UK.StockBrokers.com rates Halifax 4.5 out of 5 stars (ranked 7th of 21) and Vanguard UK Investor 3.5 out of 5 stars (ranked 18th). In short, choose Halifax if you want the broadest mix of shares, bonds, and trusts; pick Vanguard UK Investor if you mainly want access to Vanguard funds and ETFs without the need for share dealing.
| Feature |
Halifax
|
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 | Yes | 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, Halifax offers far more charting features than Vanguard UK Investor. Halifax has 8 drawing tools and 95 technical indicators, plus the ability to add notes to charts and set price alerts. Vanguard provides no drawing tools, no indicators, and no chart notes or alerts. Both offer a browser-based platform, and neither displays corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) on charts.
Both platforms share some limits: no index overlays, no stock overlays, and no real-time market data. If you want to analyse price moves with indicators, drawings, and notes in your web browser, Halifax is the stronger choice. If you only need basic access without chart study tools, Vanguard UK Investor is simpler but very limited for chart analysis.
| Feature |
Halifax
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Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 95 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
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.
For UK beginners comparing education from Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor: neither broker offers live or on‑demand client webinars. Halifax provides learning on share trading, funds and retirement, while Vanguard focuses on funds and retirement only. UK.StockBrokers.com rates Halifax slightly higher for beginner education (4.0 stars) than Vanguard (3.5 stars), yet Vanguard ranks 17th of 21 brokers and Halifax ranks 18th. If you want share dealing basics, Halifax has the edge; for funds and retirement, both are suitable.
| Feature |
Halifax
|
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.
Comparing Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor for market research in the UK: both offer research reports for funds and cover ETFs, but Halifax also provides research on shares and bonds, which Vanguard UK Investor does not. Vanguard UK Investor stands out by letting you see your portfolio’s allocation by asset class, a feature Halifax lacks. Choose Halifax if you want wider research across shares and bonds; pick Vanguard UK Investor if seeing clear asset allocation alongside funds and ETF insights matters more.
| Feature |
Halifax
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | 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.
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Vanguard UK Investor
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Both Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor do not offer crypto trading services, making them similar in this aspect for investors interested in cryptocurrencies.
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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 | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes | 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) | |||
| 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 | £36 | £48 - £375 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £36 | £375 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £36 | £375 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £36 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £9.50 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £9.50 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 / £3.50 / £9.50 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 / £3.50 / £9.50 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Halifax | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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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 | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 95 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Halifax | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | Halifax | 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 | Halifax | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Halifax Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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