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.
For UK investors exploring online brokerage options, Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor both offer a range of investment choices, yet they differ significantly in some areas. Halifax allows trading in ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts, alongside providing advisor services. In contrast, while Vanguard UK Investor also supports ETF and fund trading, it does not offer investments in corporate or government bonds, investment trusts, nor does it provide advisor services. Neither platform supports trading in shares, cryptocurrencies, or participating in spread betting or CFD trading.
When it comes to rankings and ratings by UK.StockBrokers.com, Halifax shines with a 5-star rating for its investment choices, placing it 7th out of 18 brokers evaluated. In comparison, Vanguard UK Investor received a 3.5-star rating, earning the 18th spot. These assessments highlight Halifax's broader array of investment options, making it potentially more appealing for investors seeking diversified opportunities and guidance.
| Feature |
Halifax
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | No | No |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the online trading tools offered by Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor in the UK, both platforms show similarities in their basic charting capabilities. Neither Halifax nor Vanguard provides the ability to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, or dividends on charts. Additionally, both platforms offer a minimalistic approach to charting by not supplying any drawing tools, technical indicators, or the ability to add notes or overlays—be it index or stock-specific—to their charts.
However, there are notable differences. Both Halifax and Vanguard support browser-based trading platforms, making them accessible and user-friendly for online investors. While neither offers real-time market data, Halifax sets itself apart by allowing users to create alerts for stock price updates—a feature not available with Vanguard UK Investor. This alert functionality may offer an edge for investors seeking timely notifications on stock movements.
| Feature |
Halifax
|
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 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.
When it comes to mobile app offerings, both Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor provide apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility for their clients. Each mobile app has been rated 3.5 out of 5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, indicating a moderate level of user satisfaction. Despite this shared rating, Halifax is ranked 18th and Vanguard holds the 19th spot out of 18 brokers for mobile apps, suggesting room for improvement in the user experience provided by both platforms.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor offer contrasting experiences. While both brokers receive a 3.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for their educational offerings, Vanguard UK Investor ranks slightly higher at 17th compared to Halifax's 18th out of 18 brokers. Halifax does not provide webinars or educational resources on topics like share trading, funds, or retirement. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor offers on-demand webinars and educational content on funds and retirement, though not on share trading. This makes Vanguard a more attractive option for those seeking to learn about funds and retirement planning.
| Feature |
Halifax
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | No | No |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When it comes to market research features for UK investors, Halifax and Vanguard UK Investor each offer distinct advantages. Halifax provides research support for shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, but misses out on research reports for funds and doesn't allow investors to view portfolio allocation by asset class. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor excels by offering fund research reports and enables investors to see their portfolio allocation by asset class. However, it lacks support for shares and bonds research. Both platforms provide research for ETFs, but neither offers CFDs research, making your choice dependent on the specific type of insights you value for your investment strategy.
| Feature |
Halifax
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | 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.
| Feature |
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Vanguard UK Investor
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|---|---|---|
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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 | No | No | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| 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 | 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 | Halifax | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | Halifax | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | No | No | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | 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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