Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Hargreaves Lansdown 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 Hargreaves Lansdown 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 - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown 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.
When comparing Hargreaves Lansdown with Vanguard UK Investor, there are significant differences in the investment choices each platform offers to its users. Hargreaves Lansdown allows investors to trade shares, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts, alongside offering advisor services. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor provides more limited options, supporting trading in ETFs and funds but not in shares, bonds, or investment trusts, and it does not offer advisor services.
This wider array of choices is reflected in Hargreaves Lansdown's reputation, as it holds a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, ranking 4th out of 18 brokers. Meanwhile, Vanguard UK Investor receives a 3.5-star rating, placing it 16th. Both platforms do not offer crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, which might be a consideration for some investors. Overall, Hargreaves Lansdown stands out for those seeking diverse investment opportunities and support, while Vanguard UK Investor may appeal to those focused on fund and ETF investments.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | 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 it comes to trading tools, Hargreaves Lansdown and Vanguard UK Investor offer quite different experiences for their users. Hargreaves Lansdown stands out with the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, providing a richer context for making informed decisions. They also offer 11 drawing tools, 15 technical indicators, and the option to add both index and stock overlays on charts. This makes their platform robust for those who wish to perform detailed analysis. On the flip side, Vanguard UK Investor does not provide these extensive charting features, but does offer a simple, browser-based trading platform like Hargreaves Lansdown.
In addition to its charting tools, Hargreaves Lansdown offers the convenience of creating alerts for stock price updates, along with access to real-time market data. Unfortunately, Vanguard UK Investor lacks these real-time updates and alert features, which might be a consideration for active traders looking to react quickly to market changes. Both platforms, however, do not offer the ability to add personal notes to charts. Overall, Hargreaves Lansdown provides a more comprehensive set of trading tools, whereas Vanguard UK Investor may suit investors who are content with a more straightforward trading experience.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing Hargreaves Lansdown and Vanguard UK Investor, both prominent online brokers in the UK, it's important to note their offerings for retirement accounts. Both platforms provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making them versatile options for those looking to invest for the future. While Hargreaves Lansdown is well-known for its extensive range of investment choices and comprehensive research tools, Vanguard UK Investor is recognized for its focus on low-cost funds and straightforward fee structure, appealing to cost-conscious investors. Whether prioritizing a broad investment selection or cost efficiency, both platforms offer viable options for managing your retirement savings.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both Hargreaves Lansdown and Vanguard UK Investor offer convenient mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, catering to the needs of on-the-go investors. However, there are differences in user satisfaction and rankings. Hargreaves Lansdown's mobile app is highly rated at 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com and secures the impressive #4 rank out of 18 brokers, reflecting a superior user experience. In comparison, Vanguard UK Investor's app receives a modest 3.5-star rating and ranks #17 among its peers, suggesting a more basic or less polished offering. Such insights can help users choose the online broker that best meets their mobile investing needs.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, Hargreaves Lansdown and Vanguard UK Investor each have their strengths. Hargreaves Lansdown excels with live educational webinars and offers extensive education on share trading, funds, and retirement. Conversely, Vanguard UK Investor does not provide live webinars but archives them for on-demand viewing, and offers education on funds and retirement, though it lacks in share trading resources. With Hargreaves Lansdown rated 5 stars and ranked #4 for beginner education by UK.StockBrokers.com, it stands ahead of Vanguard UK Investor, which is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #14. Whether you're seeking interactive learning or convenient on-demand resources, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a more diverse educational package, especially for those interested in share trading.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | 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 Hargreaves Lansdown to Vanguard UK Investor for market research features, both platforms provide research reports for funds and allow users to view portfolio allocation by asset class. Hargreaves Lansdown stands out by offering comprehensive shares research, which Vanguard UK Investor lacks. While both platforms offer research on ETFs and funds, neither provides research on CFDs. Additionally, Hargreaves Lansdown includes bonds research, an area Vanguard UK Investor does not cover, giving Hargreaves Lansdown an edge for investors seeking diverse research capabilities.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
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 | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Hargreaves Lansdown or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Hargreaves Lansdown to be a better trading platform overall.
As the U.K.’s biggest investment platform for individual investors, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a wide range of investment choices for either beginners or seasoned investors. However, its fees are generally more expensive than rival brokers, which can become an issue for large investment pots.
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Vanguard UK Investor
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Neither Hargreaves Lansdown nor Vanguard UK Investor offers crypto trading, making them comparable choices for investors seeking traditional investment options without the inclusion of cryptocurrency trading.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Hargreaves Lansdown | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Hargreaves Lansdown | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | 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 | Hargreaves Lansdown | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £500 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £1,125 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | Up to £625 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,250 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | Up to £1,000 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | 0.02% to 0.14% | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Platforms & Tools | Hargreaves Lansdown | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Hargreaves Lansdown | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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