Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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 IG 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 - IG would cost £136 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £96 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £108 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £360 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - IG 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.
Both IG and Vanguard UK Investor offer distinct investment choices suited for different types of investors. IG supports a range of trading options, including share trading, ETFs, and CFD trading, providing a broad spectrum for those interested in active trading. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor focuses on long-term investments, offering ETF and funds trading, but does not support share trading or CFDs. Neither platform includes options for crypto trading, spread betting, or trading government and corporate bonds.
When it comes to overall user ratings for investment choices, IG scores higher with 4.5 stars compared to Vanguard UK Investor's 3.5 stars, according to UK.StockBrokers.com. In terms of ranking among 18 brokers for investment variety, IG holds the 10th position while Vanguard UK Investor is ranked 16th. These ratings suggest that IG may be more suitable for investors seeking a wider array of trading options, while Vanguard UK Investor might appeal more to those focused exclusively on long-term investment vehicles like funds and ETFs.
| Feature |
IG
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | Yes | 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 the trading tools of IG and Vanguard UK Investor, IG offers a more enhanced experience for chart enthusiasts and active traders. IG allows users to display corporate events, such as earnings and dividends, directly on charts, a feature Vanguard UK Investor lacks. Moreover, IG provides 19 drawing tools for charting and a selection of 33 technical indicators, whereas Vanguard UK Investor offers none. For those who like annotating their charts, IG supports adding notes, a capability absent from Vanguard's toolset. Both platforms fall short in supplying options for adding index and stock overlays. However, they each support a browser-based trading platform.
For instant updates and market monitoring, IG leads again with the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, which Vanguard UK Investor does not offer. Additionally, IG stays ahead in providing real-time market data to its users, a service not available with Vanguard UK Investor. Although both platforms cater to online investors, IG’s range of charting tools and real-time features makes it more appealing for those seeking comprehensive trading functionalities.
| Feature |
IG
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
IG and Vanguard UK Investor both provide competitive options for those planning their retirement savings through online broker platforms. IG offers Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), catering to investors seeking tax-efficient savings and retirement options. Similarly, Vanguard UK Investor gives you the choice of ISAs and SIPPs, known for their low-cost investment solutions and a focus on helping investors build substantial retirement funds. Whether you choose IG's versatile platform or Vanguard's cost-effective strategies, both offer robust tools for managing ISAs and SIPPs, making them excellent options for planning your financial future.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of online brokers IG and Vanguard UK Investor, both provide apps for iPhone and Android users, making them accessible across the most popular mobile platforms. However, IG's mobile app receives a higher accolade with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking sixth out of 18 brokers, reflecting its advanced functionality and user satisfaction. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor's mobile app holds a 3.5-star rating, placing it at a modest seventeenth position, indicating room for improvement in user experience and features.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing IG and Vanguard UK Investor for beginners' educational resources, IG stands out with its comprehensive offerings. IG provides live educational webinars and archives them for on-demand viewing, covering crucial topics like share trading and retirement planning. Vanguard UK Investor, although offering archived webinars, focuses more on fund education without live sessions. Both platforms provide resources on retirement, but IG's extensive educational tools have earned it a 5-star rating and a #7 rank from UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, compared to Vanguard's 3.5-star rating and #14 rank. For novice investors eager to learn, IG offers a more robust educational experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When it comes to market research features, both IG and Vanguard UK Investor offer research reports for funds, providing valuable insights for investors. However, Vanguard UK Investor distinguishes itself by allowing users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature IG lacks. For shares research, IG provides comprehensive resources, while Vanguard UK Investor does not offer this option. In terms of ETFs research, both platforms deliver solid support. IG does not cover funds research, but Vanguard UK Investor excels in this area. Conversely, for CFDs research, IG takes the lead, whereas Vanguard UK Investor does not cater to this segment. Neither platform currently offers bonds research, leaving this aspect unaddressed. Overall, the choice between IG and Vanguard UK Investor for market research hinges on individual investment priorities and the specific types of research support needed.
| Feature |
IG
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, IG or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found IG to be a better trading platform overall.
IG is an investment platform aimed at experienced investors looking to make frequent trades on the stock market, with thousands of shares, trusts and ETFs to trade. It offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use trading platform that is used by both private and professional investors.
| Feature |
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Vanguard UK Investor
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Neither IG nor Vanguard UK Investor offers crypto trading, making them equal in terms of cryptocurrency investment options for UK investors.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | IG Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | IG | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £500 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0-£10 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3 | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £136 | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £96 | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £108 | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £360 | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 / £96 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 / £96 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 / £96 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 / £96 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 - £8 | 0.02% to 0.14% | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 - £8 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | 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 | IG | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | IG | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | IG | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | IG | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Education |
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| Review | IG Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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