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.
For UK investors exploring online brokers, both IG and Vanguard UK Investor offer distinct investment choices. IG caters to investors interested in share trading and contracts for difference (CFD) trading, while also supporting exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and investment trusts. However, IG does not provide options for crypto, spread betting, funds trading, or bonds. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor is focused more on ETF and funds trading but lacks share trading opportunities, investment trust trades, or CFDs. Neither platform offers crypto trading, spread betting, bond trading, or advisor services.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG is rated 4.5 stars for its range of investment choices, ranking 11th out of 18 brokers. Vanguard UK Investor, however, is rated 3.5 stars, positioning it lower at 18th in the same list. This suggests that IG provides more varied investment options compared to Vanguard UK Investor, especially for those seeking a broader trading experience in shares and CFDs.
| 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 trading tools between IG and Vanguard UK Investor, IG clearly provides a more comprehensive charting experience. IG allows users to see corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on their charts, a feature not available with Vanguard. Additionally, IG offers 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators for detailed analysis, while Vanguard provides none in these areas. With IG, traders can also add personal notes to charts, adding another layer of customization that Vanguard's platform lacks.
Both IG and Vanguard offer browser-based trading platforms, making online access straightforward. However, IG's platform extends its functionality by enabling users to create custom alerts for stock price changes and offers real-time market data, features not offered by Vanguard. Therefore, for UK investors seeking a trading platform with more versatile charting and alert capabilities, IG provides the edge in trading tools over Vanguard UK Investor.
| 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 |
When choosing between IG and Vanguard UK Investor for retirement accounts in the UK, both brokers offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP), making them attractive options for tax-efficient investing. IG is known for its comprehensive platform, while Vanguard UK Investor shines with its low-cost funds and straightforward approach. Whether prioritizing a feature-rich experience or affordable and easy-to-use investment options, UK investors have strong choices for their ISAs and SIPPs with both IG and Vanguard UK Investor.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking reliable mobile platforms, IG and Vanguard UK Investor stand out with apps available for both iPhone and Android users. IG's app shines with a top-notch five-star rating on UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it at an impressive second out of 18 brokers for mobile app performance. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor's app holds a more modest 3.5-star rating, landing it in the 19th position. Choosing between the two may depend on the importance you place on higher app ratings and rankings, especially when using mobile platforms for online trading.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners looking to dive into investing, IG and Vanguard UK Investor offer distinct educational resources. IG excels with live webinars and their archives, covering topics like share trading and retirement, and earning a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. Notably, IG is ranked as the top choice for beginner education among 18 brokers. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor provides on-demand webinars and focuses on education about funds and retirement, yet it does not cover share trading. This is reflected in its 3.5-star rating and a lower ranking of 17th. Both platforms offer valuable learning, but IG provides broader educational support that beginners may find particularly beneficial.
| 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 |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing market research features, IG and Vanguard UK Investor cater to different needs for UK investors. IG provides research reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and CFDs, making it a versatile choice for those interested in a wide range of assets, except bonds and funds. Vanguard UK Investor, on the other hand, delivers insights with research reports for funds, ETFs, and offers a detailed view of portfolio allocation by asset class, appealing to those who value comprehensive fund research and a clear understanding of asset distribution. While IG shines with its research offering for shares and CFDs, Vanguard UK Investor excels in its analysis of funds and clarity in portfolio breakdowns, making each platform unique in its strengths depending on an investor's focus.
| 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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| Review | IG Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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