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.
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, IG 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 - IG would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £0 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.
In the world of online trading, IG stands out as a versatile option for UK investors with its diverse range of investment choices. IG provides access to share trading, ETF trading, CFD trading, and investment trusts, making it a compelling choice for those looking to explore varied financial instruments. With a high rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com and an impressive ranking of 11th out of 21 brokers for investment choices, IG offers a comprehensive trading platform for both seasoned investors and beginners. However, it's important to note that IG does not offer funds trading, crypto trading, or bond trading, including both corporate and government bonds (gilts).
Vanguard UK Investor, on the other hand, specializes in offering funds trading and ETF trading, providing a narrower focus compared to IG. With a 3.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and an 18th place ranking for investment choices, Vanguard UK Investor may appeal more to those interested in funds and ETFs rather than individual shares or CFDs. Both platforms do not offer services like crypto trading, bond trading, or advisor services, ensuring that while they cater to different investor needs, some investment types, such as spread betting, remain unavailable through either broker.
| 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
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.
When considering mobile trading apps, both IG and Vanguard UK Investor offer applications compatible with iPhone and Android devices. However, UK.StockBrokers.com rates IG’s mobile app higher with a perfect 5-star rating and an impressive #2 ranking out of 21 brokers, highlighting its reliability and user-friendly design. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor’s app receives a 3.5-star rating and ranks #19, offering a decent but less distinguished mobile experience for investors in the UK. Users prioritizing top-notch mobile trading would likely find IG's app more appealing compared to Vanguard UK Investor's offering.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to beginner investor educational resources, IG stands out compared to Vanguard UK Investor. IG offers live and on-demand webinars, including guidance on share trading and retirement, ranking as the top choice out of 21 brokers and earning a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor provides webinars on-demand and covers retirement and funds education, but does not offer content on share trading. It ranks 17th with a 3.5-star rating. Ultimately, IG offers a more comprehensive range of resources for new investors seeking versatile learning options.
| 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 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 |
IG
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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 | |||
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | IG | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £500 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | 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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