Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers 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, Interactive Brokers 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 - Interactive Brokers would cost £15 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £36 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £108 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £360 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers stands out for UK investors looking for a diverse range of investment options. The platform supports trading in shares, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, CFDs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. It's no surprise that it has been rated 5 stars for investment choices by UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the impressive position of #2 out of 21 brokers. This comprehensive suite of options makes Interactive Brokers a versatile choice for those wanting to explore various investment avenues.
On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor offers a more limited selection but still covers essential bases with trading in ETFs and funds. While it doesn't provide direct share or crypto trading, nor options like spread betting or investment in bonds, it suits individuals focused on straightforward, long-term investment strategies. Vanguard UK Investor has received a 3.5-star rating and ranks #18 for investment choices, reflecting its more tailored approach to meeting investor needs in the UK.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Interactive Brokers stands out in the realm of trading tools with its ability to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature not available with Vanguard UK Investor. While Interactive Brokers provides an extensive suite of 80 drawing tools and 96 technical indicators for charting, Vanguard UK Investor does not offer any, making Interactive Brokers particularly appealing for those who value detailed charting capabilities in their trading endeavors.
Additionally, Interactive Brokers allows users to add notes, index overlays, and stock overlays to their charts, enhancing the analytical experience. Both brokers offer a browser-based trading platform, but Interactive Brokers adds further value by enabling users to create alerts for stock price updates, a feature that seems absent with Vanguard UK Investor. These functionalities make Interactive Brokers a more comprehensive choice for those who seek a wide array of trading tools.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 96 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 80 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
When comparing online brokers Interactive Brokers and Vanguard UK Investor for UK retirement accounts, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), catering well to needs for tax-efficient savings and retirement planning. Interactive Brokers is known for its wide range of investment choices and competitive pricing, making it suitable for active investors seeking broad market access. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor emphasizes low-cost funds, simplicity, and long-term investment horizons, appealing to those who favor a straightforward approach with a focus on index and mutual funds. Both brokers ensure comprehensive options for retirement planning through their offerings of ISAs and SIPPs, catering to diverse investor preferences and strategies.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors comparing mobile trading apps, both Interactive Brokers and Vanguard UK Investor offer iOS and Android apps, but their performance and user ratings differ significantly. Interactive Brokers shines with a stellar 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 4th out of 21 brokers for its mobile app experience, highlighting its efficiency and user-friendliness. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor lags behind with a 3.5-star rating and a 19th place ranking, indicating room for improvement in its mobile app offerings. This makes Interactive Brokers a preferred choice for those prioritizing top-tier mobile trading tools.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK investors just starting out, Interactive Brokers and Vanguard UK Investor offer differing educational resources. Interactive Brokers provides live webinars and an extensive archive for on-demand viewing, covering topics like share trading, funds, and retirement. In contrast, while Vanguard UK also archives its webinars and covers funds and retirement, it lacks content specifically on share trading. Reviews from UK.StockBrokers.com reflect these differences, with Interactive Brokers earning 4.5 stars and ranking 8th out of 21 for beginner education, whereas Vanguard UK Investor receives 3.5 stars and ranks 17th, indicating a more limited educational offering for novice investors.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Interactive Brokers and Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms provide valuable research reports for funds and allow users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class. Interactive Brokers distinguishes itself by offering a wider array of research options, including shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds. In contrast, while Vanguard UK Investor offers research on ETFs and funds, it does not provide research on shares, CFDs, or bonds, potentially making it less comprehensive for investors seeking in-depth market insights across all possible asset types.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Interactive Brokers or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Brokers to be a better trading platform overall.
Interactive Brokers is a sophisticated trading platform aimed at confident and institutional-grade investors. For newer investors, Interactive Brokers is more intimidating, though it's worth exploring the platform to see if you could save money or access more investments compared to other brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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Vanguard UK Investor
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Interactive Brokers offers crypto trading, setting it apart from Vanguard UK Investor, which does not provide this service.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | ||
| CFD Trading | Yes | ||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | ||
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | Yes | ||
| Advisor Services |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Brokers | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £500 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3 | 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) | £15 | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £36 | 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) | £0 / £14.85 | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3 | 0.02% to 0.14% | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Platforms & Tools | Interactive Brokers | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 96 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 80 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | ||
| Research - CFDs | Yes | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Interactive Brokers | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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