Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Investor 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 Interactive 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 Investor would cost £79.83 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £107.76 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £203.52 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £538.68 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - Interactive Investor 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 Investor and Vanguard UK Investor are popular choices for UK investors, yet they cater to different needs through their investment offerings. Interactive Investor stands out with its robust offering of share trading, providing more options for those keen on stocks, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. On the other hand, Vanguard UK focuses primarily on funds and ETFs, which suits investors who are more inclined towards simpler, long-term investment strategies. However, neither platform offers crypto trading, spread betting, nor CFD trading, and both lack advisor services.
When evaluating the breadth of investment choices, Interactive Investor shines with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 5th out of 18 brokers. Meanwhile, Vanguard UK earns a commendable 3.5 stars, falling to the 16th place. This distinction highlights Interactive Investor's comprehensive investment scope, suitable for diverse portfolios, while Vanguard UK attracts investors dedicated to funds and ETFs but with fewer options for other asset types.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
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 | 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 Interactive Investor and Vanguard UK Investor, Interactive Investor stands out with extensive features that cater to active traders. Interactive Investor allows users to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on their charts, a feature not available with Vanguard UK Investor. Additionally, Interactive Investor provides 18 drawing tools and 104 technical indicators, offering traders a robust set for conducting technical analysis. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor does not offer any drawing tools or technical indicators, limiting its charting capabilities.
Interactive Investor also shines with the ability to add notes, index overlays, and stock overlays to charts, providing users with greater flexibility in customizing their trading experience. Furthermore, while both platforms offer a browser-based trading platform, Interactive Investor excels with features like stock price alerts and real-time market data, which can't be found with Vanguard UK Investor. These differences highlight Interactive Investor's focus on a more feature-rich trading environment compared to the basic offering from Vanguard UK Investor.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing Interactive Investor to Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms offer essential retirement accounts like the ISA and SIPP, making them ideal for individuals looking to save for the future. Interactive Investor provides a range of investment options with the convenience of an ISA for tax-free savings and a SIPP for pension planning, catering to diverse financial goals. Similarly, Vanguard UK Investor offers its own ISA and SIPP accounts, promoting low-cost investment solutions that appeal to cost-conscious investors aiming for long-term wealth growth. Both serve as solid choices for those seeking to bolster their retirement savings with tax-efficient account options.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When considering the mobile app offerings of Interactive Investor and Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms provide accessibility through iPhone and Android apps, catering to diverse user needs. However, they differ significantly in user experience and satisfaction according to UK.StockBrokers.com. Interactive Investor's mobile app stands out with a favorable 4.5-star rating, placing it at the 12th position among 18 brokers, while Vanguard UK Investor's app receives a more modest 3.5-star rating, ranking at 17th. These ratings reflect the general user reception, suggesting that those prioritizing a polished mobile experience may find Interactive Investor more appealing.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the beginner investor educational resources of Interactive Investor and Vanguard UK Investor, Interactive Investor stands out as the superior choice. Interactive Investor offers live educational webinars, which are also available on-demand, covering topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor provides on-demand webinars and focuses on education regarding funds and retirement, but lacks resources on share trading. According to ratings by UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Investor is rated 5 stars and is ranked #1 among 18 brokers for beginner education, whereas Vanguard UK Investor receives a 3.5-star rating and ranks #14. Overall, Interactive Investor provides more comprehensive and accessible educational resources for novice investors.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | 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 Interactive Investor and Vanguard UK Investor's market research features, both platforms provide research reports for funds and allow users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class. However, Interactive Investor offers a broader array of research options, including shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, while Vanguard UK Investor lacks shares and bonds research. Neither platform supplies research on CFDs. This distinction makes Interactive Investor a more comprehensive choice for investors seeking diversified research capabilities.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
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, Interactive Investor or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Investor to be a better trading platform overall.
The standout feature at Interactive Investor (ii) is its low flat-rate fees. Other investment platforms typically favour percentage fees for fund investing, although more brokers are now opting for flat fees. Our view is that Interactive Investor is a great platform for any investor, offering a wide range of investments for cheap prices on the whole.
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Vanguard UK Investor
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Both Interactive Investor and Vanguard UK Investor do not offer crypto trading options to their customers.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Investor | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Investor | 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 | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Investor | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £500 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.99 | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.83 | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £107.76 | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £203.52 | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £538.68 | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £71.85 | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £59.88 - £143.88 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £143.88 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £143.88 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £143.88 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £3.99 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £3.99 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3.99 | 0.02% to 0.14% | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £3.99 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £49 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Investor | 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 | Interactive Investor | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Interactive Investor | 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 | Interactive Investor | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Interactive Investor | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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