Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Lloyds Bank 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, Lloyds Bank 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 - Lloyds Bank would cost £95 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - Lloyds Bank would cost £40 - £172 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - Lloyds Bank would cost £40 - £328 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - Lloyds Bank would cost £40 / £1,000 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - Lloyds Bank 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.
When considering investment options in the UK, both Lloyds Bank and Vanguard UK Investor offer a range of choices, but there are some significant differences to note. Lloyds Bank stands out with options like share trading, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), funds trading, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. They also provide advisor services to guide investors. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor offers trading in ETFs and funds, but lacks the variety of individual securities such as corporate or government bonds and does not provide advisor services.
Based on ratings from UK.StockBrokers.com, Lloyds Bank shines with a 5-star rating for investment choices, positioned at #8 among 21 brokers. Vanguard UK Investor, with a 3.5-star rating, is ranked at #18, indicating fewer investment options compared to Lloyds. For investors seeking a broader range of investment vehicles, Lloyds Bank might be the more suitable choice, while Vanguard remains a strong option for purely ETF and fund-focused portfolios.
| Feature |
Lloyds Bank
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | Yes | |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When it comes to trading tools, both Lloyds Bank and Vanguard UK Investor present a basic approach to charting features. Neither platform allows traders to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, or dividends directly on charts. Moreover, both lack drawing tools and technical indicators, which might limit the analytical depth for users looking to scrutinize chart movements. Additionally, neither service provides options for adding notes, index overlays, or stock overlays to enhance chart visualisations, potentially leaving users seeking more advanced trading capabilities wanting more.
However, there are some conveniences offered by both platforms. Lloyds Bank and Vanguard UK Investor provide browser-based trading platforms, ensuring that users can access their portfolios and make trades directly from their web browsers without the need for additional software. While Lloyds Bank extends an extra feature with the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, Vanguard's platform does not explicitly confirm this capability. Users looking for real-time market data will find that neither provider offers this feature, which might be a consideration for traders prioritizing the most up-to-date market information.
| Feature |
Lloyds Bank
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
When comparing online brokerage options for retirement accounts in the UK, both Lloyds Bank and Vanguard UK Investor offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). Lloyds Bank provides users with a straightforward way to manage their investments through these popular retirement accounts, appealing to those who may already bank with Lloyds. Vanguard UK Investor, renowned for its cost-effective index funds, also presents a compelling choice for individuals looking to grow their retirement savings through ISAs and SIPPs. Whether you seek the convenience of centralizing your banking and investment services or favor low-cost fund options, both Lloyds Bank and Vanguard UK Investor cater to diverse investment preferences in the retirement planning landscape.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking mobile trading convenience, both Lloyds Bank and Vanguard UK Investor provide iPhone and Android apps, making them easily accessible for users of both platforms. When it comes to app performance, both are rated at 3.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, reflecting a satisfactory user experience. In terms of ranking among 21 brokers, Lloyds Bank edges out with a rank of #17, suggesting a slightly better placement than Vanguard UK Investor, which is ranked #19. This comparison indicates both brokers offer reliable apps for trading, though neither tops the chart.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginners exploring investment education, Lloyds Bank and Vanguard UK Investor offer different resources to help newcomers get started. While Lloyds Bank does not provide educational webinars or on-demand sessions, Vanguard UK Investor offers webinars that can be viewed at any time. Vanguard also covers topics such as funds and retirement, which are not addressed by Lloyds Bank in their educational offerings. However, when evaluated by UK.StockBrokers.com, Lloyds Bank slightly outshines Vanguard with a 4-star rating compared to Vanguard's 3.5 stars for beginner education. Lloyds Bank is ranked 14th out of 21 brokers for beginner education, surpassing Vanguard's 17th place ranking. Ultimately, the choice between these two may depend on whether you prefer access to on-demand webinars and specific topic coverage or a relatively higher-rated overall beginner education experience.
| Feature |
Lloyds Bank
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers Lloyds Bank and Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms provide research reports for funds, assisting investors in making informed decisions. While Vanguard UK Investor enables users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, this feature is not mentioned for Lloyds Bank. In terms of shares research, Lloyds Bank offers this service, whereas Vanguard UK Investor does not. Both brokers support ETFs and funds research, but when it comes to bonds, Lloyds Bank stands out by offering research, which Vanguard UK Investor lacks. Neither platform offers research on CFDs, which might be something to consider for more diverse market interests. Overall, Lloyds Bank provides a slightly broader range of research options, particularly in shares and bonds, compared to Vanguard UK Investor.
| Feature |
Lloyds Bank
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Lloyds Bank or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Lloyds Bank to be a better trading platform overall.
It's easy for current Lloyds Bank customers to open a Lloyds Bank Share Dealing investment account. But there are other platforms that are easier, more comprehensive and cheaper to use, including Halifax, which is also owned by Lloyds Banking Group.
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Vanguard UK Investor
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Unlike Vanguard UK Investor, which does not provide the option to trade cryptocurrencies, Lloyds Bank also does not offer crypto trading, making both platforms similar in their exclusion of this asset class from their investment services.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Lloyds Bank | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Lloyds Bank Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Lloyds Bank | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | ||
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | ||
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Lloyds Bank | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £500 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £8 - £11 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £8 | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £95 | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £40 - £172 | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £40 - £328 | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £40 / £1,000 | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £44.50 | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £40 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £40 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £40 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £40 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £8 - £11 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £8 - £11 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £8 - £11 | 0.02% to 0.14% | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £8 - £11 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £35 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Lloyds Bank | 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 | Lloyds Bank | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | |||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | Lloyds Bank | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | ||
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
| Education | Lloyds Bank | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | |||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Lloyds Bank | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Lloyds Bank Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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