Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Robinhood UK 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 Robinhood UK 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 - Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - Robinhood UK 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 comparing Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor, it's important to consider the variety of investment opportunities they offer. Robinhood UK facilitates share trading, making it a go-to option for those interested in stocks. However, it doesn't broaden its scope into other domains like crypto, ETFs, or funds trading. On the flip side, Vanguard UK Investor specializes in the trading of ETFs and funds, appealing to investors looking for these specific financial products. Yet, both platforms do not extend services to crypto trading, spread betting, or bonds trading, rounding out their specific offerings.
When it comes to ratings, UK.StockBrokers.com gives Robinhood UK a rating of 3 stars for its investment choices, while Vanguard UK Investor slightly edges out with a 3.5-star rating. Despite this marginally higher score, Vanguard stands at #16 out of 18 brokers for investment choices, indicating room for improvement in its offerings. Both platforms remain user-friendly options, but their distinct offerings cater to different types of investors with varied goals and strategies.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | No | 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 it comes to trading tools, Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor take different approaches, catering to distinct user preferences. Neither platform allows users to display corporate events such as earnings or dividends on their charts. While both Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor lack drawing tools, Robinhood UK stands out by offering three technical indicators, whereas Vanguard UK Investor provides none. Furthermore, both platforms miss out on advanced charting capabilities like adding notes, index overlays, or stock overlays.
For those seeking comprehensive market access online, both Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor offer browser-based trading platforms. However, Robinhood UK takes the lead with features crucial for active traders, like the ability to receive stock price alerts and access to real-time market data—features which Vanguard UK Investor does not provide. This makes Robinhood UK potentially more attractive for traders looking for instant updates and charting insights within their trading activities.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 3 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online brokers for retirement accounts in the UK, Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor offer different options. Robinhood UK currently does not provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) or Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), which may limit investment options for those looking for retirement-focused savings. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor stands out by offering both ISAs and SIPPs, giving its users more flexibility to manage and grow their retirement savings. For UK investors focused on retirement planning, Vanguard UK Investor may be the better choice due to its broader range of account types.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor provide convenient mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, enhancing accessibility for investors on the go. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Robinhood UK's mobile app shines slightly brighter with a 4-star rating, offering a user-friendly platform that makes trading more straightforward for new and seasoned investors alike. In comparison, Vanguard UK Investor's app receives a 3.5-star rating, positioning it as a reliable choice but slightly trailing behind in terms of user experience. When it comes to mobile app rankings among 18 brokers, Vanguard UK Investor holds the 17th spot, while Robinhood UK's specific rank remains unpublished yet promising based on its ratings.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors researching Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor educational resources, there are noteworthy differences. While neither platform offers live educational webinars, Vanguard UK has archived webinars available for on-demand viewing, providing flexibility for users' schedules. Robinhood UK provides educational content specifically focused on share trading, making it a good starting point for those interested in stock investments. In contrast, Vanguard UK focuses on educational content about funds and retirement planning, which may appeal to those looking for broader investment options and long-term financial strategies. Both platforms are rated 3.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for their beginner education, though only Vanguard appears in the ranking, positioned at #14 out of 18 brokers. This suggests that while their educational offerings have pros and cons, they cater to different types of investment learning preferences.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor, both have distinct offerings. Robinhood UK provides research tools for individual shares and ETFs, but it lacks research reports for funds, CFDs, and bonds, and does not include insights into portfolio allocations by asset class. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor offers comprehensive research reports for funds and ETFs, along with detailed views of portfolio allocations across asset classes. However, Vanguard UK does not provide research on individual shares, CFDs, or bonds, focusing more on diversified investment insights. Each platform has unique strengths depending on your research and investment focus.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Robinhood UK or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Robinhood UK to be a better trading platform overall.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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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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Both Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor do not offer crypto trading, making them comparable options for investors seeking alternative assets outside of cryptocurrency investments.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Robinhood UK | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | Robinhood UK Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Robinhood UK | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | No | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | No | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Robinhood UK | 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 | 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 | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | 0.02% to 0.14% | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Robinhood UK | 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 | Robinhood UK | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 3 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Robinhood UK | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | Robinhood UK | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Robinhood UK | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Education |
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| Review | Robinhood UK Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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