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, Robinhood UK 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 - 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, potential investors will find that the platforms vary in their available investment options. Robinhood UK, known for its approachable platform, offers share trading, allowing investors to buy and sell individual stocks easily. However, it lacks offerings in crypto trading, spread betting, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), contracts for difference (CFD) trading, funds trading, bonds, investment trusts, and advisor services. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor provides trading of ETFs and funds, making it a preferable choice for those interested in diversified portfolios through these instruments. While it does not support individual share trading, crypto, CFDs, or spread betting, it caters to a more traditional investment approach.
In terms of ratings, UK.StockBrokers.com gives Robinhood UK a score of 3 out of 5 stars for its investment choices, though it ranks 20th out of 21 brokers surveyed. Vanguard UK Investor fairs somewhat better with a slightly higher score of 3.5 stars and ranks 18th in the same broker list. This information might sway investors who prioritize investment variety and rankings as part of their selection criteria when choosing between the two brokers for their trading needs.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | ||
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the online trading tools of Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor, distinct differences emerge in their offerings. Robinhood UK provides a slightly more advanced set of features, including three technical indicators for charting and the ability to create stock price alerts. They also offer real-time market data, which is a valuable asset for those who need up-to-the-minute information. Both Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor offer browser-based trading platforms, ensuring accessibility for users who prefer to trade on their web browsers.
In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor appears more limited in its charting tools and real-time data offerings. Neither platform supports drawing tools or the ability to display corporate events on charts, and both lack the option to add notes or overlays to charts. For UK users who prioritize straightforward trading tools and immediate market updates, Robinhood UK might be the preferable option, while Vanguard UK Investor stands as a more basic choice for those who require minimal frills in their trading experience.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 3 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
When comparing Robinhood UK to Vanguard UK Investor in terms of available retirement accounts, there are notable differences of interest to UK investors. While Vanguard UK Investor offers Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), catering to both tax-efficient savings and retirement planning, Robinhood UK does not currently provide these options. This makes Vanguard UK Investor a more suitable choice for those looking to invest in ISAs or SIPPs, ensuring that your financial future can be managed with the tax advantages these accounts offer.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor offer convenient mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, catering to investors on the go. When it comes to app ratings, Robinhood UK outshines with a 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, compared to Vanguard UK Investor's 3.5 stars. This difference is reflected in their respective rankings, with Robinhood UK positioned at #13 out of 21 brokers for mobile app performance, while Vanguard UK Investor trails at #19. These insights can help UK investors decide which broker better suits their mobile trading needs.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors in the UK, Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor offer unique benefits that cater to different needs. Although Robinhood UK does not provide webinars, its educational content focuses on share trading, which suits those interested in stock market basics. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor excels by offering on-demand archived webinars and educational materials on funds and retirement, making it a more comprehensive choice for broader investment knowledge. Despite both platforms receiving an identical rating of 3.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, Vanguard UK Investor edges ahead in ranking, placed at #17 out of 21 brokers, compared to Robinhood UK's #20, underscoring a slightly more favourable assessment for beginner education.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
For UK investors seeking market research features in online broker platforms, Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor each offer distinct advantages. Vanguard UK Investor provides in-depth research reports for funds, but Robinhood UK does not. When it comes to viewing portfolio allocation by asset class, Vanguard UK Investor offers this feature, while Robinhood UK does not. For shares and ETFs research, Robinhood UK excels, offering comprehensive tools to explore these areas, although Vanguard UK Investor also provides ETFs research. However, Vanguard UK Investor has a broader scope with funds research available, a category Robinhood UK does not cover. Neither platform offers research for CFDs or bonds, making them less ideal for traders interested in these financial instruments. Choosing between these two platforms depends on which research features align best with your investment needs.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | 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
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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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When comparing Robinhood UK and Vanguard UK Investor, it's important to note that Robinhood UK offers crypto trading while Vanguard UK Investor does not.
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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 | Yes | ||
| SIPP | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | ||
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | |||
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| 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 | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 3 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | |||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | Robinhood UK | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | ||
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
| Education | Robinhood UK | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Robinhood UK | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Education |
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| Review | Robinhood UK Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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