Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo 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 Saxo 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 - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - Saxo 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 Saxo and Vanguard UK Investor for online trading in the UK, their investment options differ notably. Saxo shines with a wide array of choices including share trading, ETFs, CFD trading, funds trading, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor offers a narrower selection, focusing on ETFs and funds trading. Neither platform provides crypto trading or spread betting, nor do they list advisor services. For UK investors seeking varied trading opportunities, Saxo's offerings stand out significantly.
In terms of ratings, Saxo is lauded for its extensive investment choices, earning a commendable 5 out of 5 stars and securing the top rank among 21 brokers according to UK.StockBrokers.com. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor receives a moderate rating of 3.5 stars, placing it at the 18th position. If diverse investment options are a priority, Saxo emerges as a strong candidate in the UK market.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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 | ||
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When it comes to online trading tools, Saxo provides a more comprehensive suite compared to Vanguard UK Investor. Saxo enhances the trading experience with features such as the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts. It also excels in charting capabilities with 20 drawing tools and 64 technical indicators, plus it allows traders to add notes, index overlays, and stock overlays to charts. Additionally, Saxo offers a browser-based trading platform, the capacity to create alerts for stock price updates, and access to real-time market data.
In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor appears limited in these areas, not offering display options for corporate events on charts, nor any drawing tools or technical indicators. The lack of options to add notes, index overlays, or stock overlays to charts can be a drawback for traders seeking detailed analyses. Despite having a browser-based trading platform, Vanguard UK Investor does not match Saxo in providing real-time market updates or customizable alerts for stock price changes, making Saxo a potentially more attractive choice for those looking for an extensive range of trading tools.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
When comparing Saxo and Vanguard UK Investor, both online brokers provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making them viable choices for UK investors planning for retirement. These accounts offer tax-efficient ways to manage your investments, whether you're looking to save for the future with an ISA or set up a pension through a SIPP. Saxo and Vanguard UK Investor ensure a comprehensive selection of retirement account options suitable for various financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing mobile app offerings of Saxo and Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms provide apps for iPhone and Android devices, catering to a wide range of users. However, Saxo's app receives a five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, leading the pack with its top-ranked position out of 21 UK brokers. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor's mobile app earns a 3.5-star rating and stands at the 19th spot, indicating room for improvement. This makes Saxo a preferred choice for those seeking a superior mobile trading experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investment education resources between Saxo and Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms offer archived educational webinars accessible on demand. While Vanguard UK Investor provides specific education on investing in funds and planning for retirement, Saxo does not specify coverage of these topics. However, Saxo shines with its higher beginner education rating of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, compared to 3.5 stars for Vanguard UK Investor. This superior rating is further reflected in Saxo's impressive ranking as the third-best out of 21 brokers for beginner education, whereas Vanguard UK Investor is ranked seventeenth. For UK readers seeking comprehensive and top-rated educational resources for novice investors, Saxo emerges as a more appealing choice.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | 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 Saxo and Vanguard UK Investor for UK users, both platforms provide research reports for funds and insights into portfolio allocation by asset class. Saxo stands out with a broader range of research capabilities, including shares, ETFs, funds, CFDs, and bonds, making it a versatile choice for those seeking extensive market insights. Vanguard UK Investor offers solid research support for funds and ETFs, but lacks dedicated resources for shares, CFDs, and bonds, which may influence investors focused on those areas. Depending on your investment needs and the type of research you prioritize, Saxo might offer a more comprehensive research experience, while Vanguard UK Investor remains a reliable option for fund and ETF analysis.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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, Saxo or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Saxo to be a better trading platform overall.
Saxo’ trading platform is highly sophisticated and offers a huge range of international shares and funds. The biggest downside is the cost, as its charges are higher than its U.K. competitors. It's best suited for experienced investors rather than beginners.
| Feature |
Saxo
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Vanguard UK Investor
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When comparing online broker Saxo to Vanguard UK Investor, it's important to note that Saxo offers crypto trading, whereas Vanguard UK Investor does not provide this option, highlighting a distinct divergence in investment offerings between the two platforms.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Saxo | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Saxo Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Saxo | 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 | |||
| Advisor Services |
| Trading Fees | Saxo | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £500 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.4% + 0% commission: £120 | £108 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £800 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 to £1,000 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,998 | £375 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £1,000 | £375 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | €20 minimum | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | €20 minimum | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | From $1 | 0.02% to 0.14% | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | From $1 / £3 / €10 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| 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 | Saxo | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | 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 | Saxo | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | |||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Saxo | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Saxo Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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