Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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, Trading 212 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 - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £1 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 Trading 212 and Vanguard UK Investor, UK investors will find distinct differences in their investment offerings. Trading 212 supports share trading, ETF, and CFD trading along with investment trusts, providing diverse options for traders looking to explore a variety of markets. However, it does not offer trading in crypto, spread betting, government bonds, corporate bonds, or funds trading. Meanwhile, Vanguard UK Investor focuses more on fund trading and ETFs, lacking in share trading and investment trusts.
In terms of market evaluations, Trading 212 receives a commendable rating of 4.5 stars for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com and ranks 16th among 21 brokers. In comparison, Vanguard UK Investor has a rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 18th. These rankings shine light on Trading 212's broader investment selection, making it a suitable choice for those interested in a wider array of trading options in the UK financial landscape.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing Trading 212 to Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms offer a browser-based trading experience, but the similarities largely end there. Trading 212 stands out with its ability to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts. It also provides an extensive range of 27 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators, allowing you to thoroughly analyse market trends. Additionally, Trading 212 users can add notes to charts and set alerts for stock price updates, along with accessing real-time market data.
In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor appears more limited in its offering of trading tools. It does not provide the ability to display corporate events on charts, nor does it offer any drawing tools or technical indicators for chart analysis. Further limitations include the absence of options to add notes or receive alerts for stock price updates, and it lacks real-time market data. While it provides a functional trading platform, it may not cater to those seeking advanced charting features commonly used by active traders in the UK.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
When comparing online brokers for UK retirement account options, Trading 212 and Vanguard UK Investor provide different offerings. Both platforms feature Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing tax-efficient investments. However, when it comes to Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), only Vanguard UK Investor provides this retirement account option. Consequently, those seeking both ISAs and SIPPs might find Vanguard UK Investor more suitable, whereas Trading 212 could still appeal with its ISA offerings for those focusing solely on tax-efficient savings without the need for a pension plan.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Vanguard UK Investor for mobile app offerings in the UK, both provide apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. However, Trading 212 stands out with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and secures the #3 spot among 21 brokers for mobile app excellence. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor's app receives a 3.5-star rating, placing it at #19 in the same ranking. This suggests that Trading 212's app is likely to deliver a more user-friendly and efficient trading experience for mobile users.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources, Trading 212 and Vanguard UK Investor offer distinct advantages. Trading 212 excels with a 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 13th out of 21 brokers. It provides helpful resources for share trading and funds, though it lacks educational webinars and retirement-focused content. Conversely, Vanguard UK Investor, ranked 17th with a 3.5-star rating, offers archived educational webinars accessible on demand, covering topics like funds and retirement planning. However, it provides less focus on share trading education. Overall, Trading 212 may appeal more to those starting with share trading, while Vanguard UK suits those interested in broader financial planning education, particularly retirement.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Trading 212 and Vanguard UK Investor, UK investors will find that each platform offers varying strengths. Trading 212 provides comprehensive research for shares, ETFs, and CFDs, but does not offer research reports for funds, bonds, or portfolio allocation. Conversely, Vanguard UK Investor excels in offering research reports for funds, allowing users to delve into detailed insights. Both platforms give investors the ability to see portfolio allocation by asset class and offer research for ETFs. However, Vanguard lags in the availability of shares and CFDs research while excelling in fund insights, making them suitable for long-term investors interested in diversified portfolios.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Trading 212 or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Trading 212 to be a better trading platform overall.
Trading 212 offers commission-free share dealing and is a great option for those looking to simply execute share or ETF trades. Novice investors or those looking for more diversification through mutual funds may find better options elsewhere.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
In the realm of online investing, Trading 212 provides a platform that includes cryptocurrency trading, unlike Vanguard UK Investor, which does not offer crypto trading options.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | ||
| CFD Trading | Yes | ||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | ||
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| Trading Fees | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £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) | £0 | £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 | 0 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Platforms & Tools | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | |||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | ||
| Research - CFDs | Yes | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
Trading 212 Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
XTB Review
IG Group Review
eToro Review
Saxo Review
CMC Invest Review
Freetrade Review
Halifax Review
Vanguard Review