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.
Your capital is at risk.
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.
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.
Trading 212 and Vanguard UK Investor offer distinct investment choices catering to different investor needs. Trading 212 stands out by offering share trading, ETF trading, CFD trading, and investment trusts. However, it doesn't facilitate trading in funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, or providing advisory services. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor focuses on funds and ETF trading but does not offer services for trading shares, CFDs, or investment trusts. Both platforms refrain from offering crypto trading, spread betting, or corporate and government bonds trading.
When it comes to ratings from UK StockBrokers.com, Trading 212 receives a higher score of 4.5 stars for its investment choices, ranking 16th out of 21 brokers. Vanguard UK Investor, while providing a more limited selection, achieves a 3.5-star rating and ranks 18th in the same category. For UK investors evaluating both platforms based on available investment options, Trading 212 offers a broader array of choices, whereas Vanguard UK Investor remains more focused on mutual funds and ETFs.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Trading 212 vs Vanguard UK Investor: for UK investors comparing trading tools, Trading 212 offers a browser-based platform with price alerts and live market data. Vanguard UK Investor also runs in the browser but does not provide alerts and uses delayed data. Neither platform shows corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) on charts, and neither supports index or stock overlays.
For charting, Trading 212 lets you add notes to charts, whereas Vanguard does not. Vanguard offers 0 drawing tools and 0 technical indicators; Trading 212’s counts are not specified. In practice, Trading 212 suits those who want alerts, notes, and live prices for more active decisions, while Vanguard UK Investor is geared toward long-term investors who don’t need advanced charting features.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Vanguard UK Investor, UK users looking for retirement account options should consider their specific offerings. Trading 212 provides ISA accounts, appealing to those interested in tax-efficient savings. However, it does not offer SIPP accounts, which may be a limitation for those specifically seeking retirement savings plans. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor offers both ISA and SIPP accounts, making it a versatile choice for investors focused on building their retirement savings with a wider range of tax-advantaged accounts. Ultimately, the choice between these two brokers will depend on individual savings goals and the type of account flexibility sought.
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 UK beginner investor education, Trading 212 and Vanguard UK Investor differ: neither runs live client webinars, but only Vanguard provides archived, on-demand sessions. Trading 212 offers learning on share trading, while Vanguard covers funds and retirement (but not share trading). Independent ratings from UK.StockBrokers.com place Trading 212 higher (4.5/5, 13th of 21) than Vanguard UK Investor (3.5/5, 17th of 21). In short, choose Trading 212 if you want straightforward share dealing lessons; pick Vanguard if you need guidance on funds and retirement planning.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
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 Trading 212 and Vanguard UK Investor for market research features, Trading 212 stands out with its strong shares and ETFs research, making it a suitable choice for those focusing on these areas. However, it falls short by not offering research reports for funds, nor does it provide insights into bonds. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor succeeds in delivering comprehensive research for funds and ETFs, making it a go-to option for fund investors. Both platforms allow users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, ensuring investors can effectively manage their portfolios. Overall, the choice between Trading 212 and Vanguard UK Investor depends on whether your priority is shares or funds research capabilities.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | 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
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Vanguard UK Investor
|
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Both Trading 212 and Vanguard UK Investor do not offer crypto trading options, focusing on traditional investment opportunities instead.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| 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) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | £0 | Under £32,000: £48 / Over £32,000: 0.15% | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £0 | £375 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £375 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £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 | |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | ||
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | ||
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | 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 | Trading 212 | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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