Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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 XTB 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 - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Vanguard UK Investor would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - XTB 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.
XTB and Vanguard UK Investor provide distinct offerings for investors with varied interests. XTB is well-suited for those interested in share and ETF trading, comprehensive CFD products, and those seeking a broader scope of investment tools, having earned a rating of 4.5 stars for its investment choices. While XTB does not cater to fund or bond trading and lacks advisory services, its focus on diverse trading options positions it in a competitive 14th place out of 18 brokers in investment choice rankings by UK.StockBrokers.com, making it a strong contender for market enthusiasts.
In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor appeals more to traditional investors by providing access to ETF and fund trading, although it only garners a 3.5-star rating for its investment offerings. Unlike XTB, Vanguard UK Investor lacks options for share, crypto, and CFD trading, reflecting a more conservative approach with a ranking of 16th out of 18 brokers. Despite both brokers missing out on spread betting, bonds, and advisory services, they cater to different types of investors depending on specific trading preferences and investment strategies.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | No | No |
| Spread Betting | Yes | 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 comparing the trading tools offered by XTB and Vanguard UK Investor, it's evident that XTB stands out with a more advanced charting experience. XTB users can display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on their charts, a feature not available on Vanguard UK Investor. Additionally, XTB provides 20 drawing tools and 39 technical indicators, allowing for a detailed technical analysis, whereas Vanguard UK Investor offers none in these areas. XTB also allows traders to add personal notes to charts and set alerts for stock price updates, both features missing from Vanguard UK Investor's offerings.
Both XTB and Vanguard UK Investor offer browser-based trading platforms, ensuring easy accessibility without software installation. However, XTB takes the lead with real-time market data, a crucial advantage for traders looking to react quickly to market changes. Overall, XTB's comprehensive suite of tools provides a more robust platform for traders who rely on detailed charting and timely data, while Vanguard UK Investor offers a more basic experience in comparison.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online brokers XTB and Vanguard UK Investor for retirement accounts, it's important to consider their offerings. XTB provides ISA accounts, allowing users to benefit from tax-free investments. However, it does not offer SIPP accounts, which are typically geared towards retirement savings. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor offers both ISA and SIPP accounts, catering to those looking for flexible investment options as well as specific retirement savings solutions. Choosing between the two depends on whether you prioritize having both ISA and SIPP options, which Vanguard provides, or if an ISA account alone fulfills your needs, in which case XTB could suffice.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both XTB and Vanguard UK Investor offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android, making investing on the go convenient for their users. XTB's mobile app is rated 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, reflecting a high level of user satisfaction and ranking it 10th out of 18 brokers for its mobile app performance. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor's app has a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars, placing it 17th in the same ranking. This suggests that while both brokers provide robust mobile options, XTB users may enjoy a smoother or more feature-rich experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources between XTB and Vanguard UK Investor, each offers distinct features catering to different investment focuses. XTB excels with a comprehensive share trading education but lacks resources on funds and retirement topics, whereas Vanguard UK Investor provides rich educational material on funds and retirement but not on share trading. Although neither XTB nor Vanguard hosts live educational webinars, Vanguard archives these events for on-demand access, giving it an edge for those seeking flexible learning. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, XTB garners a higher rating of 4.5 stars for beginner education, ranking 8th out of 18 brokers, while Vanguard UK Investor holds a 3.5-star rating and sits at the 14th position, reflecting XTB’s broader appeal to novice investors.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB and Vanguard UK Investor, there are notable differences and similarities. XTB provides comprehensive research for shares, ETFs, and CFDs, allowing investors to delve into these markets with ease. However, it lacks in offering research reports for funds and bonds. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor excels in providing detailed research for funds and ETFs, but does not support shares, CFDs, or bonds research. Both platforms allow users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, making it easier for investors to manage their investments effectively. Ultimately, each platform brings unique strengths, with XTB focusing on shares and CFDs, while Vanguard UK Investor emphasizes funds and ETF research.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - CFDs | 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, XTB or Vanguard UK Investor? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found XTB to be a better trading platform overall.
XTB has set itself up as a strong competitor in commission-free share trading. Its low fees and solid educational content will make XTB particularly attractive to newer investors. It does not, however, offer an ISA or SIPP.
| Feature |
XTB
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Vanguard UK Investor
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|---|---|---|
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Both XTB and Vanguard UK Investor do not offer cryptocurrency trading options to their clients, focusing instead on a range of other investment products and services.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | Vanguard UK Investor | |
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| Review | XTB Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | XTB | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | No | No | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | XTB | 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 | XTB | 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 | XTB | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | XTB | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | 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 | XTB | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | XTB Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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