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, XTB 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 - 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.
When comparing XTB and Vanguard UK Investor, UK investors looking for diverse account options and investment opportunities will find notable differences. XTB allows share trading and provides access to a range of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and Contracts for Difference (CFDs), catering to those who are keen on exploring multiple market opportunities. However, it does not offer the ability to invest in funds, nor does it provide crypto trading or spread betting options. Meanwhile, Vanguard UK Investor supports ETF and funds trading but lacks direct share trading capabilities and CFD trading opportunities. Both platforms do not engage in the trading of bonds, investment trusts, or offer advisor services.
Rated 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, XTB is ranked 13th out of 18 brokers, illustrating a broader variety of investment channels compared to Vanguard UK Investor, which holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 18th. Investors may choose between the two based on their specific trading priorities and interest in direct shares or funds, reflecting each platform’s unique strengths in the UK marketplace.
| 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools available with XTB and Vanguard UK Investor, XTB distinctly stands out for its advanced charting features. XTB provides users with the ability to display corporate events directly on charts, which is a function Vanguard UK Investor lacks. Additionally, XTB offers an impressive array of charting tools, including 20 drawing tools and 39 technical indicators, whereas Vanguard UK Investor offers none. Further enhancing chart interactions, XTB allows traders to add personal notes to their charts, a feature not available with Vanguard UK Investor.
Both brokers offer browser-based trading platforms, enabling easy access to trades. However, XTB also supports setting alerts for stock price updates and delivers real-time market data, providing crucial information and timely notifications that can significantly affect trading decisions. Vanguard UK Investor does not offer these options, which might limit timely decision-making. Lastly, neither XTB nor Vanguard UK Investor includes index or stock overlay features within their charting tools, making this aspect neutral in the 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 UK retirement accounts, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), providing a tax-efficient way to invest. However, if you're considering a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) for your retirement planning, Vanguard UK Investor has the edge, offering SIPP options, whereas XTB does not provide this account type. This simple distinction may be crucial for investors focusing on comprehensive retirement strategies.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile applications of XTB and Vanguard UK Investor, both platforms offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, catering to the convenience of UK investors on the go. However, a closer look at their ratings reveals a significant difference in app performance and user satisfaction. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, XTB’s app is highly rated at 4.5 stars and ranks impressively as the 6th best among 18 brokers, reflecting strong functionality and user approval. Conversely, Vanguard UK Investor's mobile app receives a lower rating of 3.5 stars, which places it at 19th out of 18 brokers, indicating noticeable room for improvements in its mobile user experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the beginner investor educational resources offered by XTB and Vanguard UK Investor, each platform offers distinct strengths. XTB is rated higher with 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it 9th out of 18 brokers for beginner education, thanks to its comprehensive focus on share trading education. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor, which is ranked 17th with a 3.5-star rating, excels in providing educational materials on funds and retirement, including archived webinars for on-demand learning. While XTB does not offer webinars or cover funds and retirement topics, Vanguard UK Investor lacks resources on share trading, leaving different gaps depending on what a beginner prioritizes in their learning journey.
| 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.
In comparing XTB and Vanguard UK Investor for market research features, each platform presents distinct advantages tailored to various investment strategies. XTB shines with extensive research tools for shares, ETFs, and CFDs, catering well to traders looking to explore these markets. Investors can also view asset allocation by class to monitor portfolio balance. However, XTB lacks research reports for funds and bonds. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor excels in offering research support for funds and ETFs, alongside clear visuals for portfolio allocation, which can benefit long-term investors aiming for diversified portfolios. Vanguard UK Investor, however, does not provide research tools for shares, CFDs, or bonds, making it less suitable for traders focusing on these specific markets. Overall, your choice between XTB and Vanguard UK Investor may depend on whether your focus lies with diversified fund investments or active trading strategies.
| 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 |
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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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| 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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