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.
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, 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 the investment choices offered by XTB and Vanguard UK Investor, it's clear that each platform caters to different investor needs in the UK. XTB stands out with its diverse trading options, including share and ETF trading, as well as the availability of CFD trading. This variety has earned XTB a commendable rating of 4.5 stars for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it 13th among 21 brokers. However, XTB does not provide funds trading, which may be a limitation for some investors.
On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor focuses more on straightforward investing, offering share and ETF trading, along with funds trading, making it a practical option for those interested in these areas. However, it lacks in areas such as CFD trading, which some investors might find limiting. Vanguard UK Investor received a 3.5-star rating for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking it 18th out of 21 brokers. Deciding between the platforms really depends on what trading opportunities and features you prioritize as an investor.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | ||
| Spread Betting | Yes | |
| 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 comparing the trading tools of XTB and Vanguard UK Investor, XTB stands out with a wealth of features that cater to both novice and seasoned investors. XTB allows users to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, enhancing the depth of market analysis. With 20 drawing tools and 39 technical indicators, XTB provides a dynamic and versatile charting experience. Furthermore, users can add notes to charts and create alerts for stock price updates, staying informed with real-time market data through their browser-based trading platform.
In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor offers a more limited toolkit for traders. While it does provide a browser-based trading platform, it lacks the capacity to display corporate events on charts, as well as offering no drawing tools or technical indicators for in-depth analysis. Additionally, Vanguard UK Investor does not support adding notes to charts or creating alerts for stock price updates. For investors seeking a more detailed and interactive trading experience, XTB's comprehensive suite of tools offers a significant advantage.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
When comparing retirement account options between XTB and Vanguard UK Investor, UK investors have a couple of choices. Both platforms offer ISA accounts, allowing users to save with tax advantages. However, when it comes to SIPP accounts, which are important for those planning their retirement savings, Vanguard UK Investor includes this option, providing more comprehensive retirement planning services. XTB, on the other hand, does not offer SIPP accounts, which might influence your choice if this is a priority for your investment strategy.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing mobile apps of online brokers XTB and Vanguard UK Investor for UK users, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, allowing convenient on-the-go trading. However, XTB's app stands out with a higher rating of 4.5 stars given by UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the 6th spot out of 21 brokers in their mobile app ranking. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor's app is rated 3.5 stars and ranks 19th in the same list, indicating a notable difference in user satisfaction and app performance between the two platforms.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor education between XTB and Vanguard UK Investor, UK readers will find distinctive qualities. XTB offers education in share trading and webinars, though these webinars cannot be viewed on demand. In contrast, Vanguard UK Investor provides educational materials on funds and retirement, alongside webinars that are available on demand. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, XTB is notable for beginner education, achieving a 4.5-star rating and a rank of 9th among 21 brokers. Meanwhile, Vanguard UK Investor receives a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 17th.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Vanguard UK Investor
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing market research features for UK investors, XTB and Vanguard UK Investor both provide valuable insights, but with some essential differences. XTB excels with comprehensive tools like shares, ETFs, and CFDs research, plus it allows users to see their portfolio allocation by asset class. However, it does not offer research reports for funds or bonds. On the other hand, Vanguard UK Investor offers detailed reports for funds and ETFs, making it ideal for fund-focused research. It also provides a clear view of portfolio allocation by asset class but lacks shares and CFDs research insights. Depending on your investment focus, both platforms offer distinct advantages that cater to various investor needs in the UK.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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, 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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When comparing XTB and Vanguard UK Investor, it's important to note that XTB offers crypto trading, whereas Vanguard UK Investor does not provide this service.
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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 | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | ||
| CFD Trading | Yes | ||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | |||
| Spread Betting | Yes | ||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| 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 | |
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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 | XTB | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | |||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | XTB | 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 | XTB | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | XTB | Vanguard UK Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Mobile App |
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| Review | XTB Review | Vanguard UK Investor Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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