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Vanguard investment platform review
Is Vanguard any good?
In our latest customer satisfaction survey, Vanguard received a customer score of 75% for its stocks and shares Isa, putting it joint 7th out of 25 providers.
Vanguard only offers its own-brand funds – of which there are around 115, covering a range of regions, assets and investment styles. It is known primarily for its tracker funds, which are generally cheaper than actively managed funds.
If you want to broaden your investments beyond Vanguard funds, or invest directly in shares, you'll need to use another platform.
Vanguard charges a fixed monthly account fee of £4 for self-managed accounts worth less than £32,000. This can make it among the more expensive platforms for investors with £25,000 or less to invest.
For self-managed accounts worth £32,000 or more, it charges a percentage fee of 0.15%, making it one of the cheaper platforms for larger portfolios.
If you opt for a managed account, you'll pay an account fee of 0.15% plus a 0.2% management fee, regardless of the value of your investments.
Fund fees are low, with an average charge of 0.16%.
Vanguard has one of the highest minimum investments of the investment platforms in our survey – users need a £500 lump sum or £100 a month to get started.
Please note that the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms and conditions of an investment platform before committing to any financial products.
- Find out more: Best investment platforms in the UK 2025
Vanguard stocks and shares Isa scores in more detail
| Aspect of service | Star rating |
| Customer service | |
| Ease of use | |
| Information on investments | |
| Value for money |
What do customers say about Vanguard?
Comments from Vanguard customers that took part in our survey include:
- ‘Excellent service at a low cost – the impact of which on the ultimate performance of investments shouldn't be underestimated.’
- ‘Limited range of only their own investments available. While fees are fair and low, the payment options can be tricky.'
- ‘I find it very easy to buy into the funds I want, everything is actioned very quickly, and up until now the fees have been low.'
Visit Vanguard to find out more about its accounts, services and investment options.
How much does Vanguard cost?
There is no difference in fees whether you're investing in a Vanguard stocks and shares Isa or a general investment account.
Annual platform charge
- £4 a month for self-managed accounts worth less than £32,000; 0.15% for self-managed accounts worth £32,000 or more
- 0.15% plus a 0.2% management charge for managed accounts
Trading charge
- None as standard
- Optional 'quote and deal' service on exchange-traded funds costs £7.50 (allows you to buy and sell in real-time)
Foreign exchange charge
This applies to each trade of investments denominated in another currency, for example US stocks, on top of fund and trading charges.
- £0
How much would I pay to invest with Vanguard?
We've estimated the cost of investing over the course of a year in a self-managed Vanguard stocks and shares Isa, assuming that you make four purchases and four sales each year.
Costs will vary depending on how much you invest.
| Amount invested | Annual fund charges |
|---|---|
| £5,000 | £48 |
| £10,000 | £48 |
| £25,000 | £48 |
| £50,000 | £75 |
| £100,000 | £150 |
| £250,000 | £375 |
| £500,000 | £375 |
Table notes: Annual charges include platform fee and any trading charges. We have not included other charges that might apply, such as foreign exchange fees or fund management charges that are levied by fund managers, as these vary depending on the specific investments you hold. Fund management fees can range from less than 0.1% for some passively managed 'tracker' funds, to 1.25% or more for actively managed funds or investment trusts.
- Find out more: Compare investment platform fees and charges
What can you invest in with Vanguard?
Vanguard accounts and services
Find out more about Vanguard by using the links below to view their accounts and services:
- General investment account
- Stocks and shares (flexible)
- Self-invested personal pension (Sipp)
- Income drawdown
- Managed Isa
- Managed pension
- Junior investment Isa
Investments on Vanguard
- 86 funds (OEICs, multi-asset funds)
- 29 exchange-traded funds
Correct as of January 2025
Is Vanguard good for ethical investors?
Vanguard offers more details about the holdings of funds than any other provider in our survey, generally listing hundreds of the companies each fund invests in.
However, they do not make it easy to filter and find ethical funds.
- Find out more: Ethical investing explained
Is your money safe with Vanguard?
Vanguard is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
When you invest with an investment platform that's registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, your money will be ring-fenced and should be returned if a company goes bust without you having to wait alongside other creditors.
If ring-fencing failed, you would be compensated by the FSCS.
The FSCS will cover up to £85,000 of investments per person per platform. You can claim for free online at www.fscs.org.uk; there's no reason to use a claims management company.
You won't be compensated for investments falling in value or if a company in which you hold shares goes bust unless this poor performance resulted from bad advice given by a regulated independent financial adviser that has since gone bankrupt.
- Find out more: How the FSCS works