Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
InvestEngine vs Vanguard Investor UK
InvestEngine
Vanguard Investor UK
Higher score in this comparison
Where InvestEngine and Vanguard Investor UK differ
| Compare | InvestEngineReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Vanguard Investor UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £100Lower | £500 |
| Account fee | £0Lower | £48 |
| Markets | ETFs | ETFs, FundsCovers more |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Corporate | ISA, SIPP, Jisa |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 0% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Regulators (Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Vanguard Investor UK scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.7.
- Founded is lower at Vanguard Investor UK: 1975 vs 2019.
- Minimum deposit is lower at InvestEngine: £100 vs £500.
- Account fee is lower at InvestEngine: £0 vs £48.
- Markets: only Vanguard Investor UK offers Funds.
- Account types: only InvestEngine offers Corporate.
- Account types: only Vanguard Investor UK offers Jisa.
- Support channels: only InvestEngine offers Email, Help centre.
- Support channels: only Vanguard Investor UK offers Phone.
- Pricing model: only InvestEngine offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
InvestEngine
InvestEngine suits UK beginners who want a small, set-and-forget ETF pot with nothing charged for holding or trading. The account fee is £0, the minimum deposit is £100 and the only recurring charge is a management fee of 0.25%. The trade-off is that you hold ETFs and nothing else.
Vanguard Investor UK
Vanguard Investor UK is a low-cost, fund-first platform for beginners, charging a management fee of 0.2% a year on ISA, SIPP and JISA accounts. It suits savers who want a set-and-forget portfolio, though the account fee of £48 makes it weaker for those who trade in small, frequent amounts.
Score breakdown
| Area | InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Higher | 8.2Management fee of 0.2% against a site median of 0.35%, plus an account fee of £48. |
| Offer | 8.8Account fee of £0, stock trade fee of £0 and a minimum deposit of £100. | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.3 | 9.2Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 298 of 654 | 287 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 217 of 358 | 209 of 358 |
| Robo-advisors | 92 of 154 | 89 of 154 |
| Stocks and shares ISAs | 15 of 25 | 13 of 25 |
| Pensions and SIPPs | 11 of 23 | 9 of 23 |
Licences and countries
| Country | InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom |
Available in 1 country for both.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | InvestEngine (UK) Limited | Vanguard Asset Management |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2019 | 1975Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Phone |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.25% | 0.2%Lower |
| Minimum investment | £1Lower | £500 |
| Portfolio types | ETF | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £100above the median | £500highest quarter | £15 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | £48highest quarter | £0 |
| Interest on cash | 0%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 2.875% |
Median across 44 listed providers.
Pros and cons
InvestEngine
Pros
- No account fee at £0 and no stock trade fee at £0
- Fractional shares and a mobile app let you invest small amounts regularly
- Choose from ISA, SIPP and corporate accounts
Cons
- A management fee of 0.25% still applies, unlike a free commission-free brokerage
- Markets are limited to ETFs, so individual shares are not an option
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone line
Vanguard Investor UK
Pros
- ISA, SIPP and JISA are all available, as isa, sipp and jisa shows, so one platform covers a pension, a junior account and a tax-free wrapper.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, per Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), with Financial Services Compensation Scheme cover on investments.
- Portfolios are built from ETFs, as etf shows, keeping the range in etfs and funds narrow and focused on funds and ETFs.
Cons
- The account fee of £48 a year ranks 125 of 142 brands on that measure.
- The minimum deposit of £500 sits at 192 of 218 brands compared, which is a high bar for a small first payment.
- Support runs on phone only, so anyone who prefers written or live chat help has a single route.
Who each suits
InvestEngine
Who it suits
- Beginners who want to start small and add to the same pot each month
- Savers putting money into an ISA or SIPP for the long term
- Anyone who would rather hold a diversified basket than pick single shares
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want to buy and sell individual shares
- Anyone who wants to speak to support by phone, since support runs on email and help centre only
Vanguard Investor UK
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a set-and-forget portfolio, matching the beginners focus in beginners.
- Savers who want a tax-free or pension wrapper, since ISA, SIPP and JISA sit in isa, sipp and jisa.
- Long-term investors who prefer broad funds and ETFs over single shares, per etfs and funds.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after an active trading platform with a very low entry point: CFI takes a minimum deposit of $0 and suits traders rather than fund buyers.
- People who want a plain cash account instead of an investment account: bunq opens from a minimum deposit of €10 with no portfolio to hold.
- Borrowers rather than investors: Fiesta Credito MX is supervised by CONDUSEF, as CONDUSEF shows, and serves Mexican credit needs.
Country by country
| Country | InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
InvestEngine
What does it cost to hold an InvestEngine account?+
The account fee is £0 and the stock trade fee is £0, so there is nothing charged for keeping the account open or for dealing. The one recurring cost is a management fee of 0.25% on the money you hold. Deposits and withdrawals are free.
What is the smallest amount I can invest?+
The minimum deposit is £100, and the smallest investment the platform advertises is £1. Fractional shares are supported, so you can hold a slice of a fund rather than a whole unit. That keeps the starting point low even though the opening deposit is set higher than at many rivals.
Vanguard Investor UK
What does Vanguard Investor UK charge?+
The platform takes a management fee of 0.2% on your holdings, plus an account fee of £48 for the ISA, SIPP and JISA accounts listed in isa, sipp and jisa. The total charge therefore works out as a percentage of what you hold plus a flat amount each year, which is easy to compare with flat-fee rivals.
Is my money protected at Vanguard Investor UK?+
Vanguard Investor UK is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, as Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) shows, which means it must follow UK rules on client money. Investor protection runs through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, covering eligible claims up to the cap the provider states rather than the full value of a portfolio.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
InvestEngine
Vanguard Investor UK