Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Dodl vs Vanguard Investor UK
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Dodl | Vanguard Investor UK ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25Lower | £500 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, FundsCovers more | ETFs, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa | ISA, SIPP, Jisa |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £48 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | free deposits and withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Dodl app | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 3.8% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Regulators: only Dodl offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Vanguard Investor UK offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Minimum deposit is lower at Dodl: £25 vs £500.
- Markets: only Dodl offers Stocks.
- Account types: only Dodl offers Lisa.
- Account types: only Vanguard Investor UK offers Jisa.
- Support channels: only Dodl offers Email, Chat, Help centre.
- Support channels: only Vanguard Investor UK offers Phone.
- Pricing model: only Dodl offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
Dodl
Dodl is an AJ Bell app aimed at UK beginners who want to sidestep dealing costs entirely. Stock trades cost £0 and cash earns 3.8%, so the saving comes from the fee-free model rather than from a richer market list.
Vanguard Investor UK
Vanguard Investor UK suits beginners who want a simple fund and ETF portfolio inside an ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA, backed by a long-established UK regulated provider. The trade-off is the entry price: a minimum deposit of £500 and a flat account fee place it behind rivals that ask for less to start.
Score breakdown
| Area | Dodl | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Higher | 8.2Cost rests on a £48 account fee and a £500 minimum deposit, both above the cheapest entries in the field. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherStock trade fee of £0 across isa, sipp and lisa, plus free deposits and withdrawals, undercuts priced platforms. | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.2Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Dodl | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 168 of 490 | 181 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 34 of 85 | 38 of 85 |
| Brokers for beginners | 47 of 88 | 53 of 88 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 8 of 21 | 10 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 7 of 22 | 9 of 22 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Dodl | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Dodl | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
| Jisa | No | Yes |
What we checked
Dodl
- dodl.co.uk: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.dodl.co.uk: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Vanguard Investor UK
- moneytothemasses.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- vanguardinvestor.co.uk: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Dodl | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Vanguard Asset Management |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1975 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Phone |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Dodl | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.2% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | £500 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Dodl | Vanguard Investor UK | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25at the median | £500highest quarter | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £48highest quarter | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | 3.8%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 34 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Dodl
Pros
- Stock trades cost £0, the lowest stock trade fee recorded in this comparison
- free deposits and withdrawals means moving money in and out adds nothing to a portfolio
- Cash held with the account earns interest of 3.8% while you save for a purchase
Cons
- Cash interest of 3.8% is a variable rate, so the return on uninvested money can move
- Dealing runs on Dodl app only, which suits casual investors less well than a desktop platform
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line for urgent account problems
Vanguard Investor UK
Pros
- A 0.2% management fee keeps the ongoing fund charge low, which fits the low-cost model listed in low fees.
- Investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000 under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), so the money sits inside a UK regulated structure.
- The audience named is beginners, and the range of etfs and funds keeps the choice simple for a first account.
Cons
- The £48 account fee is a fixed platform charge, where the account fee at eToro is $0.
- A £500 minimum deposit sits far above the $0 minimum deposit at CFI and the $5 minimum deposit at Vantage.
- Support runs on phone only, so anyone expecting written help or a live chat route has a single line.
Who each suits
Dodl
Who it suits
- UK beginners opening a first stocks, ETFs and funds portfolio
- Investors who want dealing fees at £0 and want to keep cash earning 3.8%
- Savers setting aside money in an ISA, SIPP or LISA before investing
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who need a desktop dealing platform, because dealing sits on Dodl app
- Anyone wanting phone support, since help runs on email, chat and help centre
- Investors who trade often in foreign currency, where 0.75% charges apply
Vanguard Investor UK
Who it suits
- UK beginners, the audience named in beginners, who would rather hold etfs and funds than pick shares, and who can commit £500 at the outset rather than the $0 CFI asks for.
- Parents opening a Junior ISA and adults building a retirement pot, since isa, sipp and jisa all come from one provider with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the money. That matters more here than a lower entry level at Vantage, where the minimum deposit is $5.
- Savers who value a flat £48 fee and a 0.2% management fee over the $0 account fee at eToro, and who are content with support on phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting small: £500 is far above the $0 minimum deposit at CFI and the $5 minimum deposit at Vantage.
- Savers who want no fixed platform charge, since the account fee here is £48 against $0 at eToro.
Country by country
| Country | Dodl | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Dodl
What does it cost to buy shares at Dodl?+
A stock trade costs £0, which is the figure that stands out on this platform. The pricing model is commission-free rather than low-fee, so dealing is designed to cost nothing. Money in and out is also free deposits and withdrawals, so a transfer adds nothing extra. The one charge to watch is 0.75% on currency conversion when you buy shares priced outside sterling.
Is my money protected at Dodl?+
Dodl is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and eligible balances are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000. That protection is a stated limit on a claim to the firm, not a promise that investments cannot fall in value. The company operating the app is AJ Bell, so the account sits with an established UK provider rather than an offshore entity.
Vanguard Investor UK
What does Vanguard Investor UK charge to hold an account?+
The platform charges an account fee of £48, and money has to be committed at a minimum deposit of £500 before the account opens. On top of that sits the management fee of 0.2% on the funds and ETFs held. The cost picture is therefore a fixed platform charge plus an ongoing fund charge, rather than a charge on each trade.
How much do I need to deposit to open an account?+
The stated minimum deposit is £500, and the minimum investment is £500, so the money has to be in place before the account gets going. A saver starting with a smaller balance would have to look elsewhere: CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0 and Vantage a minimum deposit of $5.