Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
InvestEngine vs Vanguard Investor UK
What sets them apart
| Compare |  InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK ReviewSee 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.
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 beginners who want their money spread across ETFs without picking shares themselves. Costs stay thin: an account fee of £0, a stock trade fee of £0 and a single portfolio management charge of 0.25%, with deposits and withdrawals free.
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 | InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Higher | 8.2Cost rests on a £48 account fee and a £500 minimum deposit, both above the cheapest entries in the field. |
| Offer | 8.8The isa, sipp and corporate account range wraps one ETF plan for savers and firms alike. | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.4 | 9.2Higher |
Licences and countries
| Country | InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom |
Available in 1 country for both.
What each covers
| Markets | InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Account types | InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
| Jisa | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | InvestEngine | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 187 of 490 | 181 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 41 of 85 | 38 of 85 |
| Brokers for beginners | 57 of 88 | 53 of 88 |
| Robo-advisors | 83 of 153 | 79 of 153 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 13 of 21 | 10 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 12 of 22 | 9 of 22 |
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 | £25 |
| 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 | 3% |
Median across 34 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
InvestEngine
Pros
- An account fee of £0 and a stock trade fee of £0 leave almost nothing to pay for holding or trading.
- Investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000, with the platform regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
- The platform list covers Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares make small regular buys work.
Cons
- Shares are not among its markets (etfs), so the range stays on funds rather than a general dealing list.
- Support runs on email and help centre, with no phone number for urgent account questions.
- Cash waiting to be invested earns 0%.
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
InvestEngine
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a curated portfolio and can start from a minimum investment of £1.
- ISA and SIPP holders in the UK who would rather not pay an account fee.
- Investors who only need help by email and are happy to stay inside a single asset class.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, for anyone who wants to open with a minimum deposit of $0 rather than £100.
- Vantage, for anyone who wants a smaller entry point, since its minimum deposit is $5.
- eToro, for traders who want share dealing, because shares are not among its markets (etfs).
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 | 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 a stock trade costs £0, so buying and holding leaves most of the pot intact. The only ongoing charge is the portfolio management fee of 0.25%, which is taken on the portfolio rather than per trade. Cash left uninvested earns 0%.
Is my money protected if the platform fails?+
The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator named on the licence, and the platform states investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The account is run by InvestEngine (UK) Limited, a UK company, so UK rules and the protection scheme both apply to the account.
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.