Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
InvestEngine vs Vanguard
Where InvestEngine and Vanguard differ
| Compare |  InvestEngine |  Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £100 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Account fee | £0 | $20 |
| Markets | ETFs | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Corporate | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 0% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Vanguard scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.7.
- Markets: only Vanguard offers Stocks, Options, Bonds.
- Account types: only InvestEngine offers ISA, SIPP, Corporate.
- Account types: only Vanguard offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
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
Vanguard suits beginner US investors who want straightforward retirement investing without a trading bill, with stock trades at $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The catch is an account fee of $20, plus $1 for every options contract traded.
Score breakdown
| Area | InvestEngine | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Higher | 8.9Stock trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, but the account itself carries an account fee of $20. |
| Offer | 8.8The isa, sipp and corporate account range wraps one ETF plan for savers and firms alike. | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 8.4 | Not confirmed |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | InvestEngine | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Account types | InvestEngine | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | InvestEngine | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 195 of 471 | 128 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 42 of 86 | 26 of 86 |
| Brokers for beginners | 57 of 88 | 34 of 88 |
| Robo-advisors | 84 of 151 | 46 of 151 |
Where these facts come from
InvestEngine
- investengine.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- blog.investengine.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.investengine.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Vanguard
- investor.vanguard.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investguiding.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- vanguard.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | InvestEngine | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | InvestEngine (UK) Limited | The Vanguard Group, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 2019 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | InvestEngine | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.25% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | £1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | InvestEngine | Vanguard | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1highest quarter | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | 0%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 43 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
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account opens at $0, so entry costs nothing
- stocks, etfs and options covers the range most long term investors need in one place
- Account types include ira, roth ira and joint, which suits retirement saving
Cons
- An account fee of $20 applies to the account whatever the trade volume
- Options cost $1 per contract against $0 for stock trades
- Forex, crypto and CFDs are not among its stocks, etfs and options
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
Who it suits
- Beginners building a retirement pot in the US
- Investors holding funds and ETFs alongside individual stocks
- Anyone who accepts an account fee to keep trading costs low
Who should look elsewhere
- Day traders who want no account fee, since eToro charges $0
- Traders wanting forex, crypto or CFDs alongside shares, which CFI lists in stocks, etfs and forex
- Anyone put off by an opening balance, since Vantage requires $5 where Vanguard asks $0
Country by country
| Country | InvestEngine | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
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
What does it cost to buy shares at Vanguard?+
Buying shares costs $0, and the account opens at a minimum deposit of $0. The running cost is an account fee of $20 rather than a charge on each trade, so frequent trading does not add commission.
Is there an account fee?+
There is. The account fee is $20, and it is the main ongoing cost here. Investors who expect to hold rather than trade repeatedly can absorb it, while active traders would feel it more on smaller balances.
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