Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Moneyfarm vs Vanguard Investor UK
Where Moneyfarm and Vanguard Investor UK differ
| Compare |  Moneyfarm | Vanguard Investor UK ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.1% to 0.45%Lower | 0.2% |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | ISA, SIPP, JisaCovers more |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF |
Same on both: Minimum investment (£500), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Moneyfarm scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Moneyfarm offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Vanguard Investor UK offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Management fee is lower at Moneyfarm: 0.1% to 0.45% vs 0.2%.
- Account types: only Vanguard Investor UK offers Jisa.
- Portfolio types: only Moneyfarm offers ESG, Cash, Crypto.
- Support channels: only Moneyfarm offers Email, Help centre, Chat.
Our verdict on each
Moneyfarm
Moneyfarm suits UK savers who want an ISA or SIPP built and run for them, and who are content paying a percentage fee rather than trading directly. The management fee of 0.1% to 0.45% is the figure to weigh, and it sits above the median for robo-advisors.
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 | Moneyfarm | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherThe management fee of 0.1% to 0.45% runs above the robo-advisor median, and a stock trade fee of £3.95 adds on top. | 8.2Cost rests on a £48 account fee and a £500 minimum deposit, both above the cheapest entries in the field. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.7 | 9.2Higher |
What each covers
| Portfolio types | Moneyfarm | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| ESG | Yes | No |
| Cash | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Account types | Moneyfarm | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes |
A third option
eToro has management fee at 0%, against 0.1% to 0.45% for Moneyfarm and 0.2% for Vanguard Investor UK.
eToro reviewWhere these facts come from
Moneyfarm
- moneyfarm.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Vanguard Investor UK
- moneytothemasses.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- vanguardinvestor.co.uk: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Moneyfarm | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 110 of 490 | 181 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 24 of 85 | 38 of 85 |
| Robo-advisors | 42 of 153 | 79 of 153 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 4 of 21 | 10 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 4 of 22 | 9 of 22 |
| Junior ISA providers | 3 of 14 | 6 of 14 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Moneyfarm | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | MFM Investment Ltd | Vanguard Asset Management |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1975 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, ChatCovers more | Phone |
Brokers
| Fact | Moneyfarm | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £500 |
| Stock trade fee | £3.95 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £48 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more | ETFs, Funds |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.7% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Moneyfarm | Vanguard Investor UK | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.1% to 0.45%lowest quarter | 0.2%below the median | 0.35 |
| Minimum investment | £500above the median | £500above the median | £100 |
Median across 67 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Moneyfarm
Pros
- Regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, with licence 629539 to check on the register.
- Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge, so money can move in and out without a transaction fee eating the saving.
- Portfolio styles run to etf, esg and cash, letting a saver tilt towards ESG, cash or crypto alongside a diversified core.
Cons
- The management fee of 0.1% to 0.45% sits above the robo-advisor median of 0.35%.
- The £500 entry point is well above the robo-advisor median of €60.06, and above Axos Invest at $100.
- Costs stack up: a stock trade fee of £3.95 applies alongside the management fee, while eToro lists a management fee of 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
Moneyfarm
Who it suits
- UK savers who want an ISA or SIPP run for them and would rather pay a percentage than place their own trades.
- People who want help by phone, chat and email as well as online, since support runs on email, phone and help centre.
- Investors who want their portfolio style to include ESG, cash or crypto, since the options run to etf, esg and cash.
Who should look elsewhere
- Small opening payments: Axos Invest starts at $100, a lighter entry than £500.
- Anyone who prefers running their own trades: eToro lists a management fee of 0%, so the cost sits elsewhere.
- Savers shopping fee bands: Vivid Standard charges 0.5% to 1.5%, higher than the band here.
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 | Moneyfarm | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Moneyfarm
What does Moneyfarm charge to run my money?+
The ongoing cost is a management fee of 0.1% to 0.45% on the value of the portfolio, taken as a percentage of what you hold rather than as a price per trade. Accounts open at £500, so the fee applies to whatever sits above that floor.
Is there a fee for buying or selling?+
A stock trade fee of £3.95 is listed for anyone who places a trade, and it sits alongside the management fee. Because the portfolio is run for you, the management fee is the line that does most of the work in practice.
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.