Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Police Friendly vs Vanguard Investor UK
Where Police Friendly and Vanguard Investor UK differ
| Compare |  Police Friendly | Vanguard Investor UK ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £50Lower | £500 |
| Markets | Stocks, Funds | ETFs, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Account types | ISA, Lisa, Jisa | ISA, SIPP, Jisa |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £48 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Police Friendly scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Police Friendly offers Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority.
- Regulators: only Vanguard Investor UK offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Founded is lower at Police Friendly: 1893 vs 1975.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Police Friendly: £50 vs £500.
- Markets: only Police Friendly offers Stocks.
- Markets: only Vanguard Investor UK offers ETFs.
- Account types: only Police Friendly offers Lisa.
- Account types: only Vanguard Investor UK offers SIPP.
- Support channels: only Police Friendly offers Email.
Our verdict on each
Police Friendly
Police Friendly is a UK friendly society for long-term savers, not active traders, offering ISA, Lifetime ISA and Junior ISA accounts with a minimum deposit of £50. Regulated in the UK and backed by FSCS up to GBP 85,000, it fits households saving steadily for a home or a child's future.
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 | Police Friendly | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6HigherLow entry at £50 on isa, lisa and jisa accounts, offset by a charge on non-qualifying withdrawals. | 8.2Cost rests on a £48 account fee and a £500 minimum deposit, both above the cheapest entries in the field. |
| Offer | 9.1Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.2 | 9.2 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Police Friendly | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 138 of 490 | 181 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 29 of 85 | 38 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 5 of 21 | 10 of 21 |
| Junior ISA providers | 4 of 14 | 6 of 14 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Police Friendly | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Police Friendly | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | No | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
| Jisa | Yes | Yes |
If neither fits
Capital.com has minimum deposit at £20, against £50 for Police Friendly and £500 for Vanguard Investor UK.
Capital.com reviewSources behind this comparison
Police Friendly
- policefriendly.org.uk: 10 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 | Police Friendly | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited | Vanguard Asset Management |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1893Lower | 1975 |
| Support channels | Email, PhoneCovers more | Phone |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Police Friendly | 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 | Police Friendly | Vanguard Investor UK | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £50above the median | £500highest quarter | £25 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £48highest quarter | £0 |
Median across 16 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Police Friendly
Pros
- A minimum deposit of £50 makes the entry point manageable for steady savers.
- All three wrappers, isa, lisa and jisa, sit with one provider.
- Members are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 if the firm fails.
Cons
- A government charge cuts non-qualifying withdrawals, which limits access before the account matures.
- The investment range is limited to stocks and funds, with no wider market for ISA money.
- The £50 minimum deposit runs ahead of CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5.
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
Police Friendly
Who it suits
- UK savers who want ISA, Lifetime ISA and Junior ISA accounts under one roof.
- Police service members and their families, drawn to a provider run as Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited.
- Long-term investors content with a stocks and funds range and no trading tools.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after a wide market range: eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with the smallest possible deposit: CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5.
- Shoppers who judge cost by the entry deposit alone, since £50 sits above CFI at $0.
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.
Current offers
Police Friendly
Current offer
Bonus
Open a Lifetime ISA - Earn up to GBP50 in Gift Cards: Up to GBP50 gift card
Pay GBP100 or more per month, or GBP50+ with Escalator; GBP30-99 gets GBP25; quote AUTUMN26
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Police Friendly | Vanguard Investor UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Police Friendly
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is £50, which is more than some rivals ask at the start. CFI opens at $0 and Vantage at $5, so Police Friendly suits savers who can commit a modest sum each month rather than the smallest possible stake.
Is my money protected if the provider fails?+
Investors are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 under the UK compensation scheme, and the firm is authorised under the reference 110026. The regulator named is Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority, which supervises both conduct and prudential standards.
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.