Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Vanguard Investor UK vs Wealthify
Vanguard Investor UK vs Wealthify: the differences
| Compare | Vanguard Investor UK ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Wealthify |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £500Lower | £1,000 |
| Markets | ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, JisaCovers more | ISA, SIPP |
| Account fee | £48 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | No fees for deposits, withdrawals or transfers |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Web, iOS app, Android app |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Regulators: only Vanguard Investor UK offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Wealthify offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Founded is lower at Vanguard Investor UK: 1975 vs 2016.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Vanguard Investor UK: £500 vs £1,000.
- Markets: only Wealthify offers Stocks, Bonds.
- Account types: only Vanguard Investor UK offers Jisa.
- Support channels: only Wealthify offers Email, Chat, Help centre.
Our verdict on each
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.
Wealthify
Wealthify suits UK beginners who want a managed portfolio rather than a dealing account, with a minimum investment of £1,000 to £5,000. The appeal is the managed approach and the ISA and SIPP choice; the drawback is a starting amount well above most rivals.
Score breakdown
| Area | Vanguard Investor UK | Wealthify |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2Cost rests on a £48 account fee and a £500 minimum deposit, both above the cheapest entries in the field. | 8.5HigherManagement fee of 0.6%, and a minimum investment running £1,000 to £5,000, both inside the robo-advisor field. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 8.7 |
Pick Vanguard Investor UK if, pick Wealthify if
Pick Vanguard Investor UK if trust, minimum deposit, and account types matter most.
Pick Wealthify if cost, offer, and markets matter most.
Availability and regulation
| Country | Vanguard Investor UK | Wealthify |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Vanguard Investor UK | Wealthify |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 181 of 490 | 182 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 38 of 85 | 39 of 85 |
| Brokers for beginners | 53 of 88 | 54 of 88 |
| Robo-advisors | 79 of 153 | 80 of 153 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 10 of 21 | 11 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 9 of 22 | 10 of 22 |
| Junior ISA providers | 6 of 14 | 7 of 14 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Vanguard Investor UK | Wealthify |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Vanguard Asset Management | Wealthify Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1975Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Phone | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Vanguard Investor UK | Wealthify |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.2%Lower | 0.6% |
| Minimum investment | £500Lower | £1,000 to £5,000 |
| Portfolio types | ETF | ESG, Cash |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Vanguard Investor UK | Wealthify | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £500highest quarter | £1,000highest quarter | £25 |
| Account fee | £48highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
Median across 16 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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.
Wealthify
Pros
- A management fee of 0.6% sits below the 0.5% to 1.5% charged on Vivid Standard business plans.
- The whole account is reachable through Web, iOS app and Android app, so a phone and a browser cover it end to end.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, putting phone and chat help alongside email.
Cons
- The minimum investment of £1,000 to £5,000 is well above the $100 entry point at Axos Invest, and Wealthify ranks 68 of 82 brands on this measure.
- The management fee of 0.6% is not the lowest available, since eToro charges a management fee of 0%.
- The account line-up covers isa and sipp only, with no joint, corporate or general investment account in the range.
Who each suits
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.
Wealthify
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a portfolio chosen for them and an app in their hand, with Web, iOS app and Android app and an audience of beginners.
- Savers building an ISA or SIPP through isa and sipp who can clear a £1,000 to £5,000 minimum and prefer one recurring charge.
- Readers who value being able to ask a question, with email, chat and phone available across phone, chat and email.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting below £1,000 to £5,000: Axos Invest takes a managed portfolio minimum of $100, quoted in US dollars.
- Readers whose first question is the smallest ongoing charge: eToro's management fee is 0%.
- Traders who want to place their own orders: Wealthify runs the low fees managed model around portfolios in esg and cash rather than self-directed dealing.
Country by country
| Country | Vanguard Investor UK | Wealthify |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
Wealthify
What does Wealthify charge?+
Wealthify charges a single management fee of 0.6% on the portfolio it manages, and the same fee applies to both account types in the range. Deposits, withdrawals and transfers are not charged either, so the recurring percentage is the number to hold on to when you compare. There is no order ticket to price on this account.
How much do I need to start with Wealthify?+
The minimum investment runs £1,000 to £5,000, and the minimum deposit is £1,000. That is a high starting point for a robo-advisor: Axos Invest quotes a managed portfolio minimum of $100 in US dollars, and the median minimum across the brands compared is €25. Anyone starting below Wealthify's threshold needs a different provider.