Vanguard review

Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

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.

Key facts

Best for
Long term retirement and fund investing that tolerates an account fee.
Minimum deposit
$0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Stock trade fee
$0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Account fee
$20 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Markets
Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Options contract fee
$1 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Account types
IRA, Roth-IRA, Joint (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Pricing model
Commission-free
Audience
Beginners
Official website
vanguard.com

Robo-advisors

Account types
IRA, Roth-IRA, Joint (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Portfolio types
ETF (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App Store

Pros and cons

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
  • Portfolio building is centred on etf

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
Vanguard

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Scored 9.1 / 10 by BrokerCue.

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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

Fees and costs

Vanguard trades shares without commission: a stock trade costs $0 and the account opens at a minimum deposit of $0. The running cost is an account fee of $20 on the account itself, not on each trade, so holding rather than trading bears that charge. Options sit outside the pattern, at $1 per contract, the only charge attached to a transaction.

The company behind it

The broker is operated by The Vanguard Group, Inc., and the group is headquartered in the United States. It is a long established US name built around index and fund investing, which is why etf sit at the centre of the range. The account types offered are ira, roth ira and joint, so retirement accounts and joint accounts are both covered. The audience it is built for is beginners.

How Vanguard compares

Frequently asked questions

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.

What does trading options cost?+

Options are the priced part of the offering, with $1 per contract. That sits against stock trades at $0, so an account used mainly for shares pays almost nothing to trade.

Which markets can I invest in?+

The range covers stocks, etfs and options. That is enough for fund, bond, ETF, share and options portfolios, though forex, CFDs and crypto are not part of it.

Who runs Vanguard and where is it based?+

The brokerage side is run by The Vanguard Group, Inc., which is headquartered in the United States. The group is set up for retirement and fund investors rather than active traders.

Which account types are available?+

The accounts offered are ira, roth ira and joint. Those cover retirement saving, including a Roth IRA, and joint ownership, so household members can share an account.

Is Vanguard aimed at beginners or experienced traders?+

It is built for beginners, and the low trading cost supports that. Costs sit near the cheap end of the market, though the account fee and $1 per option contract are worth checking against your own trading pattern.

Can I hold funds and ETFs alongside individual shares?+

Yes, and etf sit at the centre of the offering. The market list also includes funds and bonds, so a mixed portfolio can be held in one account without moving provider.

Sources

Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Inactivity fee, Regulators, Investor protection, Retail accounts that lose money.

Vanguard

Vanguard

Long term retirement and fund investing that tolerates an account fee.

9.1/10See alternatives

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