The best alternatives to Vanguard are
- J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing - US-based discount broker
- Ally Invest - US stockbroker
- Merrill Edge - US discount broker
- Fidelity - US stockbroker
Let's see in a bit more detail how the Vanguard alternatives compare to Vanguard and each other:
| Vanguard | J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Ally Invest | Merrill Edge | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.5 stars | 4.8 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.8 stars | 4.8 stars |
| Fees score | 4.3 stars | 4.9 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.4 stars | 3.7 stars |
| Account opening score | 4.2 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.2 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.2 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 2.4 stars | 2.2 stars | 2.1 stars | 2.2 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Web platform score | 3.4 stars | 2.9 stars | 3.5 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Markets and products score | 2.7 stars | 2.1 stars | 2.6 stars | 2.5 stars | 4.0 stars |
| Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker |
Why are these brokers considered good alternatives to Vanguard? There are many areas based on which Vanguard can be compared with others. When we say a given online broker is a good alternative to Vanguard we mean these brokers are comparable in the following areas:
- The products they offer, meaning you can buy mostly the same things, i.e. stocks, CFDs, options, etc.
- The type of clients they target, i.e. beginners, experienced investors, or day traders.
Vanguard alternatives recommendations
Brokers are different in a number of ways, which means each of them may be suitable for different people. Here's how they compare overall:
- Vanguard is recommended for long-term investors looking for great etf and mutual fund selection
- J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is recommended for beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the us stock market
- Ally Invest is recommended for investors and traders looking for low fees and focusing on the us market
- Merrill Edge is recommended for investors and traders looking for low fees, quick account opening and simple platforms
- Fidelity is recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research and great trading platforms
Important factors of finding Vanguard alternatives
So far BrokerChooser has reviewed 102 online brokers in detail, which gives this comparison a solid starting point.
Not only that, but all of these brokers are reviewed using the exact same broker review methodology, which makes everything easily comparable. For each broker, we
- open a live account
- check over 100 criteria, with weighting based on readers' preferences
- refresh data regularly
Whether Vanguard or one of its alternatives is the best choice for you is on the following five broker characteristics that most interest people:
Fees. There are different types of fees that your online brokerage may charge, and both the number and the size of these fees may vary significantly from broker to broker. Both of these aspects can impact your returns and your overall experience. Vanguard is one of the cheaper brokers, so if this is an important consideration for you, make sure you pick a similarly low-cost Vanguard alternative.
Deposit/withdrawal. The number of ways that you can deposit or withdraw money to or from your account matters a lot. For example, while you cannot make a deposit with your credit card at Vanguard, some alternatives might allow you to do that.
Web trading platform. While online brokers are usually available on various platforms like mobile apps, tablet apps or desktop software, most people use them through their web platform in a browser. User-friendly trading platforms that offer many different resources can significantly increase your trading comfort.
Markets and products. A lot of people have specific products they would like to invest in. Knowing whether stocks, forex, mutual funds, and other products are available at the given Vanguard alternative is a must.
Now let's dive into the details of how Vanguard and its alternatives perform in the most important areas!
Vanguard alternatives
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, formerly Chase You Invest, is a US-based discount broker established by J.P. Morgan in 2018. The parent company, J.P. Morgan, is one the biggest global Tier 1 investment banks and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. It is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, formerly Chase You Invest, has a parent company with a a long track record, is listed on the stock exchange, has a banking background, discloses its financials regularly and is overseen by top-tier regulators, which are all good signs for its safety.
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing platform notes the following:
INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE
Recommended for beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the us stock market
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Commission-free US stocks, ETFs, funds and bonds
|
• Available only to US clients
|
|
• Fast and fully digital account opening
|
• Limited product portfolio
|
|
• Well-established parent company
|
• Basic research tools
|
Fees
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers commission-free trading, but transaction and other smaller fees may apply.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Low non-trading fees
|
• Low fees like transaction costs may apply
|
|
• Commission-free stock, ETF, fund and bond trades
|
|
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $0.3 | $0.3 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | - | - |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Account opening at J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is seamless and fully digital: it took us one day to open an account. However, only US clients are accepted.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Fast
|
• Only for US clients
|
|
• Fully digital
|
|
|
• No minimum deposit
|
|
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
At J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing there is no deposit fee and transferring money is simple and easy, although there could be more withdrawal options.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• No deposit fee
|
• Credit/Debit card not available
|
|
• Quick deposit and withdrawal - within 3 days
|
• Only one account base currency
|
|
|
• High wire withdrawal fee for external accounts
|
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's web trading platform is exceptionally easy to use and boasts a great search function. However, two-step authentication is missing, there are no clear fee reports and users can't set price alerts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• User-friendly
|
• No clear fee report available
|
|
• Good search function
|
• No two-step (safer) login
|
|
• Order confirmation
|
• Limited customizability (for charts, workspace)
|
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 2.9 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.9 stars | 4.4 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's web trading platform in the detailed J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing review.
Markets and products
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing has a limited product portfolio including stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds and options. Unfortunately, the product portfolio only includes assets traded on the US market.
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFDs | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, formerly Chase You Invest, offers great fees: the broker does not charge additional fees for trading US stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and US bonds. Some very low charges may apply to cover costs imposed by regulatory or stock exchange authorities (e.g. $0.01-0.03 per $1,000 principal for US stocks and ETFs).
The fully digital account opening is easy and fast, and onboarding is seamless. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's parent company, J.P. Morgan, has a banking background, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is regulated by the SEC.
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing has some drawbacks, though. It is only available to US residents, the product portfolio is limited, with a heavy focus on US markets, and research tools are basic.
In a nutshell, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers low-cost trading and has one of the most robust parent companies. Feel free to give it a try.
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | |
|---|---|
| Summary | J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is a brokerage solution offered by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (a J.P. Morgan affiliate), regulated by top-tier US authorities the SEC and FINRA. J.P. Morgan is a NYSE-listed company with a banking background. |
| Fees score | 4.9 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the US stock market |
Vanguard alternatives
Ally Invest
Ally Invest is a US stockbroker regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Its parent company, Ally Financial Inc. dates back to 1911 when its predecessor, General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) was founded. Ally Financial Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and has a banking subsidiary, Ally Bank.
Ally Invest is considered safe because it has a long track record and is regulated by top-tier financial authorities.
Recommended for investors and traders looking for low fees and focusing on the us market
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Low trading and non-trading fees
|
• You can trade only on US markets
|
|
• Easy and fully digital account opening
|
• Forex trading is available through a separate account
|
|
• Great education
|
• Lack of proper 2-step authentication
|
Fees
Ally Invest has low trading fees and non-trading fees, including zero base commission on most stocks and ETFs. On the negative side, margin rates are quite high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Low trading fees
|
• High margin rates
|
|
• Low non-trading fees
|
|
|
• Zero commission on most stock and ETF trades
|
|
| Ally Invest | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $0.3 | $0.3 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | - | - |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Account opening is fully digital and user-friendly. The broker requires no minimum deposit in most cases. On the other hand, account verification takes relatively long.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Fully digital
|
• Slow account verification
|
|
• Low minimum deposit
|
|
| Ally Invest | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in Ally Invest minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Ally Invest doesn't charge a deposit fee and transferring money is easy. On the other hand, you can use only bank transfer and wire transfer withdrawals are expensive.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• No deposit fee
|
• Credit/Debit card not available
|
|
• User-friendly
|
• High outgoing wire transfer fee
|
|
• Free ACH withdrawal
|
|
| Ally Invest | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Ally Invest's web trading platform is user-friendly, with a convenient search function. On the negative side, there is no clear fee report and we also missed the two-step authentication.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• User-friendly
|
• No clear fee report available
|
|
• Good search function
|
• No two-step (safer) login
|
|
• Good customizability (for charts, workspace)
|
|
| Ally Invest | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.5 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.3 stars | 4.4 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about Ally Invest's web trading platform in the detailed Ally Invest review.
Markets and products
At Ally Invest, you can trade various asset classes from stocks to options. On the negative side, it covers only the US market and futures trading is not available.
| Ally Invest | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFDs | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Ally Invest is one of the biggest US stockbrokers and is overseen by top-tier regulators. Retail clients of Ally Bank will appreciate that its banking and brokerage platforms are very well integrated - so it's very easy to move cash between those accounts.
Ally Invest has low trading and non-trading fees and offers a good product range in the US. The account opening process is easy and fully digital. We also liked the high quality of its educational tools.
Ally Invest has some drawbacks though. You can trade only on US exchanges. Forex trading is available only through a separate Ally Forex account provided by GAIN Capital (Forex.com). Lastly, there is no option to turn on two-factor authentication for added security.
Still, as trading fees are low and no inactivity fee is charged, feel free to try Ally Invest.
| Ally Invest | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Ally Invest is a US stockbroker, regulated by top-tier authorities the SEC and FINRA. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and has a banking background. |
| Fees score | 4.5 stars |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders looking for low fees and focusing on the US market |
Vanguard alternatives
Merrill Edge
Merrill Edge is a US-based brokerage platform launched in 2010 by Bank of America (BofA). BofA acquired Merrill Lynch during the 2008 financial crisis, and launched Merrill Edge to combine its online investing arm and Merrill Lynch's investment expertise.
Merrill Edge offers US stocks, ETFs, options and bonds. It is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Merrill Edge is considered safe because its parent company is a bank with a long track record and solid reputation, it discloses its financials, and is regulated by top-tier authorities.
Recommended for investors and traders looking for low fees, quick account opening and simple platforms
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Low trading fees
|
• Limited to US clients and products
|
|
• Easy and seamless account opening
|
• No demo account
|
|
• Strong parent company
|
• Few options for deposit/withdrawal
|
Fees
Merrill Edge has overall low trading and non-trading fees, including commission-free stock and ETF trades. However, fund fees are quite high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Commission-free trading (stocks, ETFs)
|
• High fund fees
|
|
• Low non-trading fees
|
|
| Merrill Edge | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $0.3 | $0.3 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | - | - |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Account opening at Merrill Edge is seamless and fully digital; it took us less than a day to have an open account. Only US clients are accepted.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Fast
|
• Only US clients are accepted
|
|
• Fully digital
|
|
|
• No minimum deposit
|
|
| Merrill Edge | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in Merrill Edge minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Merrill Edge has an easy-to-use deposit and withdrawal system with a bank account connection. Unfortunately, credit/debit cards cannot be used to fund the account.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Free withdrawal
|
• Credit/Debit card not available
|
|
• No deposit fee
|
• Slow withdrawal - over 3 days
|
|
• User-friendly
|
|
| Merrill Edge | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Merrill Edge has a user-friendly and simple trading platform with a secure login and price alerts. However, it offers only limited customizability and the search function is not so advanced.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• User-friendly
|
• Limited customizability (for charts, workspace)
|
|
• Clear fee report
|
|
|
• Two-step (safer) login
|
|
| Merrill Edge | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.8 stars | 4.4 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 4.3 stars | - |
Learn more about Merrill Edge's web trading platform in the detailed Merrill Edge review.
Markets and products
Merrill Edge has a limited product portfolio that consists of stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and bonds. Unfortunately, the product lineup covers only the US market.
| Merrill Edge | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFDs | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Overall, Merrill Edge is a solid, easy-to-use trading platform created by Bank of America, one of the US's largest banks.
We rated Merrill Edge highly due to its low fees, easy process of account opening, and reliability.
Some of the drawbacks include its limited product range, research capabilities and deposit/withdrawal options.
As trading and non-trading fees are generally low, the research tools are great and the account opening is seamless, feel free to try it.
| Merrill Edge | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Merrill Edge is a US-based broker owned by Bank of America (BofA). It is regulated by the top-tier SEC and FINRA; BofA is listed on the NYSE. |
| Fees score | 4.4 stars |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders looking for low fees, quick account opening and simple platforms |
Vanguard alternatives
Fidelity
Fidelity is a US stockbroker founded in 1946. It is regulated by top-tier authorities like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Fidelity is considered safe because it has a long track record and is regulated by top-tier financial authorities.
Recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research and great trading platforms
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Commission-free US stocks and ETFs
|
• High mutual fund fees and margin rates
|
|
• Great trading platforms and research
|
• Slower account verification
|
|
• US and international stocks
|
• Some products not available (e.g. futures)
|
Fees
Fidelity has low trading and non-trading fees, including commission-free US stock trading. On the negative side, margin rates and fees for some mutual funds can be high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Free stock and ETF trading
|
• High fees for non-free mutual funds
|
|
• Low bond fees
|
• High margin rates
|
|
• No inactivity fee
|
|
| Fidelity | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $0.3 | $0.3 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $23.1 | - |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Opening an account at Fidelity is easy and there is no minimum deposit. You can also choose from many account types. However, account verification is a bit slow.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• No minimum deposit
|
• Slower account verification
|
|
• User-friendly
|
• Not fully digital in some cases
|
|
• Many account types
|
|
| Fidelity | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in Fidelity minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Fidelity offers an exceptionally wide range of base currencies. On the negative side, credit/debit cards are not accepted.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Free withdrawal
|
• Credit/Debit card not available
|
|
• No deposit fee
|
|
|
• Several account base currencies
|
|
| Fidelity | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Fidelity's web platform is easy to use, has many order types and provides two-step authentication. On the negative side, it is not customizable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• User-friendly
|
• Limited customizability (for charts, workspace)
|
|
• Clear fee report
|
|
|
• Two-step (safer) login
|
|
| Fidelity | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.5 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 5.0 stars | 4.4 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 4.3 stars | - |
Learn more about Fidelity's web trading platform in the detailed Fidelity review.
Markets and products
Fidelity offers a lot of different trading products, from stocks to options, including international stocks. However, forex and futures trading is not available.
| Fidelity | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFDs | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
Verdict
Fidelity is one of the biggest US stockbrokers and is regulated by top-tier authorities.
Fidelity offers commission-free US stocks and ETFs. The trading platforms and research are outstanding, with many tools including trading ideas and detailed fundamental data. The offered range of products includes international stock exchanges in addition to the US market, which is not common among US brokers.
Fidelity has some drawbacks, though. Some mutual funds have high fees, and the margin rates are high as well. You can't trade forex or futures.
As it has great research tools, a user-friendly web trading platform, and charges no inactivity fee, feel free to try Fidelity's services.
| Fidelity | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Fidelity is a US stockbroker. It is regulated by top-tier authorities SEC and FINRA. |
| Fees score | 3.7 stars |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders looking for solid research and great trading platforms |
Vanguard alternatives
Vanguard
Vanguard is a US stockbroker founded in 1975. The company is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Vanguard is considered safe because it has a long track record and it is overseen by top-tier regulators.
Recommended for long-term investors looking for great etf and mutual fund selection
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Stocks and ETFs are free to trade
|
• Only US assets available
|
|
• Easy account opening
|
• Basic research tools
|
|
• Great mobile trading platform
|
• High margin rates
|
Fees
Vanguard offers free stock/ETF trading, and some bonds are also free to trade. Non-trading fees are also low. On the negative side, margin rates and some mutual fund fees are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• No inactivity fee
|
• High margin rates
|
|
• Free stock and ETF trading
|
• High fees for non-free mutual funds
|
|
• Some mutual funds and bonds are also free to trade
|
|
| Vanguard | J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Ally Invest | Merrill Edge | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 |
| UK stock | - | - | - | - | $11.2 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k
Account opening
Account opening is fully digital and user-friendly, and there's no minimum account balance. However, the account verification process is quite slow.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Fully digital
|
• Slow account opening time
|
|
• No minimum deposit
|
|
|
• Low minimum deposit
|
|
| Vanguard | J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Ally Invest | Merrill Edge | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1-3 days |
Learn more about Vanguard minimum deposit here.
Deposit and withdrawal
Transferring money to your Vanguard account is easy and free, but deposit/withdrawal options are limited to bank transfers, and wire transfer withdrawals are not free.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• No deposit fee
|
• Credit/Debit card not available
|
|
• User-friendly
|
• $10 fee for wire transfer withdrawals
|
|
• Free withdrawal (via ACH)
|
|
| Vanguard | J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Ally Invest | Merrill Edge | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No | No | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Vanguard has an average web trading platform, with safe login and a good fee report. On the down side, navigation is tricky, search functions could be better, and there's no customizability.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Clear fee report
|
• Limited customizability (for charts, workspace)
|
|
• Two-step (safer) login
|
• Some features are hard to find
|
|
• Price alerts
|
|
| Vanguard | J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Ally Invest | Merrill Edge | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.4 stars | 2.9 stars | 3.5 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.4 stars | 3.9 stars | 3.3 stars | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - | - | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars |
Learn more about Vanguard's web trading platform in the detailed Vanguard review.
Markets and products
Vanguard offers a wide range of asset classes, including stocks, ETFs, funds and options. However, it covers only the US market, while forex and futures trading is not available.
| Vanguard | J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Ally Invest | Merrill Edge | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No | No | No | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| CFDs | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Verdict
Vanguard is one of the biggest US stockbrokers and is regulated by top-tier financial authorities.
Vanguard offers free stock and ETF trading. It doesn't charge inactivity or account fees, and the account opening process is easy and fully digital. The mobile trading platform is user-friendly and has a great design.
Vanguard has some drawbacks, though. The product portfolio covers only the US market, and research tools are quite basic. Margin rates are also high.
Still, as non-trading fees are low and no inactivity fee is charged, you should feel free to try Vanguard.
| Vanguard | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Vanguard is a US stockbroker regulated by the top-tier SEC and FINRA. |
| Fees score | 4.3 stars |
| Recommended for | Long-term investors looking for great ETF and mutual fund selection |
Vanguard alternatives
Bottom line
Based on our analysis, there are several good alternatives to Vanguard. They all offer similar products and target similar customers. Here's a recap of the results in a table.
| Broker | Info | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard | US stockbroker | Long-term investors looking for great ETF and mutual fund selection |
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | US-based discount broker | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the US stock market |
| Ally Invest | US stockbroker | Investors and traders looking for low fees and focusing on the US market |
| Merrill Edge | US discount broker | Investors and traders looking for low fees, quick account opening and simple platforms |
| Fidelity | US stockbroker | Investors and traders looking for solid research and great trading platforms |
Still unsure? Use our broker finder and find the best broker for you or learn more about investing your money.
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