Trading 212 vs InvestEngine vs Vanguard: Which Platform Should You Choose

The Trading 212 vs InvestEngine vs Vanguard question comes up because all three are cheap, popular and aimed at ordinary UK investors, yet they suit quite different people. Get the match wrong and you either pay more than you need to or end up on a platform that cannot hold the investments you want. This guide compares them on the things that actually move the needle: platform fees, what you can hold, and who each one is genuinely best for. No hype, just the numbers and the trade-offs.

The short answer

• Trading 212 is the pick if you want a zero platform fee, fractional shares, and the freedom to buy individual stocks as well as ETFs, especially with small, regular contributions.
• InvestEngine suits ETF-only investors who want a no platform fee DIY account or a low-cost managed, auto-rebalanced portfolio, and do not need individual shares.
• Vanguard is the long-term home for fund investors who are happy inside Vanguard’s own range and want a simple, capped fee, but it now has a minimum charge that stings smaller balances.

Fees compared

This is where the three diverge most.

Trading 212 charges no platform fee and no dealing commission. The main cost to know is a 0.15% foreign-exchange fee when you buy something priced in another currency, plus the ongoing charge (OCF) of whatever fund or ETF you hold. For a UK investor drip-feeding money in monthly, it is hard to beat.

InvestEngine also charges no platform fee on its DIY accounts, where you build your own portfolio from its range of ETFs. Its managed portfolios, which pick and rebalance for you, carry a small management fee on top of the usual fund OCFs. Either way it is one of the cheapest ways to run an ETF portfolio.

Vanguard charges a 0.15% account fee, capped at £375 a year, which is very competitive for larger balances. The catch is the minimum fee introduced in 2025: accounts below around £32,000 now pay a flat £4 a month (£48 a year) instead of the percentage. On a small pot that is a meaningful drag, which is why beginners with modest balances often start cheaper elsewhere. See our fund fees and OCF explainer for how these charges stack up over time.

What you can hold

Fees are only half the story; the platforms hold different things.

• Trading 212: individual shares, ETFs and investment trusts, with fractional shares so you can buy a slice of an expensive stock for as little as £1. The widest choice of the three.
• InvestEngine: ETFs only, several hundred of them, but no individual company shares. Great for a pure index portfolio, no use if you want to pick stocks.
• Vanguard: only Vanguard’s own funds and ETFs. A deliberately narrow, high-quality menu. You cannot buy anything from another provider, which is the point for some and a dealbreaker for others.

Accounts available

All three offer a Stocks and Shares ISA and a general account. Trading 212 and InvestEngine both add a SIPP for pensions, and Trading 212 also runs a Cash ISA. Vanguard offers an ISA, SIPP and general account within its own-fund world. None of the three offers a Lifetime ISA, so if the LISA is your goal you will need a different provider.

Who each platform is best for

Choose Trading 212 if you are starting out, investing small amounts regularly, or want the option to buy individual shares alongside index funds. The zero fees and fractional shares make it the natural beginner platform. Our full Trading 212 review goes deeper.

Choose InvestEngine if you want a simple, low-cost ETF portfolio and value either the no fee DIY approach or a hands-off managed, auto-rebalancing option. It is ideal for someone who wants index investing without fiddling. See the InvestEngine review.

Choose Vanguard if you are a long-term, buy-and-hold fund investor with a growing balance, happy to stay inside Vanguard’s range (LifeStrategy, the global all-cap, target retirement funds). Once your pot is well above the minimum-fee threshold, the capped 0.15% is excellent value. Read the Vanguard UK review.

The honest verdict

For most beginners and small, regular investors, Trading 212 or InvestEngine will be cheaper than Vanguard because of Vanguard’s flat minimum fee on smaller balances. As your portfolio grows into five figures and beyond, and if you are content with Vanguard’s own funds, Vanguard’s capped percentage fee becomes very attractive for a simple lifetime hold. Plenty of investors start on Trading 212 or InvestEngine and move to Vanguard (or split across platforms) later; there is no rule that you must pick only one forever. For the full field, see our guide to the cheapest stocks and shares ISA platforms.

Whatever you choose, remember all three are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to the FSCS investment limit of £85,000 per firm, and that fees matter far less than actually staying invested for the long run.

Frequently asked questions

Is Trading 212 or InvestEngine cheaper? Both charge no platform fee, so they are similarly priced for ETF portfolios. Trading 212 is better if you also want individual shares or fractional investing; InvestEngine is better if you want a managed, auto-rebalanced ETF portfolio. The main Trading 212 cost to watch is the 0.15% FX fee on non-sterling assets.

Is Vanguard still worth it in 2026? Yes, for larger, long-term balances held in Vanguard’s own funds, where the capped 0.15% fee is very competitive. It is less attractive for small pots because of the £4-a-month minimum fee on accounts below around £32,000.

Can you hold individual shares on InvestEngine? No. InvestEngine only offers ETFs, not individual company shares. If you want to buy single stocks, Trading 212 is the better choice of the three.

Do all three offer a Stocks and Shares ISA? Yes. Trading 212, InvestEngine and Vanguard all offer a Stocks and Shares ISA and a general investment account. Trading 212 and InvestEngine also offer a SIPP, and Trading 212 offers a Cash ISA. None offers a Lifetime ISA.

Which platform is best for a beginner? Trading 212 is the most beginner-friendly thanks to zero fees, fractional shares and the ability to start with small amounts. InvestEngine is a close second for anyone who only wants a simple ETF portfolio and prefers a managed option.

Can I transfer between these platforms later? Yes. You can transfer an ISA or SIPP between providers, and it is common to start on a zero-fee platform and move to Vanguard as your balance grows. Always transfer as an ISA transfer rather than withdrawing, so you keep the tax wrapper.