Vanguard offers low-cost mutual funds with some of the lowest expense ratios in the industry, maximizing investment returns over time. Its online investing platform also features a wealth of educational resources to help beginners and experienced investors alike make informed investment decisions.

Trading 212 is Blog of the top-rated UK stockbrokers, offering commission-free share and ETF trading, a comprehensive Learning Centre, and an easy-to-use app for desktop and mobile. The firm is frequently praised for its modern user interface, advanced charting tools, and intuitive market analysis. It is a good choice for those looking to trade in stocks, ETFs, forex, and cryptocurrencies (via CFDs).

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Both Trading 212 and Vanguard offer a number of retirement account options for UK investors. Both platforms support Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), which are a tax-efficient way to invest in stocks and ETFs. Vanguard also offers Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP), a more recently launched option for retirement savings.

While Trading 212 offers a full range of investment instruments, its selection is not as extensive as that offered by Hargreaves Lansdown. Traders can invest in global stocks and ETFs, as well as a broad range of commodities and currencies. The broker also allows users to speculate on the price movement of cryptocurrencies, although trading CFDs on these assets carries a high level of risk.

Trading 212 does not have its own in-house professionally managed portfolios, but it does host a number of third-party ‘Pies’ for users to copy. These are based on specific strategies or investment preferences, and they can be copied without paying any additional fees.