Vanguard
US investment firm known for low-cost index funds, with its own brokerage account and app.
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About Vanguard
Vanguard is the US fund company that popularised low-cost index investing, and its brokerage account is where many long-term investors hold Vanguard's own ETFs and mutual funds. The account also trades individual stocks, other companies' ETFs and funds, bonds and CDs, with no commission on online stock and ETF trades and no account minimum. Vanguard ETFs can be bought from $1, while its mutual funds carry higher minimums. For people who don't want to pick funds themselves, Vanguard Digital Advisor builds and rebalances a portfolio for an annual fee, starting from $100 in an account. Retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k) rollovers) are a big part of its business. The website and app are built for buy-and-hold investors rather than active traders: there is no crypto, research and charting are basic, and the app is plain compared with Robinhood or Webull. It suits savers in the US who want cheap, diversified funds and few distractions.
Best for: US buy-and-hold investors who want low-cost index funds and retirement accounts.
Vanguard pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Vanguard's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF commissions | $0 for online trades | Nov 8, 2026 | investor.vanguard.com |
| Account minimum | $0 | Nov 8, 2026 | investor.vanguard.com |
| Vanguard ETF minimum | $1 | Nov 8, 2026 | investor.vanguard.com |
| Mutual fund minimums | $1,000 to $50,000 | Nov 8, 2026 | investor.vanguard.com |
| Robo-advisor minimum | $100 | Nov 8, 2026 | investor.vanguard.com |
| Account opening fee | $0 | Nov 8, 2026 | investor.vanguard.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- Very low-cost index funds and ETFs from the company that pioneered them
- No commission on online stock and ETF trades and no account minimum
- Robo-advice available from $100 through Digital Advisor
Why people leave
- No cryptocurrency trading
- Basic charting and research tools compared with trading-focused apps
- Vanguard mutual funds need $1,000 or more to start
Vanguard vs Fidelity, Robinhood and Webull
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Vanguard | Fidelity | Robinhood | Webull |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | — | — | $5/month | — |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
Full Vanguard vs Fidelity comparisonFull Vanguard vs Robinhood comparisonFull Vanguard vs Webull comparison
Top Vanguard alternatives
See all 3- 1
Fidelity68.8Similar low costs plus zero-expense-ratio index funds, fractional shares, crypto and stronger research tools.
- 2
Robinhood61.8A simpler, faster mobile app with crypto and options, for investors who prefer trading on their phone.
- 3
Webull59.4Commission-free trading with far richer charts and extended-hours tools for hands-on investors.
Why people left Vanguard
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Vanguard: common questions
What is Vanguard?
Vanguard: US investment firm known for low-cost index funds, with its own brokerage account and app. Best for US buy-and-hold investors who want low-cost index funds and retirement accounts. Available for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Vanguard free?
Vanguard has a free plan and paid plans.
How much does Vanguard cost?
Vanguard is free with paid plans. Stock and ETF commissions: $0 for online trades; Account minimum: $0; Vanguard ETF minimum: $1; Mutual fund minimums: $1,000 to $50,000. Checked on Vanguard's own site, November 2026.
Is Vanguard open source?
No, Vanguard is not open source.
What platforms does Vanguard run on?
Vanguard is available for Web, iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to Vanguard?
The highest-ranked Vanguard alternatives right now are Fidelity, Robinhood and Webull. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Vanguard vs Fidelity: what's the difference?
Both Vanguard and Fidelity are free with paid plans. Only Fidelity runs on Windows and macOS.