Both are FCA regulated and FSCS protected. The real differences are fees, investment range and how each platform feels to use. Here is the honest comparison.
Fees verified July 2026. Capital at risk. Information, not financial advice.
Hands-off investors happy to hold only Vanguard index funds and LifeStrategy.
Fund investors who value guidance, tools and phone support.
| Fee | Vanguard | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | £4/month minimum below £32k; 0.15% above £32k, capped at £375/year | 0.35% up to £250k (0.20% above); £90/year flat if under £25k without a regular savings plan |
| Share dealing | Not available (funds and Vanguard ETFs only) | £7.50 per online trade |
| Fund dealing | Free | Free |
| FX fee | None (GBP funds) | 0.75% tiered |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Platform fee applies | Platform fee applies |
| SIPP | Platform fee applies | Platform fee applies |
| Withdrawals | Free | Free |
| Minimum to start | £100/month or £500 lump sum | £25/month or £1,000 lump sum |
Long-term investors praise the low fund costs and the simplicity of LifeStrategy portfolios.
The £4 minimum monthly fee frustrated smaller investors when it landed, and some reviews mention slow customer service.
Read Vanguard reviews on TrustpilotReviewers highlight helpful phone support and a straightforward transfer process.
The £7.50 share dealing charge and dated parts of the website draw criticism.
Read Fidelity reviews on TrustpilotVanguard UK is the default answer for one-fund index investing. If your plan is a LifeStrategy or FTSE Global All Cap fund and nothing else, the combination of cheap funds and a capped 0.15% platform fee is excellent, especially above £32,000.
Below £32,000 the £4 monthly minimum changes the maths, and a free platform like Trading 212 or Prosper holding a similar Vanguard ETF can work out cheaper. You also cannot hold individual shares or other fund managers' products.
Fidelity is a solid full-service choice for fund investors. Fund dealing is free, the ETF and share service fee is capped at £90 a year, and the guidance content is some of the best of the big platforms.
Costs are less friendly if you trade shares often or hold a small account without a regular savings plan. Compare it against AJ Bell if you want similar breadth with lower dealing charges.
A 0.2% fee difference is worth optimising. Knowing whether you are saving enough in the first place is worth far more. Delphina models your pensions, ISAs and investments and tells you where you actually stand.