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.
Beginners building a habit, and first-time buyers using the Lifetime ISA.
| Fee | Vanguard | Moneybox |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | £4/month minimum below £32k; 0.15% above £32k, capped at £375/year | £1/month subscription plus 0.45% platform fee |
| Share dealing | Not available (funds and Vanguard ETFs only) | US stocks available, 0.45% FX fee |
| Fund dealing | Free | Free (fund fees apply) |
| FX fee | None (GBP funds) | 0.45% on US stocks |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Platform fee applies | Subscription plus 0.45% applies |
| SIPP | Platform fee applies | 0.45% platform fee (0.15% above £100k), no subscription |
| Withdrawals | Free | Free |
| Minimum to start | £100/month or £500 lump sum | £1 |
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 TrustpilotUsers love the round-ups, the goal-based design and how painless it makes starting. 93% of customers surveyed in 2026 would recommend it.
The combined £1/month plus 0.45% is repeatedly flagged as expensive for small balances.
Read Moneybox 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.
Moneybox is designed for getting started. Round-ups, weekly deposits and simple starter portfolios remove the friction that stops most people investing, and its Lifetime ISA is one of the most popular routes to a first home deposit.
The convenience has a price: £1 a month plus 0.45% is one of the higher fee stacks here once your balance grows. It is a great first platform, and many users graduate to cheaper ones later.
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.