Two styles clash: FP Markets offers multi-platform trading and broad exchange access, while Vanguard emphasizes low-cost, fund-centric investing on a proprietary platform.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose FP Markets if you want access to 15 exchanges and a choice of platforms including IRESS, MT4/MT5, or cTrader.
Choose if…
Choose Vanguard if you want low-cost access to Vanguard funds inside ISA or SIPP and a capped platform fee.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | FP Markets | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Fail |
| Stock screener tool | Pass | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
FP Markets and Vanguard share the same editorial score of 4.1/5. One concrete differentiator: platform availability and account types differ between them.
FP Markets starts from 0. Current spread data is not available for Vanguard. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
Both FP Markets and Vanguard require a minimum deposit of $100 to open a live trading account.
Both FP Markets and Vanguard hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, FP Markets provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
FP Markets lists maximum leverage of 20:1, while Vanguard lists up to 1:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
FP Markets charges $6 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Vanguard are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
FP Markets supports IRESS, cTrader, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while Vanguard supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. FP Markets has exclusive access to IRESS and cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and TradingView and MetaTrader 4. Vanguard has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Neither FP Markets nor Vanguard is listed as offering commission-free trading in our data. Compare each broker's commission schedule directly, as fees vary by account type and the markets you trade.
Both FP Markets and Vanguard are covered by a compensation scheme according to our data, providing an additional safety net for your stock investments. Confirm the specific scheme and coverage limit that applies to your account before depositing.
Vanguard wins; FCA regulation and FSCS protection, plus ownership by fund investors, enhance safety.
Vanguard wins; offers ISA and SIPP with low fund costs suitable for long-term investing.
FP Markets wins; broad access to 15 exchanges and DMA via IRESS with 24/5 live chat.
Vanguard wins; simple, fund-focused platform with ISA/SIPP options and clear costs.
FP Markets wins; access to 15 exchanges contrasts Vanguard's single-exchange scope.
Vanguard wins; platform fees are capped at £375/year and fund costs start at 0.06%.
| 0.6 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPOLiPayPal | Bank transferDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerPOLi | Bank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | No |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC CySEC | FCA |
|---|
| Platforms | IRESS cTrader MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
FP Markets and Vanguard are closely matched overall; FP Markets provides access to 15 exchanges versus Vanguard's 1.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.1 / 5
Score 4.1 / 5
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