GO Markets and Vanguard square off in a clash between platform breadth and cost-focused investing. The tension centers on regulation, fees, and long‑term access to markets.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose GO Markets if you want short selling, advanced charting, and access to six exchanges. GO Markets also provides multilingual support.
Choose if…
Choose Vanguard if you want ISA and SIPP wrappers, dividend reinvestment, and a proprietary platform.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 3.5/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $200 | $100▼ lower |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | $5/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | GO 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 | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
Vanguard rates 4.1/5 versus 3.5/5 for GO Markets. Vanguard edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
GO Markets starts from 0. Current spread data is not available for Vanguard. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
Vanguard has $100, while GO Markets requires at least $200. This makes Vanguard more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both GO 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, two factors stand out: Vanguard requires a lower minimum deposit ($100), lowering the barrier to entry, and GO Markets provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
GO Markets lists maximum leverage of 500:1, 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.
GO Markets charges $5 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.
GO Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Vanguard supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. GO Markets has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Vanguard has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Neither GO 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 GO 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 is best for safety & regulation with FCA oversight and FSCS protection.
Vanguard wins for long-term investors thanks to ISA and SIPP access and broad fund options.
GO Markets is best for active traders with multiple platforms and short selling.
Vanguard wins for beginners with a $100 minimum and simple index-fund focus.
GO Markets wins for global market access with six exchanges and international share CFDs.
Vanguard, due to the lowest platform fees and low fund expense ratios.
| 0.5 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPayPal | Bank transferDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | 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 FSC | FCA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
Vanguard is the higher-rated overall, scoring 4.1 to 3.5 for GO Markets. Its higher Trust & Regulation and Fees & Spreads scores explain the gap.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.5 / 5
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