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Vanguard vs eToro 2024

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

October 30, 2024

In this head to head comparison of Vanguard vs eToro, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Vanguard
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $1.00
eToro
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $50.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00

Investment options

In the realm of online brokerage, Vanguard emerges as a more comprehensive option for traditional investment strategies, scoring 4.5 stars and ranking #9 out of 18 brokers for investment options according to StockBrokers.com. It offers a diverse array of traditional investment products such as stocks, mutual funds, options, and even margin trading, catering well to seasoned investors aiming for both long-term growth and stable returns. In contrast, eToro, rated 2.5 stars and ranked #17, feels more like a niche choice, particularly appealing to those interested in crypto trading with access to 26 different digital coins and the flexibility of fractional shares but lacks the traditional offerings such as mutual funds and advisory services available with Vanguard.

Vanguard stands out by offering a well-rounded suite of investment possibilities, including stock and options trading, mutual funds, OTC stocks, and the ability to trade on margin. Additionally, it provides valuable retirement planning tools with traditional and Roth IRA accounts, as well as advisor services to guide investors through their financial journey. These attributes make it a solid choice for those seeking a broad spectrum of traditional investments, with a notable emphasis on long-term financial planning and stability. However, its lack of engagement in cryptocurrency or fractional shares could be a drawback for investors wanting exposure to these newer asset classes.

Conversely, eToro caters to a different market, emphasizing accessibility and modernity with its support for cryptocurrency trading and fractional shares. This platform is ideal for beginners or those interested in new-age investments like crypto, despite not offering the breadth of traditional options that Vanguard does. Without options for mutual funds, OTC stocks, or any IRA accounts, eToro remains more focused on innovative trading experiences rather than comprehensive financial planning. Therefore, investors need to weigh the importance of traditional versus modern investment options when choosing between these two brokers.

Feature Vanguard logoVanguard
eToro logoeToro
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes No
Fractional Shares info No info Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Mutual Funds info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 26
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2024, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2024

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing online brokers Vanguard and eToro for their trading platforms and tools, eToro generally offers a more robust experience. eToro is rated 3.5 stars, ranking 12th out of 18 brokers on StockBrokers.com, reflecting its extensive features, whereas Vanguard, with a 2.5-star rating, ranks at the bottom. This distinction highlights eToro's broader array of charting tools and functionalities, making it a more attractive option for traders seeking comprehensive trading solutions.

Both Vanguard and eToro do not offer a Windows or Mac desktop downloadable trading platform, but they do provide browser-based platforms. For those who value practice and experimentation, eToro has the edge by offering paper trading while Vanguard does not. Watch lists on Vanguard provide more detail with nine columns compared to eToro's seven. However, eToro compensates by providing a greater number of charting technical indicators, with 46 compared to Vanguard's nine and offering a substantial 48 drawing tools, while Vanguard offers none. Additionally, eToro supports adding notes to charts and saving multiple chart profiles, features unavailable on Vanguard's platform.

Both platforms allow adding index overlays to charts; however, Vanguard additionally displays corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends, which eToro cannot. Neither broker supports setting custom date ranges, displaying historical trades on charts, or employing automated technical analysis. When it comes to editing an SMA study, eToro provides five customization fields compared to Vanguard's single option. Neither platform offers the creation of custom studies. These comparisons indicate that while Vanguard provides some useful features, eToro's platform is more feature-rich and may better suit traders who prioritize comprehensive charting and analytical capabilities.

Feature Vanguard logoVanguard
eToro logoeToro
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 9 7
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 9 46
Charting - Drawing Tools info 0 48
Platforms & Tools 2.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2024, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2024

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Beginners and education

Vanguard and eToro both offer a foundation for beginner investors seeking educational resources, yet they cater to different aspects of the learning experience. Vanguard provides stock education and a selection of educational videos, positioning it as a moderately robust option for investors wanting to enhance their stock knowledge. However, it lacks educational offerings in ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds, and does not support interactive features like webinars or educational quizzes. Its absence of paper trading tools and learning progress tracking contribute to its 3.5-star rating for education, placing it 13th out of 18 brokers according to StockBrokers.com rankings.

eToro, on the other hand, also offers stock education, supported by educational videos, yet shares similar limitations with Vanguard regarding ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds. Unlike Vanguard, eToro uniquely includes paper trading capabilities, providing beginners a hands-on learning environment despite having no offerings in webinars or quizzes. This lack of diversity in educational resources results in a lower 2.5-star rating for education and a rank of 16th out of 18 brokers, according to StockBrokers.com. Overall, both platforms offer distinct experiences tailored to specific learning needs, with Vanguard leaning slightly more towards stock education and eToro providing an interactive trading simulation environment.

Feature Vanguard logoVanguard
eToro logoeToro
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info No No
Education (Options) info No No
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info No No
Education 3.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2024

Stock trading apps

When comparing the stock trading app capabilities of Vanguard and eToro, eToro emerges as a more robust option. With a rating of 4.5 stars for its stock trading app, eToro significantly outperforms Vanguard's 3-star rating. Ranked #11 out of 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com, eToro offers a more comprehensive suite of features, making it a favorable choice for investors seeking advanced functionalities. Meanwhile, Vanguard ranks #18, indicative of its more limited mobile app capabilities.

Both eToro and Vanguard provide apps for iPhone and Android users, but eToro extends a broader range of features that set it apart. eToro supports mobile options trading, streaming quotes, stock alerts, and videos on demand, whereas Vanguard lacks these offerings. Additionally, eToro allows users to create custom watch lists and perform after-hours charting, tools unavailable through Vanguard's app.

In terms of charting capabilities, eToro stands out with 103 technical studies available on its mobile app, along with the ability to display stock comparisons on charts. Both brokers provide the option to view multiple time frames for charting, but only eToro equips traders with extensive technical analysis tools. While neither app supports viewing charts in landscape mode or on the Apple Watch, eToro's overall functionality and robust feature set make it a superior choice for active traders and investors.

Feature Vanguard logoVanguard
eToro logoeToro
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Stock Alerts info No Yes
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 103
Mobile Trading Apps 3/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2024

Fees

Choosing between Vanguard and eToro largely depends on your specific needs and investment strategy. Vanguard stands out for investors who prioritize no minimum deposit fees and no charges for regular stock trades, making it a cost-effective choice for those starting their investment journey. However, it does apply a $25 annual fee for IRAs unless specific conditions are met. In contrast, eToro requires a $50 minimum deposit but mirrors Vanguard with no charge for regular stock trades. One of eToro's strengths is its zero-fee structure on options contracts, which may appeal to investors focused on options trading.

When examining other fees, Vanguard implements a higher margin interest rate, which varies depending on the balance. This offering is not available at eToro, which may benefit those seeking a straightforward platform without margin account complexities. Vanguard also presents a stark contrast in account transfer fees, charging nothing for partial transfers but a $100 full transfer fee, whereas eToro maintains a consistent $75 charge for both partial and full transfers. This could be a significant consideration for investors planning to move their portfolios.

Moreover, both Vanguard and eToro provide a zero-cost experience for options exercise and assignment fees, which is favorable for options traders. However, Vanguard's charge per options contract at $1 may influence frequent options traders to consider eToro, which offers these trades at no cost. Ultimately, the choice between Vanguard and eToro hinges on understanding each platform's cost structure and choosing the one that aligns with your financial and investment goals.

Feature Vanguard logoVanguard
eToro logoeToro
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $50.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $1.00 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee $25.00 info
IRA Closure Fee $0.00
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2024

Day Trading

When considering Vanguard and eToro for day trading, it's clear that both platforms have limitations tailored more for long-term investors rather than active traders. Vanguard does not provide streaming time and sales for stocks, streaming live TV, direct market routing, ladder trading, trading hotkeys for keyboard trade entry, level 2 quotes, or strategy backtesting, whether basic or advanced. Consequently, Vanguard fundamentally lacks the essential tools that day traders rely on for high-frequency trading and detailed market analysis.

Similarly, eToro doesn't offer features like direct market routing, ladder trading, trading hotkeys, level 2 quotes, or order liquidity rebates, which are crucial for day traders. While eToro offers streaming time and sales for stocks, it falls short in other areas vital for day trading. Both Vanguard and eToro lack short locator tools and strategy backtesting capabilities, underscoring their focus on different trading strategies that do not necessitate sophisticated day trading functionalities.

Feature Vanguard logoVanguard
eToro logoeToro
Streaming Time & Sales info No Yes
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2024

Market Research

When comparing the market research capabilities of Vanguard and eToro, Vanguard emerges as the more comprehensive option for traditional investment research, while eToro excels in modern, socially-driven analytics. Vanguard offers a broad spectrum of research tools, including stock, ETF, mutual fund, pink sheets/OTCBB, and bond research, along with a full suite of screeners for trade ideas. On the other hand, eToro distinguishes itself by leveraging social media sentiment data and ESG research, appealing to investors who prioritize these insights. While Vanguard provides more traditional analytical resources and consistently ranks higher in market research evaluations, eToro offers unique tools that cater to a different kind of investor.

Vanguard is a strong contender for investors interested in a robust selection of research tools. It covers a wide range of investments, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, with the added benefit of downloadable PDF reports for stock research. However, these are limited to two reports. Vanguard also provides a detailed look at portfolio allocation by asset class, which eToro lacks. Although Vanguard does not incorporate social media sentiment or ESG research into its offerings, the broad coverage and reliable screeners position Vanguard as a solid choice for traditional market research needs.

eToro, in contrast, provides a contemporary spin on market research with its integration of social media sentiment data and a focus on ESG considerations, which can offer valuable insights for investors who are increasingly interested in these areas. Despite lacking comprehensive support for traditional instruments like mutual funds, pink sheets/OTCBB, and bonds and having no stock or ETF screeners, eToro caters to a modern, socially-conscious investor base. Both platforms offer excellent stock and ETF research capabilities, but their approach and depth of coverage vary significantly, allowing investors to choose based on their research preferences and investment style.

Feature Vanguard logoVanguard
eToro logoeToro
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Screener - Bonds info Yes No
Research 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Banking

When evaluating the banking capabilities of online brokers Vanguard and eToro, both platforms show limited traditional banking features. Neither Vanguard nor eToro offers checking or savings accounts, and neither provides debit or credit card services. Mortgage loans are also absent from their offerings. However, Vanguard differentiates itself by providing Certificates of Deposit (CDs), a service that eToro does not offer. This distinction may be a crucial factor for those seeking CD investment options alongside their brokerage services.

Feature Vanguard logoVanguard
eToro logoeToro
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Debit Cards info No No
Credit Cards info No No
Mortgage Loans info No No
CDs info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2024

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 18 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Vanguard is better than eToro. Vanguard finished with an overall score of 80.3%, while eToro finished with a score of 76.7%.

Vanguard is aimed squarely at buy-and-hold investors, and its platform reflects that focus. Vanguard is known for its low-cost funds, and the investment platform is really built for those looking to invest solely in mutual funds and ETFs.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Vanguard or eToro?

When comparing online brokers, Vanguard does not provide cryptocurrency trading, offering 0 coins for investment, whereas eToro caters to crypto enthusiasts with access to 26 coins for trading.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2024

Does Vanguard or eToro offer IRAs?

Vanguard offers both traditional and Roth IRA accounts with a $25 annual fee but no closure fee, while eToro does not offer IRA accounts at all.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2024

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Compare

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Overall Rating Vanguard eToro
Overall 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 2.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 3/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Customer Service 3/5 Stars N/A
Education 3.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Vanguard Review eToro Review
Broker Screenshots Vanguard eToro
Trading Platform & Tools Gallery (click to expand)
Research Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Vanguard eToro
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $50.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $0.00 N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee Varies info N/A
Options (Per Contract) $1.00 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) (Not offered) (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $25 info $0
Margin Rates Vanguard eToro
Margin Rate Under $25,000 13.75% info Not offered
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 13.25% Not offered
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 12.75% Not offered
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 12.25% Not offered
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 11.75% Not offered
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 10.5% Not offered
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 Varies info Not offered
Account Fees Vanguard eToro
IRA Annual Fee $25.00 info
IRA Closure Fee $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $0.00 $75.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $100.00 info $75.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Vanguard eToro
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes No
Fractional Shares info No info Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 0
Futures Trading info No No
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 26
Mutual Funds (No Load) info N/A 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info N/A 0
Bonds (US Treasury) info Yes No
Bonds (Corporate) info Yes No
Bonds (Municipal) info Yes No
Traditional IRAs info Yes No
Roth IRAs info Yes No
Advisor Services info Yes No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types Vanguard eToro
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes No
Order Type - After Hours info Yes No
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info No Yes
Order Type - OCO info No No
Order Type - OTO info No No
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes No
Beginners Vanguard eToro
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info No No
Education (Options) info No No
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Retirement Calculator info Yes No
Investor Dictionary info No No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info No No
Webinars (Archived) info No No
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps Vanguard eToro
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info No No
Trading - Simple Options info No Yes
Trading - Complex Options info No No
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info No Yes
Stock App Features Vanguard eToro
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info No Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No Yes
Stock Alerts info No Yes
Option Chains Viewable info No Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info No Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info No Yes
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info No Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization info No No
Stock App Charting Vanguard eToro
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info No No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 103
Charting - Study Customizations info No Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No Yes
Trading Platforms Vanguard eToro
Active Trading Platform info N/A N/A
Desktop Trading Platform info No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No Yes
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 9 7
Stock Chart Features Vanguard eToro
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 9 46
Charting - Drawing Tools info 0 48
Charting - Notes info No Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info No No
Charting - Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Custom Date Range info No No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No No
Charting - Automated Analysis info No No
Charting - Save Profiles info No Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info No Yes
Charting - Study Customizations info 1 5
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading Vanguard eToro
Streaming Time & Sales info No Yes
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info No No
Trade Hotkeys info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview Vanguard eToro
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes No
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Bonds info Yes No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info Yes No
Stock Research Vanguard eToro
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 2 0
Stock Research - Earnings info Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders info No Yes
Stock Research - Social info No Yes
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info No Yes
Stock Research - SEC Filings info No Yes
ETF Research Vanguard eToro
ETFs - Strategy Overview info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info No No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info No No
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info No No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info No No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info No No
ETFs - Sector Exposure info No No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info No No
ETFs - Ratings info No Yes
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info No No
ETFs - PDF Reports info No No
Mutual Fund Research Vanguard eToro
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info Yes No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info No No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info Yes No
Options Trading Vanguard eToro
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View info No No
Option Chains - Streaming info No No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 9 0
Option Chains - Greeks info 0 4
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info No Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info No No
Option Probability Analysis info No No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info No No
Option Positions - Greeks info No No
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info No No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info No No
Option Positions - Rolling info No No
Option Positions - Grouping info No No
Banking Vanguard eToro
Bank (Member FDIC) info No No
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Credit Cards info No No
Debit Cards info No No
Mortgage Loans info No No
Customer Service Vanguard eToro
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes No
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info No Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info No Yes
24/7 Support info No No
Overall Vanguard eToro
Overall 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 2.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 3/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Vanguard Review eToro Review
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