Long-term buy-and-hold investors who want the lowest expense ratios and are comfortable with a basic platform.
⚠ Not Ideal For
Active traders, beginners who need hand-holding, or anyone who values a polished app experience.
WiseIQ Verdict: Vanguard
Vanguard invented the index fund and remains the gold standard for low-cost, long-term investing. If you plan to buy and hold index funds for 20+ years, Vanguard's expense ratios are unmatched. However, the platform and app are dated compared to competitors like Fidelity and Schwab. For most investors, Fidelity offers similar low costs with a much better user experience.
Compare All Brokerages Side-by-SideSee how Vanguard stacks up against Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, and more.
Vanguard charges $0 commissions on stock and ETF trades, which is now the industry standard. $0 is the commission rate for standard trades. Always check the full fee schedule for options, mutual funds, and margin rates before opening an account.
Investment Selection
Vanguard offers access to stocks, ETFs, and options. The breadth of investment selection varies — see the key stats above for specifics. Before choosing a brokerage, confirm it offers the investment types you plan to use.
Platform and Mobile App
The Vanguard platform has a rating of 3.9/5.0 for mobile app quality. The platform is functional but basic — adequate for most investors.
Customer Service
Customer service is rated 4.2/5.0. Support is available via phone and chat during business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vanguard is known for inventing the index fund (founder John Bogle launched the first index mutual fund in 1976) and for having the lowest expense ratios in the industry. Vanguard is also unique in that it is owned by its fund shareholders, not outside investors.
Vanguard is not ideal for beginners due to its dated website and app. However, it is excellent for beginners who want to simply buy and hold a few index funds for decades. If you need a better user experience, consider Fidelity, which offers similar low costs with a much more modern platform.
The most popular Vanguard ETFs are VTI (Total US Stock Market), VXUS (Total International Stock Market), BND (Total Bond Market), and VOO (S&P 500). These four ETFs can form the core of a diversified long-term portfolio.
Vanguard has no minimum to open a brokerage account or IRA. However, most Vanguard mutual funds require a $3,000 minimum investment. Vanguard ETFs can be purchased for the price of one share.
📋 Methodology
WiseIQ evaluates brokerages across 6 categories: commissions and fees, investment selection, research and tools, mobile app, customer service, and ease of use. Ratings are based on hands-on testing, fee schedule analysis, and comparison with industry peers. Updated April 2026.