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TD Ameritrade vs Vanguard 2023

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

August 29, 2023

Is TD Ameritrade better than Vanguard? After testing 18 of the best online brokers, our analysis finds that Vanguard (80.3%) is better than TD Ameritrade (N/A). 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.

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Compare

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Overall Rating TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Overall 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review TD Ameritrade Review Vanguard Review
Broker Screenshots TD Ameritrade Vanguard
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 TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $6.95 $0.00
Mutual Fund Trade Fee Varies Varies
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $1.00
Futures (Per Contract) $2.25 (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $25 $25
Margin Rates TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Margin Rate Under $25,000 14.75% info 13.75% info
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 14.25% 13.25%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 13.25% 12.75%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 13% 12.25%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 12.75% 11.75%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 Varies info 10.5%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 Varies info Varies info
Account Fees TD Ameritrade Vanguard
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $20.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $0.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $75.00 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info No No
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 4
Futures Trading info Yes No
Forex Trading info Yes No
Crypto Trading info No No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 0
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 3698 N/A
Mutual Funds (Total) info 5876 N/A
Bonds (US Treasury) info Yes Yes
Bonds (Corporate) info Yes Yes
Bonds (Municipal) info Yes Yes
Advisor Services info Yes Yes
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes Yes
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info Yes No
Order Type - OCO info Yes No
Order Type - OTO info Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes Yes
Beginners TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes No
Education (Options) info Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Bonds) info Yes No
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary info Yes No
Paper Trading info Yes No
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes No
Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Progress Tracking info Yes No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info Yes No
Stock Trading Apps TD Ameritrade Vanguard
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info Yes No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes No
Trading - Simple Options info Yes No
Trading - Complex Options info Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info Yes No
Stock App Features TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes No
Stream Live TV info Yes No
Videos on Demand info Yes No
Stock Alerts info Yes No
Option Chains Viewable info Yes No
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes No
Watch List (Streaming) info Yes No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes No
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 514 9
Stock App Charting TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Charting - After-Hours info Yes No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 400 0
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info Yes No
Trading Platforms TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Active Trading Platform info thinkorswim N/A
Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info Yes No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info Yes No
Trade Journal info Yes No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 514 9
Stock Chart Features TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 429 9
Charting - Drawing Tools info 24 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events info Yes Yes
Charting - Custom Date Range info Yes No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info Yes No
Charting - Automated Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations info 9 1
Charting - Custom Studies info Yes No
Day Trading TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Streaming Time & Sales info Yes No
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info Yes No
Ladder Trading info Yes No
Trade Hot Keys info Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info Yes No
Short Locator info No No
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes Yes
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes Yes
Screener - Bonds info Yes Yes
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info Yes Yes
Stock Research TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 6 2
Stock Research - Earnings info Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders info Yes No
Stock Research - Social info Yes No
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info Yes No
ETF Research TD Ameritrade Vanguard
ETFs - Strategy Overview info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info No No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Sector Exposure info Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info Yes No
ETFs - Ratings info Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports info Yes No
Mutual Fund Research TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info Yes Yes
Options Trading TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming info Yes No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 35 9
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 0
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info Yes No
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks info Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info Yes No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info Yes No
Option Positions - Rolling info Yes No
Option Positions - Grouping info Yes No
Banking TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Bank (Member FDIC) info No No
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info No No
Credit Cards info Yes No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Mortgage Loans info No No
Customer Service TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes No
24/7 Support info Yes No
Overall TD Ameritrade Vanguard
Overall 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review TD Ameritrade Review Vanguard Review
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TD Ameritrade vs Vanguard Comparison

Comparing brokers side by side is no easy task. We spend hundreds of hours each year testing the platforms, mobile apps, trading tools and general ease of use among online brokerages, as well as comparing commissions and fees, to find the best online broker.

Though many U.S. brokers offer basic trading features, such as an app, charting tools, stock research and educational content, the depth of those features can vary widely. Let's compare TD Ameritrade vs Vanguard.

Is TD Ameritrade or Vanguard better for beginners?

In stock trading, the more you know, the better you’ll do. Taking advantage of resources like articles, webinars, videos and interactive elements is a great way to shorten the learning curve. In our analysis, we examine the availability of several different types of educational materials.

For 2023, our review finds that Vanguard offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginning investors than TD Ameritrade. TD Ameritrade offers investors access to Paper Trading, Videos, Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Mutual Funds), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement), while Vanguard offers investors access to Videos, Education (Stocks) and Education (Retirement).

What about TD Ameritrade vs Vanguard pricing?

TD Ameritrade and Vanguard charge the same amount for regular stock trades, $0.00. Option contracts are pricier at Vanguard, costing $1.00 per contract versus $0.65 per contract at TD Ameritrade. For futures, TD Ameritrade charges $2.25 per contract and Vanguard charges (Not offered) per contract. For a deeper dive, see our best brokers for free stock trading guide.

Does TD Ameritrade or Vanguard offer a wider range of investment options?

Looking at a full range of investment options, including order types and international trading, our research has found that Vanguard offers a more comprehensive offering than TD Ameritrade. TD Ameritrade ranks #N/A out of 18 brokers for our Investment Options category, while Vanguard ranks #9.

TD Ameritrade offers investors access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds, Futures Trading, Forex Trading and Advisor Services, while Vanguard offers investors access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds and Advisor Services. Neither have Fractional Shares Looking at Mutual Funds, Vanguard trails TD Ameritrade in its offering of no transaction fee (NTF) mutual funds, with TD Ameritrade offering 3610 and Vanguard offering .

Do TD Ameritrade and Vanguard offer cryptocurrency?

In our analysis of top U.S. brokerages, we research whether each broker offers the ability to trade cash cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin and ethereum. Though crypto has risen steadily in popularity, availability still varies from broker to broker. Our review finds that neither TD Ameritrade and Vanguard offer crypto trading.

Which trading platform is better: TD Ameritrade or Vanguard?

To compare the day trading platforms of TD Ameritrade and Vanguard, we focused on trading tools and functionality across both web and desktop-based platforms. Popular day trading platform tools include streaming real-time quotes, stock alerts, trading hotkeys, direct market routing, streaming time and sales, customizable watch lists, backtesting, and fully functional charting packages, among many others. For day trading, Vanguard offers a better experience.

Does TD Ameritrade or Vanguard offer a better stock trading app?

After testing 25 features across the stock trading apps of TD Ameritrade and Vanguard, we found Vanguard to be better overall. The best stock market apps are easy to use, have excellent design, and deliver a fully featured online trading experience. TD Ameritrade ranks #N/A out of 18 brokers, while Vanguard ranks #17.

TD Ameritrade Trading App Gallery

Vanguard Trading App Gallery

Which broker is better for researching stocks?

For research, Vanguard offers superior market research than TD Ameritrade. TD Ameritrade ranks #N/A and Vanguard ranks #9.

Over the years, we've found that the best brokers provide rich market commentary, a variety of third-party research reports, and thorough quote screens that are not just easy to navigate, but that also include a comprehensive selection of fundamental data. Robust stock, ETFs, and mutual fund screeners are also must-haves for trade idea generation.

How do TD Ameritrade and Vanguard compare in terms of minimum deposit required?

TD Ameritrade requires a minimum deposit of $0.00, while Vanguard requires a minimum deposit of $0.00. From our testing, we found that SoFi is the only broker that requires a minimum deposit.

Which broker offers better margin rates for accounts under $25,000?

TD Ameritrade charges 14.75% for accounts under $25,000 while Vanguard charges a margin rate of 13.75%. The industry average of the 18 brokers we track is 9%.

Does TD Ameritrade offer fractional shares? Does Vanguard?

Fractional shares are not offered by either broker. Our research has found that 41% of brokers offer fractional shares investing. Fractional shares allow traders to buy a part of a whole share of stock. For example, if Amazon is trading at $1,000, you could buy half a share for $500.

Can you trade penny stocks with TD Ameritrade or Vanguard?

Both TD Ameritrade and Vanguard allow you to trade penny stocks. TD Ameritrade charges $6.95 per trade while Vanguard charges $0.00. Penny stocks are companies whose shares trade for under $5 and are listed over the counter (OTC). For brokers that do offer penny stock trades, the average commission is $3.

Does either broker offer banking?

Online banking can be a benefit for investors, and some brokerages do provide banking services to customers. Checking Accounts, Debit Cards and Credit Cards are offered by TD Ameritrade while Vanguard offers neither of these. Neither have Savings Accounts and Mortgage Loans.

Which broker offers stronger customer service?

StockBrokers.com partners with customer experience research group Confero to conduct phone tests from locations across the United States to thoroughly evaluate the quality and speed of brokerage customer service. (Read more about How We Test.) Here are the results of our current testing.

TD Ameritrade was rated 1st out of 14 brokers, with an overall score of 9.3 out of 10.

Vanguard was rated 12th out of 14 brokers, with an overall score of 6.4 out of 10.

Is TD Ameritrade good?

TD Ameritrade delivers $0 trades, fantastic trading platforms, excellent market research, industry-leading education for beginners and reliable customer service, making it one of our top overall brokers in 2023. Note, however, that TD Ameritrade was acquired in 2020 by Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade client accounts are currently being migrated in batches to Schwab, which has retained the standout thinkorswim platform.

In the 2023 StockBrokers.com Annual Review, TD Ameritrade was rated No. 1 for Platforms & Tools, Mobile Trading Apps, Ease of Use, Beginners, and Customer Service. It also ranked among Best in Class for Commissions & Fees, Research, Investment Options, Education, Active Trading and Overall. TD Ameritrade also won two StockBrokers.com Industry Awards: No. 1 for Phone Support and Trader App.

Is Vanguard good?

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.

TD Ameritrade vs Vanguard Winner

Overall winner: Vanguard

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