Vanguard Personal Investor review
- Standard brokerage fee
- $9.00
- Available markets
- ASX
- Support
- Phone
Our verdict
We took a look at the features and fees of the latest share trading platform in Australia.
Index fund mammoth Vanguard Group's share trading platform offers zero broker fees on ETFs and a $9 flat fee for Australian shares.
Another highlight is its auto-invest feature that lets you invest regular amounts into a Vanguard managed fund or ETF. On the downside, there's a fairly large minimum investment of $200 per transaction.
Although its zero fee offering for ETFs should appeal to investors, there's a big catch. Vanguard Personal Investor only offers Vanguard ETFs and major Australian shares. If you want to invest in small, mid-cap or global stocks, you'll need to look elsewhere.
Pros
-
$0 brokerage for Vanguard ETF purchase orders
-
Auto-investment option into ETFs and managed funds
-
Low brokerage for ASX stocks
Cons
-
Only Vanguard funds available
-
Only major Australian shares available
-
Account fee of 0.10%
-
Few features, minimalistic design
Details
Platform details
| Type of broker | Online |
| Asset Class | ASX shares, mFunds, ETFs |
| Available markets | ASX |
| Standard brokerage fee | $9.00 |
| Support | Phone |
Vanguard Personal Investor scored in the Finder Awards
The Vanguard Personal Investor was highly commended for Best ETF Investing Platform in the 2026 Finder Awards.
Full list of 2026 winnersVanguard Personal Investor is the investing platform from one of the world's largest managed funds providers, and its headline feature is zero brokerage when you buy Vanguard ETFs.
But as always, there's a big catch – you only get free brokerage if you're investing in Vanguard exchange traded funds (ETFs) or managed funds.
The brokerage fee to buy ASX shares is $9 per trade and you can't access any non-Vanguard ETFs.
Also read: Compare share trading platforms to get the lowest fees
What are the fees?
- Brokerage fee for Vanguard ETFs: $0
- Brokerage fee for ASX shares: $9
- Account fee: None on Vanguard managed funds, Vanguard ETFs and the Vanguard Cash Account, but an annual percentage-based account fee applies to ASX-listed direct shares
- Withdrawals/deposits: $0
- Account opening/closing: $0
- Minimum investment: A minimum initial investment applies to each investment option, with lower minimums for additional investments – check Vanguard's Investor Guide for the current amounts
- ETF management fees (MER): Business as usual – there are no discounts here
In a note to the press at launch, Vanguard Australia’s Managing Director Frank Kolimago said it was an important step for the company toward catering for customers.
“For more than 20 years, Vanguard has helped Australians work toward their financial goals, but we recognise that we could make investing with us a more seamless experience," said Kolimago.
“We are launching this new offer to investors during a time when market volatility is high, as the uncertainty of the impacts of the coronavirus continue to roil markets. But this challenging period will eventually pass. And Personal Investor will help long term investors to be well positioned to benefit when it does.”
Which shares are available on the Vanguard Personal Investor?
According to a Vanguard spokesperson, you only have access to the 300 biggest ASX-listed companies by market cap – also known as the S&P/ASX 300 index. Seemingly the only ETFs available are ASX-listed Vanguard funds.
Vanguard sets a minimum for your first investment in each managed fund, ETF or share, and a much lower minimum for later investments into the same option.
You can't buy international shares directly, but you can get global exposure through Vanguard's international shares ETFs and managed funds.
Are the fees worth it?
While common in the US, apps with zero brokerage fees are a rarity in Australia and mostly in the realm of robo-advisers or specific to US stocks only, for example, Stake or Interactive Brokers.
On the plus side, it could be a good strategy for investors that want to regularly transfer money into their ETF of choice over the course of a year.
Average broker fees in Australia are around $10-$30, depending on the size of the investment. This means frequent trades or investments into an ETF can have a big impact on profits over the course of a year.
The other fee worth mentioning is the ETF management fee (MER), which is charged by every ETF provider and taken out of the fund's returns.
You can check out our list of Australia's cheapest ETFs here and take a look at what kinds of fees are usually charged – bearing in mind, performance figures are post-fee.
Personal Investor clients can also use the Vanguard Australia mobile app, which is available on iOS and Android, to buy and sell investments and check their account.
Sources
Your reviews
Kylie Finder
Investments Analyst
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