Save money and be informed. CreditDonkey is a personal finance comparison and reviews website. This website is made possible through financial relationships with card issuers and some of the products and services mentioned on this site. Advertiser Disclosure†

M1 Finance vs Vanguard

M1 Finance is a no-fee investing app that allows you to choose your own investments. How does it compare to Vanguard? Read our comparison chart below.

M1 Finance offers free automated investing with no commissions or account fees. M1 lets you select your own investments and their automation will manage it for you. This is great for investors who want a say. The downside is that there are no human advisors. The minimum to start is just $100.

While Vanguard offers $0 commission on stock and ETF online trades, $0 commission on Vanguard mutual funds, and no minimum deposit.

Compare M1 Finance with Vanguard, side-by-side. Read on for an in-depth look, including ratings, reviews, pros and cons.

 M1 Finance
 Visit SiteLearn More
 

M1 Finance

Vanguard

SPECIAL OFFER
M1 Investment Account - Up to $500 Bonus - Learn More

Read M1 Finance Review

Norton Internet Security 60-day free subscription - Learn More

Read Vanguard Review

 

Benefits and Features

Stock Trading
$0
$0
Options Trading
No
$0 + $1-per-contract fee. Discounts available if you have more than $1 million assets invested in Vanguard ETFs and mutual funds
Annual Fee
None
 
Cryptocurrency Trading
Yes
 
Minimum Deposit
$100
$0
Mutual Fund Trading
No
$0 for Vanguard mutual funds
Commission Free ETFsAll U.S. listed ETFsAround 1,800 ETFs from about 100 other companies
Phone SupportMonday - Friday 9:30 am to 4 pm EST 
Live Chat Support
No
 
Email Support
Yes
 
Human Advisors
No
 
Assets Under Management
$4.5 Billion
 
Tax Loss HarvestingNo, but offers tax minimization features 
Goal Tracker
No
 
Automatic Deposits
Yes
 
Broker Assisted Trades
Included
$25.00
Good ForDIY investing with passive portfolio management 
Inactivity Fee$50 (for accounts with less than $50 and no activity for 90+ days)
$0
Maintenance Fee
$0
$20/year. Waived if account owner signs up for e-delivery service OR have at least $10,000 in Vanguard ETFs and mutual funds
Online Platform
Yes
 
iPhone App
Yes (4.6 stars, 33.3k ratings)
 
Android App
Yes (4.5 stars, 15.7k ratings)
 
BankingAll users can open a M1 Spend account with free debit card. No monthly service fees and no balance requirements.
No
Mobile App
Check
Yes
Desktop App 
Yes
Two-Factor Authentication
Yes
 
Forex Trading 
Yes
Futures Trading 
No
Customer Service 
Monday-Friday 8am -10pm ET
Locations
No
No
Online Community
No
No
Seminars
No
Yes
Virtual Trading
No
No
Fractional Shares
Yes
 
Taxable Accounts
Yes
 
401k Plans
No
 
IRA Accounts
Yes
 
Roth IRA Accounts
Yes
 
SEP IRA Accounts
Yes
 
Trust Accounts
Yes
 
529 Plans
No
 
 

CreditDonkey® Reviews

 M1 Finance
Annual FeeStarStarStarStarStar
Minimum DepositStarStarStarStarStar
Mobile AppStarStarStarStarHalf StarStarStarStarEmpty StarEmpty Star
Customer ServiceStarStarStarHalf StarEmpty Star
Ease of UseStarStarStarStarHalf StarStarStarStarStarStar
ResearchStarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarStarStarStarHalf StarEmpty Star
Stock TradingStarStarStarEmpty StarEmpty Star
Options TradingStarStarStarStarEmpty Star
Mutual Fund TradingStarStarStarStarStar
Commissions and FeesStarStarStarStarEmpty Star
Pros & ConsPros:
  • Choose your own investments
  • Can invest in individual stocks
  • No account fees
Cons:
  • No research
  • No human advisors
  • Can only trade once a day
Pros:
  • Large selection of mutual funds and commission-free ETFs
  • Broker assistance is available at no additional cost
  • Easy to use
Cons:
  • Commission structure penalizes frequent traders
  • Customer service wait times
  • Commission costs on non-Vanguard investment options
Bottom LineNo-fee investing app that allows you to choose your own investments... Read full reviewGood choice for ETF and mutual fund investors interested in Vanguard-sponsored investments... Read full review
 Visit SiteLearn More

Blank fields may indicate the information is not available, not applicable, or not known to CreditDonkey. Please visit the product website for details.

M1 Finance: Pricing information from published website as of 12/26/2023.

Vanguard: Pricing information from published websites as of 10/17/2023.

M1 Finance

M1 Investment Account - Up to $500 Bonus

Open a new M1 investment account. Deposit $10,000 or more into the account within 14 calendar days of account opening. Promotional credit will depend on the deposited value made into the account.

Deposited ValuePromotional Credit
$10,000 - $29,999.99$75
$30,000 - $49,999.99$150
$50,000 - $99,999.99$250
$100,000+$500

This offer is only for customers who have never registered for an M1 user account.

Expires 12/31/2024
M1 Finance

Commission Free Stock Trading

M1 Finance allows investors the choice of ETFs and stocks. M1 charges no management fees or commission.

M1 Finance

Get M1 Plus Free for First 3 Months

New M1 customers get M1 Plus for free on their first 3 months, then it's just $3 a month.

M1 Plus is a paid membership that confers benefits for products and services offered by M1 Finance LLC, M1 Spend LLC and M1 Digital LLC, each a separate, affiliated, and wholly-owned operating subsidiary of M1 Holdings Inc. "M1" refers to M1 Holdings Inc., and its affiliates.

*Your free trial (a $9 value) begins the date you enroll in the M1 Plus subscription, and ends 3 months after (“Free Trial”). Upon expiry of the Free Trial, your account is automatically billed a monthly subscription fee of $3 unless you elect annual billing of $36 or cancel your subscription under your Membership details in the M1 Platform. We'll remind you when your renewal date is approaching.

Which is Better: M1 Finance or Vanguard?

Still need help deciding which investing is better? Read the in-depth reviews below. You may also be interested in comparing M1 Finance or Robinhood.

In short: M1 Finance's mobile app is notable. Vanguard's research is worth mentioning.


Articles on M1 Finance

M1 Finance Reviews

Is M1 Finance legitimate and safe? Find out the pros, cons, fees, and more. An essential read for beginners interested in M1 Finance.

Best M1 Finance Pie

M1 Finance is a fee-free investment app offering pre-selected portfolios called "pies." What's the best M1 Finance Pie? Find out.

M1 Finance Alternatives

M1 Finance is a popular app for fee-free investing. But is there a better option for you? Find out in this detailed guide to M1 Finance alternatives.

Articles on Vanguard

Vanguard Reviews

Vanguard Brokerage may be a full-service broker, but typically long-term investors preferring ETFs and mutual funds see the greatest return on their investment with them.

Which Do You Think is Best?





You Might Also Like

Best Investment Accounts

Best Investment Accounts

Looking to open an investment account? In this list, review the best investment accounts to choose from and how to pick the right one for you.
How to Invest in Index Funds

How to Invest in Index Funds

Index funds are a low-cost and passive way to invest. If you're afraid of picking the wrong investments, learn how index funds may be a safer option.
Small Investments That Make Money

Small Investments That Make Money

You don't need to be rich to start investing. Here are 15 easy ways to invest small amounts of money.
Can I Have Multiple Trading Accounts

Can I Have Multiple Trading Accounts

Is it a good (or bad) idea to have multiple trading accounts? Find out what you need to know about having two or more investment accounts.
How to Invest Money

How to Invest Money

Invest smartly, even if you're new to the game. Discover how to begin investing in stocks and real estate with little money.
Free Stock Trading App

Free Stock Trading App

Looking for the best stock trading apps for free? Elevate your investment game with these top choices.
Best Ways to Invest $10,000

Best Ways to Invest $10,000

Discover 15 savvy ways to make your $10k grow. This expertly curated guide will help you maximize your returns.

Next Page:

About CreditDonkey
CreditDonkey is a personal finance comparison website. We publish data-driven analysis to help you save money & make savvy decisions.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

†Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditDonkey receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CreditDonkey does not include all companies or all offers that may be available in the marketplace.

*See the card issuer's online application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However, all information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button you can review the terms and conditions on the card issuer's website.

CreditDonkey does not know your individual circumstances and provides information for general educational purposes only. CreditDonkey is not a substitute for, and should not be used as, professional legal, credit or financial advice. You should consult your own professional advisors for such advice.

About Us | Reviews | Deals | Tips | Privacy | Do Not Sell My Info | Terms | Contact Us
(888) 483-4925 | 680 East Colorado Blvd, 2nd Floor | Pasadena, CA 91101
© 2024 CreditDonkey Inc. All Rights Reserved.