Scottrade vs Vanguard
Scottrade is a solid choice for cost-conscious traders who are familiar with online investing. How does it compare to Vanguard? Read our comparison chart below.
Scottrade offers stock trades at $6.95 per trade and more than 275 branch office locations. There is a $2,500 minimum deposit, no maintenance fee and no inactivity fee.
While Vanguard offers low stock trade prices (starting at just $2) for investors with account balances over $500k. For those with smaller balances, it's best for less active traders, as trade prices go up after 25 trades/year. Vanguard offers 125+ no-transaction-fee mutual fees and 55+ commission-free ETFs. There is no minimum deposit and service fees can be waived by signing up for electronic statements.
Compare Scottrade with Vanguard, side-by-side. Read on for an in-depth look, including ratings, reviews, pros and cons.
Scottrade | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
Open an Account - | ||
Benefits and Features | ||
| Stock Trading | Less than $50,000: $7 per trade for the first 25 trades per year, then $20. $50k - $500k: All trades $7. $500k - $1M: All trades $2. $1M - $5M: First 25 trades per year free, then $2. $5M+: First 100 trades per year free, then $2 | |
| Options Trading | Less than $500,000: $7 + $1 per contract. $500,000+: $2 + $1 per contract | |
| Minimum Deposit | $2,500 for brokerage accounts No account minimum for retirement accounts | |
| Mutual Fund Trading | No Fee to Buy/Sell/Exchange No-Load, No-Transaction Fee Funds $17 to Buy/Sell/Exchange No-Load Funds $0 to Buy Load Funds and $17 to Sell/Exchange Load Funds | $0 for no-transaction-fee funds. For transaction-fee funds: $20 for account balances less than $500,000; $8 for account balances $500,000+ |
| Commission Free ETFs | Around 1,800 ETFs from about 100 other companies | |
| Penny Stocks | $6.95 per trade + 0.5% principal for any stock trading under $1 | |
| Broker Assisted Trades | ||
| Customer Service | ||
| Inactivity Fee | ||
| Maintenance Fee | $20/year. Waived if account owner signs up for e-delivery service OR have at least $10,000 in Vanguard ETFs and mutual funds | |
| Banking | Scottrade Bank has no monthly maintenance fees, ATM reimbursement program, online bill pay, and mobile banking. | |
| Mobile App |  | |
| Desktop App | ScottradeELITE (requires you execute 9 or more stock or option trades during the past 3 months, have $25,000 in your primary account, or have $15,000 in your primary account and combined linked assets of $25,000 or more) | |
| Forex Trading | ||
| Futures Trading | ||
| Locations | ||
| Online Community | ||
| Seminars | In-person branch seminars, online events and live webinars | |
| Virtual Trading | ScottradeELITE offers virtual trading | |
CreditDonkey® Reviews | ||
| Stock Trading |   | |
| Options Trading | | |
| Customer Service | | |
| Banking | | |
| Mobile App |  | |
| Commissions and Fees | | |
| Ease of Use | | |
| Research | | |
| Trading Platform | | |
| Mutual Fund Trading | | |
| Pros & Cons | Pros:
| Pros:
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| Bottom Line | Solid choice for cost-conscious traders who are familiar with online investing... | Good choice for ETF and mutual fund investors interested in Vanguard-sponsored investments... |
Blank fields may indicate the information is not available, not applicable, or not known to CreditDonkey. Please visit the product website for details. Scottrade: TD Ameritrade has acquired Scottrade. Scottrade accounts will convert to TD Ameritrade on 2/26/2018. Pricing information from published website as of 07/11/2020 Vanguard: Pricing information from published websites as of 09/15/2019. | ||
Which is Better: Scottrade or Vanguard?
Still need help deciding which investing is better? Read the in-depth reviews below. You may also be interested in comparing Scottrade or Ally Invest.
In short: Scottrade's stock trading is noteworthy.
Articles on Scottrade
Scottrade Review
Articles on Vanguard
Vanguard Brokerage Review
Which Do You Think is Best?
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