Vanguard vs TD Ameritrade

Vanguard is a good choice for ETF and mutual fund investors interested in Vanguard-sponsored investments. How does it compare to TD Ameritrade? Read our comparison chart below.

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.

While TD Ameritrade offers $0 commission online stock, ETF, and option trades. This online broker also has more than 100 branch locations. There is no minimum deposit, no maintenance fee, and no inactivity fee.

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

	Vanguard	TD Ameritrade
	Norton Internet Security 60-day free subscription - Learn More Read Vanguard Review	SPECIAL OFFER Commission-Free Trading - Online Stock, ETF and Option Trades - Learn More Read TD Ameritrade Review
	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	$0 commission for online stock, ETF, and option trades
Options Trading	Less than $500,000: $7 + $1 per contract. $500,000+: $2 + $1 per contract	$0.65 per contract
Minimum Deposit	$0	$0
Mutual Fund Trading	$0 for no-transaction-fee funds. For transaction-fee funds: $20 for account balances less than $500,000; $8 for account balances $500,000+	$0 for no-transaction-fee mutual funds $49.99 for no-load mutual funds $0 for load mutual funds
Commission Free ETFs	Around 1,800 ETFs from about 100 other companies	550+ Commission-Free ETFs
Penny Stocks
Broker Assisted Trades	$25.00	$44.99
Customer Service	Monday-Friday 8am -10pm ET	(800) 669-3900 (Open 24/7)
Inactivity Fee	$0	$0
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	$0
Banking	No	Cash Management account offers free ATM withdrawals, no monthly maintenance fees, free online bill pay, and free check writing.
Mobile App	Yes
Desktop App	Yes	Thinkorswim
Forex Trading	Yes
Futures Trading	No	$2.25 per contract (plus exchange & regulatory fees)
Locations	No	More than 100 locations in 34 states
Online Community	No
Seminars	Yes	Online webcast
Virtual Trading	No	Paper Trading to practice/test strategies and ideas.
	CreditDonkey® Reviews
Stock Trading
Options Trading
Mutual Fund Trading
Mobile App
Commissions and Fees
Ease of Use
Research
Banking
Online Community
Trading Platform
Pros & Cons	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	Pros: Easy to Use Thinkorswim Platform Customer Service Cons: Trade Fees
Bottom Line	Good choice for ETF and mutual fund investors interested in Vanguard-sponsored investments... Read full review	Good online broker for long-term investors... Read full review
		Commission-Free Trading - Online Stock, ETF and Option Trades Get $100 When You Deposit $25,000 or More Get $300 When You Deposit $100,000 or More
Blank fields may indicate the information is not available, not applicable, or not known to CreditDonkey. Please visit the product website for details. Vanguard: Pricing information from published websites as of 09/15/2019. TD Ameritrade: Pricing information from published website as of 07/18/2019. TD Ameritrade: TD Ameritrade has not influenced the content of CreditDonkey. CreditDonkey may earn compensation for accounts opened at TD Ameritrade.

Which is Better: Vanguard or TD Ameritrade?

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

In short: TD Ameritrade's mobile app and research are impressive.

Articles on Vanguard

Vanguard Brokerage Review
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.
• Vanguard vs Fidelity
• Vanguard vs Charles Schwab
• Vanguard vs Betterment

Articles on TD Ameritrade

Ameritrade
TD Ameritrade fees are higher than competitors, but is it worth it? We say yes and here's why. We analyze and compare it for you in our in-depth review.
• TD Ameritrade vs E*TRADE
• TD Ameritrade vs Ally Invest
• TD Ameritrade vs Scottrade
TD Ameritrade Customer Service
TD Ameritrade offers 24/7 customer service - both online and on the phone. But the best way to actually contact TD Ameritrade may surprise you. Read on.

Which Do You Think is Best?

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