Interactive Investor vs Vanguard for drawdown: fees and features compared (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of what Interactive Investor and Vanguard charge for pension drawdown, and what you get for it. On published charges alone, Interactive Investor works out cheaper at all three pot sizes modelled below.
Platform charges only.
What each one charges
Provider
Published fee structure
What it covers
Fees checked
Interactive Investor
SIPP: Core £5.99/mo (£71.88/yr, pots up to £100k); Plus £14.99/mo (£179.88/yr); Premium £39.99/mo (£479.88/yr). Each price already includes the pension admin fee (£2.50/mo on Core, £6/mo on Plus and Premium)
Platform charge only; fund charges extra
23 Sept 2026
Vanguard
0.15% flat fee (capped at £375 annually; minimum £48 a year, £4 a month, below £32,000)
Platform charge only; fund charges extra
23 Sept 2026
Annual cost by pot size
Pot size
Interactive Investor
Vanguard
Cheaper
£100,000 pot
£72
£150
Interactive Investor is cheaper
£250,000 pot
£180
£375
Interactive Investor is cheaper
£500,000 pot
£180
£375
Interactive Investor is cheaper
Which of the two is cheaper changes 3 times between £10k and £1m as their fees step; from about £120k, Interactive Investor is cheaper.
Fund charges, dealing and withdrawal fees are extra. Platform charges assume you hold funds. Some platforms cap charges on shares, ETFs and investment trusts, which can be much lower. See how we compare.
Features compared
Feature
Interactive Investor
Vanguard
What the charge covers
Platform charge only; fund charges extra
Platform charge only; fund charges extra
Investment range
40,000+
85+
Ready-made portfolios
Yes
Yes
Regular income payments
No extra charge
No extra charge
One-off withdrawals
No charge
No charge
UFPLS lump sums
No charge
No charge
Minimum pot to start drawdown
Not confirmed
Not confirmed
FSCS protected
Yes
Yes
Fees checked
23 Sept 2026
23 Sept 2026
“Not confirmed” means the provider does not publish the figure or we have not yet checked it; it does not mean the charge is zero.
Which suits you?
Choose Interactive Investor if you…
want the lower platform charge at every pot size we model (£100,000 to £500,000)
want a wider choice of investments (40,000+ against 85+)
Choose Vanguard if you…
On the facts we hold, nothing stands out in Vanguard’s favour; check the tables above against what matters to you.
This is comparison information, not advice.
Free, impartial guidance:Pension Wise offers free appointments to people aged 50 or over with a defined contribution pension, and MoneyHelper’s investment pathways comparison tool compares drawdown providers’ ready-made options. Both are backed by the government.
Pros and cons
Interactive Investor
Pro: Flat fee does not rise with pot size
Pro: No percentage-based fees
Pro: Huge investment choice (40,000+)
Pro: Free regular investing
Pro: Excellent for active traders
Con: Not cost-effective for small pots
Con: Platform can feel dated
Con: Limited research tools
Con: Less intuitive than competitors
Vanguard
Pro: Extremely low annual fee capped at £375
Pro: Simple, transparent pricing
Pro: Access to renowned Vanguard funds
Pro: No withdrawal fees
Pro: Strong brand reputation
Con: Limited to Vanguard products only
Con: No individual shares trading
Con: Basic platform features
Con: Minimum £48 annual fee (£4/month for pots under £32k)
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for drawdown, Interactive Investor or Vanguard?
Interactive Investor is cheaper at all three pot sizes we model. Yearly platform charges for Interactive Investor and Vanguard are £72 and £150 on a £100,000 pot; £180 and £375 on £250,000; and £180 and £375 on £500,000. Which of the two is cheaper changes 3 times between £10k and £1m as their fees step; from about £120k, Interactive Investor is cheaper. Fund charges, dealing and withdrawal fees are extra.
What does Interactive Investor charge for drawdown?
SIPP: Core £5.99/mo (£71.88/yr, pots up to £100k); Plus £14.99/mo (£179.88/yr); Premium £39.99/mo (£479.88/yr). Each price already includes the pension admin fee (£2.50/mo on Core, £6/mo on Plus and Premium). Platform charge only; fund charges extra. Regular income payments: no extra charge. One-off withdrawals: no charge. UFPLS lump sums: no charge. We last checked these fees on 23 September 2026.
What does Vanguard charge for drawdown?
0.15% flat fee (capped at £375 annually; minimum £48 a year, £4 a month, below £32,000). Platform charge only; fund charges extra. Regular income payments: no extra charge. One-off withdrawals: no charge. UFPLS lump sums: no charge. We last checked these fees on 23 September 2026.
What can I invest in with Interactive Investor and Vanguard?
Interactive Investor: 40,000+, including ready-made portfolios. Vanguard: 85+, including ready-made portfolios.
How do customers rate Interactive Investor and Vanguard?
Interactive Investor has a Trustpilot score of 4.5 out of 5 (checked 8 September 2026). Vanguard has a Trustpilot score of 4.7 out of 5 (checked 8 September 2026). Scores change over time, and they do not affect our cost comparison.
How do I choose between Interactive Investor and Vanguard?
Start with the yearly cost at your own pot size, then check what you want to hold, how you plan to take income and whether you want ready-made portfolios. This page is comparison information, not advice. Free, impartial guidance on your options is available from MoneyHelper's Pension Wise service.