Tool Comparison
SoFi Invest vs Vanguard Brokerage
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
- You want options.
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Pick SoFi Invest if
SoFi Invest
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You want options.
Pick Vanguard Brokerage if
Vanguard Brokerage
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
SoFi Invest and Vanguard Brokerage cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. On paper they're closely matched, so let pricing, platform fit, and the details below break the tie.
What readers say
SoFi Invest
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Vanguard Brokerage
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Key differences at a glance
- Asset coverage
- Vanguard BrokerageAdds bonds
What SoFi Invest does best
- Online U.S. stock, ETF, and listed-options trading with $0 stated commissions.
- More than 4,000 eligible stock and ETF fractions starting at $5.
- Individual, joint, community-property, tenancy-by-entirety, and eligible IRA registrations.
- Mutual funds, interval funds and tender-offer funds with product-specific transaction costs.
- Recurring deposits, portfolio monitoring and watchlists in the SoFi app.
What Vanguard Brokerage does best
- Individual, joint, IRA, custodial, education, trust, estate, and eligible organization accounts.
- Vanguard and third-party mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, options, Treasuries, bonds, and brokered CDs.
- Dollar-based Vanguard ETF investing from $1 and recurring investment workflows.
- Choice of Vanguard Cash Deposit or VMFXX as the brokerage settlement option.
- Web and mobile portfolio administration, statements, tax forms, beneficiaries, and transfers.
Side by side
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction |
Free tier | No | No |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 5 | 4 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Try it | Visit SoFi Invest | Visit Vanguard Brokerage |
Standout features
The best features of SoFi Invest and Vanguard Brokerage.ShowHide
Standout features
What SoFi Invest does best
- Online U.S. stock, ETF, and listed-options trading with $0 stated commissions.
- More than 4,000 eligible stock and ETF fractions starting at $5.
- Individual, joint, community-property, tenancy-by-entirety, and eligible IRA registrations.
- Mutual funds, interval funds and tender-offer funds with product-specific transaction costs.
- Recurring deposits, portfolio monitoring and watchlists in the SoFi app.
What Vanguard Brokerage does best
- Individual, joint, IRA, custodial, education, trust, estate, and eligible organization accounts.
- Vanguard and third-party mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, options, Treasuries, bonds, and brokered CDs.
- Dollar-based Vanguard ETF investing from $1 and recurring investment workflows.
- Choice of Vanguard Cash Deposit or VMFXX as the brokerage settlement option.
- Web and mobile portfolio administration, statements, tax forms, beneficiaries, and transfers.
All details
Every attribute we track for SoFi Invest and Vanguard Brokerage.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsMutual Funds | StocksETFsOptionsBondsMutual Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediate | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | CSVPDF | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Vendor & support | SoFi Securities LLCCountry: United StatesSupport: Phone and Chat | Vanguard Marketing CorporationCountry: United StatesSupport: Phone |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between SoFi Invest and Vanguard Brokerage?
SoFi Invest leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Vanguard Brokerage puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do SoFi Invest and Vanguard Brokerage cost?
Neither has a free plan; you'll need a paid subscription for the full feature set of either. Check each tool's current plan details before buying.
Which is better for beginners: SoFi Invest or Vanguard Brokerage?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
Should I choose SoFi Invest or Vanguard Brokerage?
It depends on what you're after. Pick SoFi Invest if options matter to you; go with Vanguard Brokerage if you prefer its overall approach. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do SoFi Invest and Vanguard Brokerage cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, options, and mutual funds. Vanguard Brokerage adds bonds on top.
Can I export data from SoFi Invest and Vanguard Brokerage?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can I track my portfolio with SoFi Invest or Vanguard Brokerage?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.