- Freetrade is highly rated in both expert and user reviews, boasting an impressive average of 4.6/5 from 1,338 user reviews. Users appreciate its commission-free trading model and user-friendly app, making it an attractive option for both beginners and experienced investors. The platform’s ability to buy fractional shares and its low-cost structure are frequently highlighted as key benefits.
- Experts commend Freetrade for its innovative approach to investing, particularly noting its success in winning the “Best Investing App” award in the 2025 Good Money Guide Awards. They highlight the platform’s competitive pricing and the flexibility of its account options, although they caution that the basic plan lacks desktop access and has some limitations in features.
- Users frequently praise Freetrade for its ease of use, with many noting the app’s intuitive design and straightforward trading process. However, some users express concerns about customer service responsiveness and the limitations of the free account, particularly regarding the range of available products and features. Overall, the sentiment remains positive, with many users valuing the low-cost trading options.
Graham @ 05/01/2019 11:53
Easy to use, free trading platform that opens the door to the everyday person that would otherwise be scared of investing in stocks/shares due to its perceived barriers around know-how, time & cost. Already a great app but can’t wait to see this puppy grow with functionality and more share options. The future is bright for Freetrade
Rob @ 05/01/2019 08:26
Tried several platforms before and was always discouraged by the prohibitive fees. Thank you Freetrade for enabling me to build a saving portfolio
Andrei Muraru @ 05/01/2019 08:46
ItÔÇÖs great to finally see a financial company thatÔÇÖs tailoring their roadmap on the customer needs and feedback. While changing literally pennies for their services.
tom stapor @ 04/30/2019 10:58
I hope freetrade will spread across the world so old style banks will be scared
Viktoria Kubalcova @ 04/30/2019 10:25
This is a fantastic app. It introduces trading to new demographic of customers. You can invest with small capital and the fees are minuscule in comparison to other companies. People with smaller investment capital no longer feel that they are excluded from the world of investment since Freetrade came to life. Your profit is not eaten up by fees like with most retail brokerages. The app is very easy to use and they continuously add new options to invest in. Everything is very clear and easy to understand and Customer Service is very helpful. I enjoy using Freetrade, tell all my friends about it and look forward to what investments options will be added next.
Liam Ferris @ 04/30/2019 08:53
Best broker currently in the UK
Gary @ 04/30/2019 08:52
Slick app and so easy to use and understand for a novice investor. Makes the whole process interesting and enjoyable!
Jamie @ 04/30/2019 08:50
Really shaking up the market and opening up investing up to a new generation at a price point that will make other providers get off their arses
Calvin McLeish @ 04/30/2019 08:08
Jack @ 04/30/2019 07:42
Brilliant idea, just want the market needs! The only reason you wouldn’t love FreeTrade is if you’ve never used it!
Andrew M @ 04/30/2019 07:30
Excellent simple platform. Accessible but with enough features to start with. Very receptive dev team!!
Luke Bebbington @ 04/30/2019 07:25
Simple fee free stock broker that looks great and is easy to use.
Maarten @ 04/30/2019 05:56
Phenomenal app really changing the face of the investment industry and opening it up to everyoneÔÇÖ. Really excited to see what else freetrade delivers this year.
Victor matu @ 04/30/2019 05:18
Best app I have come across and the team is exceptional. Can’t wait to see how this app will imrpove for the future
Lorenzo @ 04/30/2019 05:15
Great user experience. They just opened such a complicated market to the general public. That’s amazing.
Dom @ 04/30/2019 05:10
Top service. Clear, easy to use interface. Excellent costumer service. Makes investing easy.
Tom @ 04/30/2019 04:28
Well designed & easy to navigate.
Tom Scowsill @ 04/30/2019 04:25
Outstanding. Simples.
Luke @ 04/30/2019 04:13
Fantastic app. The platform shows real promise for the future
Julio @ 04/30/2019 04:11
Great product, simple and seamless trading for free.
Incredibly engaging customer service as well and adding increasingly to the universe of stocks and funds I can invest it, which will make it my platform of choice for my personal stock portfolio
Freetrade Won Best Investing App In The 2025 Good Money Guide Awards
Is Freetrade a good investing app?
Yes, Freetrade is a great investing app for those with a small amount of money who want a very low-cost way to start investing in UK and US shares and ETFs. As your portfolio grows you can upgrade for better execution and data. It’s most suited to medium and long-term investing.
Freetrade is one of the original and biggest commission-free investing apps in the UK. It now offers, GIAs, ISAs and SIPPs to over 1.5 million UK & European investors. It is possible to have a free account with end-of-day orders and limited stock data. Or you can upgrade to either a “standard” or “Plus” account for tax-efficient accounts, web access, reduced FX charges and most stock data.
Freetrade also won “Best Investing App” in the 2025 Good Money Guide Awards.
Freetrade offers a ‘freemium’ share dealing service and it’s mission is to get everyone investing by making it simpler and more affordable.
Founded in 2016, Freetrade launched its iOS app in the UK in October 2018, and since then it has grown at an impressive pace.
Freetrade’s popularity stems from two key features: commission-free trading for shares and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and the ability to buy fractional US shares. These features have made investing more accessible and cost-effective, especially for beginners.
It’s worth noting that Freetrade won the 2021 Good Money Guide award for ‘Best Commission-Free Stockbroker’. It also won the 2019 Good Money Guide ‘People’s Choice’ award.
Pricing:
With Freetrade you can buy stocks with zero commissions.
However, if you’re buying US or European stocks, you’ll need to pay foreign exchange (FX) fees. These fees vary depending on the ongoing plan you choose.
There are three options when it comes to plans. These are:
Freetrade Basic – Free
Freetrade Standard – £4.99 per month billed annually or £5.99 per month billed monthly
Freetrade Plus – £9.99 per month billed annually or £11.99 per month billed monthly
As for how Freetrade’s fees compare to other platforms, they are pretty competitive. But there are lots of variables to consider here including the type of plan you have, the type of stocks you invest in (i.e. UK vs US stocks), and how many trades you make per month.
If you just wanted to buy a few blue-chip UK shares within a General Investment Account, you could potentially pay no fees at all (you would have to pay Stamp Duty on trades).
However, if you wanted to buy and hold UK shares in a stocks and shares ISA, you would be looking at annual charges of at least £59.88.
That’s not particularly high but it can be beaten. AJ Bell, for example, offers an annual charge of 0.25% for ISAs and this is capped at just £42 per year (this doesn’t include any trades).
Market Access: In terms of accounts, Freetrade offers three options, a General Investment Account, a Stocks and Shares ISA and a SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension). But, to open a stocks and shares ISA or SIPP you need to sign up for a premium plan.
Pros
- Zero commission
- No fees for a basic account
- Fractional shares
- UK Treasury Bills
Cons
- App only on the basic plan (no desktop)
- 0.99% FX fee for the basic account
- Relatively early stage company
-
Pricing
(5)
-
Market Access
(4)
-
Online Platform
(4)
-
Customer Service
(4)
-
Research & Analysis
(3.5)
Overall
4.1Tell us what you think of this provider.
Freetrade FAQ
Overall, Freetrade is a good platform that offers a broad selection of investments and very competitive fees and charges. But it’s not perfect. And it’s not going to be the right platform for everybody. As always, the best platform for you will depend on factors such as the size of your portfolio, the investments you like to own, and the extra features you are looking for.
Freetrade is an independent, privately-owned company.
No. While Freetrade offers zero commissions on trades, you still need to pay Stamp Duty, FX fees, and annual charges (if you choose a premium plan).
When you buy UK stocks with Freetrade, the company deducts Stamp Duty at a rate of 0.5%. This does not apply to investment trusts or shares listed on AIM.
The minimum investment with Freetrade is currently £2.
Yes, it does. But you can only access this with a ‘Plus’ account.
There is always investment risk when you buy shares or ETFs. So, if you trade through Freetrade, it’s possible that you could lose money. However, the platform itself should be regarded as safe. It is regulated by the FCA, and accounts are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.
Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.
Richard’s contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as The Sunday Times, BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.
Under Richard’s leadership, the Good Money Guide has evolved into a valuable destination for comprehensive information and expert guidance, specialising in trading, investment, and currency exchange. His commitment to delivering high-quality insights has solidified the Good Money Guide’s standing as a well-respected resource for both customers and industry colleagues.
