Freetrade has shaken up the UK retail investment market in recent years. Offering zero commissions on share trades, it has been stealing market share from legacy investment platforms such as Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell, and Interactive Investor.
In this review, we look at Freetrade’s investment offering, account options, fees and more. Whether you’re a beginner investor or an expert stock picker, our review will help you decide if Freetrade is the right investment platform for you.
Customer Reviews
Leave a review and tell us what you think to help others make more informed financial decisions.
5/5
Cons:
More step and guides functionality
1/5
Pros:
Nothing
Cons:
Fractional ETF investing
5/5
1/5
Pros:
cheap S&S ISA
Cons:
transparency with customers
5/5
Pros:
Fees
4/5
4/5
Pros:
Low cost
Cons:
Add more investment trusts
2/5
Pros:
Allow to trade any ETF
Cons:
Make a web site!
4/5
Pros:
Free
Cons:
make navigation better
1/5
Pros:
None
Cons:
Futures and options and a new platform for trading them
4/5
Pros:
App
5/5
Pros:
Easy to use
Cons:
Add a free ISA
3/5
Pros:
Costs
Cons:
Change its colour!
5/5
Pros:
It’s very simple for a new investor.
Cons:
More assets.
5/5
3/5
Pros:
App
Cons:
Account statements
4/5
3/5
Pros:
None
Cons:
Options
4/5
Pros:
Low Fees, lot of options
3/5
Pros:
none
Cons:
more features
Freetrade Expert Review
I’ve been following Freetrade since its inception and test out the app every time they have a big upgrade or product release. So, this review has been updated just after I interviewed Freetrade’s CEO Adam Dodds about their UK Treasury Bills offering. Over the years Freetrade has won a couple of Good Money Guide Awards. In 2019 Freetrade won ‘People’s Choice’ and in 2012 ‘Best Commission Free Stockbroker’. I first interviewed Adam in 2018 and since then Freetrade has come along way. But, is Freetrade a good investing app and is trading really free?
Freetrade Review
Name: Freetrade
Description: Freetrade is one of the original and biggest commission free investing apps in the UK. It now offers, GIAs, ISAs and SIPPs to over 1.5million UK & European investors. It is possible can 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.
Is Freetrade a good investing app?
In my view, 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.
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
4.1Freetrade Facts & Figures
| ⬜ Public Company | ❌ |
| 👉 Number Active Clients | 1,600,000 |
| 💰 Minimum Deposit | £1 |
| 💸 Client Funds | n/a |
| 📅 Founded | 2018 |
| Account Costs | |
| Investment Account | £0 |
| SIPP | £11.99 per month |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | £5.99 per month |
| Junior ISA | ❌ |
| Lifetime ISA | ❌ |
| Dealing Costs | |
| UK Shares | £0 |
| US Stocks | £0 + 0.99% FX (basic) |
| ETFs | £0 |
| Bonds | ❌ |
| Funds | ❌ |
Freetrade CEO Interviews With Good Money Guide
Adam Dodds, CEO of Freetrade tells us all about his commission-free stockbroking service.
So, What Is Freetrade?
Freetrade is an independent, privately-owned fintech company that offers a ‘freemium’ share dealing service. Its 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. Today, it has over 1.5 million customers and more than £1.6 billion in assets under administration.
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.
- Freetrade is an investment platform that offers commission-free stock trading
- Through Freetrade, you can buy and sell a wide range of stocks and ETFs. But you can’t invest in regular investment funds
- Freetrade offers three different ongoing plans. If you want access to the platform’s best features, you’ll need to pay for a premium plan
- With Freetrade, you still have to pay FX fees if you buy US or European stocks.
What Investments Does Freetrade Offer?
Freetrade offers access to over 6,200 stocks, investment trusts, and ETFs. The stocks include UK, US, and European equities while the ETFs include index funds, leveraged ETFs, and thematic ETFs.
You can also invest in UK Treasury bills and cash investments through its platform. So, there are options for those seeking lower-risk investments.
To access the full list of stocks you need to sign up for a Freetrade Premium plan. Through the Freetrade Basic plan you can only access around 4,700 stocks.
What Accounts Does Freetrade Pffer?
In terms of accounts, Freetrade offers three options:
- A General Investment Account
- A Stocks and Shares ISA
- A SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension)
To open a stocks and shares ISA or SIPP you need to sign up for a premium plan.
How Does Freetrade’s Compare To Other Platforms?
While Freetrade offers a wide selection of stocks, it doesn’t offer as many as other more established platforms like Hargreaves Lansdown and Interactive Investor.
Looking at the full list of stocks, which can be found here, many small-cap and penny stocks are not available on the platform. So, if you like to invest in these types of stocks, Freetrade may not be the best platform for you.
It’s a similar story with account types. With Freetrade, it’s not possible to open a Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA, or Junior SIPP. If you’re looking to invest within one of these vehicles, you will need to go with another broker.
What Are Freetrade’s Fees?
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
Key things to note about these plans:
- To access the full list of stocks, you’ll need to go with a Standard or Plus account
- To invest within a stocks and shares ISA, you’ll need to go with a Standard or Plus account
- To invest within a SIPP, you’ll need a Plus account
- To access the desktop platform, you’ll need a Plus account. (With the Basic and Standard plans, you only get access to the app)
- FX fees are lower with the two premium plans
- With the two premium plans you can pick up more interest on your cash.
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).
How Do Fractional Shares Work On Freetrade?
With fractional shares, you can buy a fraction of one US stock. So, for example, you could buy one quarter of a share in Amazon.
This can be handy if you want to buy a stock that has a high share price. For instance, if a stock was trading at $1,000 and you only had $100 to invest, you could buy one tenth of a share with fractional shares.
With Freetrade, you can only buy fractional shares within a General Investment Account or SIPP. You can’t buy them within a stocks and shares ISA.
Earn Money Lending Stock To Short Sellers On Freetrade
In August 2024 Freetrade introduced a share lending program letting users lend out their eligible shares held in either a GIA, a general investment account, or an SIPP, a self-invested personal pension, to earn additional income.
If you opt-in, Freetrade may lend your shares to vetted borrowers where you can earn up to 50% of the fees generated, whilst Freetrade retains the other 50%.
The stock loan market is an important liquidity provision tool and it’s a part of the market infrastructure that retail traders wouldn’t normally see.
Long-term holders of stocks lend those stocks out to other traders for a fee or borrowing charge, or, in this case, in exchange for high-quality collateral such as government bonds.
The loan of stock allows the other parties to settle outstanding trades, and once those trades are closed, they can then return that stock to the lender.
Stock lending supports short sales and market making, and without it, we wouldn’t have the continuous liquid markets that we enjoy today.
Stock loan and borrow deals usually take place between institutions, with both parties, often transacting anonymously, through a specialist intermediary.
However, more retail brokers are now enfettering the space to aggregate and lend out their client’s stock holdings, to provide both themselves and their customers, with an additional source of revenue.
What are the risks of Freetrade stock lending program?
The primary risk is that a borrower might fail to return your shares. However this is an unlikely event and Freetrade will hold government bonds as collateral and would cover any shortfall.
Can I opt out of the program?
Yes, you can opt in or out anytime through your profile settings in the Freetrade app.
What happens if a borrower doesn’t return my shares?
Freetrade will sell the collateral it holds on your behalf and repurchase your shares. If the collateral is insufficient, Freetrade will make up any difference.
Are there any downsides to lending your stock out?
You won’t be able to vote any shares on loan and you may receive manufactured dividends, which could have different tax treatment.
Short selling supported by stock loans may also put downward pressure on the prices of the shares that are being lent out.
UK Treasury Bills On Freetrade Let You Earn Interest From The Government
With Freetrade you can invest in 28-day UK Treasury bills with as little as £50. The catch here is that you cannot sell or cash out of your Treasury bills – you will need to wait for them to mature to get your capital back.
And your money could be tied up for longer than the maturity period. For example, your money is generally tied up for about 31 days for a 28-day UK Treasury bill.
So, you need to be sure that you won’t need access to your money before the maturity date.
Is Freetrade Trustworthy?
Yes, you can consider Freetrade to be trustworthy. Freetrade is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Meanwhile, all Freetrade accounts are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
How Do You Open An Account With Freetrade?
Opening an account with Freetrade is relatively straightforward. Here’s how it works:
- Step 1: Download the app
- Step 2: Enter your details (you will need your National Insurance number)
- Step 3: Choose the plan that is best for you
- Step 4: Transfer funds into your account
Freetrade Pros & Cons
Pros
- You can trade stocks with zero commissions
- Plenty of investment options including stocks, index funds, and thematic ETFs
- You can generate interest on your cash balances
- Ongoing charges are very reasonable
- You may be able to receive a free share when you sign up for an account and deposit money
Cons
- Not every stock is available on the Freetrade platform
- You cannot invest in regular investment funds with Freetrade
- Freetrade offers some guides and analysis but much of this is out of date
- You can contact Freetrade through email or in-app chat, but not by phone
- Many users complain of poor customer service
- Only those who pay for a Plus account can use the desktop platform
Who are Freetrade’s Main Competitors?
Some recommended alternatives include:
- Trading 212 – It also offers commission-free stock trading
- Hargreaves Lansdown – It has more investment options than Freetrade
- AJ Bell – It’s another platform that offers a wide range of investments
- Interactive Investor – It offers a flat fee so can be cost-effective for those with large portfolios
- Moneybox – It’s a good platform for beginners
Freetrade’s Flexible ISA
One of the advantages of Freetrade’s ISA is that it is a flexible one. That means you can withdraw money from your Freetrade ISA and, provided you return it within the same tax year, won’t lose that part of your allowance.
This means that if you are short of cash for any reason, you can access you money (once you liquidate your investments) and use it for emergencies.
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).
With Freetrade, customer assets are held in ring-fenced accounts. So, if the company goes bust, your assets will be returned to you or transferred to another broker. If you hold cash with Freetrade, you will be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000.
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.
You can contact Richard at richard@goodmoneyguide.com
