Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Freetrade vs Barclays, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, Freetrade offers better pricing than Barclays for share dealing.
Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.
5 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Barclays would cost £105 per year.
12 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £147 per year.
36 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £291 per year.
120 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £795 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Freetrade would cost £1 per year, while Barclays would cost £0 per year.
What type of trader are you?
New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.
Freetrade and Barclays both offer options for trading shares and ETFs, making them good choices for those interested in these types of investments. However, when diving deeper into the variety of available investment choices, Barclays has a broader selection, allowing for trading of funds, corporate and government bonds, and offering advisor services which Freetrade does not. Both platforms do not support crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading.
In terms of recognition, Freetrade earns a four-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices but is placed at #13 out of 18 brokers. In comparison, Barclays achieves a five-star rating and holds a higher rank at #6. This suggests that while Freetrade has commendable offerings, Barclays provides more comprehensive investment options, appealing to investors seeking a more varied portfolio.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools offered by Freetrade and Barclays, both platforms show some similarities and differences that can influence a user's experience. Neither Freetrade nor Barclays provides features like corporate event displays, drawing tools, technical indicators, or the capability to add notes, index, or stock overlays to charts. However, both platforms support browser-based trading, which is convenient for users who prefer trading without software downloads.
On the other hand, Freetrade has a slight edge over Barclays by offering real-time market data, which is crucial for making timely trading decisions. Both Freetrade and Barclays allow users to set up alerts for stock price updates, helping traders stay informed about market movements. This combination of features can guide you in choosing the right platform based on what aspects you prioritize in your trading experience.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When choosing a platform for your retirement savings, both Freetrade and Barclays offer appealing options, each providing Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). Freetrade, known for its user-friendly app and commission-free trading, presents a modern approach to managing your investments. In contrast, Barclays combines traditional banking services with its investment offerings, lending the trust and reliability of a longstanding financial institution. Both platforms cater to your needs whether you're interested in fostering growth through ISAs or planning your retirement with SIPPs, making them versatile options for UK investors looking to secure their financial future.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Freetrade and Barclays offer options for iPhone and Android users. However, Freetrade stands out with a 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it at #8 out of 18 brokers for Mobile Apps. In contrast, Barclays' app has a lower 2.5-star rating, ranking it at #16. This makes Freetrade a more highly regarded choice for those seeking a seamless mobile trading experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the beginner investor educational resources offered by Freetrade and Barclays, it's clear that both brokers provide valuable learning materials, but with notable differences. Neither Freetrade nor Barclays offers live or archived client webinars. However, both platforms offer educational content on share trading, funds, and retirement topics. In terms of overall effectiveness, Barclays is rated higher with 4.5 out of 5 stars compared to Freetrade’s 3.5 stars, according to UK.StockBrokers.com. Additionally, Barclays ranks 5th among 18 brokers for beginner education, whereas Freetrade comes in 9th place. These rankings suggest that while both are strong contenders for beginner investors, Barclays may offer a more comprehensive educational experience.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing market research features between Freetrade and Barclays, it’s clear that each offers unique advantages. Freetrade provides research on shares and ETFs, alongside insights into portfolio allocation by asset class. However, it lacks research reports for funds and bonds, focusing instead on the basics to keep it simple. On the other hand, Barclays presents a more comprehensive approach by delivering in-depth research for shares, ETFs, and funds, along with detailed bond analysis. Both brokers support users in viewing portfolio allocation by asset class but differ significantly in their report offerings. This variance makes Barclays a standout choice for those seeking extensive research options, particularly in funds and bonds, while Freetrade appeals to those preferring straightforward equity and ETF analysis.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Freetrade or Barclays? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Freetrade to be a better trading platform overall.
Overall Freetrade is a great platform to help you get to grips with investing. Costs are low, and its user-friendly mobile app offers great investment inspiration. Sophisticated investors, however, may find that other platforms offer a wider range of investment options and tools.
| Feature |
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Barclays
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|---|---|---|
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Neither Freetrade nor Barclays offers crypto trading, making them comparable in terms of cryptocurrency investment options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Freetrade | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | Freetrade Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Freetrade | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Freetrade | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £6 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £105 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £75 or £147 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £75 or £291 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £75 or £795 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £75 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £0 - £525 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £525 - £650 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £650 - £850 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £850 and up | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £6 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £6 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £6 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £6 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Freetrade | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Freetrade | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Freetrade | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Freetrade | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Freetrade | Barclays | |
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| Review | Freetrade Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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