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.
Your capital is at risk.
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.
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 vs Barclays for UK investors: both offer share dealing, ETFs, funds, UK government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. Neither supports crypto or CFD trading. Barclays also offers corporate bond dealing and access to adviser services, which Freetrade does not. If you want straightforward access to shares, ETFs, funds, gilts, and investment trusts, Freetrade covers the essentials; pick Barclays if you also need corporate bonds or professional advice.
For investment choices, UK.StockBrokers.com rates Barclays 5/5 and Freetrade 4.5/5, with Freetrade ranked 9th out of 21 brokers in this category.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Barclays
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|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Freetrade vs Barclays trading tools: both brokers keep charting simple. Neither displays corporate events like earnings, splits or dividends on charts, and both offer zero drawing tools and zero technical indicators. You can’t add notes, index overlays or stock overlays on either platform.
On the plus side, both Freetrade and Barclays provide a browser-based trading platform and let you set price alerts. However, neither offers real-time market data. For UK investors comparing charting features and basic tools, Freetrade and Barclays are broadly alike.
| 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 |
Freetrade vs Barclays for UK retirement accounts: both providers offer a Stocks and Shares ISA and a SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension), giving you tax-efficient ways to invest and save for retirement; since the core account types are available at both, your choice may come down to fees, ease of use, and the tools and service you prefer.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors comparing Freetrade vs Barclays mobile apps: both offer iPhone and Android apps, but UK.StockBrokers.com rates Freetrade’s app 4.5/5 and ranks it 7th out of 21 brokers, while Barclays’ app is rated 2.5/5 with no ranking listed; if you prioritise a higher-rated mobile experience, Freetrade may be the stronger pick, though Barclays still covers both iOS and Android.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors comparing Freetrade vs Barclays education: neither offers client webinars or on‑demand replays, but both provide guides on share trading, funds, and retirement. UK.StockBrokers.com rates Freetrade 4/5 stars and Barclays 4.5/5 for beginner education. Freetrade ranks 13th out of 21 brokers, while a Barclays ranking isn’t available. If you prefer clear articles over webinars, both fit the bill, with Barclays edging it on score.
| 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.
Freetrade vs Barclays for market research: UK investors get far more tools with Barclays. Barclays offers research on shares, ETFs, funds and bonds, plus fund research reports, while Freetrade doesn’t provide research or reports in these areas. Both platforms let you view your portfolio allocation by asset class, but if you want in-app research to help guide decisions, Barclays is the stronger choice; Freetrade suits those who don’t need built-in research.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | No | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | No | 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 |
Freetrade
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Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
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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 | |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| 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) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | £59.88 | £0 - £525 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £59.88 | £525 - £650 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £59.88 | £650 - £850 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £59.88 | £850 and up | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £6 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £0 | £6 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £6 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £6 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Freetrade | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
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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 | No | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | No | 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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