Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Invest vs Freetrade, 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, CMC Invest offers better pricing than Freetrade 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 - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
12 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
36 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
120 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
3 fund trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £1 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.
When comparing online brokers CMC Invest and Freetrade for UK investors, both offer the opportunity to trade shares and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), making them accessible choices for stock and fund enthusiasts. Notably, neither platform provides options for trading cryptocurrencies, spread betting, Contracts for Difference (CFDs), or bonds, which may be limiting for those looking to diversify their portfolios beyond equities and funds.
A key differentiator between CMC Invest and Freetrade is that CMC Invest offers funds trading, unlike Freetrade. Additionally, both brokers support investment trusts, catering to those interested in pooled investment options. In terms of ratings, CMC Invest receives a commendable 4.5 stars for its investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 14th out of 18 brokers in the UK, whereas Freetrade holds a 4-star rating, positioned at 17th. This comparison highlights CMC Invest's slightly broader investment offerings and higher ranking, which might appeal to investors seeking more fund trading options.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of CMC Invest and Freetrade, both platforms fall short in providing advanced charting features. Neither CMC Invest nor Freetrade offers the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, or dividends on their charts. Additionally, both brokers lack drawing tools, technical indicators, the option to add notes, and the functionality to overlay indexes or stocks on charts. This might leave more technical traders seeking more comprehensive charting solutions elsewhere.
Despite the similarities in limitations regarding charting tools, Freetrade stands out by offering a browser-based trading platform, unlike CMC Invest. Both brokers, however, allow users to create alerts for stock price updates and provide real-time market data, ensuring that traders can stay informed about market movements even if their charting options are limited.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | No | 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 comparing online brokers CMC Invest and Freetrade in the UK, both offer essential retirement saving options, making them appealing choices for individual investors. CMC Invest and Freetrade each provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), catering to those looking to grow their savings tax-efficiently. Both platforms aim to simplify the investing process, providing convenient options for users to manage their finances for long-term growth. By offering these vital account types, CMC Invest and Freetrade empower UK investors to effectively plan for their retirement with ease and confidence.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking user-friendly mobile trading platforms, both CMC Invest and Freetrade offer apps for iPhone and Android users. When comparing their ease of use and features, CMC Invest edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Freetrade holds a solid 4-star rating. Among 18 brokerages, CMC Invest is ranked 11th for its mobile app, giving it a slight lead over Freetrade, which is ranked 12th. Both apps are reliable options for traders who value convenience and accessibility on the go.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources between CMC Invest and Freetrade, both platforms provide instruction on share trading, funds, and retirement. However, neither offers live or archived educational webinars. CMC Invest receives a slightly higher rating of 4 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for its beginner education, compared to Freetrade's 3.5 stars. Despite the small difference in ratings, they rank closely in terms of beginner education, with CMC Invest taking the 15th spot among 18 brokers and Freetrade following at 16th.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of CMC Invest and Freetrade for investors in the UK, CMC Invest offers a more comprehensive suite of research tools. While both platforms provide detailed research on shares and ETFs, CMC Invest extends its offerings to include fund research reports, a feature not available with Freetrade. However, Freetrade has the edge in providing users with a clear view of their portfolio allocation by asset class, which is not available on CMC Invest. Neither platform offers research on CFDs or Bonds, keeping their focus more on shares and ETFs. Overall, for investors keen on fund research, CMC Invest stands out, while Freetrade is a better option for tracking portfolio diversification.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, CMC Invest or Freetrade? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found CMC Invest to be a better trading platform overall.
CMC Invest offers commission-free trading of U.K.-listed shares and U.S. equities via a mobile app only. Though a newer entrant to the U.K. share dealing market and currently somewhat limited, it’s powered by global contender CMC Markets, making it likely that its offerings will expand.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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Both CMC Invest and Freetrade do not offer crypto trading, providing a streamlined experience for users focused on traditional investment opportunities.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Invest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Review | CMC Invest Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | CMC Invest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | CMC Invest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £1 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £120 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £120 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £120 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £120 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £120 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £0 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Invest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | CMC Invest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | No | 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 | CMC Invest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | CMC Invest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | CMC Invest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | CMC Invest Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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