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.
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, 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.
CMC Invest and Freetrade are both popular online brokers in the UK, offering a range of investment options to suit different needs. Both platforms provide share trading, making them accessible for individuals interested in trading stocks. Additionally, they facilitate ETF trading and investment trusts, appealing to those looking to diversify their portfolios. However, CMC Invest stands out by offering fund trading, a feature not available on Freetrade. Neither platform currently supports trading in crypto, spread betting, or bonds, and they do not provide advisor services.
When it comes to ratings, CMC Invest scores slightly higher than Freetrade with 4.5 stars compared to Freetrade's 4 stars according to UK.StockBrokers.com, reflecting a favorable view of their investment choices. In terms of rankings among 21 brokers for investment options, CMC Invest is positioned 14th, while Freetrade is ranked 17th. These distinctions may guide investors in selecting a platform that aligns with their investment focus and preferences.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When evaluating the trading tools of CMC Invest and Freetrade, UK investors will encounter a straightforward comparison. Both platforms provide real-time market data and allow users to set up alerts for stock price updates, ensuring that traders stay informed with timely notifications. However, neither CMC Invest nor Freetrade supports advanced charting features, such as displaying corporate events like earnings, splits, or dividends on charts, nor do they offer drawing tools, technical indicators, notes, or overlays for stocks or indices—features typically valued by more technical analysts.
The primary distinction lies in their trading platform options: Freetrade offers a browser-based platform, granting users flexibility in accessing their accounts from any web-enabled device without needing additional software downloads. Meanwhile, CMC Invest does not currently provide this capability, which may be a consideration for traders who prefer desktop-based trading experiences. Overall, for those seeking simple, no-frills trading accompanied by essential real-time data without complex charting needs, both platforms might be suitable choices. However, Freetrade’s browser accessibility offers a slight edge for those valuing ease of access.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
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.
Catering to UK users, both CMC Invest and Freetrade offer convenient mobile apps available on iPhone and Android. However, when evaluated by UK.StockBrokers.com, CMC Invest takes a slight edge with a 4.5-star rating for its mobile app, compared to Freetrade’s respectable 4-star rating. In mobile app rankings among 21 brokers, CMC Invest is positioned at #11, just ahead of Freetrade, which holds the #12 spot. Whether you prefer CMC Invest's slightly higher-rated interface or Freetrade's reliable application, both platforms provide easy access to trading on the go.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners venturing into investing, CMC Invest and Freetrade both offer educational resources aimed at simplifying the journey into financial markets. Both platforms provide valuable insights on share trading, funds, and retirement planning, although neither offers live or on-demand educational webinars, which can limit the interactive learning experience. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, CMC Invest receives a slightly higher rating of 4 stars, compared to Freetrade’s 3.5 stars for beginner education. In a ranking of 21 brokers, CMC Invest stands at #15, just ahead of Freetrade at #16, reflecting marginally better educational offerings for novice investors eager to build their knowledge base.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | ||
| 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 CMC Invest and Freetrade for market research features, both platforms provide research on shares and ETFs, making them suitable for investors interested in these areas. However, CMC Invest stands out by offering research reports on funds, a feature not available with Freetrade. While Freetrade gives users the ability to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, CMC Invest does not provide this functionality. For those particularly interested in funds research, CMC Invest might be the better option, but if seeing portfolio allocation by asset class is important, Freetrade has the edge. Both platforms do not currently offer research on CFDs or bonds, making them less ideal for users focused on these investment types.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | 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
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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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Both CMC Invest and Freetrade do not offer crypto trading, making them similar in this aspect for investors seeking opportunities in cryptocurrency.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Invest | Freetrade | |
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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 | |||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| 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 | 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 | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | |||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | CMC Invest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
| Education | CMC Invest | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) |
| Overall Summary | CMC Invest | Freetrade | |
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| Review | CMC Invest Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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