Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of eToro 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, eToro 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 - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
12 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
36 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
120 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
3 fund trades per year - eToro would cost $50 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.
For UK investors, eToro and Freetrade offer varied platforms for trading, each with its unique features. Both platforms enable share trading and ETF investments, making them a solid choice for those interested in these traditional markets. However, eToro stands out with its additional offerings in crypto and CFD trading, providing a broader spectrum for those looking to diversify their portfolios. In contrast, Freetrade offers trading in investment trusts, catering to investors with different preferences, but lacks the option for crypto or CFD trading.
When it comes to ratings, eToro takes a slight edge, earning a commendable 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, placing it at rank #15 out of 21 brokers. Meanwhile, Freetrade holds its own with a respectable 4 stars and is ranked #17. Neither platform offers spread betting, advisor services, nor trading in corporate or government bonds, aligning them equally in these areas. Ultimately, the choice between eToro and Freetrade may depend on whether an investor prioritizes broader trading options or more specialized investment opportunities.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For UK investors comparing eToro and Freetrade, both platforms offer basic functionalities for accessible trading and real-time market data, available across mobile and desktop. However, eToro stands out significantly in the realm of trading tools. With a diverse suite of 56 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators, eToro provides extensive resources for traders to analyze and personalize their trading experience. Additionally, eToro allows users to add notes, index overlays, and stock overlays to charts, enhancing analytical capabilities for a more tailored trading approach.
In contrast, Freetrade focuses on simplicity and accessibility but lags behind in advanced charting features. It currently does not offer any drawing tools or technical indicators for charting, nor does it support the addition of notes or overlays to charts. While both eToro and Freetrade facilitate stock price alerts and deliver real-time market updates, investors looking for a richer suite of analytical tools may find eToro's offerings more appealing.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 56 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
For UK investors exploring online brokers, both eToro and Freetrade offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), providing tax-efficient investment opportunities. However, when it comes to retirement planning, the offerings differ significantly. eToro does not offer Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) accounts, potentially limiting options for those focused on long-term retirement savings. In contrast, Freetrade provides SIPP accounts, allowing investors to manage their retirement funds with more flexibility. This distinction makes Freetrade a more suitable choice for individuals prioritizing retirement savings in their investment strategy.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking to use mobile trading apps, both eToro and Freetrade provide options available on both iPhone and Android devices. eToro's mobile app, rated 5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, ranks impressively at number 5 out of 21 brokers, suggesting a superior user experience with a wide range of features. In comparison, Freetrade, while still offering strong functionality on its mobile app with a 4-star rating by the same site, is positioned at number 12. This indicates that while both platforms offer reliable services, eToro may provide a slightly more refined mobile trading experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors in the UK, both eToro and Freetrade offer insights into share trading, but their offerings diverge on other topics. Freetrade provides additional guidance on investing in funds and preparing for retirement, while eToro lacks these areas of expertise. Neither platform hosts or archives webinars for new clients. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, eToro receives a higher beginner education rating with 4.5 stars, placing it 11th out of 21 brokers, whereas Freetrade earns 3.5 stars and ranks 16th. This suggests that eToro might deliver a slightly more comprehensive educational experience for novice investors.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features offered by eToro and Freetrade for UK investors, both platforms provide research on shares and ETFs, and allow users to view portfolio allocation by asset class. However, neither offers research reports specifically for funds or bonds. A key difference lies in CFDs research, which is available through eToro but not Freetrade. Those seeking comprehensive analysis for CFDs might prefer eToro, while both platforms equally serve the needs of those focused on shares and ETF research.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, eToro or Freetrade? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found eToro to be a better trading platform overall.
eToro offers a wide range of assets and instruments and is well-known for its ‘social trading’ approach. It has among the lowest fees and best mobile app experiences of brokers we tested in the U.K., and offers a great starting point for those new to stock trading. Our analysis finds it better suited to short-term traders than long-term investors.
| Feature |
eToro
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Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
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When comparing online brokers, eToro stands out by offering crypto trading, a feature not available on Freetrade.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | eToro | Freetrade | |
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| Review | eToro Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | eToro | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | eToro | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | £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 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £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 | N/A | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | eToro | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 56 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | eToro | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | eToro | Freetrade | |
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| Review | eToro Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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