Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Fidelity International 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, Freetrade offers better pricing than Fidelity International 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 - Fidelity International would cost £127.50 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
12 trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £108 or £180 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
36 trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £144 or £360 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
120 trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £270 or £990 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
3 fund trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £1000 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 considering online brokers for investment choices in the UK, both Fidelity International and Freetrade offer share trading and the opportunity to trade Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and investment trusts. However, only Fidelity International provides access to fund trading and offers advisor services, making it suitable for those seeking guidance. Neither platform offers options for crypto trading, spread betting, CFD trading, or bonds, which aligns them as straightforward options for those focused on traditional investment routes.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Fidelity International holds a slight edge over Freetrade with a 4.5-star rating for investment choices compared to Freetrade's 4 stars. In terms of rankings among 21 brokers, Fidelity International places 12th, while Freetrade comes in at 17th. This difference highlights Fidelity's broader offerings and suggests it may be more appealing for investors looking for a wider range of conventional investment products and additional support services.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
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 | Yes | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools of Fidelity International and Freetrade, Fidelity International stands out by allowing users to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends on their charts, a feature unavailable with Freetrade. Fidelity also enhances charting with five drawing tools and 21 technical indicators, giving users a richer toolkit for analysis. In contrast, Freetrade offers none of these additional charting capabilities. Both brokers enable users to set alerts for stock price updates and provide browser-based trading platforms, ensuring accessibility no matter the device used.
Despite these advantages, Fidelity International lacks real-time market data, a service that Freetrade does offer. However, Fidelity provides added options like index and stock overlays, enriching the user's charting experience. Freetrade users might find themselves wanting these options as they assess their investment strategies. Neither platform provides the ability to add personal notes to charts, which might be a limitation for users who prefer annotating their insights as part of their trading routine.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 21 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 5 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers for retirement accounts in the UK, Fidelity International and Freetrade both offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), catering to your savings and investment needs. Fidelity International provides a wide range of investment options and tools, suitable for those who want extensive control over their retirement planning. On the other hand, Freetrade focuses on providing a user-friendly experience with commission-free trading, making it appealing for beginner investors or those who prefer a simple and straightforward approach. Whether you prioritize comprehensive options or an easy-to-navigate platform, both brokers offer ISA and SIPP accounts to support your investment goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Fidelity International and Freetrade both cater to UK investors with iPhone and Android apps, making it easy to manage investments on the go. UK.StockBrokers.com rates both apps at 4 out of 5 stars, suggesting similar user experiences in terms of functionality and satisfaction. However, when it comes to the ranking among 21 brokers for mobile apps, Freetrade edges slightly ahead, securing the 12th position, while Fidelity International trails at 15th place. These rankings provide insight into each platform's mobile app performance, helping users decide which broker might better suit their needs for seamless trading and portfolio management.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources, Fidelity International notably outshines Freetrade. Fidelity offers live and on-demand webinars, providing flexible learning opportunities that Freetrade lacks. Both platforms cover vital topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement, ensuring foundational knowledge for new investors. However, when evaluated by UK.StockBrokers.com, Fidelity International is awarded a higher rating of 5 stars for beginner education, compared to Freetrade's 3.5 stars. Furthermore, Fidelity is ranked 7th out of 21 brokers, while Freetrade lags behind at 16th place. This underlines Fidelity International's superior position as a resource for educating novice investors in the UK market.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | 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.
For UK investors comparing market research features between Fidelity International and Freetrade, it's clear that both platforms offer comprehensive data on shares, ETFs, and portfolio allocation by asset class. However, Fidelity International stands out by providing research reports on funds and bonds, which Freetrade lacks. Neither platform provides research on CFDs. In summary, if you're looking for detailed insights into funds and bonds, Fidelity has the edge over Freetrade, though both cater well for shares and ETFs research needs.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Fidelity International or Freetrade? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Fidelity International to be a better trading platform overall.
Fidelity offers thousands of investments to choose from and also offers financial advice for those wanting more direction. It's best suited to traditional investors who hold a range of accounts through the platform, enjoy the great research material available and who may also use Fidelity for financial advice. The platform can be expensive for those with portfolios of less than £20,000 and those with portfolios above £40,000.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
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Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
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When comparing online brokers, Fidelity International and Freetrade both do not offer crypto trading options, making them similar in this aspect for investors seeking cryptocurrency capabilities.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Fidelity International | Freetrade | |
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| Review | Fidelity International Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Fidelity International | 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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Fees | Fidelity International | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1000 | £1 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £1.50 or £7.50 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £1.50 or £7.50 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £1.50 or £7.50 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £127.50 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £108 or £180 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £144 or £360 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £270 or £990 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £105 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £90 - £875 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £1,000 - £2,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £2,000 | £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 | £7.50 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £7.50 | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £30 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Fidelity International | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Platforms & Tools | Fidelity International | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 21 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 5 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Fidelity International | 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 | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Fidelity International | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Fidelity International | Freetrade | |
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| Review | Fidelity International Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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