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.
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 Fidelity International 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.
For UK investors seeking a comparison between Fidelity International and Freetrade, both online brokers facilitate share trading and offer a solid range of investment trusts and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). However, Fidelity International distinguishes itself by providing access to funds trading and offering advisor services, features that Freetrade does not support. Neither platform offers options for crypto trading, CFD trading, or bonds (corporate and government). Additionally, spread betting is not available on either platform.
In terms of rankings, Fidelity International is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for investment choices by UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it twelfth among 21 brokers. Freetrade, with a 4-star rating, ranks seventeenth. Overall, Fidelity International offers a slightly broader set of investment choices compared to Freetrade, which may suit investors looking for funds trading and advisory services.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual 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 keen on market research features, Fidelity International and Freetrade provide a mix of tools for informed decision-making. Fidelity International offers comprehensive research resources, including reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and bonds, along with detailed insight into portfolio allocation by asset class. By contrast, Freetrade also supports shares, ETFs research, and portfolio allocation views but does not offer reports for funds or insights on bonds. This makes Fidelity International a more thorough option for those seeking extensive research capabilities, especially for funds and bonds, while Freetrade may appeal to those prioritising a straightforward platform with essential features.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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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 | |
| Mutual 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 | |||
| 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) | |||
| 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 | £90 - £875 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £1,000 - £2,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £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 | |||
| 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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