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.
Fidelity International and Freetrade both cater to UK investors interested in share trading and ETFs, but they offer somewhat different investment options. Fidelity International also supports funds and investment trust trading, offering investors more variety in their portfolios. On the other hand, Freetrade focuses on simplicity, offering straightforward access to shares, ETFs, and investment trusts. Neither platform offers trading in cryptocurrencies, spread betting, CFDs, or bonds, making them best suited for investors not seeking these specific options.
From an advisory perspective, Fidelity International steps ahead with additional advisor services, adding a layer of guidance for those who might need expert advice. When it comes to ratings, Fidelity International edges out with a 4.5-star score for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, positioning them at 12th among 18 brokers. Meanwhile, Freetrade, with its 4-star rating, is ranked at 17th, showcasing its straightforward yet slightly more limited approach to investment offerings.
| 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 seeking straightforward mobile trading experiences, each offering apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both firms earn a commendable 4-star rating for their mobile offerings. However, when it comes to overall rankings among 18 brokers, Freetrade edges ahead at 12th place, while Fidelity International holds the 15th spot. This comparison highlights both platforms as viable choices for mobile trading, while suggesting Freetrade may have a slight advantage in user preference or additional features.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources between Fidelity International and Freetrade, there are some notable differences for UK investors. Fidelity International stands out with a comprehensive approach by offering educational webinars that can be accessed live or on-demand, covering a wide range of topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement. In contrast, Freetrade provides educational content on similar topics but lacks the option for live or recorded webinars, possibly impacting its educational value. Evaluated by UK.StockBrokers.com, Fidelity International receives a strong 5-star rating and ranks #7 out of 18 brokers for beginner education, while Freetrade garners a 3.5-star rating, placing it at #16 in the same category. Ultimately, Fidelity International appears to offer a more complete educational experience for beginners looking to enhance their investing knowledge.
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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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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