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 provide online platforms for share trading and offer trading options for exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Additionally, Fidelity International supports funds trading and trading in investment trusts, including the provision of advisor services for its users. In contrast, while Freetrade also enables investment trust trading, it does not extend to funds trading or advisor services. This makes Fidelity International a potentially better choice if you need access to a wider range of investment options and advisory support.
When assessed by UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, Fidelity International holds a strong rating of 4.5 stars, positioning it as the 12th broker among 21. Meanwhile, Freetrade, with a commendable 4-star rating, is ranked 17th in the same list. If your priority is a broad spectrum of investment opportunities, Fidelity International might be the preferable option, though Freetrade remains a reliable choice for those focused mainly on shares and ETFs.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
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 | Yes | |
| 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 for UK investors, Fidelity International stands out with a wide array of features designed for comprehensive market analysis. It allows users to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends on charts, while offering five drawing tools and 21 technical indicators to enhance charting capabilities. Additionally, Fidelity users can overlay indices and stocks on charts, create stock price alerts, and access a browser-based trading platform. However, while Fidelity offers advanced charting options, it does not provide real-time market data.
On the other hand, Freetrade provides more streamlined trading tools that are simpler in comparison. While it supports real-time market data and enables users to create alerts for stock price updates, it offers no drawing tools or technical indicators for charting. Moreover, Freetrade does not provide the ability to display corporate events on charts or add overlays. Despite these limitations, Freetrade does have a browser-based trading platform that facilitates straightforward trading activities for beginners or those who prefer a less complex interface.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 21 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 5 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
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 the educational resources for beginner investors between Fidelity International and Freetrade, there are notable differences that UK users might consider. Fidelity International stands out by offering live client webinars that are also accessible on-demand, providing flexible learning opportunities. Both platforms cover important investment topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement, making them useful for those new to investing. However, in ratings by UK.StockBrokers.com, Fidelity International shines with a 5-star rating and is ranked 7th out of 21 brokers for beginner education, while Freetrade holds a 3.5-star rating, ranking 16th. This suggests that although both offer valuable educational content, Fidelity International may offer a more comprehensive experience for those just starting in the investment world.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
For those navigating the UK investment scene, both Fidelity International and Freetrade offer valuable market research tools, although they differ in the range of features available. Fidelity International provides comprehensive research options, including detailed reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and bonds, while both platforms allow users to view portfolio allocations by asset class. Freetrade matches many of Fidelity's offerings, such as research capabilities for shares and ETFs, yet it does not extend to detailed reports for funds or bonds. This distinction might be pivotal for investors who prioritize extensive research resources when comparing online brokers.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| 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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|---|---|---|
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| Mobile App |
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Fidelity International does not offer crypto trading, whereas Freetrade also does not provide options for trading cryptocurrencies.
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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 | |||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes |
| 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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| Mobile Trading Apps 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 | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Fidelity International | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | ||
| 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 | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Fidelity International | Freetrade | |
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| Review | Fidelity International Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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