Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Freetrade vs Halifax, 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 Halifax 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.
Freetrade and Halifax both let UK investors buy and sell shares, ETFs, funds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. Neither offers crypto or CFD trading. Key differences: Halifax also lets you trade corporate bonds and provides optional adviser services, while Freetrade does not offer corporate bonds or advice.
For investment choice, UK.StockBrokers.com rates both brokers 4.5 out of 5 stars; Halifax ranks #8 of 21 and Freetrade ranks #9. Choose Halifax if you need corporate bond access or guidance from an adviser; pick Freetrade if the core menu of shares, ETFs, funds, gilts, and investment trusts covers what you want to hold.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Freetrade vs Halifax: for charting tools, Halifax is the clear winner. Halifax offers 8 drawing tools, 95 technical indicators, and lets you add notes to charts. Freetrade has no drawing tools, no indicators, and no chart notes. Both platforms lack corporate events on charts (like earnings, splits, dividends) and don’t support index or stock overlays.
Both brokers provide a browser-based trading platform and let you set price alerts. Neither offers real-time market data, so prices may be delayed. If you want richer chart analysis, Halifax is the better fit; if you only need basic trading with alerts, Freetrade could suffice.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 95 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 8 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online broker Freetrade to Halifax for UK retirement accounts, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making them appealing choices for those seeking flexibility in their retirement savings. Freetrade, known for its user-friendly interface and straightforward fee structure, targets tech-savvy individuals who prefer an app-centric experience. On the other hand, Halifax provides a more traditional approach with in-branch services and comprehensive financial advice, which can be advantageous for those who value personal interactions and a broader range of banking services. Whether you prioritize ease of use with Freetrade or the comprehensive offerings of Halifax, both providers cater to varied investor needs, ensuring a straightforward path toward retirement savings.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Freetrade vs Halifax for mobile investing in the UK: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, but Freetrade’s mobile app is rated 4.5/5 and ranks 7th out of 21 brokers for Mobile Apps, while Halifax’s app is rated 3.5/5 and ranks 15th out of 21. If a smoother mobile experience is a priority, Freetrade generally edges Halifax, though both let you manage investments on the go.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
Freetrade and Halifax offer similar beginner investor education in the UK: neither runs client webinars or on-demand replays, but both cover the basics of share trading, funds, and retirement. UK.StockBrokers.com rates each 4/5 for beginner education; however, Halifax ranks slightly higher (#12 of 21) than Freetrade (#13 of 21). If you don’t need webinars and want clear how-to content, either is a solid pick, with Halifax edging it on ranking alone.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | 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.
Freetrade vs Halifax for UK investors: Halifax offers market research across shares, ETFs, funds and bonds, plus research reports for funds, while Freetrade does not provide these research tools. Freetrade does let you see your portfolio allocation by asset class, which Halifax lacks. Choose Halifax if you want research and reports across asset types; pick Freetrade if viewing how your holdings are split by asset class is your priority.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | No | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | No | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, Freetrade or Halifax? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Freetrade to be a better trading platform overall.
Overall Freetrade is a great platform to help you get to grips with investing. Costs are low, and its user-friendly mobile app offers great investment inspiration. Sophisticated investors, however, may find that other platforms offer a wider range of investment options and tools.
| Feature |
Freetrade
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Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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Both online broker Freetrade and Halifax do not offer crypto trading options, making them similar in this particular feature for investors seeking cryptocurrency trading capabilities.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Freetrade | Halifax | |
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| Review | Freetrade Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Freetrade | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Freetrade | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £9.50 | |
| 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 | £59.88 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £59.88 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £59.88 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £59.88 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £9.50 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £0 | £9.50 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £0 / £3.50 / £9.50 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £0 / £3.50 / £9.50 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Freetrade | Halifax | |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Freetrade | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 95 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 8 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Freetrade | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | No | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | No | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Freetrade | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Freetrade | Halifax | |
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| Review | Freetrade Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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