Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Hargreaves Lansdown 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, Hargreaves Lansdown offers better pricing than Freetrade 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.
Hargreaves Lansdown vs Freetrade: both let UK investors buy and sell shares, ETFs, funds, gilts, and investment trusts. Neither supports crypto or CFD trading. Where they differ is breadth and support: Hargreaves Lansdown also offers corporate bonds and access to adviser services, while Freetrade does not provide corporate bonds or advice.
For investment choice, UK.StockBrokers.com rates Hargreaves Lansdown 5 stars (ranked 4th of 21) and Freetrade 4.5 stars (ranked 17th of 21). Pick Hargreaves Lansdown if you want the widest selection and optional guidance; choose Freetrade if you prefer straightforward share and ETF investing without extras.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Hargreaves Lansdown offers far richer charting than Freetrade. You get 11 drawing tools and 109 technical indicators with Hargreaves Lansdown, plus the option to add stock overlays for comparison. Freetrade has no drawing tools, no technical indicators and no stock overlays. Neither broker shows corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) on charts, and you can’t add notes or index overlays with either.
Both provide a browser-based platform and let you set price alerts. For live pricing, Hargreaves Lansdown supplies real-time market data, while Freetrade does not.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 109 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online brokers for retirement accounts in the UK, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Freetrade offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making them strong options for those looking to save for the future. Hargreaves Lansdown, with its well-established presence, provides a range of investment options to suit various financial goals. Freetrade, known for its user-friendly platform, offers a straightforward, app-based approach, appealing to both seasoned investors and those new to the investing scene. Both brokers give UK investors flexibility and accessibility when managing their retirement savings.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors comparing online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Freetrade on mobile, both offer iPhone and Android apps for on-the-go investing. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Hargreaves Lansdown’s mobile app is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 21 for Mobile Apps, while Freetrade’s app is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12 out of 21. In short, Freetrade edges the star rating, but Hargreaves Lansdown sits slightly higher in the overall mobile app ranking.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners comparing investor education at Hargreaves Lansdown and Freetrade: Hargreaves Lansdown runs live educational client webinars and offers them on-demand, while Freetrade does not provide webinars. Both brokers cover share trading, funds, and retirement topics. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Hargreaves Lansdown earns 5/5 stars and ranks 4th out of 21 for beginner education, whereas Freetrade scores 4/5 and ranks 16th. If webinars and a larger learning library matter, Hargreaves Lansdown has the edge; if you just want clear guides on key topics, both can suit.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
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.
Hargreaves Lansdown vs Freetrade: for UK investors focused on market research features, Hargreaves Lansdown offers research across shares, ETFs, funds and bonds, plus research reports for funds, whereas Freetrade does not provide research reports or dedicated research on shares, ETFs, funds or bonds. Both platforms let you view your portfolio allocation by asset class, but if you want built-in analysis and fund write-ups, Hargreaves Lansdown is the stronger option.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | No |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Hargreaves Lansdown or Freetrade? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Hargreaves Lansdown to be a better trading platform overall.
As the U.K.’s biggest investment platform for individual investors, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a wide range of investment choices for either beginners or seasoned investors. However, its fees are generally more expensive than rival brokers, which can become an issue for large investment pots.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
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Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
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Hargreaves Lansdown and Freetrade both do not offer crypto trading, providing distinct options for investors seeking traditional assets through user-friendly online platforms.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Hargreaves Lansdown | Freetrade | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Hargreaves Lansdown | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Trading Fees | Hargreaves Lansdown | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100 | £1 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | £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 | Up to £1,125 | £59.88 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £1125 - £1750 | £59.88 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £1750 - £3000 | £59.88 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £3,000 - £4,000 | £59.88 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | £0 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £11.95 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £11.95 | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | Freetrade | |
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| Platforms & Tools | Hargreaves Lansdown | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 109 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Hargreaves Lansdown | 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 | Hargreaves Lansdown | Freetrade | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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