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Hargreaves Lansdown vs Freetrade 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

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.

Hargreaves Lansdown
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £1
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes
Freetrade
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £1
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes

Fees

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.

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 - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.

12 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.

36 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.

120 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.

3 fund trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1 per year, while Freetrade would cost £1 per year.

query_stats 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.

Investment Choices

Hargreaves Lansdown and Freetrade are two popular online brokers in the UK, each offering distinct investment options to meet varying investor needs. Hargreaves Lansdown offers a wide range of investment opportunities including share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. However, it does not provide access to crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading. Supported by a robust suite of services, including advisor services, it garners a five-star rating for investment choices, ranking fourth out of 21 brokers according to UK.StockBrokers.com.

Freetrade, on the other hand, provides a streamlined approach to investing, emphasizing simplicity and accessibility. Freetrade offers share trading, ETF trading, and access to investment trusts, although it doesn't support trading in funds, corporate or government bonds, crypto, spread betting, or CFDs. While it lacks advisor services, Freetrade maintains a strong four-star rating for investment choices, ranking 17th out of 21 brokers by UK.StockBrokers.com. Both platforms provide unique advantages depending on the investor’s preference for comprehensive service versus straightforward investing.

Feature Hargreaves Lansdown logoHargreaves Lansdown
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info Yes No
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes No
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info Yes No
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

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4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

When it comes to trading tools, Hargreaves Lansdown and Freetrade offer different experiences for UK investors. Hargreaves Lansdown stands out with a wide array of charting features, providing 11 drawing tools and 15 technical indicators to support detailed market analysis. Additionally, users have the ability to display corporate events like earnings and dividends on charts. In contrast, Freetrade does not offer drawing tools, technical indicators, or corporate event displays on its charts. Both platforms, however, support real-time market data and allow users to create alerts for stock price updates.

For those who enjoy visualising market data, Hargreaves Lansdown allows the addition of index and stock overlays to charts, further enhancing the depth of analysis possible for traders keen on detail. Freetrade does not support these advanced charting features, making it potentially less attractive to experienced traders seeking comprehensive tools for in-depth analysis. Both Hargreaves Lansdown and Freetrade provide a browser-based platform to manage trades easily from a desktop, ensuring accessibility for all types of investors.

Feature Hargreaves Lansdown logoHargreaves Lansdown
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 15 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 11 0
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No

ISAs and SIPPs

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.

Mobile App

For UK investors seeking convenient mobile trading options, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Freetrade provide reliable choices, offering apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Hargreaves Lansdown's mobile app is rated at 4.5 stars, landing it in 10th position among 21 brokers for mobile apps, while Freetrade's app earns a 4-star rating, positioning it at the 12th spot. Both platforms ensure users can trade on the go, with Hargreaves Lansdown slightly edging out in app ratings and rankings.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources from online brokers, Hargreaves Lansdown and Freetrade offer distinct experiences. Hargreaves Lansdown provides live educational webinars, although they aren't available on demand, along with detailed materials on share trading, funds, and retirement. While Freetrade doesn't host webinars, it similarly covers share trading, funds, and retirement topics. In terms of beginner education ratings by UK.StockBrokers.com, Hargreaves Lansdown shines with an impressive 5-star rating and ranks 4th out of 21 brokers. Meanwhile, Freetrade holds a respectable 3.5 stars but is positioned at 16th in the same ranking, indicating a solid, if less standout, educational offering for new investors.

Feature Hargreaves Lansdown logoHargreaves Lansdown
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info No No
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When comparing the market research features of Hargreaves Lansdown and Freetrade for UK investors, Hargreaves Lansdown seems to offer a more extensive array of research options. Both platforms provide research on shares, ETFs, and the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class. However, Hargreaves Lansdown takes the lead by offering research reports on funds and bonds, which Freetrade lacks. Additionally, neither platform offers research on CFDs. This makes Hargreaves Lansdown a potentially stronger choice for those seeking comprehensive research capabilities, particularly for funds and bonds.

Feature Hargreaves Lansdown logoHargreaves Lansdown
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Research - Funds info Yes No
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes

Hargreaves Lansdown vs Freetrade Winner

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 logoHargreaves Lansdown
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Hargreaves Lansdown or Freetrade?

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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Compare

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Overall Rating Hargreaves Lansdown Freetrade
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Review Hargreaves Lansdown Review Freetrade Review
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Investments Hargreaves Lansdown Freetrade
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No
Funds info Yes No
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info Yes No
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes No
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info Yes No
Trading Fees Hargreaves Lansdown Freetrade
Minimum Deposit info £1 £1
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £11.95 £0
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £8.95 £0
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £5.95 £0
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £135 N/A
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info Up to £1,125 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info Up to £625 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info Up to £1,250 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info Up to £1,000 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info £20 - £50 N/A
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info £20 - £50 N/A
ETFs - Fee info £5.95 - £11.95 £0
Investment Trusts - Fee info £5.95 - £11.95 £0
Telephone Dealing Fee info £20 - £50 info N/A
Broker Screenshots Hargreaves Lansdown Freetrade
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools Hargreaves Lansdown Freetrade
Web Platform info Yes Yes
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 15 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 11 0
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No
Research Hargreaves Lansdown Freetrade
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - Funds info Yes No
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes
Education Hargreaves Lansdown Freetrade
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info No No
Overall Summary Hargreaves Lansdown Freetrade
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Review Hargreaves Lansdown Review Freetrade Review
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