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IG vs Freetrade 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

In this head to head comparison of IG vs Freetrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

IG
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • 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, IG 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 - IG would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.

12 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.

36 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.

120 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.

3 fund trades per year - IG would cost £0 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

For UK investors evaluating online brokers, IG and Freetrade both stand out with appealing investment options, yet each caters to different preferences. IG offers an extensive array of choices that include share trading, ETFs, CFD trading, and investment trusts, earning it a commendable 4.5-star rating for investment choices by UK.StockBrokers.com. Ranking 11th out of 21 brokers, IG's platform is suitable for those looking for a variety of trading instruments like ETFs and investment trusts.

Conversely, Freetrade also facilitates share and ETF trading, along with access to investment trusts, attributing to its strong user appeal. It holds a slightly lower rating of 4 stars for investment choices, and ranks 17th among 21 brokers according to UK.StockBrokers.com. While Freetrade might not offer certain investment vehicles like CFDs, it remains a popular option for those seeking a streamlined, user-friendly experience with core investment offerings.

Feature IG logoIG
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info Yes
Crypto Trading info
Advisor Services info
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

When comparing the trading tools of IG and Freetrade, IG stands out with a broad range of features that cater to avid traders. IG provides the ability to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, enhancing the depth of market analysis. Additionally, IG boasts 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators, allowing users to customize their charting experience for precise technical analysis. IG users can also add notes to charts, aiding in tracking and strategy development. Both IG and Freetrade offer browser-based trading platforms and the ability to set up alerts for stock price updates, as well as real-time market data, ensuring traders stay informed.

On the other hand, Freetrade presents a more basic approach to trading tools. It does not support the display of corporate events on charts nor does it offer any drawing tools or technical indicators. While Freetrade offers a browser-based platform and real-time data similar to IG, the absence of features like chart notes and technical customization may influence more advanced traders to lean towards IG for a more comprehensive trading toolkit.

Feature IG logoIG
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 19 0
Charting - Notes info Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes
Charting - Stock Overlays info
Charting - Index Overlays info

ISAs and SIPPs

For UK investors exploring online brokers for retirement accounts, both IG and Freetrade present appealing choices. IG provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), allowing users to manage their investments with tax efficiency. Similarly, Freetrade also offers ISAs and SIPPs, ensuring competitive versatility for those aiming to secure their financial future. With both platforms supporting these popular account types, investors can select either IG or Freetrade to wisely nurture their retirement funds.

Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.

Mobile App

Both IG and Freetrade offer mobile apps available for iPhone and Android users in the UK, catering to those who prefer trading on the go. In terms of app ratings and rankings, IG leads the pack with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the impressive position of #2 out of 21 brokers. Meanwhile, Freetrade holds a 4-star rating, placing it at #12. For those prioritizing app quality and ranking in their online trading experience, IG offers a highly rated option, whereas Freetrade presents a slightly more modest alternative.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

For beginner investors in the UK looking for educational resources from online brokers, IG and Freetrade offer distinct options. IG provides educational client webinars and archives them for on-demand viewing, covering topics including share trading and retirement, with a top 5-star rating and a #1 rank for beginner education by UK.StockBrokers.com. In contrast, Freetrade, while covering share trading, funds, and retirement, does not offer webinars, reflected in its 3.5-star rating and #16 ranking. This makes IG a superior choice for those seeking comprehensive, easily accessible educational content to jumpstart their investing journey.

Feature IG logoIG
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Client Webinars info Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info 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 IG and Freetrade for UK investors, several key differences emerge. IG excels in providing comprehensive research reports for shares, ETFs, and CFDs, making it a strong choice for those looking to delve into detailed analyses, including research reports for funds. In contrast, while Freetrade lacks research reports for funds, it supports investor awareness by offering clear insights into portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not available with IG. Both platforms offer research capabilities for shares and ETFs, but if you're interested in CFDs, IG is the option to consider. Neither platform offers dedicated research for funds or bonds, so if those areas interest you, additional resources may be necessary.

Feature IG logoIG
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info
Research - Funds info
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes

IG vs Freetrade Winner

Which broker is better overall, IG or Freetrade? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found IG to be a better trading platform overall.

IG is an investment platform aimed at experienced investors looking to make frequent trades on the stock market, with thousands of shares, trusts and ETFs to trade. It offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use trading platform that is used by both private and professional investors.

Feature IG logoIG
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 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 IG or Freetrade?

While IG provides the option for cryptocurrency trading as part of its comprehensive range of investment products, Freetrade does not currently offer cryptocurrency trading, making IG a more suitable choice for investors specifically interested in the crypto market.

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Compare

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Overall Rating IG Freetrade
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Review IG Review Freetrade Review
Winner check_circle
Investments IG Freetrade
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes
Funds info
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info Yes
Crypto Trading info
Advisor Services info
Trading Fees IG Freetrade
Minimum Deposit info £0 £1
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £0 info £0
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £0 info £0
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £0 info £0
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info N/A N/A
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £0 / £96 info £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £0 / £96 info £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £0 / £96 info £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £0 / £96 info £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info N/A N/A
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info N/A N/A
ETFs - Fee info £0 - £8 £0
Investment Trusts - Fee info £0 - £8 £0
Telephone Dealing Fee info £50 N/A
Broker Screenshots IG Freetrade
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools IG 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 33 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 19 0
Charting - Notes info Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes
Charting - Stock Overlays info
Charting - Index Overlays info
Research IG Freetrade
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes
Research - Funds info
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes
Education IG Freetrade
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes
Overall Summary IG Freetrade
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Review IG Review Freetrade Review
Winner check_circle
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