Written by StockBrokers.com
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.
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 IG 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 £136 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £96 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £108 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £360 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.
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.
When comparing the investment choices between IG and Freetrade, both online brokers offer essential services such as share trading and ETF trading. However, if you're looking for CFD trading, IG stands out as it provides this option, while Freetrade does not. It's important to note that neither platform offers crypto trading, spread betting, or trading in corporate bonds, government bonds, or funds. Additionally, both IG and Freetrade enable users to trade investment trusts but lack advisor services.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG earns a commendable 4.5-star rating for its investment choices, placing it 11th out of 18 brokers. On the other hand, Freetrade receives a solid 4-star rating, ranking 17th. This suggests that while both brokers cover the basics effectively, IG might better serve those interested in a slightly broader array of trading options, especially if CFD trading is a priority.
| Feature |
IG
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of IG and Freetrade, it's clear that IG provides a more comprehensive set of charting features. IG allows traders to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on their charts, a feature that Freetrade lacks. Additionally, IG offers 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators to enhance chart analysis, while Freetrade does not provide any drawing tools or technical indicators. Both platforms allow users to add notes to their charts, but neither offers the option to add stock or index overlays.
In terms of accessibility, both IG and Freetrade offer browser-based trading platforms, making it easy for users to trade from their computers. They both provide real-time market data and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, ensuring traders stay informed about market movements. Whether you prioritize detailed charting features or are seeking straightforward trading access, understanding these differences can help you make an informed decision.
| Feature |
IG
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing IG and Freetrade regarding retirement account options, both platforms provide similar offerings tailored to UK investors. IG allows users to open both Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), granting flexibility for tax-efficient investing and long-term retirement planning. Similarly, Freetrade also offers ISA and SIPP accounts, aligning with IG in accommodating users seeking tax advantages and greater control over their investment portfolios. This alignment in services suggests that choosing between these two platforms may depend more on other factors such as trading fees, UI experience, or customer support rather than retirement account options.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of IG and Freetrade, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android devices, ensuring traders on any smartphone platform can engage seamlessly with their services. IG's mobile app shines with a top-notch 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and an impressive rank of #2 out of 18 brokers, highlighting its superior functionality and user experience. On the other hand, Freetrade's app, while still robust, earns a solid 4-star rating and ranks #12, making it a reliable choice for traders, albeit not quite on par with IG's offering.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
If you’re a beginner investor looking for educational resources, comparing IG and Freetrade reveals distinct differences. IG offers comprehensive learning opportunities with webinars that cover topics like share trading and retirement, which are also available on demand for convenient access. On the other hand, Freetrade provides education on share trading and funds, but lacks webinars and on-demand content. While both platforms offer insights into retirement planning, IG outshines Freetrade by receiving a 5-star rating for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking as the top broker out of 18. Freetrade, with a 3.5-star rating, ranks significantly lower at #16. This makes IG a more robust choice for those seeking extensive beginner investor education.
| Feature |
IG
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing IG and Freetrade for market research features, there are notable differences and similarities. IG sets itself apart by offering comprehensive research reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and CFDs, although it lacks portfolio allocation insights by asset class and research for bonds and funds. Conversely, Freetrade excels in allowing users to see portfolio allocations by asset class and provides research on shares and ETFs, but it doesn't offer research reports for funds or coverage for CFDs and bonds. Both platforms provide shares and ETFs research, but neither caters to funds or bonds research, highlighting specific strengths in IG’s varied market research offerings compared to Freetrade's straightforward portfolio insights.
| Feature |
IG
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
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
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Freetrade
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Both IG and Freetrade do not offer crypto trading, providing users with a focused platform for traditional securities and investment options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Freetrade | |
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| Review | IG Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | IG | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £1 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0-£10 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £136 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £96 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £108 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £360 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 / £96 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 / £96 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 / £96 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 / £96 | £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 | £0 - £8 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 - £8 | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | IG | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | IG | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | IG | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | IG | Freetrade | |
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| Review | IG Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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