Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Freetrade vs Lloyds Bank, 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 Lloyds Bank 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 - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £95 per year.
12 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £40 - £172 per year.
36 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £40 - £328 per year.
120 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £40 / £1,000 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Freetrade would cost £1 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £0 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 Freetrade and Lloyds Bank for investment opportunities, both platforms offer share trading and the ability to trade ETFs and investment trusts. However, neither Freetrade nor Lloyds Bank provides options for crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading. The key differences emerge in trading funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds, where Lloyds Bank offers these options while Freetrade does not. Lloyds Bank also provides advisor services, which is an additional feature not available with Freetrade.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Freetrade and Lloyds Bank have different standings when it comes to investment choices. Freetrade holds a 4-star rating and is ranked 13th out of 18 brokers, indicating solid but limited offerings. Lloyds Bank, on the other hand, boasts a 5-star rating and is ranked 8th, reflecting a broader range of options and higher overall customer satisfaction in investment choices.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of online broker Freetrade and Lloyds Bank, both platforms seem remarkably similar in their charting features—or lack thereof. Neither Freetrade nor Lloyds Bank offers the ability to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, or dividends on charts. They also do not provide any drawing tools or technical indicators for charting, and users cannot add notes, index overlays, or stock overlays to charts on either platform.
However, there are some differences in functionality. Both Freetrade and Lloyds Bank offer browser-based trading platforms, making them convenient for users who prefer not to install apps. While both services allow users to create alerts for stock price updates, only Freetrade offers real-time market data, giving it a slight edge for those who need up-to-the-minute information.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online broker Freetrade to Lloyds Bank in terms of retirement account offerings, both platforms provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). Freetrade is known for its user-friendly app and cost-effective investment opportunities, appealing to those who prefer an intuitive, modern digital experience for managing their retirement savings. Meanwhile, Lloyds Bank, with its long-standing reputation and traditional banking services, offers a more conventional route to managing ISAs and SIPPs, catering to individuals who value a trusted banking relationship alongside their investment strategies. Whether you lean towards Freetrade's innovative approach or Lloyds Bank's established expertise, both providers ensure you can make the most of your retirement planning.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing mobile apps from Freetrade and Lloyds Bank, both offer apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility across major platforms. However, in terms of user satisfaction, Freetrade's app shines a bit brighter with a 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, compared to Lloyds Bank's 3.5-star rating. This distinction is further reflected in their overall rankings among 18 brokers, where Freetrade holds the 8th spot and Lloyds Bank takes the 15th position. For users seeking a well-reviewed mobile trading experience, Freetrade may present a more appealing option.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the beginner investor educational resources from online broker Freetrade and Lloyds Bank, it's important to consider the differences in their offerings. Neither Freetrade nor Lloyds Bank provides educational webinars or archives of such content for on-demand viewing. However, Freetrade stands out by offering educational resources covering share trading, funds, and retirement, while Lloyds Bank does not provide education on these topics. Despite this, UK.StockBrokers.com rates Lloyds Bank slightly higher with 4 stars for beginner education compared to Freetrade's 3.5 stars. Interestingly, within a pool of 18 brokers, Freetrade is ranked #9, while Lloyds Bank holds the #15 spot. This suggests that although Lloyds Bank has a higher star rating, Freetrade offers a more comprehensive educational scope for those starting their investment journey.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Freetrade with Lloyds Bank for market research features, several differences emerge. Freetrade provides research on shares and ETFs, along with a handy option to view your portfolio allocation by asset class, helping investors track their investments more effectively. However, Freetrade lacks research reports for funds and bonds. On the flip side, Lloyds Bank stands out with research reports for both funds and bonds, but it misses out on offering a portfolio allocation by asset class tool. Both platforms offer research for shares and ETFs, though neither offers research on CFDs. This comparison highlights the unique strengths of each platform in catering to different investor needs.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | 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 Lloyds Bank? 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
|
Lloyds Bank
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Freetrade and Lloyds Bank do not currently offer options for crypto trading.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Freetrade | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Freetrade Review | Lloyds Bank Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Freetrade | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Freetrade | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £8, £10, £11 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £8 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £8 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £95 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £40 - £172 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £40 - £328 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £40 / £1,000 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £44.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £40 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £40 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £40 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £40 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £8 - £11 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £8 - £11 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | ||
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | ||
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £35 |
| Broker Screenshots | Freetrade | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Platforms & Tools | Freetrade | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Freetrade | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Freetrade | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Freetrade | Lloyds Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Freetrade Review | Lloyds Bank Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
IG Group Review
Saxo Review
eToro Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Trading 212 Review
XTB Review
CMC Invest Review
Vanguard Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
Halifax Review
Freetrade Review
