Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Freetrade vs Robinhood UK, 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, Robinhood UK 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 - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Freetrade would cost £1 per year, while Robinhood UK 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.
Freetrade and Robinhood UK both offer share trading to their investors. However, when it comes to the range of available investment choices, Freetrade shines by providing options such as trading in Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and investment trusts, which Robinhood UK currently does not offer. Both platforms have gaps in their offerings, as neither provides services like crypto trading, spread betting, CFD trading, trading of corporate or government bonds, and funds trading. Advisor services are also absent from each platform.
In terms of ratings and rankings for investment choices, Freetrade holds an advantage with a 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing them at #17 out of 21 brokers. Comparatively, Robinhood UK receives a 3-star rating and is positioned at #20. This suggests that while both platforms offer basic share trading, Freetrade potentially provides a slightly richer variety of investment opportunities, making it a more attractive option for some UK investors.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | |
| Funds | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools available for Freetrade and Robinhood UK, it's clear that both platforms cater to users who prefer straightforward investing experiences without overwhelming details. Freetrade, while providing a browser-based trading platform with real-time market data, lacks advanced charting capabilities such as displaying corporate events, drawing tools, and technical indicators. However, it does offer useful features like creating alerts for stock price updates. Robinhood UK, on the other hand, also provides a browser-based platform and real-time data but takes a step further with the inclusion of three technical indicators for charting, albeit no drawing tools or corporate event displays. Both platforms do not support adding notes, index overlays, or stock overlays to their charts.
Freetrade and Robinhood UK both aim to serve users seeking a streamlined approach to trading. They offer essential features like browser-based trading and real-time updates, allowing investors to keep track of the market efficiently. While neither platform excels in advanced charting functionalities, Robinhood UK's offering of technical indicators might appeal to those needing a bit more analytical capability. Despite these similarities, the absence of drawing tools and more advanced charting options means that both remain simplified options for investors more focused on ease of use rather than intricate market analysis.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 3 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
When comparing Freetrade and Robinhood UK for retirement accounts, it's important to consider their offerings for UK investors. Freetrade provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making it a versatile choice for those looking to optimize their savings and retirement funds. On the other hand, Robinhood UK does not offer any ISA or SIPP accounts, which might limit its appeal for users seeking these tax-efficient investment options. Therefore, Freetrade stands out as a more comprehensive option for UK residents who want both ISAs and SIPPs.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Freetrade and Robinhood UK both offer iPhone and Android apps, making them accessible to users of both major mobile platforms. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, each app is rated 4 out of 5 stars, indicating high user satisfaction and performance. However, when ranked amongst 21 brokers for their mobile apps, Freetrade holds the slight advantage at the number 12 spot, just edging out Robinhood UK, which sits at number 13. This suggests both apps are quite comparable, offering similar features and usability for a seamless investing experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors between Freetrade and Robinhood UK, both platforms offer educational content on share trading, but only Freetrade extends its teachings to the topics of funds and retirement. Neither Freetrade nor Robinhood UK currently provide educational client webinars or archived on-demand sessions. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both Freetrade and Robinhood UK share a beginner education rating of 3.5 stars, though Freetrade is ranked 16th out of 21 brokers, ahead of Robinhood UK, which is positioned at 20th. For UK investors seeking a comprehensive educational experience, Freetrade edges out slightly with its broader topic coverage and higher ranking.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | ||
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Freetrade and Robinhood UK, certain distinctions emerge. Freetrade enables users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not explicitly mentioned for Robinhood UK. Both platforms offer research on shares and ETFs, providing valuable insights for investors looking to explore these areas. However, neither Freetrade nor Robinhood UK appears to offer in-depth research reports specifically for funds or provide detailed analysis on CFDs or bonds. These similarities and differences can guide users in the UK who seek to understand the nuances of these trading platforms for making informed investment decisions.
| Feature |
Freetrade
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Freetrade or Robinhood UK? 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
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Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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In the online brokerage landscape, Freetrade distinguishes itself by not offering crypto trading, unlike Robinhood UK, which provides the option for users to trade cryptocurrencies.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Freetrade | Robinhood UK | |
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| Review | Freetrade Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Freetrade | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | ||
| SIPP | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | |||
| ETFs | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | ||
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| Trading Fees | Freetrade | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £0 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Freetrade | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Platforms & Tools | Freetrade | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 3 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | |||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | Freetrade | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | |||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | |||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
| Education | Freetrade | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) |
| Overall Summary | Freetrade | Robinhood UK | |
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| Review | Freetrade Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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