Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs Freetrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
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, Trading 212 offers better pricing than Freetrade for share dealing.
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.
Trading 212 vs Freetrade: both let UK investors trade shares, ETFs, and investment trusts, and neither supports crypto or corporate bonds. The key differences are that Trading 212 offers CFD trading, while Freetrade offers funds and UK government bonds (gilts). Neither platform provides advisor services.
For investment choice, UK.StockBrokers.com rates both at 4.5/5, with Freetrade ranked 9th of 21 brokers and Trading 212 ranked 10th. In short: choose Trading 212 if you want CFDs; pick Freetrade if you want funds or gilts alongside shares, ETFs, and investment trusts.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Trading 212 vs Freetrade for trading tools: neither platform shows corporate events like earnings, splits or dividends on charts, and neither supports index or stock overlays. Freetrade lists 0 drawing tools and 0 technical indicators, while the number for Trading 212 isn’t specified here. One clear difference is that Trading 212 lets you add notes to charts, whereas Freetrade doesn’t.
Both brokers offer a browser-based platform and price alerts, making it easy to track moves from your laptop. For market data, Trading 212 provides real-time updates, while Freetrade does not—an important point for UK investors who want up-to-the-minute pricing.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
For UK investors considering their options for online brokers, Trading 212 and Freetrade both offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing tax-efficient investment. However, when it comes to Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), the choice is clearer. Freetrade provides the option to open a SIPP, catering to those planning for retirement, while Trading 212 currently does not offer this account type. This distinction may influence investors prioritizing long-term retirement planning. Considering these differences can help you decide which platform better aligns with your financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors comparing Trading 212 vs Freetrade mobile apps, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, but UK.StockBrokers.com rates Trading 212 higher: 5 stars and ranked #3 out of 21 brokers for Mobile Apps, versus Freetrade at 4.5 stars and ranked #7. If you want the top-rated experience, Trading 212 edges ahead, while Freetrade still provides a solid app on both iPhone and Android.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors comparing educational resources, Trading 212 and Freetrade both lack live and on-demand webinars, but each covers share trading basics. Freetrade adds guidance on funds and retirement, while Trading 212 does not. Even so, UK.StockBrokers.com rates Trading 212 higher for beginner education (4.5/5, ranked 10th of 21) than Freetrade (4/5, ranked 13th), so your choice may hinge on whether you want broader topics (Freetrade) or a higher-rated learning experience (Trading 212).
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
Trading 212 vs Freetrade: For UK investors comparing market research features, both platforms show portfolio allocation by asset class and neither provides research reports for funds, funds research, or bonds research. Trading 212 adds built-in shares and ETF research, while Freetrade does not offer research on shares or ETFs. If you want in-app insights for choosing shares and ETFs, Trading 212 is the better fit; if you only need a simple allocation view, either platform works.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | No |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Trading 212 or Freetrade? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Trading 212 to be a better trading platform overall.
Trading 212 is a popular investing platform best known for its commission-free trading, easy-to-use mobile app, and support for low-cost investing in stocks and ETFs.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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Both Trading 212 and Freetrade do not offer crypto trading, making them similar choices for investors interested in traditional asset classes, while their user-friendly platforms and commission-free trading features cater to beginner investors seeking cost-effective solutions.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £1 | |
| 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) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £59.88 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £0 | £59.88 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £59.88 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £0 | £59.88 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £0 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
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| Platforms & Tools | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | ||
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | ||
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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