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.
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 - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
12 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
36 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.
120 trades per year - Trading 212 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 - Trading 212 would cost £1 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 Trading 212 and Freetrade for online investment options in the UK, both platforms offer share and ETF trading, appealing to those keen on stocks and diversified investing. Trading 212 extends its versatility by providing CFD trading and investment trusts, whereas Freetrade also offers investment trusts but lacks in CFDs. Notably, services such as crypto trading, spread betting, funds trading, and bond trading are absent from both platforms, as well as advisory services, focusing their offerings more on straightforward investment products.
In ratings, Trading 212 earns a slight edge with 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, compared to Freetrade’s 4 stars. Despite this, both platforms are closely ranked, coming in at #16 and #17 respectively out of 21 brokers, indicating competitive offerings for UK investors seeking accessible and straightforward platforms to manage their portfolios.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | 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 it comes to trading tools, Trading 212 delivers a more comprehensive set of features compared to Freetrade. Trading 212 provides the capability to display corporate events on charts, which is not available with Freetrade. It also offers 27 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators, while Freetrade does not include any drawing tools or technical indicators in its platform. Additionally, users of Trading 212 benefit from the ability to add notes to charts, enhancing the user experience through better detail tracking.
Both Trading 212 and Freetrade offer browser-based trading platforms and enable users to create alerts for stock price updates, as well as access real-time market data. However, while both platforms cover these basics, Trading 212 stands out with its more advanced charting capabilities, making it a potentially more suitable choice for users seeking in-depth charting tools and personalized trading experiences.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Freetrade for UK investors interested in retirement savings, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), making them appealing choices for tax-efficient investing. However, those seeking a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) will find that only Freetrade provides this option, offering greater flexibility for retirement planning. Trading 212 does not currently support SIPP accounts, making Freetrade the go-to choice for investors prioritizing comprehensive retirement account options.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors choosing between Trading 212 and Freetrade, both brokers provide convenient mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, making it easy to trade on the go. However, there's a notable difference in their app ratings: Trading 212's app is highly acclaimed, earning a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and ranking 3rd out of 21 brokers for mobile app quality. In contrast, Freetrade's app scores a solid 4 stars, placing it at 12th in the same ranking. Whether you prioritize top-tier functionality or are looking for a user-friendly experience, both platforms offer reliable mobile solutions, yet Trading 212 stands out for those seeking highly rated performance.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources offered by online brokers in the UK, Trading 212 and Freetrade both provide education on share trading and funds, with Trading 212 earning a slightly higher rating at 4 stars compared to Freetrade's 3.5 stars according to UK.StockBrokers.com. While both platforms cover essential investing topics, only Freetrade extends its resources to include education on retirement. Neither Trading 212 nor Freetrade offers live or archived webinars, which could be a consideration for those preferring video learning. Ranking within a contextual field of 21 brokers, Trading 212 holds the 13th position, offering a slight edge for beginners, whereas Freetrade is positioned at 16th, indicating a more basic level of resource availability for new investors.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | ||
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Trading 212 and Freetrade for market research features, both platforms provide useful tools for UK investors to manage their portfolios. Trading 212 and Freetrade each allow users to review their portfolio allocation by asset class, helping traders maintain a balanced investment strategy. Both brokers offer research capabilities for shares and ETFs, making them suitable for those interested in stock and exchange-traded fund analysis. However, Trading 212 surpasses Freetrade with its added feature of CFDs research, advantageous for users interested in contract for difference trading. Despite these offerings, neither platform currently provides research reports for funds, nor do they cover bonds extensively, which could be a consideration for investors focused on these areas.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | ||
| 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 offers commission-free share dealing and is a great option for those looking to simply execute share or ETF trades. Novice investors or those looking for more diversification through mutual funds may find better options elsewhere.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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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Trading 212 offers crypto trading, while Freetrade does not provide crypto trading services.
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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 | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | ||
| Funds | |||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| 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) | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £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 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0 | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | |||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | ||
| Research - Funds | |||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | |||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | Freetrade | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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