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.
Comparing Trading 212 vs Freetrade for UK investors, both let you buy and sell shares, ETFs, and investment trusts, and neither supports crypto or adviser services. The key differences are in what else you can hold: Trading 212 offers CFD trading, while Freetrade does not. Freetrade lets you invest in funds and UK government bonds (gilts), which Trading 212 does not. Corporate bonds are not available on either platform.
For investment choices, UK.StockBrokers.com rates both Trading 212 and Freetrade at 4.5 out of 5 stars. Trading 212 ranks 16th out of 21 brokers, with Freetrade close behind at 17th. If you want CFDs alongside shares and ETFs, Trading 212 may suit you; if you prefer access to funds and gilts, Freetrade could be the better fit.
| 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.
Comparing Trading 212 vs Freetrade for mobile apps in the UK: both offer iPhone and Android apps. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212’s app is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 21 brokers for Mobile Apps, while Freetrade’s app is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12. For a higher-rated mobile trading experience, Trading 212 has the edge, though Freetrade remains a solid choice for straightforward investing.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners comparing Trading 212 vs Freetrade: neither broker offers educational webinars or on‑demand replays. Both cover share trading, but only Freetrade includes learning on funds and retirement. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212 scores 4.5/5 and ranks 13th of 21, while Freetrade scores 4/5 and ranks 16th of 21. Choose Trading 212 if you want higher-rated beginner content overall, or pick Freetrade if you want simple guidance on funds and retirement topics.
| 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 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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| 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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