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XTB vs Freetrade 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

In this head to head comparison of XTB vs Freetrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

XTB
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP:
Freetrade
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £1
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes

Fees

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, XTB 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 - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.

12 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.

36 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) per year.

120 trades per year - XTB 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 - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Freetrade would cost £1 per year.

query_stats 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.

Investment Choices

Choosing the right online broker can significantly impact your investment journey, and options like XTB and Freetrade offer distinct choices for UK investors. Both platforms provide access to share trading and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), making them appealing for those interested in these investment vehicles. However, XTB stands out by also offering contract for difference (CFD) trading, providing more diversity for traders keen on derivative products. Freetrade, on the other hand, is unique for including investment trusts in its offerings, attracting those looking to diversify through managed portfolios.

In terms of user ratings, XTB is slightly ahead with a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, compared to Freetrade's 4-star rating. When ranked among 21 brokers for investment choices, XTB holds the 13th position while Freetrade is positioned at 17th. This can offer some guidance in making an informed decision, especially if a broader range of investment options is a priority for you.

Feature XTB logoXTB
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info
Investment Trusts info Yes
Spread Betting info Yes
Crypto Trading info
Advisor Services info
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

XTB provides UK traders with ample tools for an enhanced trading experience. The platform allows users to view key corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, which is a feature not available on Freetrade. XTB supports this with 20 drawing tools and a wide selection of 39 technical indicators to enable in-depth market analysis. Freetrade, on the other hand, does not offer drawing tools or technical indicators, which may limit the charting capabilities for users who rely heavily on visual analysis.

Both XTB and Freetrade cater to browser-based trading, ensuring accessibility across devices. When it comes to personalizing trading activities, XTB stands out by allowing note-taking on charts and creating stock price alerts, features that Freetrade matches only in terms of alerts. Both platforms provide real-time market data to keep traders updated with the latest market movements. While both platforms offer basic trading functionalities, XTB's suite of tools caters better to traders seeking detailed analyses and customization options for their trading activities.

Feature XTB logoXTB
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 39 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 20 0
Charting - Notes info Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes
Charting - Stock Overlays info
Charting - Index Overlays info

ISAs and SIPPs

For UK investors exploring retirement account options, both XTB and Freetrade provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing users to invest with tax advantages. However, those interested in Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) will find that only Freetrade offers this type of account, broadening choices for those planning their retirement strategy within the UK tax framework.

Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.

Mobile App

For UK traders seeking user-friendly mobile trading platforms, both XTB and Freetrade offer apps available on iPhone and Android devices. XTB's app is highly rated at 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the #6 spot out of 21 brokers for mobile app performance. Meanwhile, Freetrade's app, with a solid 4-star rating, takes the #12 rank. These rankings reflect the overall user experience and functionality, helping you choose the right solution for your trading needs.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors at XTB and Freetrade, there are noticeable differences. XTB offers client webinars, although they are not available on demand, and provides education on share trading but lacks resources on funds and retirement topics. Meanwhile, Freetrade does not have webinars, but its educational content covers share trading, funds, and retirement. Despite this, XTB is rated higher with 4.5 stars and ranks 9th among 21 brokers according to UK.StockBrokers.com, while Freetrade holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 16th. These distinctions make XTB somewhat more appealing for those seeking beginners' insight into share trading, though Freetrade offers a broader scope of investment topics.

Feature XTB logoXTB
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Client Webinars info
Client Webinars (Archived) info
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When comparing XTB and Freetrade for market research features, both online brokers offer the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class and provide research for shares and ETFs. However, XTB takes a step forward by offering research on CFDs, a feature not available with Freetrade. Neither platform appears to provide research reports for funds or bonds, which might be a consideration for investors interested in expanding their knowledge in those areas.

Feature XTB logoXTB
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info
Research - Funds info
Fund Research - Research Reports info
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes

XTB vs Freetrade Winner

Which broker is better overall, XTB or Freetrade? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found XTB to be a better trading platform overall.

XTB has set itself up as a strong competitor in commission-free share trading. Its low fees and solid educational content will make XTB particularly attractive to newer investors. It does not, however, offer an ISA or SIPP.

Feature XTB logoXTB
Freetrade logoFreetrade
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Website 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with XTB or Freetrade?

XTB provides crypto trading, whereas Freetrade does not offer cryptocurrency trading options.

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating XTB Freetrade
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Website 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Review XTB Review Freetrade Review
Winner check_circle
Investments XTB Freetrade
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes
Funds info
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info
Investment Trusts info Yes
Spread Betting info Yes
Crypto Trading info
Advisor Services info
Trading Fees XTB Freetrade
Minimum Deposit info £0 £1
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £0 £0
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £0 £0
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £0 £0
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info N/A N/A
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info 0 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info 0 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info 0 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info 0 £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus)
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info N/A N/A
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info N/A N/A
ETFs - Fee info £0 £0
Investment Trusts - Fee info N/A £0
Telephone Dealing Fee info N/A N/A
Broker Screenshots XTB Freetrade
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools XTB Freetrade
Web Platform info Yes Yes
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 39 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 20 0
Charting - Notes info Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes
Charting - Stock Overlays info
Charting - Index Overlays info
Research XTB Freetrade
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes
Research - Funds info
Fund Research - Research Reports info
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes
Education XTB Freetrade
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes
Client Webinars info
Client Webinars (Archived) info
Overall Summary XTB Freetrade
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Website 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Review XTB Review Freetrade Review
Winner check_circle
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