Written by StockBrokers.com
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.
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, XTB 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.
For UK investors navigating the world of online trading platforms, XTB and Freetrade present distinct yet appealing offerings. Both platforms support share and ETF trading, catering to those interested in more traditional investment avenues. However, when it comes to trading CFDs, XTB has the upper hand, providing this option to its users, whereas Freetrade does not. Conversely, Freetrade stands out for investors interested in investment trusts, an area XTB does not cover. Notably, neither platform supports crypto, funds, bond trading, or offers advisor services, which may be a consideration for some investors.
When comparing user ratings, XTB edges slightly ahead with a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Freetrade follows closely with a commendable 4 stars. In terms of ranking among 21 brokers, XTB is positioned at #13, ahead of Freetrade, which comes in at #17. These rankings and ratings suggest that while each platform has its strengths, XTB may offer a broader array of investment options suitable for those seeking a more varied portfolio, while Freetrade may attract investors focused on shares, ETFs, and investment trusts.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | No | 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.
Comparing XTB vs Freetrade for trading tools in the UK: both brokers provide a browser-based platform and real-time market data. For charting, XTB goes much further, letting you display corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends), add notes, and apply index or stock overlays. It also includes 13 technical indicators and 4 drawing tools, while Freetrade offers no indicators, drawing tools, overlays, or event markers.
If price alerts matter, Freetrade has them and XTB does not. Choose XTB if you want deeper chart analysis in your browser; choose Freetrade if you prefer a simpler setup with alerts and live prices. This XTB vs Freetrade comparison helps UK investors match tools to their trading style.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 13 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 4 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing XTB and Freetrade in terms of available retirement accounts for UK investors, both brokers offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), providing a tax-efficient way to invest your money. However, when it comes to Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), only Freetrade offers this option, while XTB does not. This distinction makes Freetrade a more versatile choice for those specifically looking to invest in their retirement through a SIPP.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
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.
When comparing the beginner investor educational resources of online brokers XTB and Freetrade in the UK, both platforms offer education on share trading but neither provides educational webinars or archived sessions for on-demand viewing. Freetrade takes it a step further by offering educational content on funds and retirement planning, areas where XTB does not provide resources. Despite this broader range of topics, XTB has earned a higher rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 9th out of 21 brokers for beginner education, while Freetrade holds a 3.5-star rating, ranking 16th.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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.
Comparing XTB vs Freetrade for market research in the UK: both offer shares and ETF research, but neither provides research on funds or bonds, and neither offers research reports for funds. The key difference is portfolio tools—Freetrade lets you see your portfolio allocation by asset class, while XTB does not. If you want basic shares and ETF insights plus an easy allocation view, Freetrade has the edge; if you only need shares and ETF research, both are similar.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
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
|
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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While both XTB and Freetrade do not offer cryptocurrency trading, investors can explore other financial instruments and assets available on these online brokerage platforms to meet their trading and investment needs.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | Freetrade | |
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| Review | XTB Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | XTB | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | XTB | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £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 | N/A | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | N/A | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | N/A | £0 (Basic plan), £59.88 (Standard), £119.88 (Plus) | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | N/A | £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 | N/A | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | XTB | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 13 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 4 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | XTB | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | XTB | 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 | XTB | Freetrade | |
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| Review | XTB Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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