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.
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.
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 investment choices available to UK investors, XTB and Freetrade offer various options. Both brokers provide the ability to trade shares and ETFs, catering to those interested in traditional investing. However, while XTB features CFD trading for more experienced investors, Freetrade does not, making it a straightforward choice for those looking specifically for share trading without advanced derivatives. Interestingly, only Freetrade supports trading in investment trusts, while neither platform offers options like crypto trading, spread betting, funds, or bonds, catering to those focused on simpler investment types.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, XTB earns a slightly higher rating of 4.5 stars for its investment offerings, placing it 13th out of 21 brokers. Meanwhile, Freetrade holds a commendable 4-star rating, ranked 17th. This suggests that while both platforms provide strong options for UK investors, XTB offers slightly broader choices, particularly for those interested in more diversified trading opportunities.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | 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.
When comparing the trading tools offered by XTB and Freetrade, XTB stands out with a more comprehensive suite of features designed for the active trader. XTB offers an impressive array of 20 drawing tools and 39 technical indicators, along with the ability to display corporate events like earnings and dividends directly on charts. Additionally, users can add personalized notes to their charts, enhancing the analytical experience. Although both platforms provide a browser-based trading platform and real-time market data, and can set alerts for stock price changes, XTB's broader range of charting tools makes it a more appealing choice for those seeking detailed trading insights.
Freetrade takes a simpler approach, which might appeal to beginners or those who prefer a straightforward investing experience. While it does offer basic services like a browser-based platform and real-time data, it lacks the advanced charting customization tools such as drawing and technical indicators found in XTB. Furthermore, Freetrade does not allow users to display corporate events on charts or add notes, potentially limiting the depth of analysis. For UK investors who prioritize advanced charting capabilities, XTB provides a more feature-rich environment.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | 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.
In comparing the market research features of online brokers XTB and Freetrade for UK investors, several key points emerge. Both platforms provide research tools for shares and ETFs, and let investors view portfolio allocation by asset class, making it easy to track investments across different categories. However, neither XTB nor Freetrade offers research reports for funds or bonds, leaving gaps in those areas. XTB has an edge when it comes to CFDs research, which Freetrade does not support, offering more insights for traders interested in this area. Ultimately, both platforms cater to stock and ETF enthusiasts, but XTB may provide a slight advantage for those also interested in CFDs research.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | 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
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Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
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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 | |
| Funds | No | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| 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) | £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) | N/A | 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 | N/A | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education 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 | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | XTB | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | 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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