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.
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
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
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
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
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.
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 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
|
Freetrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | ||
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
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
|
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, 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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XTB provides crypto trading, whereas Freetrade does not offer cryptocurrency trading options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | Freetrade | |
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| Mobile App |
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| Review | XTB Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | XTB | 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 | ||
| Spread Betting | Yes | ||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| 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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| Mobile Trading Apps 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 | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | |||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | XTB | 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 | XTB | Freetrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) |
| Overall Summary | XTB | Freetrade | |
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| Review | XTB Review | Freetrade Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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