WhichBrokerHead to head · data verified September 2026
Trading 212 vs Freetrade
Trading 212 wins our overall scoring by 0.5 points, but Freetrade still takes specific profiles.
Pillar scores
Side by side
| Criterion | Trading 212 | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.7 | 8.2 |
| Founded | 2004 | 2015 |
| Regulation | FCA (UK), CySEC (EU), BaFin (DE), FSC (BG), ASIC (AU) | FCA (UK) |
| Min. deposit | £1 (bank transfer or card) | No stated minimum; fractional shares from £2 |
| Fees | 0% commission on stocks and ETFs; 0.15% FX fee on Invest/ISA, 0.5% on CFD; no custody, inactivity or withdrawal fees; card and e-wallet deposits cost 0.7% once you pass a €2,000 lifetime total | 0% commission on all plans; FX fee 0.99% (Basic, free), 0.59% (Standard, £4.99/mo billed annually) or 0.39% (Plus, £9.99/mo billed annually); ISA, SIPP and Junior ISA included on the free plan; 0.5% stamp duty on UK share purchases; SIPP UFPLS withdrawals cost £240 |
| Platforms | Trading 212 web platform, Trading 212 mobile app (iOS, Android) | Freetrade mobile app (iOS, Android), Freetrade web platform |
| Markets | 13,000+ stocks and ETFs on Invest and ISA; CFDs on forex, indices, commodities and stocks; crypto ETNs for UK clients | 9,000+ UK, US and European stocks, ETFs, investment trusts, mutual funds, gilts and UK Treasury bills; crypto ETNs; no CFDs, options or spot crypto |
| Demo account | Yes | No |
| Best for | Long-term stock investors, Beginners, UK ISA investors | UK ISA investors, Low-cost SIPP, Buyers of UK shares |
Our verdict
Choose Trading 212 if you want long-term stock investors · beginners · uk isa investors — its standout pillar in our scoring is fees.
Choose Freetrade if you want uk isa investors · low-cost sipp · buyers of uk shares.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Trading 212 or Freetrade?
Trading 212 scores higher overall in our methodology (8.7 vs 8.2). Freetrade can still be the better pick for uk isa investors.
Is Trading 212 safe?
Trading 212 is overseen by FCA (UK), CySEC (EU), BaFin (DE), FSC (BG), ASIC (AU). Our trust score for it is 8.2/10 — see the full Trading 212 review for the reasoning.
Is Freetrade safe?
Freetrade is overseen by FCA (UK). Our trust score for it is 8.8/10 — see the full Freetrade review for the reasoning.