Freetrade vs eToro: Full Comparison for UK Investors (2026)
11 JUN, 2026
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This article was updated as of June 2026.
If you're looking for low-cost, commission-free investment platforms for UK investors, both Freetrade and eToro are worth considering — but they are built for different investors. Freetrade is a UK-focused platform now owned by IG Group, offering a free plan with ISA, SIPP, and a growing range of assets. eToro is a global platform best known for its social trading and copy investing features. For a broader comparison of ETF platforms, see our best ETF platforms in the UK guide.
What Are They and How Do They Work?
Freetrade
Freetrade Limited was founded in 2016 as a UK fintech offering commission-free investing on stocks and ETFs. In January 2025, IG Group acquired 100% of Freetrade for £160 million, completing the deal mid-2025. By February 2026, Freetrade reported 753,000 active customers and £19.5 billion in assets under administration — a near 8x increase from £2.5 billion pre-acquisition.
From 22 January 2026, Freetrade expanded its free Basic plan significantly: it now includes a GIA, Stocks and Shares ISA, SIPP, mutual funds, and gilts — all with no subscription fee and no trading commission. This gives Freetrade one of the broadest free offerings of any UK investment platform.
Freetrade offers three pricing tiers:
- Basic (free): GIA + ISA + SIPP + mutual funds + gilts + 7,000+ instruments
- Standard (£4.99/mo annual / £5.99 monthly): Adds lower FX rate (0.59%), 2.5% AER on cash, stock fundamentals, automation order types
- Plus (£9.99/mo annual / £11.99 monthly): Adds lowest FX rate (0.39%), 5% AER on cash, priority support, same-day withdrawals, web platform access
Want to learn more? Check out our full Freetrade review.
eToro
eToro is a global social investment platform founded in 2007, now used by over 35 million people in 140+ countries. It is best known for its CopyTrader feature — allowing users to automatically replicate the portfolios of experienced investors. UK clients are served via eToro (UK) Ltd, regulated by the FCA, with a Stocks and Shares ISA available.
Read our eToro review for an in-depth look.
Key Features
| Features | Freetrade | eToro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation | FCA (UK); owned by IG Group since 2025 | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia) | |||
| FSCS Protection | £85,000 | £85,000 + Lloyd's insurance | |||
| Financial Assets | Stocks, ETFs, investment trusts, mutual funds, gilts, REITs, fractional shares | Stocks, ETFs, crypto (75+), forex, indices, commodities, CFDs | |||
| ISA / SIPP | ✅ Both on all plans (incl. free Basic) | ✅ ISA only; no SIPP | |||
| Copy / Social Trading | ❌ | ✅ CopyTrader | |||
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £10 in the UK | |||
| FX fee | 0.99% (Basic) / 0.59% (Standard) / 0.39% (Plus) | 0.50% | |||
| Withdrawal fee | Free (bank transfer only; 2-3 business days) | $5 per withdrawal; minimum $30 | |||
| Inactivity fee | None | $10/month after 12 months | |||
| Interest on cash | 1% AER (Basic, up to £1k) / 2.5% (Standard, up to £2k) / 5% (Plus, up to £3k) | None |
| Features | Freetrade | eToro |
| Regulation | FCA (UK); owned by IG Group since 2025 | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia) |
| FSCS Protection | £85,000 | £85,000 + Lloyd's insurance |
| Financial Assets | Stocks, ETFs, investment trusts, mutual funds, gilts, REITs, fractional shares | Stocks, ETFs, crypto (75+), forex, indices, commodities, CFDs |
| ISA / SIPP | ✅ Both on all plans (incl. free Basic) | ✅ ISA only; no SIPP |
| Copy / Social Trading | ❌ | ✅ CopyTrader |
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £10 in the UK |
| FX fee | 0.99% (Basic) / 0.59% (Standard) / 0.39% (Plus) | 0.50% |
| Withdrawal fee | Free (bank transfer only; 2-3 business days) | $5 per withdrawal; minimum $30 |
| Inactivity fee | None | $10/month after 12 months |
| Interest on cash | 1% AER (Basic, up to £1k) / 2.5% (Standard, up to £2k) / 5% (Plus, up to £3k) | None |
*Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.
Pros and Cons
| Pros of Freetrade | Cons of Freetrade | ||
| ✅ Free Basic plan includes ISA + SIPP — one of the broadest free offerings in the UK (from Jan 2026) | ❌ High FX fee on Basic (0.99%) — significantly more expensive than eToro (0.50%) for US stocks | ||
| ✅ Mutual funds, gilts, investment trusts on all plans — assets not available on eToro | ❌ No crypto or social trading | ||
| ✅ No withdrawal fee, no inactivity fee | ❌ Interest on cash capped at low amounts (max £3k on Plus) | ||
| ✅ 7,000+ instruments; flexible ISA | ❌ Web platform only on Plus plan; basic research on free tier |
| Pros of Freetrade | Cons of Freetrade |
| ✅ Free Basic plan includes ISA + SIPP — one of the broadest free offerings in the UK (from Jan 2026) | ❌ High FX fee on Basic (0.99%) — significantly more expensive than eToro (0.50%) for US stocks |
| ✅ Mutual funds, gilts, investment trusts on all plans — assets not available on eToro | ❌ No crypto or social trading |
| ✅ No withdrawal fee, no inactivity fee | ❌ Interest on cash capped at low amounts (max £3k on Plus) |
| ✅ 7,000+ instruments; flexible ISA | ❌ Web platform only on Plus plan; basic research on free tier |
| Pros of eToro | Cons of eToro | ||
| ✅ CopyTrader — unique social and copy investing feature | ❌ $10/month inactivity fee after 12 months — bad for passive investors | ||
| ✅ 75+ real cryptocurrencies — not available on Freetrade | ❌ $5 withdrawal fee; 0.50% FX fee on all non-GBP trades | ||
| ✅ FCA-regulated; ISA available; global markets (140+) | ❌ No SIPP; no mutual funds, gilts, or investment trusts | ||
| ✅ Low £10 minimum deposit; demo account ($100,000 virtual) | ❌ No interest on uninvested cash |
| Pros of eToro | Cons of eToro |
| ✅ CopyTrader — unique social and copy investing feature | ❌ $10/month inactivity fee after 12 months — bad for passive investors |
| ✅ 75+ real cryptocurrencies — not available on Freetrade | ❌ $5 withdrawal fee; 0.50% FX fee on all non-GBP trades |
| ✅ FCA-regulated; ISA available; global markets (140+) | ❌ No SIPP; no mutual funds, gilts, or investment trusts |
| ✅ Low £10 minimum deposit; demo account ($100,000 virtual) | ❌ No interest on uninvested cash |
Are they safe?
Freetrade is FCA-authorised and complies with UK regulations. Client funds are held in segregated accounts. UK stocks and ETFs are held via CREST; US stocks via DTCC. The platform is covered by the FSCS up to £85,000 and uses bank-grade encryption and biometric login. Since mid-2025, Freetrade operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of IG Group — itself listed on the London Stock Exchange and one of the most heavily regulated brokers globally.
eToro (UK) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 583263). UK client funds are protected by the FSCS up to £85,000, plus additional Lloyd's insurance. eToro uses SSL encryption and supports 2FA on both app and web.
Products Offered
Freetrade offers a broad range of real assets across all plans (including Basic):
- 7,000+ instruments: UK, US, and European stocks and ETFs
- 200+ ETFs and 150+ investment trusts
- Mutual funds from Vanguard, BlackRock, Royal London, Schroders (added Jan 2026, all plans)
- UK gilts and Treasury bills (added Jan 2026, all plans)
- Fractional shares from £2
- No crypto, no CFDs
eToro offers a multi-asset range focused on real assets and social investing:
- 3,100+ stocks from 17 exchanges and 300+ ETFs, in a Stocks and Shares ISA
- 75+ real cryptocurrencies
- 50+ forex pairs, 30+ commodities, 20+ indices via CFDs
- No mutual funds, no gilts, no investment trusts
Account Types
Freetrade — from 22 January 2026, all three plans include GIA, ISA, and SIPP:
| Plan | Price | Accounts | FX fee | Interest on cash | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | £0 | GIA + ISA + SIPP + mutual funds + gilts | 0.99% | 1% AER up to £1,000 | |||||
| Standard | £4.99/mo (annual) / £5.99/mo | All above + stock fundamentals + automation orders | 0.59% | 2.5% AER up to £2,000 | |||||
| Plus | £9.99/mo (annual) / £11.99/mo | All above + web platform + priority support + same-day withdrawals | 0.39% | 5% AER up to £3,000 |
| Plan | Price | Accounts | FX fee | Interest on cash | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | £0 | GIA + ISA + SIPP + mutual funds + gilts | 0.99% | 1% AER up to £1,000 | |||||
| Standard | £4.99/mo (annual) / £5.99/mo | All above + stock fundamentals + automation orders | 0.59% | 2.5% AER up to £2,000 | |||||
| Plus | £9.99/mo (annual) / £11.99/mo | All above + web platform + priority support + same-day withdrawals | 0.39% | 5% AER up to £3,000 |
The ISA is flexible — you can withdraw and reinvest within the same tax year without affecting your £20,000 annual allowance. The SIPP now available on the free Basic plan allows pension investing with 20% government tax relief on contributions (or 40%/45% for higher-rate taxpayers via self-assessment).
eToro accounts available to UK investors:
- Personal (standard) account — access to all eToro features including stocks, ETFs, crypto, and CopyTrader
- Stocks and Shares ISA — £20,000 annual allowance for 2026/27; no platform fee
- Demo account — $100,000 virtual funds
- Professional account — higher leverage, reduced protections
- Islamic account — swap-free, Sharia-compliant
- No SIPP — for pension investing, see dedicated providers
Trading Fees
Freetrade — no per-trade commission on any plan. The main cost is the FX fee when buying non-GBP investments:
| Plan | Monthly fee | UK trading | FX fee (US/EU stocks) | Interest on cash | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | £0 | Free | 0.99% | 1% AER up to £1,000 | |||||
| Standard | £4.99 (annual) / £5.99 | Free | 0.59% | 2.5% AER up to £2,000 | |||||
| Plus | £9.99 (annual) / £11.99 | Free | 0.39% | 5% AER up to £3,000 |
| Plan | Monthly fee | UK trading | FX fee (US/EU stocks) | Interest on cash | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | £0 | Free | 0.99% | 1% AER up to £1,000 | |||||
| Standard | £4.99 (annual) / £5.99 | Free | 0.59% | 2.5% AER up to £2,000 | |||||
| Plus | £9.99 (annual) / £11.99 | Free | 0.39% | 5% AER up to £3,000 |
No inactivity fee, no withdrawal fee. US stock transfers out cost £17 per holding.
eToro — no commission on stocks and ETFs, but several other fees apply:
| Fee | Amount | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stocks & ETFs commission | £0 | ||
| FX conversion fee | 0.50% (accounts in USD) | ||
| Crypto fee | 1% spread | ||
| Withdrawal fee | $5 per withdrawal; minimum $30 | ||
| Inactivity fee | $10/month after 12 months of no login | ||
| Deposit fee | Free |
| Fee | Amount |
| Stocks & ETFs commission | £0 |
| FX conversion fee | 0.50% (accounts in USD) |
| Crypto fee | 1% spread |
| Withdrawal fee | $5 per withdrawal; minimum $30 |
| Inactivity fee | $10/month after 12 months of no login |
| Deposit fee | Free |
Trading Platform
Freetrade is primarily a mobile app (iOS and Android), with a web platform available on the Plus plan. The app is clean and simple, designed for beginner and intermediate investors. It covers all accounts (GIA, ISA, SIPP) and includes stock information, basic charts, and order types (automation on Standard+).
eToro offers a proprietary web platform (no download) and mobile app for iOS and Android. Its standout feature is CopyTrader — follow and automatically replicate the portfolios of experienced investors. Smart Portfolios provide automated thematic investing. The platform is intuitive and beginner-friendly.
Deposit and Withdrawal
Freetrade: Deposit via bank transfer, debit card, or Apple/Google Pay. No deposit fee. Withdrawals via bank transfer only (2–3 business days, sometimes up to 5). No withdrawal fee. US stock transfers out: £17 per holding.
eToro: Deposit via credit/debit card, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, bank transfer. Minimum deposit £10 (bank transfer minimum $500). Withdrawal fee $5; minimum $30. FX conversion 0.50% on all GBP deposits/withdrawals. Withdrawals within 1–2 business days (up to 10 for bank transfers).
Research and Education
Freetrade takes a minimalist approach with basic company information, market data, and beginner-friendly articles on the Freetrade Learn blog. Stock fundamentals and analyst ratings are available on Standard and Plus plans.
eToro Academy provides video tutorials, webinars, and guides from beginner to advanced level. The social feed and CopyTrading allow learning by observing experienced traders in real time.
Customer Service
Freetrade: In-app live chat (quickest), email (hello@freetrade.io, under 24 hours), Help Hub, social media. Priority support on Plus plan.
eToro: 24/5 live chat, support tickets via Help Centre, phone (+44 20 3326 9900 for UK clients). No 24/7 phone support.
User Opinions and Ratings
Freetrade holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.1 out of 5 (5,000+ reviews). Users praise the simple interface and zero-commission approach. Common complaints relate to the lack of crypto and CFD trading. App ratings: 4.7 on Google Play, 4.3 on App Store.
eToro holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.1 out of 5 (27,000+ reviews). Users appreciate the platform's ease of use and CopyTrader. App: 3.6 on Google Play (10M+ downloads), 4 on App Store.
Our Opinion
Choose Freetrade if: you want a free platform that gives you everything — ISA, SIPP, mutual funds, and gilts — without paying a subscription. Its Basic plan is now one of the most comprehensive free offerings in the UK following the January 2026 expansion. The main drawback is the 0.99% FX fee on the Basic plan for US stocks. For long-term UK-focused investors or anyone who upgrades to Standard/Plus for lower FX rates, Freetrade is a genuine contender for best all-round platform. Its ISA is flexible, and the SIPP is now free.
Choose eToro if: you want to copy experienced investors via CopyTrader, invest in real cryptocurrencies, or access global markets across 140+ countries. eToro's inactivity fee ($10/month after 12 months) is a meaningful disadvantage for passive investors who don't check their account regularly, and it doesn't offer a SIPP or interest on uninvested cash. For a side-by-side comparison of eToro against another zero-fee UK platform, see our eToro vs Trading 212 article.
Disclaimer: