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Freetrade vs Interactive Brokers

Detailed comparison of fees, features and products

Freetrade logo
4.3
BROKER ONLY
Interactive Brokers logo
4.2
BROKER ONLY

Feature Comparison

Feature ComparisonFreetradeInteractive Brokers
Wide Offering
Fractional Shares
Auto-Invest / DCA
Cash Interest (AER)
UK Support
Tax Certificate (CTC)
FSCS Protected (£85k)
Score
7/7
7/7

Fee Comparison

Fee ComparisonFreetradeInteractive Brokers
Platform & Dealing Fees£0 commissionFrom £3/trade
Tax Wrappers (ISA/SIPP)£0 commissionFrom £3/trade
Crypto FeeN/A0.12-0.18%
FX Fee0.99% (0.39% on Plus)0.03%
Inactivity FeeNoneNone
Deposit FeeFreeFree
Withdrawal FeeFreeFree (1/month)
Min. Deposit20

Product Range

Product RangeFreetradeInteractive Brokers
Stocks6,000+150+ markets worldwide
ETFs500+13,000+
Funds040,000+
Bonds01M+
Crypto04 (BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH)

Pros & Cons

Freetrade

Pros

  • ISA + SIPP available (paid plans)
  • £0 dealing fee
  • FCA regulated + FSCS protected
  • Cash Interest: 3-4% (Plus users)
  • Auto-invest on paid plans
  • Beautiful, easy-to-use app

Cons

  • ISA costs £5.99/month (not free)
  • FX Fee: 0.99% (base) / 0.39% (Plus)
  • Limited research tools
  • Some features paywalled
Interactive Brokers

Pros

  • Stocks & Shares ISA now available
  • FX Fee: 0.03% (best in UK for USD)
  • FCA regulated + FSCS protected
  • Cash Interest: 4.8%+ (on $10k+)
  • DCA + fractional shares
  • Best for heavy US stock buyers

Cons

  • Dealing fees from £3
  • Complex platform for beginners
  • High cash interest requires large balance
  • SIPP via third parties only

See also