Both are FCA-regulated and FSCS-protected. The real difference is fees, account types and how each platform feels to use. Verified against each provider’s published charges.
Fees verified July 2026. Capital at risk. Information, not financial advice.
Beginners who want a simple app and are happy with shares and ETFs.
Cost-conscious DIY investors who want to keep every fee at zero.
Tick what you need. No account, no email. The answer is on this page.
Tick what you need above and we'll tell you which of the two covers it.
Account availability verified July 2026. Capital at risk. Information, not financial advice.
Around seven in ten reviewers rate it excellent, citing the clean app and helpful customer service.
Critical reviews focus on the 0.99% FX fee on the free plan and features being moved behind subscriptions.
Read Freetrade reviews on TrustpilotReviewers consistently rate the app as easy to use and good value, and many mention the competitive interest paid on uninvested cash.
The most common criticisms are slow identity verification for new accounts and support that can take time to respond.
Read Trading 212 reviews on Trustpilot| Fee | Freetrade | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | £0 on Basic; Standard £4.99/month; Plus £9.99/month (annual billing) | £0 |
| Share dealing | £0 commission | £0 commission |
| Fund dealing | ETFs only, £0 commission | ETFs only, £0 commission |
| FX fee | 0.99% Basic, 0.59% Standard, 0.39% Plus | 0.15% |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Included on all plans | Free |
| SIPP | Included on all plans | Free |
| Withdrawals | Free | Free |
| Minimum to start | £2 | £1 |
Freetrade helped bring commission-free investing to the UK and keeps a free tier that now includes an ISA and a SIPP. The app is one of the simplest ways to buy your first share.
The catch is the FX fee. On the free plan you pay 0.99% every time you buy or sell a US stock, which adds up quickly. If most of your money goes into US shares, either upgrade to a paid plan for lower FX fees or compare against Trading 212's flat 0.15%.
Trading 212 built its name on removing fees. There is no platform fee, no dealing commission and no account charge on its ISA or SIPP. The only cost most investors pay is a 0.15% currency conversion fee when buying shares priced in dollars or euros.
The trade-off is scope. You can hold shares and ETFs but not traditional funds, and support is app-based. For an investor who wants a global tracker ETF inside an ISA at close to zero cost, it is very hard to beat on price.
It depends on what you hold and how often you trade. Freetrade's platform fee is £0 on Basic; Standard £4.99/month; Plus £9.99/month (annual billing), against £0 at Trading 212. On dealing, Freetrade charges £0 commission for shares and eTFs only, £0 commission for funds, while Trading 212 charges £0 commission for shares and eTFs only, £0 commission for funds. Fees verified July 2026.
Freetrade is best for beginners who want a simple app and are happy with shares and ETFs. Trading 212 is best for cost-conscious DIY investors who want to keep every fee at zero. Both are FCA regulated and covered by the FSCS.
On Freetrade's ISA: Included on all plans. On Trading 212's ISA: Free. Both offer a flexible ISA, so you can withdraw and replace money in the same tax year without using up allowance. Minimums are £2 at Freetrade and £1 at Trading 212.
Freetrade offers a SIPP (included on all plans). Trading 212 offers a SIPP (free).
Freetrade scores 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot (Great) from over 7,000 reviews. Trading 212 scores 4.6 out of 5 (Excellent) from tens of thousands of reviews. Critical reviews focus on the 0.99% FX fee on the free plan and features being moved behind subscriptions. The most common criticisms are slow identity verification for new accounts and support that can take time to respond.
Yes. UK platforms accept ISA and SIPP transfers in, and you start the transfer with the receiving provider rather than the one you are leaving. Freetrade charges free on withdrawals and Trading 212 charges free. Transfer as cash and you are out of the market while it settles; transfer in specie and you keep your holdings but it takes longer.
Freetrade or Trading 212, the account is the easy part. What decides when you can retire is how much goes in and for how long. Delphina works that out from what you already hold and what you pay in each month.
Free to check. No card required. Takes about two minutes.