Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
ATC Brokers vs Freetrade
ATC Brokers vs Freetrade: the differences
| Compare |  ATC Brokers |  Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $2,000 | £1 |
| Markets | Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | FCA, CIMACovers more | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT Pro | App, Web |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.99% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Intl wire USD 40 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | ISA, SIPP, Jisa |
| Maximum retail leverage | 200:1 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1% |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Regulators: only ATC Brokers offers CIMA.
- Founded is lower at ATC Brokers: 2005 vs 2016.
- ATC Brokers is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only ATC Brokers offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Stocks, ETFs, Bonds.
- Platforms: only ATC Brokers offers MT4, MT Pro.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App, Web.
- Features: only Freetrade offers Fractional shares, Mobile app.
- Audience: only ATC Brokers offers Experienced.
- Audience: only Freetrade offers Beginners.
Our verdict on each
ATC Brokers
ATC Brokers suits experienced UK and European traders who want a properly regulated account rather than a cheap one to start. The minimum deposit of $2,000 is well above the site median of €4.64, and the firm answers to the FCA in GB and CIMA in Cayman Islands.
Freetrade
Freetrade suits UK beginners who want to buy shares, ETFs, bonds and funds without paying a dealing charge or an annual account fee. Regulation sits with the Financial Conduct Authority and holdings are covered by the FSCS, though a currency conversion fee of 0.99% applies and support runs on email, chat and help centre only.
Score breakdown
| Area | ATC Brokers | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2Minimum deposit sits at $2,000 against a site median of €4.64, and a demo account is available. | 9.0HigherStock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.1HigherA UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 8.5 |
What each covers
| Markets | ATC Brokers | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Sources behind this comparison
ATC Brokers
- compareforexbrokers.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- atcbrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokersome.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- fxleaders.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Freetrade
- freetrade.io: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ATC Brokers | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Experienced | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Freetrade Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2005Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ATC Brokers | Freetrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0at the median | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.99%highest quarter | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1%lowest quarter | 3% |
Median across 43 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
ATC Brokers
Pros
- Regulated in GB by the FCA under licence 591361 and in KY by CIMA under licence 1448274
- Investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 on UK-regulated business
- Markets span forex, cfds and crypto
Cons
- A minimum deposit of $2,000 is high next to the site median of €4.64
- A wire transfer costs Intl wire USD 40
- Leverage of 200:1 on retail accounts magnifies losses
Freetrade
Pros
- Dealing commission of £0 and an account fee of £0 keep the running cost of an ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA low.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, with protection stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- Fractional shares and a demo account let you size positions in small amounts and practise before committing money.
Cons
- A currency conversion fee of 0.99% applies whenever you hold investments in more than one currency.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line listed for account or transfer questions.
- The account range is limited to isa, sipp and jisa, so there is no general investment account for shares outside a wrapper.
Who each suits
ATC Brokers
Who it suits
- Experienced traders who already know how much they want to deposit
- UK residents who want the money covered by a UK protection scheme
- Traders who want forex, CFDs, crypto and metals on the same account
Who should look elsewhere
- Beginners testing small amounts, who face a high minimum deposit
- Anyone wanting many share and ETF listings, since the market list centres on forex, cfds and crypto
Freetrade
Who it suits
- UK beginners opening a stocks and shares ISA or Junior ISA with small monthly amounts
- Long-term investors who want to hold a simple share and ETF portfolio without a dealing charge
- SIPP holders who prefer an app and web platform to a phone-only service
Who should look elsewhere
- People who need a general investment account outside a tax wrapper
- Investors who trade frequently in several currencies, because the 0.99% conversion fee applies each time
- Anyone who wants to speak to support by phone, as support runs on email, chat and help centre only
Country by country
| Country | ATC Brokers | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
ATC Brokers
How much do I need to deposit to start?+
The minimum deposit is $2,000. That is a high starting point, and it sits well above the site median of €4.64. If you want to test the service first, a demo account is available, so you can learn the platform without funding anything.
Who regulates ATC Brokers?+
Regulators are listed as FCA and CIMA. In GB the firm holds FCA licence 591361, and in KY it holds CIMA licence 1448274. Two licences in two jurisdictions means you should confirm which entity your account sits under before you transfer money.
Freetrade
How much does it cost to buy shares on Freetrade?+
The dealing charge is £0 and the account fee is £0. Those two cover the trading and holding side of a stocks and shares ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA. The charge that appears is currency conversion at 0.99%, which only shows up if part of your portfolio sits in another currency.
Who regulates Freetrade and is my money protected?+
Freetrade Limited is regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, with register reference 783189. Protection for eligible holdings is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000, which is the ceiling the scheme pays if the firm cannot return your money. It covers firm failure rather than market losses.
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