Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Betterment vs Freetrade
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Betterment |  Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10 | £1 |
| Account fee | $0 | £0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered investment adviser, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Betterment Securities broker dealer member, SIPC | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | ISA, SIPP, Jisa |
| Interest on cash | 3.5%Higher | 1% |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.99% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No fees | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | App, Web |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Betterment scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Betterment offers U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered investment adviser, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Betterment Securities broker dealer member, SIPC.
- Regulators: only Freetrade offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Founded is lower at Betterment: 2008 vs 2016.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Funds.
- Account types: only Betterment offers IRA, Roth IRA.
- Account types: only Freetrade offers ISA, SIPP, Jisa.
- Interest on cash is higher at Betterment: 3.5% vs 1%.
- Support channels: only Betterment offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
Betterment
Betterment suits US savers who want a robo-managed IRA with a flat, low management fee and SIPC cover. It charges a management fee of 0.25%, sits mid-table among robo-advisors on that fee, and offers only IRA and Roth IRA accounts, so UK and European readers may look elsewhere.
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 | Betterment | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherManagement fee of 0.25% and no account fee, with a minimum investment of $10. | 9.0Stock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.1A UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 8.5 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Betterment | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Account types | Betterment | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | No | Yes |
| SIPP | No | Yes |
| IRA | Yes | No |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Jisa | No | Yes |
Which one suits you
Pick Betterment if cost, offer, and interest on cash matter most.
Pick Freetrade if markets matter most.
Also worth a look
Nexo has interest on cash at 13%, against 3.5% for Betterment and 1% for Freetrade.
Nexo reviewSources behind this comparison
Betterment
- betterment.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Freetrade
- freetrade.io: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Betterment | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 42 of 471 | 179 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 7 of 86 | 37 of 86 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Betterment | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo account |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | MTG LLC | Freetrade Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2008Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Betterment | Freetrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | £0at the median | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.99%highest quarter | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | 3.5%above the median | 1%lowest quarter | 3% |
Median across 43 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Betterment
Pros
- A management fee of 0.25% sits below the robo-advisor median of 0.35%
- An account fee of $0 and a deposit and withdrawal charge listed as No fees
- Covered by SIPC protection of SIPC up to USD 500,000
Cons
- Account types run only to ira and roth ira, so there is no taxable or ISA-style account for UK and European readers
- A management fee of 0.25% still ranks 18 of 49 brands, so cheaper robo-advisors exist
- Markets cover only stocks, etfs and bonds, with no forex, options or crypto trading
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
Betterment
Who it suits
- US savers who want a robo-managed IRA or Roth IRA
- People starting small, with a minimum investment of $10
- Investors who want automated portfolios of etf, esg and cash
Who should look elsewhere
- UK and European readers, since account types cover only ira and roth ira
- Active traders wanting forex, options or crypto beyond the stocks, etfs and bonds it lists
- Anyone seeking a management fee of 0% as at eToro
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
Current offers
Betterment
Current offer
Bonus
Invest and earn up to $2,000: up to $2,000
Terms apply; new customers only; open any individual investing account and make a deposit
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
0.75% APY boost on Cash Reserve: 0.75% APY boost, 4.25% variable APY on balances up to $1M
New clients with a qualifying deposit; guaranteed through February 15; base variable APY 3.50% as of 9/21/2026; $10 min deposit for base APY
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Discounted mortgage rate through Rate partnership: up to 0.75% off
Via partnership with Rate; terms apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Betterment | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Betterment
How much does Betterment charge to manage my money?+
The annual management fee is 0.25%, taken as a percentage of the portfolio. That sits below the robo-advisor median of 0.35%, and Betterment ranks 18 of 49 brands on this measure. There is no separate account charge, listed as $0.
Is my money protected if Betterment fails?+
Stated protection is SIPC up to USD 500,000, and Betterment appears on the SIPC member register as SIPC member 51906. The cover applies to cash in the brokerage account if the broker-dealer fails, and the legal entity named is MTG LLC. Portfolio market values are not protected by the scheme.
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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