Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Dodl vs Freetrade
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Dodl |  Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | £1Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%Lower | 0.99% |
| Platforms | Dodl app | App, Web |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa | ISA, SIPP, Jisa |
| Interest on cash | 3.8%Higher | 1% |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | free deposits and withdrawals | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee (£0), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Regulators: only Dodl offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Freetrade offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Minimum deposit is lower at Freetrade: £1 vs £25.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Dodl: 0.75% vs 0.99%.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Bonds.
- Platforms: only Dodl offers Dodl app.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App, Web.
- Account types: only Dodl offers Lisa.
- Account types: only Freetrade offers Jisa.
- Interest on cash is higher at Dodl: 3.8% vs 1%.
Our verdict on each
Dodl
Dodl is an AJ Bell app aimed at UK beginners who want to sidestep dealing costs entirely. Stock trades cost £0 and cash earns 3.8%, so the saving comes from the fee-free model rather than from a richer market list.
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 | Dodl | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9 | 9.0HigherStock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherStock trade fee of £0 across isa, sipp and lisa, plus free deposits and withdrawals, undercuts priced platforms. | 9.1A UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. |
| Trust | 8.6Higher | 8.5 |
Choosing between them
Pick Dodl if currency conversion fee and interest on cash matter most.
Pick Freetrade if minimum deposit and markets matter most.
Licences and countries
| Country | Dodl | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom |
Available in 1 country for both.
Also worth a look
Spreadex has minimum deposit at £0, against £25 for Dodl and £1 for Freetrade.
Spreadex reviewWhere these facts come from
Dodl
- dodl.co.uk: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.dodl.co.uk: 3 facts, 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 | Dodl | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 168 of 490 | 171 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 34 of 85 | 36 of 85 |
| Brokers for beginners | 47 of 88 | 49 of 88 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 8 of 21 | 9 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 7 of 22 | 8 of 22 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Dodl | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Freetrade Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2016 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Dodl | Freetrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25at the median | £1lowest quarter | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0at the median | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | 0.99%highest quarter | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | 3.8%highest quarter | 1%lowest quarter | 3% |
Median across 34 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Dodl
Pros
- Stock trades cost £0, the lowest stock trade fee recorded in this comparison
- free deposits and withdrawals means moving money in and out adds nothing to a portfolio
- Cash held with the account earns interest of 3.8% while you save for a purchase
Cons
- Cash interest of 3.8% is a variable rate, so the return on uninvested money can move
- Dealing runs on Dodl app only, which suits casual investors less well than a desktop platform
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line for urgent account problems
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
Dodl
Who it suits
- UK beginners opening a first stocks, ETFs and funds portfolio
- Investors who want dealing fees at £0 and want to keep cash earning 3.8%
- Savers setting aside money in an ISA, SIPP or LISA before investing
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who need a desktop dealing platform, because dealing sits on Dodl app
- Anyone wanting phone support, since help runs on email, chat and help centre
- Investors who trade often in foreign currency, where 0.75% charges apply
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 | Dodl | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Dodl
What does it cost to buy shares at Dodl?+
A stock trade costs £0, which is the figure that stands out on this platform. The pricing model is commission-free rather than low-fee, so dealing is designed to cost nothing. Money in and out is also free deposits and withdrawals, so a transfer adds nothing extra. The one charge to watch is 0.75% on currency conversion when you buy shares priced outside sterling.
Is my money protected at Dodl?+
Dodl is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and eligible balances are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000. That protection is a stated limit on a claim to the firm, not a promise that investments cannot fall in value. The company operating the app is AJ Bell, so the account sits with an established UK provider rather than an offshore entity.
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.