Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
EBC Financial Group vs Freetrade
Where EBC Financial Group and Freetrade differ
| Compare |  EBC Financial Group |  Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $50 | £1 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, EBC mobile app | App, Web |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.99% |
| Account types | Not confirmed | ISA, SIPP, Jisa |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:500 | 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
- EBC Financial Group scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only EBC Financial Group offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Freetrade offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Founded is lower at EBC Financial Group: 1994 vs 2016.
- Markets: only EBC Financial Group offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Bonds, Funds.
- Platforms: only EBC Financial Group offers MT4, MT5, EBC mobile app.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App, Web.
- Features: only EBC Financial Group offers Copy trading.
- Features: only Freetrade offers Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
EBC Financial Group
EBC Financial Group suits UK traders who want a single account covering forex, CFDs, stocks, ETFs and crypto, held with a firm authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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 | EBC Financial Group | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Entry amount of $50 against $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage, with retail leverage up to 1:500. | 9.0HigherStock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. |
| Offer | 9.4Higher | 9.1A UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. |
| Trust | 9.1Higher | 8.5 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | EBC Financial Group | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | EBC Financial Group | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 18 of 471 | 179 of 471 |
Pick EBC Financial Group if, pick Freetrade if
Pick EBC Financial Group if offer and trust matter most.
Pick Freetrade if cost matter most.
What we checked
EBC Financial Group
- ebcfin.co.uk: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wikifx.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fastbull.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forex.wikibit.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 | EBC Financial Group | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo account |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd | Freetrade Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1994Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EBC Financial Group | 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
EBC Financial Group
Pros
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under licence 927552
- One account covers stocks, etfs and forex without needing a second firm
- Platforms in MT4, MT5 and EBC mobile app cover both MetaTrader terminals plus the EBC mobile app
Cons
- Retail leverage runs to 1:500, so a modest balance can be lost quickly
- The entry amount of $50 is above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage
- Bonds, funds and futures are not among its stocks, etfs and forex
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
EBC Financial Group
Who it suits
- UK residents who want an account with a firm authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority
- Traders who want forex, CFDs and crypto handled in the same place
- Copy trading users, since demo account, copy trading and mobile app lists it
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, whose minimum deposit is $0, if you want a smaller starting balance
- Vantage, at $5, is another option for a lighter entry
- eToro, whose markets reach stocks, etfs and forex, for anyone also wanting bonds, funds or futures
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 | EBC Financial Group | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
EBC Financial Group
How much do I need to deposit to start?+
The minimum deposit is $50. For comparison, CFI lists $0 and Vantage lists $5, and the median minimum deposit across brands on the site is €4.64. That sits at the higher end of the field, so check it against the balance you intend to hold.
Is my money protected if something goes wrong?+
Yes. EBC Financial Group is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and holds licence 927552. Eligible deposits are covered to the limit stated in the FSCS up to GBP 85,000 scheme, and that protection sits with the regulated entity rather than the brand name.
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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