Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
eToro vs Freetrade
eToro vs Freetrade: the differences
| Compare |  eToro |  Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Account fee | $0 | £0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Account types | ISA | ISA, SIPP, JisaCovers more |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £1 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.99% |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | App, Web |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1% |
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Key differences
- eToro scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only eToro offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC.
- Regulators: only Freetrade offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Founded is lower at eToro: 2007 vs 2016.
- eToro is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only eToro offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Bonds, Funds.
- Account types: only Freetrade offers SIPP, Jisa.
- Support channels: only Freetrade offers Email, Chat.
- Features: only eToro offers Crypto, Copy trading.
Our verdict on each
eToro
eToro suits readers who want to hold shares, ETFs, crypto, forex and CFDs in one app without paying commission on trades. Costs look light on the standard account, with a stock trade fee of $0 and account fee of $0, though the account fee applies to the virtual portfolio rather than every standard account.
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 | eToro | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherCommission-free pricing with a stock trade fee of $0 and account fee of $0, but currency conversion on non-USD balances sits outside that headline. | 9.0Stock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 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 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | eToro | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 6 of 471 | 179 of 471 |
| Brokers for beginners | 2 of 88 | 49 of 88 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | eToro | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 213800GIFQMSV7HROS23 | Not confirmed |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 70212 | Not confirmed |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | eToro | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Copy trading, Mobile appCovers more | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo account |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | eToro (Europe) Ltd | Freetrade Limited |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2007Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | eToro | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | $500 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, Crypto | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | eToro | Freetrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £1below the median | £20 |
| 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
eToro
Pros
- No commission on share dealing: stock trade fees are $0
- No account fee on the standard dealing account: $0
- Regulated in Cyprus by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, and a SIPC member in the US
Cons
- A separate management fee of 0% applies to the managed portfolio service, so headline dealing costs are not the whole bill
- Support runs on help centre only, so there is no stated phone or live chat route for account problems
- The same commission-free model at XTB comes with a stated stock trade fee of €0, so commission alone does not separate the two
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
eToro
Who it suits
- Beginners who want commission-free share dealing plus fractional shares
- Readers who want stocks, ETFs, crypto, forex and CFDs in one place
- Anyone saving in a currency other than US dollars who wants to watch the cost of conversion
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want a stated phone or live chat support channel, since support runs on help centre
- Day traders who judge a broker on spreads alone, as no spread figure is listed
- Anyone wanting managed portfolios at no cost, since the management fee is 0%
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 | eToro | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
eToro
What does it cost to buy shares with eToro?+
The stock trade fee is $0, and the account fee is $0. Both sit at the low end of the market, and eToro is ranked at 1 on trade fees and 1 on account fees among the brands compared here. Currency conversion can still apply if your balance is not in the account currency.
Is there an account fee on the standard eToro account?+
The account fee is $0 for the standard dealing account, which is why eToro places at 1 out of 138 brands on that measure. The managed portfolio service is charged differently, at a management fee of 0%, so treat the dealing and portfolio costs as two separate lines.
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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