Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freedom24 vs Kraken
Freedom24 vs Kraken: the differences
| Compare |  Freedom24 |  Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | €0 | $1 |
| Stock trade fee | €2 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, Futures |
| Regulators | CySEC | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | EUR 7 per withdrawal | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 |
| Platforms | Freedom24 App, Freedom24 Web | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.005% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | Up to 10x |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Kraken scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Freedom24 offers CySEC.
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority.
- Kraken is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Freedom24 offers Options, Bonds.
- Markets: only Kraken offers Forex, Crypto, Futures.
- Platforms: only Freedom24 offers Freedom24 App, Freedom24 Web.
- Platforms: only Kraken offers Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop.
- Features: only Freedom24 offers Options.
- Features: only Kraken offers Crypto.
Our verdict on each
Freedom24
Freedom24 suits European investors who want stocks, ETFs, options and bonds under one CySEC-regulated roof, and who would rather not pay an annual account charge of €0. A euro minimum deposit of €0 keeps entry easy, while per-deal trading costs make it a better fit for occasional buyers than for frequent traders.
Kraken
Kraken suits beginners and experienced investors who want stocks, ETFs and crypto together through app and desktop access. Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1 and funding terms shown as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 for cost planning across small balance accounts.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freedom24 | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Cost is middling: account fee €0 and minimum deposit €0 are nil, but €2 per deal is high against the €0 median. | 9.3HigherStock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.0HigherCoverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex accessed through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop. |
| Trust | 8.7 | 9.3HigherRegisters cite 1010381 and 31000270997766. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Freedom24 | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 161 of 471 | 16 of 471 |
What each covers
| Markets | Freedom24 | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | Freedom24 | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | CySEC 275/15 | Not confirmed |
| Ireland | Not confirmed | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 IE_CBI PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C453020 |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 71030 |
Sources behind this comparison
Freedom24
- forex.wikibit.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- matchmybroker.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- ucits-etfs.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- beinoption.vercel.app: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Kraken
- kraken.com: 9 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 2 facts, checked September 28, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freedom24 | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Options, Mobile app | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | Freedom Finance Europe Ltd | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2013 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freedom24 | Kraken | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0below the median | Not confirmed | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.005%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
Median across 52 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Freedom24
Pros
- Account fee €0 and inactivity fee €0 leave the cost of holding an account at nil.
- A minimum deposit of €0 sits well under the €6.17 median for stock brokers.
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and options, so an ETF, a bond and an option sit together.
Cons
- A stock trade fee of €2 ranks 126 of 161 on the site, well behind the field.
- Withdrawals cost EUR 7 per withdrawal each.
- Currency conversion is charged at 0.005% on positions held outside the euro.
Kraken
Pros
- Stock trades priced at $0 within a model shown as commission free.
- Entry at $1, below $50 at eToro for smaller starting balances.
- Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex, pairing stocks and ETFs with crypto and futures.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, without phone or live chat help found at many rivals.
- Card funding terms run Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, which adds cost next to bank transfer options.
- Entry at $1 sits above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB for tight budgets.
Who each suits
Freedom24
Who it suits
- Investors who want stocks, etfs and options in one account with an account fee of €0.
- Savers who prefer a euro starting point of €0 and a firm authorised in Cyprus under 275/15.
- People who trade from a phone as well as a browser, since Freedom24 App and Freedom24 Web lists the Freedom24 App and web platform.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if the cost of each trade decides it, because its stock trade fee is $0.
- Vantage, if you would rather start with a deposit of $5 than fund the account from the first unit.
Kraken
Who it suits
- You want stocks plus crypto in stocks, ETFs and forex in a single login rather than an equity only account at XTB.
- You want app led dealing through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop with modest entry at $1 rather than higher entry at eToro at $50.
Who should look elsewhere
- You want phone or chat help rather than help centre only, consider XTB or ActivTrades for wider contact choice.
- You want the lowest cash entry rather than $1, consider ActivTrades at $0 or XTB at €0.
Questions about each
Freedom24
What does a trade cost at Freedom24?+
A stock trade costs €2, with options at $0.65 per contract and currency conversion at 0.005%. That per-deal cost is the number to weigh, since the account fee of €0 adds nothing to it.
Is there an account fee or an inactivity charge?+
The account fee is €0 and the inactivity fee is €0. Both rank 1 on the site, so an unused account does not start costing money. That suits investors who top up in small amounts rather than trading often.
Kraken
What does Kraken charge for stock trades+
Stock dealing is priced at $0 and Kraken describes its model as commission free. Bank funding is framed separately as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, so card use adds cost while bank transfer terms remain distinct. Check the fee schedule before placing orders.
What is the minimum deposit to open an account+
Account entry is set at $1. That level sits below $50 at eToro, yet above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB. It keeps starting balances modest while leaving room for funding charges.
Other options to compare
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