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Broker Comparison

Acorns vs Freetrade

Compare Acorns and Freetrade side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Acorns

Acorns

Hands-off investors who want automated ETF portfolios

Acorns is an automated saving and investing app with ETF portfolios, Round-Ups, retirement accounts, and pric…

VS
Freetrade

Freetrade

Low-cost long-term investors

Freetrade is an investing platform with £0 dealing commissions, free ISA and SIPP access, stocks, ETFs, funds…

Head-to-head comparison

Acorns vs Freetrade
Feature Acorns Freetrade
Minimum deposit No minimum opening deposit or minimum balance required for Mighty Oak and Emergency Savings banking services —
Stock trading fee No commissions £0 dealing commission per trade
Regulators SEC, FINRA FCA
Best for Hands-off investors who want automated ETF portfolios Low-cost long-term investors
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Crypto
—
Bonds
Investment Plans
—
Ready Made Portfolios
Funds
—
Fractional Shares
—
Isa
—
Sipp
—

Pros & cons

Acorns

Acorns

Pros

  • Round-Ups invest spare change once it reaches at least $5
  • Automatic rebalancing keeps Base portfolio allocations on track
  • Dividends are automatically reinvested
  • No hidden costs, transaction fees, or commissions stated
  • Checking has no overdraft, maintenance, or AllPoint ATM fees
  • Gold adds individual stocks and ETFs to Custom Portfolios
  • SIPC protection up to $500,000 for Invest, Later and Early

Cons

  • Lowest listed subscription is $3/mo.
  • Gold costs $12/mo. for the full suite
  • Custom Portfolios are available only to Gold customers
  • Acorns Early Invest is a Gold subscription exclusive
  • Money Manager is available with Acorns Gold
  • No direct Bitcoin access; exposure is through BITO ETF
  • Investment products are not FDIC insured or bank guaranteed
Freetrade

Freetrade

Pros

  • £0 dealing commission per trade
  • Basic plan has no monthly subscription fee
  • ISA and SIPP available on the £0 Basic plan
  • FX fees fall from 0.99% to 0.39% on Plus
  • US fractional shares support smaller orders
  • Cash earns 1% to 3.5% AER on plan-based limits
  • Recurring, limit and stop-loss orders are available
  • Eligible cash protection is listed up to £120,000

Cons

  • Basic FX fee is 0.99% on non-GBP trades
  • Standard costs £5.99 per month when billed monthly
  • Plus costs £11.99 per month when billed monthly
  • Fractional share elements cannot be transferred
  • Direct Debit cash is not usually withdrawable for 3 working days
  • Crypto ETNs are not protected by FSCS
  • Treasuries cannot be sold before maturity
  • Cash additions must be in pounds sterling
Acorns

Acorns

Acorns is an automated saving and investing app with ETF portfolios, Round-Ups, retirement accounts, and pricing from $3/mo.

Visit Acorns Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Freetrade

Freetrade

Freetrade is an investing platform with £0 dealing commissions, free ISA and SIPP access, stocks, ETFs, funds, gilts, ready-made portfolios and Crypto ETNs.

Visit Freetrade Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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