Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freetrade vs FXOpen
Where Freetrade and FXOpen differ
| Compare |  Freetrade |  FXOpen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1 | $100 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | CySEC, FCACovers more |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | App, Web | TickTrader, MT4, MT5 |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 60% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99% | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 1% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- FXOpen scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only FXOpen offers CySEC.
- FXOpen is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only FXOpen offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App, Web.
- Platforms: only FXOpen offers TickTrader, MT4, MT5.
- Features: only Freetrade offers Fractional shares.
- Features: only FXOpen offers Crypto.
Our verdict on each
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.
FXOpen
FXOpen suits traders who want one account spanning forex, CFDs, stocks, ETFs and crypto under FCA and CySEC oversight, with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000. The minimum deposit of $100 is the catch, placing it well above the site median of €4.64 and above Vantage at $5.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freetrade | FXOpen |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0HigherStock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. | 8.5 |
| Offer | 9.1A UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 8.5 | 9.5Higher |
What each covers
| Markets | Freetrade | FXOpen |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | Freetrade | FXOpen |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 179 of 471 | 114 of 471 |
Choosing between them
Pick Freetrade if cost matter most.
Pick FXOpen if offer, trust, and regulators matter most.
Where these facts come from
Freetrade
- freetrade.io: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
FXOpen
- fxopen.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- scribd.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- topforextradingbrokers.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freetrade | FXOpen |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo account | Demo account, Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Freetrade Limited | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2016 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freetrade | FXOpen | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 60%lowest quarter | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | 1%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 47 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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.
FXOpen
Pros
- One account covers stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto, all listed under stocks, etfs and forex.
- Regulated by CySEC and FCA, so the UK operation sits under the FCA and the Cyprus operation under CySEC.
- Investor protection is stated at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 for eligible claims.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of $100 is far above the site median of €4.64.
- On minimum deposit FXOpen ranks 148 of 213 brands compared.
- The cost score is 2.7 and the overall score is 2.7, so value is the weak side.
Who each suits
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
FXOpen
Who it suits
- Traders who want forex and CFDs next to stocks, ETFs and crypto in a single account.
- UK and EU residents who want a broker listed with CySEC and FCA and a stated protection scheme.
- Users of TickTrader, MT4 or MT5 who want a demo account before committing money.
Who should look elsewhere
- Newcomers starting with a small amount: CFI asks a minimum deposit of $0.
- Traders who want futures in the market list: eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Anyone wanting a lower entry point: Vantage takes $5 against FXOpen's $100.
Country by country
| Country | Freetrade | FXOpen |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
FXOpen
What is the minimum deposit at FXOpen?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That is well above the site median of €4.64 and places FXOpen at 148 of 213 brands compared on this measure. Anyone starting with a small balance is better served by a lower entry point elsewhere.
Who regulates FXOpen?+
FXOpen lists CySEC and FCA. The Cyprus entity is supervised by CySEC and the UK entity by the FCA, so UK customers sit under the UK regulator while EU customers sit under the Cyprus one. The listed protection scheme is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
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