Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freetrade vs M1
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Freetrade |  M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Interest on cash | 1% | 3.35%Higher |
| Account fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 5.9% |
| Platforms | App, Web | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | Up to 50% of portfolio value |
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Key differences
- M1 scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Freetrade offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only M1 offers SIPC.
- Founded is lower at M1: 2015 vs 2016.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only M1 offers Crypto.
- Account types: only Freetrade offers ISA, SIPP, Jisa.
- Account types: only M1 offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Interest on cash is higher at M1: 3.35% vs 1%.
- Support channels: only Freetrade offers Email, Chat.
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.
M1
M1 is a low-cost brokerage built for retirement savers and small investors who want shares, ETFs and crypto in a single account. Stock trades run at $0 and it places 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, though the managed portfolios want $10,000 to start.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freetrade | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Stock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. | 9.5Higher |
| Offer | 9.1HigherA UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. | 9.0Costs carry the offer: 0% management fee, $0 stock trades and a $0 minimum deposit. |
| Trust | 8.5 | 8.6Higher |
What each covers
| Markets | Freetrade | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Freetrade | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | Freetrade | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 179 of 471 | 145 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 37 of 86 | 29 of 86 |
Also worth a look
Nexo has interest on cash at 13%, against 1% for Freetrade and 3.35% for M1.
Nexo reviewWhat we checked
Freetrade
- freetrade.io: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
M1
- m1.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- millennialmoneyman.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- thecollegeinvestor.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- bestroboadvisors.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freetrade | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo account | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Freetrade Limited | M1 FINANCE LLC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 2016 | 2015Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Freetrade | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $10,000 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freetrade | M1 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 5.9%below the median | 8.75% |
| Interest on cash | 1%lowest quarter | 3.35%above the median | 3% |
Median across 43 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.
M1
Pros
- Placing 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, so an account opens without a funding hurdle.
- Placing 1 of 161 brands on stock trade fees, with a stock trade costing $0.
- Uninvested cash earns 3.35%, and Pie portfolios mix etf, cash and crypto.
Cons
- Margin borrowing at 5.9% can cost more over a held position than the $0 trade fee saves.
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone or live chat listed.
- Managed portfolios want $10,000 to start, well above the $0 brokerage entry point.
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
M1
Who it suits
- Self-directed investors who want to trade shares and ETFs without a per-trade charge.
- Retirement savers, since accounts include ira, roth ira and joint.
- People who want crypto alongside equities in the same account, under stocks, etfs and crypto.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who need forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and M1 stops at stocks, etfs and crypto.
- Readers who want a wider asset list in the same app, because CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Managed portfolio buyers starting below $10,000, a floor that sits well above the $5 deposit Vantage asks to open an account.
Country by country
| Country | Freetrade | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
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.
M1
What does it cost to trade shares at M1?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the account opens with a $0 minimum deposit, so there is no per-trade commission and no funding hurdle. The running cost sits in the spread and in currency conversion when shares priced in dollars are bought. Margin borrowing is charged at 5.9% and is the line most likely to run up a bill.
Is my money protected at M1?+
Protection runs through the scheme listed as SIPC, with cover stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. It is the only regulator on file, so there is a single scheme to claim against and a single register to check. The membership record reads SIPC member 69670. The stated figure is a ceiling on the payout, not a stand-in for the balance itself.
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