Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freetrade vs Markets.com
Where Freetrade and Markets.com differ
| Compare |  Freetrade |  Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1 | $100 |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Account fee | £0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds, Spread betting |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | CySEC, FCA, FSCA, ASICCovers more |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99% | 0.6%Lower |
| Platforms | App, Web | Web Platform, Mobile App, MT4, MT5 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.4% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | no deposit or withdrawal fees |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 1% | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Markets.com scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Markets.com offers CySEC, FSCA, ASIC.
- Markets.com is licensed in 3 more countries.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Markets.com: 0.6% vs 0.99%.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Funds.
- Markets: only Markets.com offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App, Web.
- Platforms: only Markets.com offers Web Platform, Mobile App, MT4.
- Support channels: only Freetrade offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Markets.com offers Phone.
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.
Markets.com
Markets.com suits retail traders who want stocks, forex, cfds, crypto and spread betting under a single account with no commission charged on share dealing. Stock trades carry fees of $0 and the account fee is $0, though the $100 minimum deposit and an inactivity charge of $10 are the figures to weigh.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freetrade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0HigherStock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. | 8.9Commission-free model: stock trades at fees of $0, account fee of $0, currency conversion of 0.6%. |
| Offer | 9.1A UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. | 9.7Higher |
| Trust | 8.5 | 9.9Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Freetrade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 179 of 471 | 49 of 471 |
| Brokers for beginners | 49 of 88 | 14 of 88 |
What each covers
| Markets | Freetrade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Spread betting | No | Yes |
Where these facts come from
Freetrade
- freetrade.io: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Markets.com
- markets.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingfinder.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wecomparebrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- commodity.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- investingreviews.co.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freetrade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo account | Mobile app, Copy trading, Demo account, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners, ExperiencedCovers more |
| Legal entity | Freetrade Limited | Finalto Financial Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2016 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freetrade | Markets.com | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10above the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.4%above the median | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99%highest quarter | 0.6%above the median | 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.
Markets.com
Pros
- Stock trades carry fees of $0 on a commission-free model, so placing a share trade is not chargeable
- The account fee is $0, which ranks Markets.com at 1 of 138 brands on that measure
- Deposits and withdrawals carry no deposit or withdrawal fees, so moving money on and off the account stays cheap
Cons
- An inactivity charge of $10 catches dormant balances, placing Markets.com at 35 of 56 brands on that measure
- The minimum deposit of $100 is heavy, ranking at 148 of 213 brands, so a smaller opening balance rules it out
- A currency conversion fee of 0.6% sits on top of the commission-free model, so currency trades cost more than the share trades priced at $0
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
Markets.com
Who it suits
- Retail traders who want stocks, forex, cfds, crypto and spread betting inside a single account
- Investors who trade often enough to clear the $100 minimum and steer clear of the $10 inactivity charge
- UK residents who want the account run by Finalto Financial Services Limited under the FCA
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone opening with a small balance, since the $100 minimum deposit compares with a site median of €4.64 while CFI takes $0 and Vantage takes $5
- Long term holders of an idle balance, because an inactivity charge of $10 applies
- Traders who mainly want forex and the lowest way in, since CFI and Vantage set minimum deposits at $0 and $5
Country by country
| Country | Freetrade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Markets.com
Does Markets.com charge commission on shares?+
The pricing model is commission-free, and stock trades carry fees of $0 on the trade itself. Currency conversion of 0.6% and an inactivity charge of $10 sit outside that figure, so regular traders should build both into the running cost.
Is there a monthly or annual account fee?+
Fees run $0 on the account, which ranks Markets.com at 1 out of 138 brands on that measure. Deposits and withdrawals carry no deposit or withdrawal fees as well, so funding the account and taking money back out stay clear of extra charges.
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