Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freetrade vs Police Friendly
Freetrade vs Police Friendly: the differences
| Compare |  Freetrade |  Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1Lower | £50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more | Stocks, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | ISA, Lisa, Jisa |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals |
| Platforms | App, Web | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 1% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Police Friendly scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Freetrade offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Police Friendly offers Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority.
- Founded is lower at Police Friendly: 1893 vs 2016.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Freetrade: £1 vs £50.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers ETFs, Bonds.
- Account types: only Freetrade offers SIPP.
- Account types: only Police Friendly offers Lisa.
- Support channels: only Freetrade offers Chat, Help centre.
- Support channels: only Police Friendly 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.
Police Friendly
Police Friendly is a UK friendly society for long-term savers, not active traders, offering ISA, Lifetime ISA and Junior ISA accounts with a minimum deposit of £50. Regulated in the UK and backed by FSCS up to GBP 85,000, it fits households saving steadily for a home or a child's future.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freetrade | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0HigherStock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. | 8.6Low entry at £50 on isa, lisa and jisa accounts, offset by a charge on non-qualifying withdrawals. |
| Offer | 9.1A UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. | 9.1 |
| Trust | 8.5 | 9.2Higher |
Licences and countries
| Country | Freetrade | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom |
Available in 1 country for both.
Which one suits you
Pick Freetrade if cost, minimum deposit, and markets matter most.
Pick Police Friendly if trust matter most.
A third option
Spreadex has minimum deposit at £0, against £1 for Freetrade and £50 for Police Friendly.
Spreadex reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Freetrade | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 171 of 490 | 138 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 36 of 85 | 29 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 9 of 21 | 5 of 21 |
| Junior ISA providers | 5 of 14 | 4 of 14 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freetrade | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo account | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Freetrade Limited | Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2016 | 1893Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freetrade | Police Friendly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1lowest quarter | £50above the median | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | 1%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 34 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.
Police Friendly
Pros
- A minimum deposit of £50 makes the entry point manageable for steady savers.
- All three wrappers, isa, lisa and jisa, sit with one provider.
- Members are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 if the firm fails.
Cons
- A government charge cuts non-qualifying withdrawals, which limits access before the account matures.
- The investment range is limited to stocks and funds, with no wider market for ISA money.
- The £50 minimum deposit runs ahead of CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5.
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
Police Friendly
Who it suits
- UK savers who want ISA, Lifetime ISA and Junior ISA accounts under one roof.
- Police service members and their families, drawn to a provider run as Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited.
- Long-term investors content with a stocks and funds range and no trading tools.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after a wide market range: eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with the smallest possible deposit: CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5.
- Shoppers who judge cost by the entry deposit alone, since £50 sits above CFI at $0.
Current offers
Police Friendly
Current offer
Bonus
Open a Lifetime ISA - Earn up to GBP50 in Gift Cards: Up to GBP50 gift card
Pay GBP100 or more per month, or GBP50+ with Escalator; GBP30-99 gets GBP25; quote AUTUMN26
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Freetrade | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | 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.
Police Friendly
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is £50, which is more than some rivals ask at the start. CFI opens at $0 and Vantage at $5, so Police Friendly suits savers who can commit a modest sum each month rather than the smallest possible stake.
Is my money protected if the provider fails?+
Investors are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 under the UK compensation scheme, and the firm is authorised under the reference 110026. The regulator named is Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority, which supervises both conduct and prudential standards.