Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freetrade vs Stash
Freetrade vs Stash: the differences
| Compare |  Freetrade |  Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Account fee | £0 | $144 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | SEC, FINRA |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | App, Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99% | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 1% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Stash scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Freetrade offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Stash offers SEC, FINRA.
- Founded is lower at Stash: 2015 vs 2016.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Bonds, Funds.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App.
- Platforms: only Stash offers iOS, Android.
- Account types: only Freetrade offers ISA, SIPP, Jisa.
- Account types: only Stash offers IRA, Roth IRA.
- 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.
Stash
Stash suits US beginners who want a retirement pot built from a phone rather than a wide market. Trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is free, but the account fee of $144 a year is the price of that simplicity.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freetrade | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Stock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. | 9.1HigherA free minimum deposit and $0 trades rank 1 of 213 and 1 of 161, but the $144 account fee is the weight. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherA UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.5 | 9.0Higher |
Which one suits you
Pick Freetrade if offer and markets matter most.
Pick Stash if trust matter most.
Feature by feature
| Markets | Freetrade | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Freetrade | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
Where these facts come from
Freetrade
- freetrade.io: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Stash
- stash.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingplatforms.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Freetrade | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 179 of 471 | 148 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 37 of 86 | 31 of 86 |
| Brokers for beginners | 49 of 88 | 38 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freetrade | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Freetrade Limited | Stash Investments LLC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 2016 | 2015Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Freetrade | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | $108 to $144 |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $5 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freetrade | Stash | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | 1%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 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.
Stash
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, so small orders carry no per-trade charge.
- The portfolio option is an etf portfolio alongside ira and roth ira accounts, which keeps retirement saving in one place.
- Access runs through Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares spread small contributions across holdings.
Cons
- The account fee of $144 a year leaves Stash at 134 of 138 brands on that measure, while eToro lists $0.
- Support runs on help centre only, so questions about a retirement account are left to articles.
- Trading is limited to stocks and etfs with an etf portfolio, so there is no forex, crypto or CFD route.
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
Stash
Who it suits
- US beginners who want a retirement account, a phone app and a small starting amount rather than a wide market.
- Long-term savers content to hold stocks and etfs and an etf portfolio without picking markets themselves.
- Readers who weigh regulation first, since Stash is registered with SEC and FINRA in the US.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want forex, crypto or CFDs, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Anyone put off by a yearly charge, as eToro lists $0 for its account.
- Readers who prefer a provider with a published entry figure, such as Vantage at $5, rather than a free minimum deposit.
Current offers
Stash
Current offer
Free trial
Try Stash for 7 days: 7-day trial
new Stash Plan subscriptions
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Freetrade | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Stash
How much does Stash cost to run?+
Running the plan costs a management fee of $108 to $144 a year, and the account fee is $144. Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, so the charge sits with the subscription rather than the order. The site median account fee is €0, so Stash sits at the dear end of the table.
How much do I need to start?+
The minimum deposit is free, and the minimum investment is $5, so an account can be opened at a size that suits a monthly habit rather than a lump sum. Stash ranks 1 of 213 brands on this measure, against a site median of €4.64.
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