Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freetrade vs TradeZero
Freetrade vs TradeZero: the differences
| Compare |  Freetrade |  TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, Options |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | AFM |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | App, Web | ZeroPro, ZeroFree, ZeroMobile, TZ1, TradingView |
| Minimum deposit | £1 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 9% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.59 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | $15 wire transfer out |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 1% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- TradeZero scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Freetrade offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only TradeZero offers AFM.
- Founded is lower at TradeZero: 2015 vs 2016.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers ETFs, Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only TradeZero offers Options.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App, Web.
- Platforms: only TradeZero offers ZeroPro, ZeroFree, ZeroMobile.
- Support channels: only Freetrade offers Email.
- Features: only Freetrade offers Fractional shares.
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.
TradeZero
TradeZero suits traders who want stocks and options on a single account without a per-trade commission, and the demo account gives beginners a place to practise. Options cost $0.59 a contract, and the account works through desktop, mobile and charting tools.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freetrade | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Stock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. | 9.1HigherStock trades cost $0, ranking first of 161 brands on that fee, and the inactivity fee ranks first of 56. |
| 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 | 8.6Higher |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Freetrade | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Freetrade | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Freetrade | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 179 of 471 | 169 of 471 |
| Brokers for beginners | 49 of 88 | 44 of 88 |
Sources behind this comparison
Freetrade
- freetrade.io: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
TradeZero
- tradezero.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freetrade | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Beginners | Experienced, Beginners, Day tradersCovers more |
| Legal entity | Freetrade Limited | TradeZero Europe B.V. |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2016 | 2015Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freetrade | TradeZero | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1below the median | Not confirmed | £20 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 9%above the median | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.59below the median | $0.625 |
Median across 38 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.
TradeZero
Pros
- Regulated in the Netherlands by AFM, with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Margin positions run at a rate of 9%.
- A demo account and a mobile app are included, so the platform can be learned before funding.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only.
- A wire transfer out of the account costs $15 wire transfer out.
- The market range is stocks and options, so forex, crypto and metals are not covered.
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
TradeZero
Who it suits
- Traders buying stocks and options who do not want a per-trade commission.
- Beginners who want a demo account and a mobile app before putting money in.
- Day traders who work across several platforms rather than a single terminal.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after forex, crypto or futures, where eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Traders who want metals and CFDs beside stocks, which Vantage covers with forex, cfds and stocks.
Current offers
TradeZero
Current offer
Bonus
Welcome Offer WELCOME250: 250
with a $250+ deposit during sign-up
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Freetrade | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
TradeZero
What does TradeZero charge to trade stocks and options?+
Stock trades cost $0 per trade, and options cost $0.59 a contract. The pricing model is described as commission-free and low-fee, so the per-order cost is the main thing to compare. The inactivity fee is $0, so an idle account is not charged.
Is my money protected if something goes wrong?+
The account is provided by TradeZero Europe B.V., which is licensed by AFM in the Netherlands. Investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so money above that figure sits outside the scheme. Keeping larger balances elsewhere limits what is at stake.
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