Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freetrade vs Vanguard
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Freetrade |  Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Account fee | £0 | $20 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Platforms | App, Web | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 1% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Vanguard scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Markets: only Vanguard offers Options.
- Account types: only Freetrade offers ISA, SIPP, Jisa.
- Account types: only Vanguard offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
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.
Vanguard
Vanguard suits beginner US investors who want straightforward retirement investing without a trading bill, with stock trades at $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The catch is an account fee of $20, plus $1 for every options contract traded.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freetrade | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0HigherStock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. | 8.9Stock trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, but the account itself carries an account fee of $20. |
| Offer | 9.1A UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 8.5 | Not confirmed |
What each covers
| Markets | Freetrade | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Freetrade | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | Freetrade | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Freetrade | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 179 of 471 | 128 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 37 of 86 | 26 of 86 |
| Brokers for beginners | 49 of 88 | 34 of 88 |
Where these facts come from
Freetrade
- freetrade.io: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Vanguard
- investor.vanguard.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investguiding.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- vanguard.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freetrade | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo account | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Freetrade Limited | The Vanguard Group, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 2016 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Freetrade | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freetrade | Vanguard | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1highest quarter | $0.625 |
| 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.
Vanguard
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account opens at $0, so entry costs nothing
- stocks, etfs and options covers the range most long term investors need in one place
- Account types include ira, roth ira and joint, which suits retirement saving
Cons
- An account fee of $20 applies to the account whatever the trade volume
- Options cost $1 per contract against $0 for stock trades
- Forex, crypto and CFDs are not among its stocks, etfs and options
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
Vanguard
Who it suits
- Beginners building a retirement pot in the US
- Investors holding funds and ETFs alongside individual stocks
- Anyone who accepts an account fee to keep trading costs low
Who should look elsewhere
- Day traders who want no account fee, since eToro charges $0
- Traders wanting forex, crypto or CFDs alongside shares, which CFI lists in stocks, etfs and forex
- Anyone put off by an opening balance, since Vantage requires $5 where Vanguard asks $0
Country by country
| Country | Freetrade | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Vanguard
What does it cost to buy shares at Vanguard?+
Buying shares costs $0, and the account opens at a minimum deposit of $0. The running cost is an account fee of $20 rather than a charge on each trade, so frequent trading does not add commission.
Is there an account fee?+
There is. The account fee is $20, and it is the main ongoing cost here. Investors who expect to hold rather than trade repeatedly can absorb it, while active traders would feel it more on smaller balances.
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