Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freetrade vs Wealthfront
Where Freetrade and Wealthfront differ
| Compare |  Freetrade |  Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1 | $1 |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Account fee | £0 | $0 |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | App, Web | Web, iOS app, Android app |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Interest on cash | 1% | 3.55%Higher |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free instant withdrawals |
Same on both: Markets (Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds).
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
- Wealthfront scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Freetrade offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Wealthfront offers SIPC.
- Founded is lower at Wealthfront: 2011 vs 2016.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App.
- Platforms: only Wealthfront offers iOS app, Android app.
- Account types: only Freetrade offers ISA, SIPP, Jisa.
- Account types: only Wealthfront offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Interest on cash is higher at Wealthfront: 3.55% vs 1%.
- Support channels: only Freetrade offers 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.
Wealthfront
Wealthfront suits beginners who want their portfolio run for them, with a management fee of 0.25% on automated portfolios and a deposit starting at $1. Commission-free dealing at $0 and free instant withdrawals keep running costs low, though the managed minimum is higher than some rivals.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freetrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Stock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. | 9.0Cash pays 3.55%, the account fee is $0 and the management fee of 0.25% sits below 0.4% for robo-advisors here. |
| 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 | 9.1Higher |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Freetrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Freetrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Freetrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 179 of 471 | 129 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 37 of 86 | 27 of 86 |
| Brokers for beginners | 49 of 88 | 35 of 88 |
A third option
Nexo has interest on cash at 13%, against 1% for Freetrade and 3.55% for Wealthfront.
Nexo reviewSources behind this comparison
Freetrade
- freetrade.io: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Wealthfront
- wealthfront.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freetrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 2016 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freetrade | Wealthfront | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | 1%lowest quarter | 3.55%above the median | 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.
Wealthfront
Pros
- Trading is commission-free, with a stock trade fee of $0 on share dealing.
- The cash account fee is $0, and the management fee on automated portfolios is 0.25%.
- A minimum deposit of $1 and fractional shares make it easy to spread small amounts across stocks, etfs and bonds.
Cons
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre only, which narrows the options for anyone who wants live chat.
- Managed portfolios need $500 to open, well above the typical entry point across the brokers listed here (€25).
- Asset choice stops at stocks, etfs and bonds, so the product list suits long-term holders more than active traders.
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
Wealthfront
Who it suits
- Beginners, since the audience is listed as beginners and the deposit and fee levels keep the entry small.
- US savers building retirement or shared accounts, with ira, roth ira and joint on offer.
- Long-term holders who want a robo portfolio alongside cash, reachable from Web, iOS app and Android app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs a lower floor for managed investing: Axos Invest starts at $100, against $500 here.
- Readers after a plan fee rather than a robo charge, since Vivid Standard charges 0.5% to 1.5%.
Current offers
Wealthfront
Current offer
Bonus
Cash Account APY Boost: up to 4.45% APY (3.55% base APY as of 09/18/2026)
APY Boost applies up to a $150,000 balance; 3.55% base APY as of 09/18/2026, provided by program banks and subject to change; funds held at program banks
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Freetrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Wealthfront
What does Wealthfront charge to manage my portfolio?+
The management fee is 0.25% on automated portfolios, while the cash account fee is $0. Stock trade fees are $0, so for most readers the robo charge is the only recurring cost to weigh against a rival's plan fee.
How much do I need to get started?+
The minimum deposit is $1, so an account can be opened with a small transfer, and instant withdrawals are free if plans change. An automated portfolio needs $500 to open, which is the figure most readers should compare with other robo-advisors.
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