Quick Answer
Our Freetrade review UK 2026 verdict: Freetrade is one of the best commission-free investment apps for UK students. The Basic plan is now completely free — including a stocks and shares ISA — with access to 6,500+ stocks, ETFs, and investment trusts. Standard costs £5.99/month and cuts FX fees to 0.59%. FCA-regulated and FSCS-protected up to £85,000. Capital at risk.
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If you’ve been searching for a Freetrade review UK 2026, here’s the short answer: it’s still one of the best starting points for UK student investors — and the platform improved significantly this year.
The biggest update? Freetrade’s Basic plan now includes a stocks and shares ISA for free — no subscription required. That changes the maths considerably. Here’s our full Freetrade review UK 2026, updated with the latest pricing and platform changes.
Freetrade Review UK 2026: Quick Verdict
Freetrade earns its place as a top pick for beginners and students. Commission-free trades, a clean app, and an ISA that no longer costs extra make it hard to dismiss. The main weaknesses — no crypto, no AutoInvest — remain. But for straightforward equity investing, it’s excellent value.
What Is Freetrade?
Freetrade is a UK-based investment platform launched in 2018. It lets you buy and sell stocks, ETFs, investment trusts, mutual funds, and gilts with zero trading commissions. It now has over 1.6 million registered users and is authorised and regulated by the FCA.
Freetrade Plans 2026 — What Do You Get?
Freetrade now offers three plans:
Basic (£0/month) — The free plan now includes a full stocks and shares ISA, a Junior ISA (new), a personal pension (SIPP, new), and a general investment account. You get access to Freetrade’s full universe of 6,500+ stocks, ETFs, and investment trusts with 0.99% FX fees on non-GBP trades. Uninvested cash earns 1% AER on up to £1,000.
Standard (£5.99/month, or £4.99/month on annual billing) — Reduces FX fees to 0.59% and increases cash interest to 2.5% AER on up to £2,000. Includes enhanced stock fundamentals and free same-day withdrawals. Best for regular investors who buy US stocks.
Plus (£11.99/month, or £9.99/month on annual billing) — The premium tier. FX fees fall to 0.39%, cash interest rises to 3.5% AER on up to £3,000, and you get priority customer service plus automated order types including limit orders and stop losses.
The ISA is now available on all three plans, including Basic — this is the most significant change from prior years and makes Freetrade genuinely competitive for tax-efficient investing at zero cost.
Freetrade Fees 2026 — The Full Breakdown
| Fee | Basic | Standard | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | £5.99 (£4.99/mo annual) | £11.99 (£9.99/mo annual) |
| Trading commission | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| FX fee (non-GBP stocks) | 0.99% | 0.59% | 0.39% |
| Cash interest (AER) | 1% on up to £1,000 | 2.5% on up to £2,000 | 3.5% on up to £3,000 |
| Withdrawal fee | £0 | £0 (same-day) | £0 (same-day) |
| Inactivity fee | £0 | £0 | £0 |
The FX fee is worth watching if you regularly buy US stocks. On the Basic plan, a £200 trade in Apple or Amazon costs £1.98 in FX fees — small individually, but it accumulates. Upgrading to Standard reduces this by 40%.
If you’re thinking about your wider finances — including how your student loan affects take-home pay — our guide to UK student loan repayment thresholds 2026 explains exactly when you start repaying and how much.
What Can You Invest In?
- UK and US stocks — all major exchanges
- ETFs — index trackers, sector ETFs, bond ETFs
- Investment trusts
- Mutual funds and gilts (now available on all plans)
- US fractional shares — invest from £1 in Apple, Tesla, etc.
- UK Treasury bills
- Crypto ETNs — limited exposure via ETNs (not direct crypto wallets)
6,500+ assets in total — a meaningful increase from previous years.
Freetrade vs Trading 212 — 2026 Comparison
| Feature | Freetrade (Basic) | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | £0 |
| Commission | Free | Free |
| ISA | Free (Basic) | Free |
| FX Fee | 0.99% (Basic) | 0.15% |
| AutoInvest / Pies | No | Yes |
| Stock selection | 6,500+ | 12,000+ |
| SIPP | Yes (all plans) | No |
| Mutual funds & gilts | Yes (all plans) | No |
| App rating (iOS) | 4.7/5 | 4.7/5 |
Trading 212 still wins on FX fees and AutoInvest. Freetrade fights back with a SIPP available on all plans, mutual fund access, and a simpler interface many beginners prefer. If you plan to use a pension alongside your ISA, Freetrade is the stronger choice at zero cost.
Freetrade Pros
- Free ISA, SIPP, and GIA on Basic — significant improvement in 2026
- Clean, beginner-friendly app — genuinely easy to navigate
- Commission-free trades on all plans
- 6,500+ assets including fractional shares, mutual funds, and gilts
- FCA-regulated and FSCS-protected up to £85,000
- Cash interest on uninvested funds — 1%–3.5% AER depending on plan
Freetrade Cons
- High FX fee on Basic (0.99%) — punishing for frequent US stock buyers
- No AutoInvest — you have to place all trades manually
- No direct crypto — only crypto ETNs, not wallets
- Smaller stock universe than Trading 212 — 6,500 vs 12,000+
Is Freetrade Safe?
Yes — our Freetrade review UK 2026 confirms it. Freetrade is:
- FCA regulated — authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
- FSCS protected up to £85,000 per person
- Ring-fenced client funds — your money is held separately from Freetrade’s operating capital
Your investments are held in nominee accounts — standard practice for UK investment platforms. In the unlikely event of Freetrade going under, your assets would be returned to you or transferred to another provider. Capital at risk: the value of investments can fall as well as rise.
Freetrade for Students — Is It Worth It in 2026?
For most students reading this Freetrade review UK 2026, the answer is yes — but the right plan depends on how you invest:
- UK stocks only: Basic at £0/month is genuinely excellent — free ISA, zero commissions, 0.99% FX on UK trades (which have no FX fee at all).
- Regular US stock buyers: The jump to Standard (£5.99/month, or £4.99/month annually) pays for itself quickly — 0.59% FX vs 0.99% saves £4 for every £1,000 traded in US equities.
- Set-and-forget investors: Consider Trading 212 instead for AutoInvest Pies and lower FX fees — Freetrade requires manual trading on all plans.
Before you act on this Freetrade review UK 2026, it’s worth understanding how your student loan fits into your overall finances. If you have a Plan 2 loan, you only repay once you earn above £29,385/year (2026/27 threshold). Our guide to paying off student debt walks through how this interacts with saving and investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Freetrade free in 2026?
Yes — as tested in our Freetrade review UK 2026, Freetrade’s Basic plan is completely free. It includes a stocks and shares ISA, SIPP, and general investment account with zero trading commissions. This is a major update from previous years when an ISA required a paid subscription.
What is Freetrade’s FX fee in 2026?
0.99% on the Basic plan, 0.59% on Standard, and 0.39% on Plus. The FX fee applies only to trades in non-GBP currencies — so buying UK stocks on the Basic plan incurs no FX charge at all.
Does Freetrade have a SIPP?
Yes — Freetrade introduced a personal pension (SIPP) on all plans including Basic in 2026. This is a significant advantage over competitors like Trading 212, which does not offer a SIPP.
How does Freetrade compare to Trading 212?
Trading 212 offers a lower FX fee (0.15%), AutoInvest Pies, and a larger stock universe (12,000+). Freetrade counters with a SIPP on all plans, mutual fund and gilt access, and a simpler interface. For pension investing, Freetrade wins. For passive/automated investing, Trading 212 wins.
Is Freetrade good for beginners?
Yes. The app is deliberately simple, commissions are zero, and the Basic plan removes the previous barrier of paying for an ISA. It’s consistently rated 4.7/5 on the App Store and has won Best Online Trading Platform at the British Bank Awards six years running.
Freetrade Review UK 2026 — last updated 15 June 2026. Pricing sourced directly from freetrade.io/compare-plans. Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Freetrade is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN: 778942). FSCS protection applies to eligible claims up to £85,000.