Trading 212 Offers
Free fractional shares worth up to £100* when you create a Trading 212 account. Sponsored content. Terms apply. Capital at risk
Earn a boosted Cash ISA rate of 4.51% AER (variable tracker) for 12 months. Rate includes a bonus of 0.91% for the first 12 months. T&Cs and eligibility criteria apply.
Freetrade Offer
Get a free share worth at least £10* with our reader offer with Freetrade (capital is at risk).
Freetrade vs Trading 212 - which is better?
| Freetrade | Trading 212 | |
| Services | Investing in shares, ETFs and investment trusts
Fractional shares 6,500+ Global equities, ETFs, and investment trusts 28 Vanguard mutual funds (Standard and Plus plans only) |
Investing in shares, ETFs, CFD and gold
Fractional shares Video guides Community forum |
| Products | ISA, GIA, SIPP | Trading 212 Invest
Trading 212 ISA Trading 212 Cash ISA Trading 212 CFD |
| Minimum investment | No minimum investment requirement | £1 (£10 for CFDs) |
| Fees | Basic account - Free - FX fees 0.99%
Freetrade Standard - £5.99 per month - FX fees 0.59% Freetrade Plus (Includes ISA & SIPP) - £11.99 per month - FX fees 0.39% All plans include access to an ISA & SIPP |
No platform charge for ISA
No fees for buying and selling shares in same currency as account 0.15% FX fee for trades in other currencies within an ISA (0.50% for CFDs) |
| Customer reviews (Trustpilot) | 4.3/5.0 | 4.6/5.0 |
| Money to the Masses offer | Receive a free share worth between £10 and £100* when you sign up for a basic account and deposit a minimum of £50. Terms apply. | Free fractional shares worth up to £100* when you create a Trading 212 account. Sponsored content. Terms apply. Capital at risk
Earn a boosted Cash ISA rate of 4.51% AER (variable tracker) for 12 months. Rate includes a bonus of 0.91% for the first 12 months. T&Cs and eligibility criteria apply. |
Freetrade vs Trading 212 - services
While Freetrade allows users to invest in shares, ETFs and investment trusts, Trading 212 has a wider range of more esoteric investment types, including CFDs and gold. It also offers informative video guides to help investors navigate what they should be adding to their portfolios and the timing of buying and selling. Freetrade has recently introduced a selection of 28 Vanguard Mutual funds, which include the popular LifeStrategy funds, however, these are only available to those who subscribe to the 'Standard' and 'Plus' subscription plans priced at £5.99 and £11.99 per month.
Freetrade vs Trading 212 - products
Freetrade outstrips its rival in terms of the tax wrappers it has available, with a SIPP as well as an ISA. They each have standard investment accounts, Freetrade with its "basic account" and Trading 212 with its "Invest" option. Trading 212 also offers a CFD account aimed at more experienced investors.
Freetrade vs Trading 212 - minimum investment
The appeal of both Freetrade and Trading 212 is the low minimum investment required for each, which makes it accessible to those looking to dabble without making a big initial financial commitment. Freetrade doesn't have a minimum investment requirement for opening an account and you can make an investment from just £2. With Trading 212, investors can open an account and begin investing from as little as £1.
Freetrade vs Trading 212 - fees
Both Freetrade and Trading 212 offer a free Stocks & Shares ISA. Freetrade also gives users access to a SIPP via its Plus account for £11.99 per month. While neither platform charges a commission for buying or selling shares, both charge foreign exchange (FX) fees. Freetrade charges between 0.39% and 0.99% depending on the account you choose and Trading 212 charges 0.15% (0.50% for CFD trading).
Freetrade vs Trading 212 - customer reviews
Both Freetrade and Trading 212 are highly rated by their users, according to independent customer review site Trustpilot. Freetrade has a score of 4.3 out of 5.0 based on around 7,100 reviews, with 69% of its reviewers scoring it as "excellent", while 13% gave it a one-star score. Trading 212 has a Trustpilot score of 4.6 out of 5.0 based on around 80,000 reviews, with 79% of its reviewers giving it an excellent score, while 5% gave it a one-star score. Both platforms got positive feedback on their customer service propositions, as well as users finding them easy to navigate.
Summary: Freetrade vs Trading 212
Freetrade and Trading 212 probably have the fiercest rivalry in the free share-trading space, with both offering a similar low-cost option. If you are looking for maximum investment choice, Trading 212 edges out Freetrade, offering a greater variety of shares, as well as access to other investments. That being said, Freetrade now offers a selection of 28 Vanguard mutual funds, which invest in a mix of assets and are managed by professionals; this could appeal to investors that are happy to let someone else manage their investment decisions for them. Trading 212 does not currently offer a SIPP, so if it is a personal pension that you are after, then Freetrade would be the better fit. For a more detailed analysis of both platforms, read our Freetrade review and Trading 212 review.
When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results. Do your own research.
If a link has an * beside it this means that it is an affiliated link. If you go via the link Money to the Masses may receive a small fee which helps keep Money to the Masses free to use. But as you can clearly see this has in no way influenced this independent and balanced review of the product. The following link can be used if you do not wish to help Money to the Masses or take advantage of any exclusive offers - Freetrade, Trading 212
£200 Pension Cashback Offer
Make a qualifying deposit or transfer a pension to our partner Interactive Investor.
- Deposit or transfer a pension of at least £20k and you could earn £200 cashback
- Terms and Fees apply, Capital at risk
- New & Existing customers opening a SIPP
- Offer ends 30th June 2026
Before starting your transfer, check you won't lose any valuable benefits (such as guaranteed annuity rates or a lower protected pension age) and find out what exit fees you might have to pay
