What you need to know
Freetrade is a UK investment app that launched in 2018 to make stock trading accessible and commission-free, and became part of IG Group in April 2025. The biggest recent change is significant: as of 22 January 2026, Freetrade's free Basic plan now includes a Stocks and Shares ISA, a SIPP, mutual funds, UK government bonds (gilts) and ready-made portfolios at no extra cost — a change many comparison sites and older reviews have not yet caught up with.
- Since 22 January 2026, the free Basic plan includes ISA, SIPP, mutual funds, gilts and ready-made portfolios at no extra cost
- Unlimited commission-free trades on the Basic plan, with no per-trade dealing charge
- Access to over 7,000 stocks, funds, ETFs, investment trusts, and UK Treasury bills
- The ISA is a flexible ISA — you can withdraw and replace money within the same tax year without losing allowance
- FX fee of 0.99% on Basic, reduced to 0.59% on Standard (£5.99/month) and 0.39% on Plus (£11.99/month)
- Cash protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 via its banking partner, investments protected up to £85,000
Strengths
- ISA and SIPP both genuinely free on the Basic plan since January 2026
- Unlimited commission-free trades, no per-trade dealing charge
- Flexible ISA — withdraw and replace funds without losing your annual allowance
- Now part of IG Group, adding institutional backing since April 2025
- Over 7,000 stocks, funds, ETFs, trusts, bonds and gilts available
Limitations
- 0.99% FX fee on Basic is high for frequent US stock or dollar-denominated ETF purchases
- No Lifetime ISA offered
- Paid tiers (Standard, Plus) needed to access lower FX rates and additional research data
- Newer to the free SIPP/ISA combination than established rivals — track record is shorter
Fees in detail
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic plan (ISA, SIPP, GIA included) | £0/month |
| Share/ETF dealing | £0 commission on Basic |
| FX fee, Basic plan | 0.99% |
| FX fee, Standard plan (£5.99/month) | 0.59% |
| FX fee, Plus plan (£11.99/month) | 0.39% |
| Mutual funds, gilts, ready-made portfolios | Included free on Basic (since Jan 2026) |
Regular investing plan
Freetrade's zero-commission structure means regular investing simply carries no dealing charge on the Basic plan, whether you're buying shares, ETFs or the newly-included mutual funds. For investors who exclusively buy GBP-listed UK ETFs (avoiding the FX fee entirely), Freetrade's free ISA and SIPP combination — introduced in January 2026 — makes it one of the most cost-effective ways to build a long-term portfolio in the UK, provided you don't need the lower FX rates of the paid tiers.
Safety and regulation
Freetrade is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and became part of IG Group — a much larger, established UK financial services group — in April 2025. Investments are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000, while eligible cash deposits may be protected up to £120,000 through Freetrade's banking partner arrangements.
Customer support
Support is provided through the Freetrade app, aimed primarily at a mobile-first, cost-conscious audience. Since the January 2026 changes, Freetrade positions itself explicitly as a low-cost alternative for investors who want a simple, all-in-one app covering ISA, SIPP and general investing without a subscription requirement.
Frequently asked questions
How to open an account
- Download the Freetrade app or go to the official website
- Register with your email address and personal details
- Complete identity verification as required by FCA regulation
- Fund your account (Basic plan gives free access to ISA, SIPP and GIA)
- Search for a stock, ETF or fund and place your first commission-free trade