Freetrade or eToro – which is better for UK traders 2024? Compare Freetrade and eToro in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
Freetrade is a London-headquartered investing platform that offers zero-commission trading on thousands of UK, European and US stocks and ETFs through a beginner-friendly platform. Open a standard investment account, a self-invested pension or a stocks and shares ISA and start building a portfolio from as little as £2.
eToro is a top-rated multi-asset platform which offers trading services in thousands of CFDs, stocks and cryptoassets. Launched in 2007, the brand has millions of active traders globally and is authorized by tier one regulators, including the FCA and CySEC. The brand is particularly popular for its comprehensive social trading platform. Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in the UK and some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply. 51% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading with this provider. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Pros
FCA-regulated brand with FSCS cover for investors
Thousands of US and UK stocks and hundreds of ETFs to choose from
Very competitive pricing vs competitors with low fees and zero commissions
Earn interest on uninvested cash with competitive rates
Transfer/move ISAs from other accounts
News and blog feed updated regularly
Built-in customer support via live chat
Fast revenue withdrawals
Dividends on stocks
The copy trading app facilitates a best-in-class social environment, with an engaging social feed and community chat
eToro has finally introduced EUR and GBP accounts, cutting conversion fees and providing a trading experience more tailored to local needs
The broker's services are great for beginners, with commission-free stock trading, a low minimum deposit and an unlimited demo
Charts are powered by TradingView and offer strong technical analysis features, including 9 chart types and over 100 indicators
There's a comprehensive online training academy with accessible resources, from bitesize articles to comprehensive courses
eToro has bolstered its investment offering, most recently with new crypto assets, now offering over 90 digital currencies
The web platform and mobile app perform better in user reviews and app rankings than top competitors, including AvaTrade
Top copy traders can receive annual payments up to 1.5% of assets under copy in the broker's Popular Investor Program
Exciting investment portfolios are available covering traditional market trends as well as tech, crypto and more
eToro is a world-renowned brand with top-tier global regulation and a 25M+ user community
Cons
Competitors have larger selection of assets
Trading platform lacks deep analytical tools
Less suitable for active, high-volume traders
Many countries not accepted
No leveraged trading
No demo account
The lack of additional charting platforms like MT4 will reduce the appeal for seasoned traders accustomed to using third-party software
There are no guaranteed stop loss orders which would be a useful risk management feature for beginners
There is a $30 minimum withdrawal amount and a $5 fee, which will affect novices with low capital
Traders will face currency conversion fees for account denominations other than USD
There are limited contact methods aside from the in-platform live chat
Awards
Best Online Trading Platform 2020 - British Bank Awards
Best Share Trading Platform 2019 - British Bank Awards
People’s Choice 2019 - Good Money Guide
Best New Investment Service 2019 - Consumer Investment Awards
Best Cryptocurrency Trading Platform 2022 - Finder
eToro bring their social trading platform to your mobile, enabling you to copy trades, manage your account and invest via Android or iOS. Trade the key forex pairs from the palm of your hand.
iOS App Rating
4.3
4.8
Android App Rating
4.3
4
Margin Trading
No
Yes
Margin Rate
1%
MetaTrader 4
No
No
MetaTrader 5
No
No
cTrader
No
No
AlgoTrader
No
No
OmniTrader
No
No
TradingView
No
No
Autochartist
No
No
eSignal
No
No
Trading Central
No
Yes
STP Account
No
Yes
ECN Account
No
No
DMA Account
No
No
MAM Account
No
No
PAMM Account
No
No
LAMM Account
No
No
Demat Account
No
No
AI / Machine Learning
No
Yes
Robo Advisor
No
No
Negative Balance Protection
No
Yes
Market Maker
No
Yes
P2P Trading
No
No
Spot Trading
No
Yes
Auto Trading
Automate your trades via CopyTrader - follow profitable traders. Open and close trades automatically when they do.
Copy Trading
No
Yes
Copy Trading Platform
eToro continues to deliver one of the best proprietary copy trading platforms on the market, at no additional cost for eToro clients. The web-based platform features a user-friendly and interactive layout and also comes with a community chat, making it a stand-out choice for beginners. The latest 'Live Trades' feature also offers real-time insights into the securities being bought by the platform's popular investors.
Social Trading
No
Yes
Trade Signals
Yes
VPS Hosting
No
No
Tournaments
No
No
Demo Competitions
No
No
Ethical Investing
No
Yes
Custodial Account
No
No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No
No
Inactivity Fee
$10
Islamic Account
No
Yes
Account Currencies
USD
EUR
GBP
Commodities
Gold
Silver
Oil
Copper
Cotton
Coffee
Livestock
Wheat
Precious Metals
Platinum
Gasoline
Cocoa
Sugar
Palladium
Corn
Aluminium
Soybeans
Nickel
Lead
Iron
Lithium
Cannabis
Natural Gas
Orange Juice
Zinc
Cattle
Lean Hogs
CFD
You can trade CFDs on over 3,000 assets and access rich market data through the integrated TradingView charts. There are also comprehensive free learning tools available for beginners via the eToro Academy, including dedicated CFD trading courses and guides.
Leverage
1:30
FTSE Spread
1.5
GBPUSD Spread<
1.9
Oil Spread
0.05
Stocks Spread
0.57 (Apple)
Forex
An above-average selection of 55 currencies are available with reasonable spreads averaging 0.9 pips on EUR/USD during peak hours. Aspiring traders can continuously hone their forex strategies by switching between demo mode and their live account any time, with full access to the broker's 100+ technical indicators.
51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading with this provider. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.