Freetrade is part of IG Group, a FTSE 100 listed company, following its acquisition by IG Group in January 2025 for £160 million. From 22 January 2026, the free Basic plan has been expanded further to include SIPPs, alongside the ability to trade mutual funds and gilts, giving Freetrade one of the broadest free offerings among UK platforms. The platform competes on zero-commission trading, expansive product selection, and tax-efficient account access, positioning itself against other UK-based neobrokers.
Cyborg Score Rationale
By February 2026, AUM reached more than £3.5 billion. Freetrade now stands as a genuine contender for the best all-round investment platform in the UK, with recent expansions materially improving competitive positioning. However, its 'zero-fee' positioning has drawn criticism because foreign exchange charges can significantly affect users' overall costs, and from 2022 onwards, it reported continuing losses and lower valuations prior to acquisition.
Top Insights
In 2025–2026, Freetrade removed subscription fees for ISA and SIPP accounts and made mutual funds and gilts available on its free tier.
Clear pricing, with no account fees and no commission.
The company primarily earns revenue from foreign exchange fees on non-GBP trades, interest on cash balances, and optional subscription features, rather than per-trade commissions.
Freetrade has won Best Online Trading Platform at the British Bank Awards for six years running, which reflects consistent customer satisfaction.
Named Competitors
Trading 212 — Commission-free investment platform with larger stock universe and competitive cash interest
Interactive Investor — UK investment platform with advanced research tools and platform percentage fees
Hargreaves Lansdown — Traditional UK wealth platform with 4,000+ investment options and percentage-based fees
AJ Bell — UK investment platform with 0.25% platform fee and diversified product range
Lightyear — Low-cost UK investment platform with competitive FX fees and ETF focus
Recent Developments
(January 2025) Acquired by IG Group for £160 million
(January 2026) Expanded free Basic plan to include SIPPs, mutual funds, and gilts
(February 2026) AUM grew to more than £3.5 billion following acquisition integration
(March 2026) IG reported Freetrade offered 760+ mutual funds across 40 fund managers
Open the full interactive Freetrade report
Strategic research, analyst-debate audio, full Cyborg Score breakdown across 11 dimensions, and saved-company audio playlists.