Freetrade Review (2026) – Fees, ISA Features & Pros and Cons

Freetrade is a UK-based investment app founded in 2016, built around the premise that investing should be simple, mobile-first, and accessible to everyone. It was one of the early pioneers of commission-free investing in the UK and has grown to serve over one million customers.

Freetrade operates on a subscription model with three tiers: a free Basic plan, a Standard plan at £4.99 per month (which includes ISA access), and a Plus plan at £9.99 per month with additional features. This approach keeps costs predictable for investors who trade frequently, but means the ISA is not available on the free tier.

The platform provides access to UK and US stocks, ETFs, and investment trusts through a clean, intuitive mobile app. It is particularly popular with younger investors who are comfortable managing their finances entirely from their phone and want a straightforward way to start investing.

Freetrade's Stocks & Shares ISA is available on the Standard plan (£4.99/month) and the Plus plan (£9.99/month). The £4.99 monthly fee is equivalent to £59.88 per year — which is worth considering against 0% platform fee alternatives like Trading 212 or InvestEngine, particularly for smaller portfolios.

That said, for investors with larger portfolios, the flat monthly fee can actually be cheaper than a percentage-based platform fee. For example, on a £30,000 ISA portfolio, a 0.25% platform fee would cost £75 per year — more than Freetrade's Standard plan. The maths tips in Freetrade's favour as your portfolio grows.

Fees are one of the most important factors when choosing an ISA platform. Over long periods, even small differences in fees can have a significant impact on your investment returns. Here is a full breakdown of what Freetrade charges.

Freetrade gives UK investors access to a range of investment types within its Stocks & Shares ISA. Below are the main asset classes available on the platform.

Security and regulation are critical factors when choosing where to invest your money. Here is how Freetrade protects your investments.

Freetrade was built mobile-first and it shows. The app is one of the cleanest and most intuitive investment platforms available in the UK, with a design that makes browsing, researching, and buying investments feel effortless. The onboarding process is quick and straightforward.

The Discover section makes it easy to browse investments by category, theme, or popularity, which is particularly useful for newer investors who are not sure where to start. Each stock and ETF has a clear information page with price history, key metrics, and a plain-English description.

Freetrade's Regular Investment feature allows you to set up automatic monthly purchases, turning your ISA into a consistent savings vehicle without needing to make manual trades. The app also provides clear portfolio breakdowns and performance tracking.

Opening a Stocks & Shares ISA with Freetrade is straightforward and typically takes around 10 to 15 minutes.

One of the biggest advantages of investing through a Stocks & Shares ISA is the tax efficiency it provides. In the UK, investments held outside an ISA are subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on profits above the annual allowance of £3,000, and Income Tax on dividends above the £500 dividend allowance. Inside an ISA, both of these taxes are completely eliminated — no matter how much your investments grow.

For long-term investors, this can make a substantial difference over time. For example, an investor who generates £5,000 in gains outside an ISA would pay up to £480 in Capital Gains Tax (at 18% basic rate). Inside an ISA, that same gain is entirely tax-free. The ISA allowance resets every tax year on 6 April, and any unused allowance cannot be carried forward.