Updated October 13, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Bestinvest vs Freetrade
Bestinvest
Freetrade
Higher score in this comparison
Where Bestinvest and Freetrade differ
| Compare | BestinvestReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | FreetradeReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £4.95 | £0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.95%Lower | 0.99% |
| Platforms | Mobile app | App, Web |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1% |
Same on both: Account types (ISA, SIPP, Jisa).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Founded is lower at Bestinvest: 1986 vs 2016.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Freetrade: £0 vs £4.95.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Bestinvest: 0.95% vs 0.99%.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Bonds.
- Platforms: only Bestinvest offers Mobile app.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App, Web.
- Support channels: only Bestinvest offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Freetrade offers Email, Chat.
- Features: only Freetrade offers Fractional shares, Demo account.
- Pricing model: only Bestinvest offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
Bestinvest
Bestinvest blends self directed investing with managed portfolios, while many platforms push one route alone. It gives households a guided path with coaching, planning tools and market insight across ISAs, pensions and junior accounts on an online platform with mobile access.
Freetrade
Freetrade suits UK beginners and anyone opening an ISA or a pension, since dealing carries no charge and the platform is built for small, regular buys. Its overall score of 3.3 is held back by a narrow market list and support without a phone line.
Score breakdown
| Area | Bestinvest | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.3 | 9.1HigherBoth charges sit at the floor: account fee £0, stock trade fee £0, ranked 1 of 166. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.0HigherAccounts listed are isa, sipp and jisa, features cover fractional shares, mobile app and demo account, and the minimum deposit is £1. |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 8.5 |
Sources behind this comparison
Bestinvest
- bestinvest.co.uk: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Freetrade
- freetrade.io: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Bestinvest | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 377 of 654 | 273 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 260 of 358 | 197 of 358 |
| Stocks and shares ISAs | 19 of 25 | 11 of 25 |
| Pensions and SIPPs | 15 of 23 | 8 of 23 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Bestinvest | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Limited | Freetrade Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1986Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Bestinvest | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% to 0.4% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | £50 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Bestinvest | Freetrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £1below the median | £15 |
| Stock trade fee | £4.95highest quarter | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0at the median | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.95%above the median | 0.99%highest quarter | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1%lowest quarter | 2.875% |
Median across 77 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Bestinvest
Pros
- Online platform plus mobile app with thousands of shares and funds
- Ready made Portfolios built and managed by parent company teams
- Expert coaching plus planning tools and sector insights
Cons
- Online opening and management offers no branch based service
- Self directed selection requires confidence across thousands of assets
- Ready made routes follow parent company investment decisions
Freetrade
Pros
- Dealing is commission free: the stock trade fee is £0 and the account fee is £0, so keeping the account open costs nothing in fees.
- A minimum deposit of £1 lets a position build up gradually, and cash waiting to be invested earns 1%.
- The account list is isa, sipp and jisa, so a pension, a tax-sheltered investment account and a junior account sit under the same login.
Cons
- Currency conversion costs 0.99%, where the typical fee across ISA and SIPP listings is 0.75%, putting it at the pricier end of that set for anyone buying in dollars or euros.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line among them, which is awkward when a position is moving fast.
- The market list stops at stocks, etfs and bonds, so anyone wanting forex or derivatives finds fewer instruments here than at a trading-focused broker.
Who each suits
Bestinvest
Who it suits
- New investors wanting coaching alongside self directed choice
- Parents planning junior investments and pensions for children
- Households seeking ISAs, pensions and general accounts together
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders wanting branch meetings and in person dealing
- Investors seeking fully independent portfolio control
Freetrade
Who it suits
- Beginners taking small first steps, since the stated audience is beginners and fractional shares plus a demo account sit in fractional shares, mobile app and demo account.
- ISA and pension savers who want isa, sipp and jisa under a single login with a minimum deposit of £1.
- Cost-focused investors, for whom an account fee of £0 and a stock trade fee of £0 keep holding inexpensive.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants everyday banking rather than isa, sipp and jisa: bunq is a bank account with a minimum deposit of €10, so it fits savers who need a current account, not a dealing platform.
- Traders who want a market range wider than stocks, etfs and bonds: CFI is the one to weigh instead, with a minimum deposit of $0.
- People after a lender rather than an investment account: Fiesta Credito MX is regulated by CONDUSEF, so it serves borrowing in Mexico rather than investing in the UK.
Country by country
| Country | Bestinvest | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Bestinvest
What can investors choose on the platform?+
The platform covers shares, funds, exchange traded funds and investment trusts. Clients can build portfolios themselves or follow expert ideas and monthly lists showing popular assets among investors.
What are Ready-made Portfolios?+
Ready made Portfolios are managed investment selections designed for simpler decision making. They are built and managed by teams at Evelyn Partners, which is identified as the parent company.
Freetrade
What does it cost to hold and trade shares?+
The account fee is £0 and the stock trade fee is £0, on a commission-free model, so opening and holding an account adds no charge. The cost that does appear is currency conversion at 0.99% whenever you buy or sell something priced in another currency. Budget for that if your holdings are not all in sterling.
How much do I need to start investing?+
The minimum deposit is £1, which keeps the entry point low. Cash waiting to be invested earns 1%, so the balance is not idle while you decide what to hold. A small starting amount suits regular contributions rather than a single lump sum, and the account fee adds nothing to the running cost.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Bestinvest
Freetrade