Updated October 18, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Freetrade vs ii
Freetrade
Higher score in this comparison
ii
Where Freetrade and ii differ
| Compare | FreetradeReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | iiReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1 | £0Lower |
| Stock trade fee | £0Lower | £3.99 |
| Account fee | £0Lower | £71.88 |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99% | 0.75%Lower |
| Platforms | App, Web | Mobile app |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | ISA, SIPP, Jisa, JointCovers more |
| Interest on cash | 1%Higher | 0.8% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free transfers in/out; free next-day withdrawals, GBP15 same-day |
Same on both: Markets (Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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
- Freetrade scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.6.
- Regulators: only Freetrade offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only ii offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Minimum deposit is lower at ii: £0 vs £1.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Freetrade: £0 vs £3.99.
- Account fee is lower at Freetrade: £0 vs £71.88.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at ii: 0.75% vs 0.99%.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App, Web.
- Platforms: only ii offers Mobile app.
- Account types: only ii offers Joint.
Our verdict on each
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.
ii
ii suits investors who want tax efficient and family accounts with ISA, SIPP and jisa alongside stocks, ETFs and funds through Mobile app. Stock trades cost £3.99 and the account fee is £71.88, so active traders should balance dealing charges against portfolio growth.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freetrade | ii |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherBoth charges sit at the floor: account fee £0, stock trade fee £0, ranked 1 of 166. | 8.6Low entry hurdle with minimum deposit of £0 balanced by dealing charges |
| Offer | 9.0HigherAccounts listed are isa, sipp and jisa, features cover fractional shares, mobile app and demo account, and the minimum deposit is £1. | 8.9Choice across stocks, ETFs and funds held within ISA, SIPP and jisa via Mobile app |
| Trust | 8.5 | 8.5Oversight from Financial Conduct Authority with cover of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Freetrade | ii |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Freetrade | ii |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Jisa | Yes | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | Freetrade | ii |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom |
Available in 1 country for both.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Freetrade | ii |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 273 of 654 | 322 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 197 of 358 | 234 of 358 |
| Stocks and shares ISAs | 11 of 25 | 17 of 25 |
| Pensions and SIPPs | 8 of 23 | 13 of 23 |
Where these facts come from
Freetrade
- freetrade.io: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
ii
- ii.co.uk: 16 facts, checked September 28, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freetrade | ii |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Freetrade Limited | Interactive Investor Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2016 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freetrade | ii | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1below the median | £0lowest quarter | £15 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | £3.99highest quarter | £0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | £71.88highest quarter | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99%highest quarter | 0.75%above the median | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | 1%lowest quarter | 0.8%lowest quarter | 2.875% |
Median across 77 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
ii
Pros
- Begin with £0 and invest across stocks, ETFs and funds without funding pressure
- Hold ISA, SIPP and family accounts through ISA, SIPP and jisa in a single provider
- Cover of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 under Financial Conduct Authority for added assurance
Cons
- Account fee of £71.88 applies whether you trade or leave holdings untouched
- Stock trades cost £3.99 versus $0 at ActivTrades
- Foreign trades carry conversion costs of 0.75% on top of dealing charges
Who each suits
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.
ii
Who it suits
- Investors building ISA and SIPP holdings with junior and joint accounts included
- Buy and hold investors focused on shares, funds and bonds with mobile access
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders sensitive to per order costs may prefer ActivTrades where stock trade fee is $0 rather than £3.99
- Investors comparing entry levels may consider XTB with minimum deposit of €0 or eToro with minimum deposit of $50
Country by country
| Country | Freetrade | ii |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
ii
What does ii charge for share dealing and account holding?+
Stock trades cost £3.99 and the account fee is £71.88. The account fee covers holding of investments across wrappers and applies on top of dealing charges. Check how often you expect to trade before judging value against infrequent use.
Is ii regulated and is money protected?+
ii is provided by Interactive Investor Services Limited and regulated by Financial Conduct Authority. Client cover is FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Protection applies within scheme limits and does not remove market risk, so holdings can still fall in value.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Freetrade