WhichBrokerHead to head · data verified October 2026
Freetrade vs AvaTrade
A close call — 0.1 points apart. The winner depends on what you trade.
Pillar scores
Side by side
| Criterion | Freetrade | AvaTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.2 | 8.3 |
| Founded | 2015 | 2006 |
| Regulation | FCA (UK) | CBI (IE), ASIC (AU), FSA (JP), FSCA (ZA), CIRO (CA) |
| Min. deposit | No stated minimum; fractional shares from £2 | $100 |
| Fees | 0% commission on all plans; FX fee 0.99% (Basic, free), 0.59% (Standard, £4.99/mo billed annually) or 0.39% (Plus, £9.99/mo billed annually); ISA, SIPP and Junior ISA included on the free plan; 0.5% stamp duty on UK share purchases; SIPP UFPLS withdrawals cost £240 | Spread-based pricing from 0.9 pips EUR/USD; inactivity fees after 3 months |
| Platforms | Freetrade mobile app (iOS, Android), Freetrade web platform | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, WebTrader |
| Markets | 9,000+ UK, US and European stocks, ETFs, investment trusts, mutual funds, gilts and UK Treasury bills; crypto ETNs; no CFDs, options or spot crypto | 1,250+ instruments: forex, stocks, indices, commodities, crypto CFDs, options |
| Demo account | No | Yes |
| Best for | UK ISA investors, Low-cost SIPP, Buyers of UK shares | Traders wanting fixed spreads, FX options traders |
Our verdict
Choose Freetrade if you want uk isa investors · low-cost sipp · buyers of uk shares.
Choose AvaTrade if you want traders wanting fixed spreads · fx options traders — its standout pillar in our scoring is trust & regulation.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Freetrade or AvaTrade?
It's close: Freetrade scores 8.2/10 and AvaTrade 8.3/10 in our methodology. The right choice depends on your profile — Freetrade is strongest for uk isa investors, while AvaTrade leads for traders wanting fixed spreads.
Is Freetrade safe?
Freetrade is overseen by FCA (UK). Our trust score for it is 8.8/10 — see the full Freetrade review for the reasoning.
Is AvaTrade safe?
AvaTrade is overseen by CBI (IE), ASIC (AU), FSA (JP), FSCA (ZA), CIRO (CA). Our trust score for it is 8.8/10 — see the full AvaTrade review for the reasoning.