Freetrade vs IG : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

Freetrade

Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

STP broker

ECN

Years of Existence / Established Year

2016

1974

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

1.5 M

313,000 customers

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FCA

NFA CFTC FCA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Best Online trading platform 2024

Best Multi platform provider - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024 Best Finance App - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024 Best platform for active trader - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2022

Security Measures

Yes

FSCS

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

6200+ U.S Treasury Bills, Investment trust

17,000 + markets

Currency Pairs

Yes

Commodities

Yes

Indices

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

CFDs

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Options

Yes

Futures

Yes

Bonds

Yes

Mutual Funds

Yes

Fractional Shares

Yes

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

Yes

Precious Metals

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Yes

Equities

Yes

Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

MT4

Yes

MT5

cTrader

Social Trading

Yes

Copy Trading

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Freetrade web and mobile trading platform

ProReal Time APIs L2 dealer

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

General investment account, Stocks and shares ISA, Personal pension account

Leveraged Accounts Spread betting account CFD accountNon-Leveraged Account Share dealing account ISA account IG smart portfolio account IG smart ISA portfolio account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Minimum Deposit

$50

Leverage Available

100:1

200:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

depends on asset class

Trade size vary on each asset

Commission (per account type)

Starting from 0.1

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginners to experienced traders

Beginners

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Bank transfer, debit card, Apple pay, google pay

Bank transfers Card FPS in Hong Kong dollars Funding on IG mobile app Wise

Withdrawal Methods

Linked bank account

Card Bank transfer

Other E-Wallets Supported

Apple pay , google pay

Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Learn (Trading Education), Freetrade Blog (Market Insights), Webinars, Investing Guides, Video Tutorials, Community Forum

Trade analytics tools Seminars & webinars

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

FX fee of 0.59%

US shares 0 to 50 - commission free 50+ trades - $5Other shares Germany - 0.1% UK - 0.1% Ireland - 0.1%

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Variable

Per Lot Fees

Options Contract Fees

Futures Contract Fees

Markup Fees on Spread

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Vary for each asset

Maximum Leverage

100:1

200:1

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$12/month after 24 months of no trading activity

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

Advisory Fees

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Yes

Statement or Document Fee

$50

Account Opening Fee

Account Maintenance Fee

£10.97

Deposit Fee

£5

Free for Wire & check deposits

Currency Conversion Fee

Exchange rate + 0.99%

0.5% - CFDs and share dealing accounts 0.7% - international shares

Withdrawal Fee

£5

Wire transfer - $25

Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM GMT Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET (2:30 PM - 9:00 PM GMT) European Market Hours- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM CET (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM GMT)

Forex Monday 00:00 - Friday 22:00 GMT (International times may vary)UK shares (LSE): 08.00-16.30 (London time) US shares: 09.30-16.00 (New York time) European shares: vary on relevant exchanges

Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

24/5

24x5 support

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Help hub, community forum, E-mail, Social media

Call +44 (20) 7633 5430 Email: [email protected] 10AM to 7PM whatsapp channel support (Monday to Friday)

Support Languages

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Level 2, The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, England, E1 6QL

IG Cannon Bridge House 25 Dowgate Hill London EC4R 2YA

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.

Freetrade stands out for its zero-commission trading model, appealing to cost-conscious investors. In contrast, IG offers more comprehensive services with slightly higher fees, especially for advanced tools and asset classes.

Freetrade offers a quick and paperless account setup that appeals to traders on the go, whereas IG more involved onboarding process adds an extra layer of safety and regulatory checks.

Freetrade platform is great for fast-paced day trading, especially with features like one-click trading. IG platform, by comparison, is built for strategy testing and long-term portfolio management.

Those seeking technical depth may prefer Freetrade, while IG shines with intuitive design and streamlined features.

Explore More Broker Matchups

Here are more Comparisons to help you choose wisely

Compare Freetrade and Fineco Bank

Compare Freetrade and Lightyear

Compare Freetrade and Trading 212

Compare IG and Interactive Brokerss

Compare IG and Plus500

Compare IG and axi

Our Latest Contents

Stay updated with our newest insights and guides!

Top Broker Reviews

Discover brokers trusted by global traders.

Select Your Brokers to Compare