Freetrade is a London-headquartered investing platform that offers zero-commission trading on thousands of UK, European and US stocks and ETFs through a beginner-friendly platform. Open a standard investment account, a self-invested pension or a stocks and shares ISA and start building a portfolio from as little as £2.
Vanguard is a US-headquartered brokerage with 50 million clients globally and $8+ billion in assets under management. The brands offers investing in stocks, mutual funds, bonds, ETFs and options with low fees. The trusted broker is regulated by the SEC, FINRA and FCA.
Comment by Reviewer
"Freetrade provides a simple and affordable way for casual investors to build a diverse portfolio of 6000+ US, UK and European stocks with zero commissions."
"We recommend Vanguard for long-term investors looking for managed accounts and self-directed trading opportunities. Fees are competitive, with zero-commission stock and ETF trading."
Pros
FCA-regulated brand with FSCS cover for investors
Thousands of US and UK stocks and hundreds of ETFs to choose from
Very competitive pricing vs competitors with low fees and zero commissions
Earn interest on uninvested cash with competitive rates
Transfer/move ISAs from other accounts
News and blog feed updated regularly
Built-in customer support via live chat
Fast revenue withdrawals
Dividends on stocks
Trusted since 1975 with strong regulatory oversight in the US and UK
Retirement and ISA accounts available alongside traditional investing solutions
Fully managed accounts providing a hands-off approach to investing
Excellent education and user guides compared to alternatives
Competitive fee structure with a 0.15% account fee
Commission-free stock and ETF trading
Well-designed mobile app
ESG funds available
Cons
Competitors have larger selection of assets
Trading platform lacks deep analytical tools
Less suitable for active, high-volume traders
Many countries not accepted
No leveraged trading
No demo account
Limited payment methods - credit cards, cheques and e-wallet are not supported
High minimum investment amounts, including $3000 for the majority of mutual funds
No demo account available to practise trading risk-free
Focused on US clients
Awards
Best Online Trading Platform 2020 - British Bank Awards
Best Share Trading Platform 2019 - British Bank Awards
People’s Choice 2019 - Good Money Guide
Best New Investment Service 2019 - Consumer Investment Awards
