Freetrade vs InvestEngine (2026):
which UK broker wins for ETF investors?
Both are commission-free, both offer ISAs, and both target the same self-directed UK investor. The real difference is what you can buy and what it actually costs once you factor in platform fees, ISA charges, and how each handles recurring investing.
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TL;DR
- You want stocks and ETFs in one place.
- You like a polished, consumer-grade app experience.
- You want SIPP access for pension investing.
- A broader range of individual equities matters to you.
- You invest exclusively in ETFs.
- You want zero platform fees on a DIY account.
- Automated recurring investing and rebalancing is a priority.
- You’re considering a managed portfolio alongside DIY.
Head-to-head: the key numbers
All figures based on publicly available information as of early 2026. Always verify current terms on each broker’s website.
| Feature | Freetrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | Free / Plus ~£5.99/mo | Free (DIY) / ~0.25% (Managed) |
| Trade commission | £0 | £0 |
| ISA available | Yes (included in Plus) | Yes (DIY and Managed) |
| SIPP / pension | Yes | Yes (added 2024) |
| Stocks available | Yes — UK, US, EU equities | ETFs only |
| ETFs available | Yes — broad selection | Yes — focused ETF catalogue |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring investing | Yes | Yes — strong automation tools |
| Managed portfolios | No | Yes |
| FCA regulated | Yes | Yes |
| FSCS protection | Yes (up to £85,000) | Yes (up to £85,000) |
| Available to EU investors | No (UK residents only) | No (UK residents only) |
Where the real cost difference lives
Both platforms are “commission-free,” but the platform fee model is where they diverge — and where the choice matters most for long-term investors.
- Free tier: basic investing, general account, limited features
- Plus (~£5.99/mo): ISA, more order types, priority support
- FX fee applies on non-GBP trades
- No commission on trades
- DIY account: £0 platform fee — free for self-directed ETF investing
- Managed account: ~0.25%/year platform fee on top of ETF costs
- No commission on trades
- ETF TERs (ongoing fund costs) still apply on both
Product range: stocks vs ETF focus
This is the most fundamental difference between the two platforms — and for most long-term investors it shouldn’t be a problem either way.
Freetrade lets you buy individual stocks from UK, US, and European markets alongside a solid ETF selection. If you want to hold a handful of individual company shares alongside your index funds, Freetrade makes that easy in one account.
The trade-off is complexity — more choice means more temptation to trade actively, which tends to hurt long-term results.
InvestEngine is built entirely around ETFs — no individual stocks, no single-company risk. For investors following a simple index strategy, this constraint is actually a feature: the platform is designed to do one thing well.
The ETF catalogue covers major global indices, bonds, and thematic funds — sufficient for most long-term passive portfolios.
If your strategy is 1–3 broad index ETFs held for decades, InvestEngine’s ETF-only focus is not a limitation — it’s a cleaner setup. The stock access on Freetrade only becomes relevant if you actively want individual equity exposure. Most evidence-based passive investors do not need it.
Recurring investing: the feature that matters most
For long-term investors, the ability to automate monthly contributions and forget about them is more valuable than any other feature. Both platforms offer this — but InvestEngine’s implementation is more complete.
- Recurring orders available on supported instruments
- Set frequency and amount per holding
- Works well for simple single-ETF setups
- Manual rebalancing required across multiple holdings
- Auto-invest across a defined ETF portfolio with target weights
- New contributions allocated to maintain target allocation
- Drift-based rebalancing available on managed accounts
- Designed around systematic, hands-off portfolio building
ISA, SIPP, and general account
For UK investors, the ISA is the single most important wrapper. Both platforms offer it — but under different pricing structures.
| Wrapper | Freetrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| General account | Free tier available | Free (DIY) |
| Stocks and Shares ISA | Requires Plus plan (~£5.99/mo) | Included — no extra fee on DIY |
| SIPP / pension | Yes — available on Plus | Yes — added to platform (check current terms) |
| Junior ISA | Not available | Not available |
Not based in the UK? Here are your alternatives
Freetrade and InvestEngine are built for UK residents. If you’re in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, or elsewhere in the EU, neither platform is accessible to you. Here’s what to use instead.
- IBKR — best multi-currency, low FX costs, UCITS ETF access across all EU countries
- DEGIRO — low-cost ETF investing across Europe, broad UCITS catalogue
- Trading 212 — commission-free, good for automation and recurring investing
- Trade Republic — strong savings plan functionality, 1% interest on cash
- Scalable Capital — ETF savings plans, automated rebalancing, Germany-focused
- Trading 212 — recurring invest feature works well across EU
Who each broker is actually built for
- Investors who want ETFs and individual stocks together.
- Those who value SIPP access for pension saving.
- People who prefer a more polished, mainstream consumer app.
- Investors willing to pay ~£6/month for ISA and full features.
- Pure ETF investors who don’t need individual stocks.
- Those who want the lowest possible platform cost on a DIY account.
- Investors who want built-in auto-invest with portfolio weighting.
- Anyone considering a managed portfolio alongside their DIY holding.
If you only invest in ETFs and want the lowest-cost ISA for a simple buy-and-hold strategy — InvestEngine’s DIY account is the cleaner choice. No platform fee, no monthly subscription, and the automation tools are purpose-built for systematic ETF investing.
If you want flexibility — individual stocks, a SIPP, and a broader investable universe in one app — Freetrade’s Plus plan is reasonable value and the app experience is solid.
Ready to open an account?
Pick your platform, set up a recurring plan into 1–3 broad ETFs, and automate it. That’s the workflow that compounds.
Go deeper
Frequently asked questions
Is Freetrade or InvestEngine better for ETF investing?
InvestEngine has the edge for pure ETF investors: no platform fee on the DIY account, strong recurring invest tools, and a focused ETF catalogue. Freetrade is better if you also want individual stocks alongside ETFs, or prefer a more mainstream app experience.
Which broker is cheaper — Freetrade or InvestEngine?
For a straightforward ETF-only portfolio, InvestEngine’s DIY account is commission-free with no platform fee, making it cheaper than Freetrade’s Plus plan. Freetrade’s free tier has limited functionality and the Plus plan costs around £5.99 per month. For smaller portfolios growing over time, InvestEngine’s cost advantage is meaningful — roughly £72/year in saved subscription fees at the Plus tier.
Do both Freetrade and InvestEngine offer an ISA?
Yes. Both offer a Stocks and Shares ISA. Freetrade includes the ISA in its Plus plan (~£5.99/month). InvestEngine offers an ISA on both its DIY and managed portfolio options at no extra platform charge for the DIY version. Always confirm current terms on each broker’s website before opening an account.
Can EU (non-UK) investors use Freetrade or InvestEngine?
Both Freetrade and InvestEngine are primarily UK-regulated brokers designed for UK residents. Most EU investors will not be eligible to open accounts. EU-based investors should look at IBKR, DEGIRO, Trade Republic, or Trading 212 instead — all of which provide UCITS ETF access across Europe.
Does InvestEngine offer managed portfolios?
Yes. InvestEngine offers both a DIY ETF portfolio and a managed portfolio option where InvestEngine selects and rebalances ETFs on your behalf. The managed option charges a platform fee of around 0.25% per year. The DIY account is free of platform charges for self-directed ETF investing. Both wrappers are available inside an ISA.
QuantRoutine provides educational content only. Nothing on this page is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security or to open an account with any specific broker. Investments can lose value, and past performance does not guarantee future results. You are responsible for your own investment, tax, and legal decisions. Always review each broker’s current terms, fees, and eligibility on their official website before opening or funding an account.