+£15
General account19 mins
FreetradeGeneral account
£15 Free Share•19 mins
£15 Free Share
+£15What is Freetrade?
Freetrade is a UK commission-free investment platform founded in 2018, offering stocks, ETFs, and investment trusts with no trading fees on the basic plan. Their free General Investment Account (GIA) makes it one of the simplest and cheapest ways to start investing.
Regulated by the FCA (No. 958443) with FSCS protection up to £85,000, Freetrade has over 700,000 users in the UK and is known for its clean, beginner-friendly app.
Launched
2018
Customers
700k+
Google Play
4.4 (24k)
★★★★★★
Key Terms
Profit
+£15
Upfront deposit£50
Free share£15
Free cash arrives6 months
Your deposit: Your £50 can be withdrawn anytime. Free share locked 180 days.
Step by Step Guide
Chris's overview
Optional·1 min read
Freetrade gives you a random free share worth between £10 and £100 when you deposit £50. Around 80% of people get a share worth £10 to £25, so £15 is a realistic expectation. Still, it is free money for a simple deposit.
I recommend opening a General account (GIA) because it has no subscription fee. You do not need to pick stocks or make trades. Just open the account, deposit £50, and wait.
Key reassurance: your £50 deposit can be withdrawn at any time. Only the free share is locked for 180 days. After that, sell the share and withdraw the cash.
1
Sign up to Freetrade
10 mins
- Click the button below to sign up to Freetrade
- If you have been referred to Quidsy by family or a friend, you may see their Freetrade link when you click the button. If not, you will be taken to finder.com, which has an exclusive Freetrade promo
- Create your account with your email address
- Complete identity verification and the W-8BEN tax form
- Your free share will go into a General account (GIA), which has no subscription fee
2
Deposit £50
5 mins
- Transfer £50 into your Freetrade account via bank transfer
- You have 30 days from clicking the referral link to make the deposit
Your deposit does not need to be invested in anything. Simply having £50 in your account qualifies you for the free share. You can withdraw it once your free share has been credited.
3
Get your free share
2 mins
- Your free share will be credited to your account shortly after you deposit. It will show as pending
- The share is randomly selected and worth between £10 and £100
- The free share is locked for 180 days. After that, you can sell it and withdraw the cash
| Probability | Share value |
|---|---|
80% | £10 to £25 |
15% | £25.01 to £50 |
3% | £50.01 to £75 |
2% | £75 to £100 |
4
Withdraw your free share+180d
2 mins
- After 180 days from receiving your free share, you can sell it
- Sell your free share and withdraw the cash proceeds to your bank account
- You can also withdraw your initial £50 deposit at any time
- If you enjoy using Freetrade, continue investing with them
- If not, you can withdraw everything and close your account at no cost
Offer Complete
Done? Tick off each step above to see your total.
Freetrade Full Review
Completed the offer? Awesome! Here's our full review on why Freetrade could work well for you going forward.
Freetrade is a UK commission-free investment platform that lets you buy and sell stocks, ETFs, and investment trusts without paying trading fees. Founded in 2018 and regulated by the FCA (No. 958443), it was one of the first UK apps to offer genuinely free share dealing. Freetrade offers a free General Investment Account (GIA) with no platform fee, a Stocks & Shares ISA for £5.99/month, and a SIPP pension for £11.99/month. The platform is designed to make investing accessible to beginners while still offering enough depth for regular investors.
Is Freetrade safe?
Freetrade is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 958443). Your investments are held in a nominee account, meaning they are kept separate from Freetrade's own assets. Cash balances are protected by the FSCS up to £85,000 if Freetrade were to fail. The company has been operating since 2018 and has over 700,000 users in the UK.
Who is Freetrade for?
Freetrade is best suited for beginners and cost-conscious investors who want a simple way to buy shares and ETFs without paying commission. The free GIA makes it particularly attractive for people starting out with smaller amounts. It is also a solid choice for anyone who wants a clean, easy-to-use app without the complexity of traditional brokers.
Top Features
1
Commission-free trading
Buy and sell UK and US stocks, ETFs, and investment trusts with no trading fees on the basic plan.
2
Stocks & Shares ISA
Tax-efficient investing with a Stocks & Shares ISA available for £5.99/month.
3
Fractional shares
Invest in expensive stocks like Apple or Tesla with as little as £2 using fractional shares.
4
Clean, beginner-friendly app
Simple interface designed for people who are new to investing, with curated stock lists and easy navigation.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✓Commission-free trading on the basic plan
- ✓Clean, beginner-friendly app that makes investing simple
- ✓Fractional shares let you start with small amounts
- ✓FCA-regulated with FSCS protection up to £85,000
Cons
- ✗ISA and SIPP require a monthly subscription
- ✗Smaller stock selection compared to established brokers like Hargreaves Lansdown
- ✗Limited research and analysis tools within the app
Chris's Verdict
Freetrade is a great entry point for anyone new to investing. The free General Investment Account with commission-free trading is hard to beat if you want to start buying shares without worrying about fees eating into small investments.
The app is genuinely one of the easiest to use in the UK investing space. It does not overwhelm you with charts and data — you can browse stocks, tap to buy, and you are done. The ISA is good value at £5.99/month if you are investing enough to benefit from the tax wrapper, but start with the free GIA if you are just getting started.
