In Brief:
- Free-tier users can now access pensions, mutual funds, and gilts without paying for a subscription.
- Paid plans still offer lower FX fees and higher AER on uninvested cash for incremental benefits.
- Freetrade strengthens its competitive position as rivals expand, offering more value to free users.
Freetrade has announced a major update to its free subscription tier, now offering access to pensions (SIPP), mutual funds, and gilts previously limited to paid plans.
The move ensures all investing accounts, whether free or paid, offer the same range of products, making the platform more competitive as rival brokers continue to expand their offerings.
The free “Basic” tier now includes: a general investment account, a stocks and shares ISA, a SIPP, and access to mutual funds and gilts. Users also benefit from commission-free trading across Freetrade’s full range of stocks, ETFs, and investment trusts, a 0.99% FX fee on non-GBP trades, and 1% AER on up to £1,000 of uninvested cash.
Paid tiers continue to offer incremental advantages. The “Standard” plan costs £4.99 per month (£59.88 billed annually) with FX fees reduced to 0.59% and 2.5% AER on up to £2,000 cash. The “Plus” tier, at £9.99 per month (£119.88 annually), further reduces FX fees to 0.39% and offers 3.5% AER on up to £3,000.
Founded in 2016, Freetrade built its brand on commission-free, mobile-first investing. Following its acquisition by IG Group, the platform remains a standalone business, led by co-founder Viktor Nebehaj, with plans for heavy investment to accelerate product development.
By unlocking key features for free-tier users, Freetrade sets a higher bar in 2026, especially as competition from other brokers intensifies.
Customers now gain access to funds and gilts without paying, removing a key incentive to upgrade to paid plans while strengthening Freetrade’s mission of democratising investing.