B
freetrade logo

freetrade

8.9/10
hsbc online share trading logo

hsbc online share trading

7/10
5/10RegulationWinner10/10
10/10WinnerFees0/10
10/10WinnerPlatforms9/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research0/10
10/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

freetrade was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while hsbc online share trading was established in 2013 and is based in United States. freetrade holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales (no. 09797821), while hsbc online share trading is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. freetrade serves 890,000+ clients worldwide; hsbc online share trading has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at freetrade and $250 at hsbc online share trading.

freetrade wins this category
Featurefreetradehsbc online share trading
Min. Deposit$0$250
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales (no. 09797821)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F256
Founded20162013
CountryUnited KingdomUnited States
Clients890,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between freetrade and hsbc online share trading, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. freetrade has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $250 at hsbc online share trading). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. hsbc online share trading charges deposit fees; freetrade does not. Overall, freetrade scores higher on fees in our assessment.

freetrade wins this category
Featurefreetradehsbc online share trading
Min. Deposit$0$250
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesNoYes

Platforms

freetrade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform, while hsbc online share trading supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. freetrade edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

freetrade wins this category
Featurefreetradehsbc online share trading
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile appsMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how freetrade and hsbc online share trading compare. freetrade runs regular live webinars; hsbc online share trading does not. freetrade has a video library; hsbc online share trading does not. freetrade publishes daily market commentary; hsbc online share trading does not. freetrade integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); hsbc online share trading does not. freetrade maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. freetrade scores higher overall in education and research.

freetrade wins this category
Featurefreetradehsbc online share trading
Forex EducationYesNo
CFD EducationYesNo
Weekly WebinarsYesNo
Daily CommentaryYesNo
Trading CentralYesNo
AutochartistYesNo

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. freetrade accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while hsbc online share trading supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
Featurefreetradehsbc online share trading
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalYesYes
SkrillYesYes
NetellerYesYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both freetrade and hsbc online share trading offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 8 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
Featurefreetradehsbc online share trading
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and ArabicEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic