Freetrade regulation

Trying to find out whether Freetrade is regulated? Not sure which authorities are overseeing Freetrade and why this matters?

Rest assured, the lack of regulation at Freetrade is not a reason for worry. Our brokerage experts have determined that Freetrade is a fully regulated broker, overseen in UK, Sweden. We gathered all the information on the regulatory profile of Freetrade and will explain why this matters.

Why Freetrade is trustworthy

Why [Broker name] is trustworthy

Tamás Gyuriczki

Investments • Stock Market • Market Analysis

As a financial expert with BrokerChooser, I play an integral role in the analyst team by actively reviewing many of the 100+ brokers that are listed on our site. I personally open accounts with real money, execute trades, test customer services. My hope is that my first-hand experience with these brokers, incorporated in our reviews, helps users find the most suitable broker for their needs.

Learn about our methodology

Tamás Gyuriczki

Investments • Stock Market • Market Analysis

I have personally tested several brokers globally and I am familiar with the regulatory and licensing procedures of at least a dozen financial authorities globally. Here are my key insights into the regulatory status of Freetrade as of December 2024:

• Freetrade operates under a very strict regulator, which is vital for the safety of your money if you have an account with the broker.
• Freetrade must separate client funds/assets from its own operations; this makes all the difference for the safety of your investments.
• Explore the services of Freetrade in our comprehensive Freetrade review for 2024 and browse other top-tier regulated brokers with our unique Find My Broker tool.

Think of a broker with strict regulatory oversight like a lifeguard at the beach. Just as the lifeguard keeps you safe in the water, offering immediate help when you need it, brokers operating with top-tier regulation protect your investments. They make sure your investments are secure and handled with integrity and transparency.

Freetrade has the following regulation:

• UK - Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• Sweden - Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA)

Why does all this matter? We are contacted by an alarming number of people who ended up working with unregulated brokers and they share with us some sad and frightening stories. Here’s an example.

Marco invested a substantial amount using what appeared to be a credible online trading platform. Initially, his investments showed gains, and he was able to make several withdrawals without issues. Encouraged, he increased his investments, but when he tried to withdraw some profits after a successful trade, his requests went unanswered, and customer service became unreachable. Further investigation revealed the broker was not regulated by any financial authority. Eventually, the platform vanished overnight, taking John's investments with it, leaving him with no recourse to recover his funds.

Choosing a broker with top-tier regulation means you're in safe hands. This level of strict oversight ensures that your investments are protected, you're getting fair pricing, and trading conditions are transparent and favorable.

As a broker with top-tier regulation, Freetrade is legally required to keep the funds and assets of its clients separate from its own money. This is a game changer in terms of the safety of your investments.

Client fund segregation is like having your money in a separate safe from Freetrade’s own cash. Thus, if your broker ever runs into financial trouble, your funds won't be touched to settle their debts - they're entirely off-limits. It’s a crucial setup because it protects your money, ensuring that what you’ve invested stays secure and accessible only to you. This segregation is a requirement imposed by top-tier regulators and not something you can request your broker to do. You will only have access to this safety net if your broker has the appropriate regulation.

In the highly unlikely event that Freetrade commits fraud and uses client assets for its own purposes, you can still recover your money if you have access to investor protection.

At Freetrade, all customers are covered by the UK investor protection scheme, called FSCS.

The FSCS protects against the loss of cash and securities in case a broker goes bust. The limit of FSCS protection is £85,000. This amount is substantially higher than the amount most national investor protection schemes provide.

For detailed insights into trading conditions, costs, and service quality at Freetrade, check out BrokerChooser's Freetrade review for 2024. All our broker reviews are based on the analysis of nearly 600 data points and direct experience. When we review a broker, we go hands-on by opening a real-money account and trading on its platforms, giving us a complete view of what it offers and how it performs.

The BrokerChooser team has personally tested and reviewed more than 100 brokers globally, all of which have top-tier regulation. All our experience and expertise is included in the Find My Broker tool. Simply answer a few questions and get a personalized broker list.