{"id":449134,"date":"2022-05-06T12:34:22","date_gmt":"2022-05-06T11:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?p=449134"},"modified":"2025-11-28T12:17:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T12:17:34","slug":"dodl-vs-freetrade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/share-trading\/share-trading-reviews\/dodl-vs-freetrade","title":{"rendered":"Dodl vs Freetrade"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dodl is an investment app from AJ Bell with a UI interface that\u2019s so attractive that it reminds us of Freetrade\u2019s hot-pink interior, but with added monsters. We\u2019ve put the 2 apps against each other to find out whether Dodl is better than Freetrade, or if it\u2019s got more work to do to match it. We\u2019ve compared the shares you can trade, the investment types, fees, mobile and web features and learning resources.<\/p>

Dodl vs Freetrade: Vital statistics<\/h3>
\n \n
<\/th>\"Dodl<\/a><\/td>\"Freetrade<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Finder Score<\/th>8.1<\/span><\/span>Great<\/span><\/span><\/td>9.5<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Customer satisfaction survey<\/th>\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/td>\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Stocks and shares ISA available?<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Fees score<\/th>
9.2<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td>		9.3<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Keep in mind<\/th>Capital at risk<\/td>Capital at risk<\/td><\/tr>
<\/th><\/td>Go to Site<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

When it comes to vital stats, both providers are looking good. Both Dodl and Freetrade have a stocks and shares ISA<\/a> and self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs)<\/a> available. However, with Dodl it\u2019s at no extra cost, but it costs at least \u00a34.99 per month with Freetrade\u2019s Standard plan for the ISA or \u00a39.99 for a SIPP with the Plus plan. Dodl also offers a Lifetime ISA (LISA)<\/a>, which Freetrade does not.<\/p>

Both platforms are protected with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme<\/a> (FSCS), which means that you\u2019re protected up to \u00a3120,000 if either company were to go bust.<\/p>

Round 1: Stock exchanges<\/h3>
\n \n \n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

At the moment, Dodl only has around 80 UK and US shares available on the platform, while Freetrade has access to a huge range of over 6,000 UK and US stocks.<\/p>

Winner:<\/strong> Freetrade<\/p>

Round 2: Financial instruments<\/h3>
\n

\n
<\/th>\"Dodl<\/a><\/td>\"Freetrade<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Investment choice score<\/th>6.3<\/span><\/span>Standard<\/span><\/span><\/td>9.4<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Shares<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
ETFs<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Bonds<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Funds<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Keep in mind<\/th>Capital at risk<\/td>Capital at risk<\/td><\/tr>
<\/th><\/td>Go to Site<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

Dodl has around 80 UK shares, a range of funds (some of which include bonds), and themed ETF investments. Freetrade offers a lot more shares and ETFs, with over 6,000 but it doesn\u2019t offer any funds.<\/p>

Winner:<\/strong> Dodl<\/p>

Round 3: Fees<\/h3>
\n \n
<\/th>\"Dodl<\/a><\/td>\"Freetrade<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Fees score<\/th>9.2<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td>9.3<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Min. initial deposit<\/th>\u00a325\/month or \u00a3100 lump sum<\/td>\u00a30<\/td><\/tr>
Price per trade<\/th>\u00a30<\/span><\/td>\u00a30<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Frequent trader rate<\/th><\/span><\/td>N\/A<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Foreign exchange fee<\/th>0.25%<\/td>0.99%<\/td><\/tr>
Keep in mind<\/th>Capital at risk<\/td>Capital at risk<\/td><\/tr>
<\/th><\/td>Go to Site<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

The costs for both platforms are pretty good. Dodl has a 0.15% fee (minimum \u00a31 a month) and Freetrade is commission-free and the Basic plan has no platform fee, but you\u2019ll still pay foreign exchange (FX) fees to trade overseas shares<\/a>, and if you want an ISA, that\u2019ll cost you at least \u00a359.88 extra each year. Dodl as FX fees that range from 0.25% to 0.75% depending on the size of your trade. However, it costs nothing extra to use all the account types with Dodl. So your choice of platform will depend on what you\u2019re looking to get out of it. For us, the free ISA just does it for us.<\/p>

Winner:<\/strong> Dodl<\/p>

Round 4: Mobile and web features<\/h3>
\n \n
<\/th>\"Dodl<\/a><\/td>\"Freetrade<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Features score<\/th>5<\/span><\/span>Standard<\/span><\/span><\/td>8.3<\/span><\/span>Great<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
iPhone app<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Android app<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Desktop\/web app<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Notifications<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Watch lists<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Community or forums<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Keep in mind<\/th>Capital at risk<\/td>Capital at risk<\/td><\/tr>
<\/th><\/td>Go to Site<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

Both Dodl and Freetrade have mobile apps, and both are currently app only. You can receive notifications on both platforms about how your investments are getting on. Dodl doesn\u2019t let you create watch lists or have forums available.<\/p>

Winner:<\/strong> Freetrade<\/p>

Round 5: Learning resources<\/h3>
\n \n
<\/th>\"Dodl<\/a><\/td>\"Freetrade<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Resources rating<\/th>\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/td>\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Guides<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Videos and walkthroughs<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Demo account<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
In-depth learning tools<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Keep in mind<\/th>Capital at risk<\/td>Capital at risk<\/td><\/tr>
<\/th><\/td>Go to Site<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

When it comes to learning resources, both providers are doing pretty well, but we really like what Dodl is doing. Dodl has an easy to access \u201clearn\u201d tab on the app with guides and in-depth tools that can help you get started, which we think is vital for a beginner investments platforms<\/a>. Freetrade has some great learning resources on its website, but this isn\u2019t reflected as well in the app. Neither platform have a demo account, and both could improve their video content.<\/p>

Winner:<\/strong> Dodl<\/p>

Overall winner: Is Dodl better than Freetrade?<\/h3>

Both of these platforms are good \u2013 and we think Dodl is best for beginners who want simplicity but Freetrade is best if you want to pick from a larger range of stocks. We think Dodl\u2019s learning resources are great, and its fees are comparatively low against other platforms, including Freetrade when you take into account the ISA and SIPP.<\/p>

Freetrade\u2019s huge range of investments is a bonus, but you\u2019re limited to stocks and there are extra fees if you want full access to the platform.<\/p>