Overview

Freetrade’s General Investment Account (GIA) is the default, no-monthly-fee retail investment account that opens with a Basic Freetrade plan. It lets individual investors hold and trade a broad universe of stocks, ETFs and other instruments outside tax-efficient wrappers (i.e., not an ISA or SIPP). The GIA supports the same trading experience as Freetrade’s other accounts — mobile and web access, commission-free trades on eligible instruments, and configurable orders — but gains and income held in a GIA are not tax-sheltered.

Features and Capabilities

• Account Basics: The GIA opens as part of the Basic plan and provides market access to Freetrade’s available stock and ETF universe. Users can hold stocks, ETFs, and other supported instruments; it is not a tax wrapper.
• Trading & Pricing: Commission-free trades on eligible instruments; FX fees apply for non-GBP trades, with a tiered FX fee structure across plans.
• Product Scope: Access to 6,500+ UK, US, and European stocks and ETFs, depending on plan level and instrument availability.
• Orders & Execution: Support for basic and advanced order types within the app, including market orders and automated/limit features depending on plan and app version.
• Cash Management: Small interest or AER on uninvested cash balances is offered, with rate and cap depending on plan.
• Account Transfers & Management: Users can transfer existing holdings into a GIA; full account management is available through Freetrade’s mobile/web interface.
• Tax Implications: Gains and dividends in a GIA are subject to normal tax rules, as no ISA/SIPP protection applies; tools are provided to support tax reporting.
• User Experience & Support: Designed for retail users, with streamlined onboarding, in-app guidance, and help centre resources.