General Investment Account
Invest without limits with a GIA
Capital at risk.
The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest.
General Investment Accounts explained
A General Investment Account (GIA) is for investing outside tax-efficient wrappers like ISAs or SIPPs. You may want to use one if you’ve used your annual tax allowances.
A GIA sometimes goes by other names. You might see it called a share dealing account, shares account, or simply an investment account. They all mean the same thing.
The main advantage of a GIA investment account is that there’s no limit to how much you can invest.
It’s a flexible account, with thousands of investments to choose from. That makes it ideal for investing outside of your ISA and SIPP.
A GIA sometimes goes by other names. You might see it called a share dealing account, shares account, or simply an investment account. They all mean the same thing.
The main advantage of a GIA investment account is that there’s no limit to how much you can invest.
It’s a flexible account, with thousands of investments to choose from. That makes it ideal for investing outside of your ISA and SIPP.
General Investment Account tax
With your GIA, you will have to pay capital gains tax (CGT) and dividend tax above your allowances. The amount you’ll be taxed depends on the size of your gains and your current income tax band.
If you’re investing in a GIA, you may need to file an annual tax return.
If you’re investing in a GIA, you may need to file an annual tax return.
Tax-efficient investment accounts
No one likes paying more tax than they need to. You can get two different tax-efficient investment accounts with Freetrade: a stocks and shares Individual Savings Account (ISA) and a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). Using tax-efficient accounts can let you keep more of your returns.
Stocks and shares ISA
The main difference between a GIA and an ISA is tax. With an ISA, you can invest up to £20,000 each year without having to pay capital gains or UK dividend tax. With Freetrade, your ISA is flexible. This means you can withdraw and replace money during the tax year without impacting your annual allowance.
SIPP
Unlike a GIA, a SIPP gives tax relief on your contributions. Contributions are capped at 100% of your annual income and you can claim tax relief on the first £60,000 you contribute each year. Tax relief will be between 20% and 45% depending on your taxpayer band.
ISA and SIPP eligibility rules apply. US dividends received into your SIPP may be subject to US withholding tax.
A SIPP is a pension designed for you to save until your retirement and is for people who want to make their own investment decisions. You can normally only draw your pension from age 55 (57 from 2028), except in special circumstances.
At present, Freetrade only supports Uncrystallised Fund Pension Lump Sums (UFPLS) for customers who wish to withdraw funds from their SIPP after their 55th birthday. We strongly encourage you to seek financial advice before making any withdrawals from your SIPP.
A SIPP is a pension designed for you to save until your retirement and is for people who want to make their own investment decisions. You can normally only draw your pension from age 55 (57 from 2028), except in special circumstances.
At present, Freetrade only supports Uncrystallised Fund Pension Lump Sums (UFPLS) for customers who wish to withdraw funds from their SIPP after their 55th birthday. We strongly encourage you to seek financial advice before making any withdrawals from your SIPP.
Reasons to invest with Freetrade
01
Commission-free investing
Unlimited free trades and low FX fees, so your money goes further.
02
Automated tools
Regular investing made simple with Direct Debits and recurring orders.
03
Award-winning app
Great for experienced investors or those starting out.
04
6,500+ stocks
Choose from global stocks, ETFs, trusts, UK Treasury bills and more.
05
Easy to use
Manage your portfolio with ease on iOS, Android, or your web browser.
06
Fast, friendly support
Our customer service team is here to help. Reach out if you need extra support.
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Trades
Subscription fee
FX rate
US fractional shares
Maximum account size
Transfer in fee
Transfer out fee
Free
Per Trade
Free
Basic Plan
Exchange rate + 0.99%
FX rate - Basic plan
Yes
Unlimited
£0
£0
Cash and UK stocks
£17
US stocks (per holding)
£11.95
Per Trade
Free
Share dealing account fee
Exchange rate + 1%
No
Unlimited
£0
£0
£3.99
Per Trade
£4.99/mo
Investor Essentials plan
Exchange rate + 1.5%
No
£50,000
Investor Essentials plan
£0
£0
£5.00
Per Trade
0.25%
Share dealing account fee
Exchange rate + 0.75%
No
Unlimited
£0
£0
Transfer your investment account to Freetrade.
It’s quick and free to transfer investments or cash from another provider to your Freetrade General Investment Accounts. Keep things simple with all your investments in one place.
Whatever your reason for transferring, make sure it’s the right decision for you.
Whatever your reason for transferring, make sure it’s the right decision for you.
Choose from thousands of investments
Stocks
Invest in thousands of companies listed on the LSE, NYSE, NASDAQ, and across Europe.
Mutual funds
ETFs
Choose from a wide range of exchange-traded funds including index, commodity, and bond ETFs from providers like Vanguard, iShares, Invesco, and more.
REITs
Add residential or commercial real estate assets to your portfolio without the hassle of buying and managing the properties yourself.
Investment trusts
Choose from hundreds of investment trusts across a wide range of sectors, geographical areas, and markets worldwide.
UK Treasury bills
Earn a fixed yield on your cash. Low-risk and backed by the UK government. Rate subject to success in tender.
General Investment Account FAQs
Here you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you have a question that’s not listed, please contact support.
How much does a General Investment Account cost?
How much can you invest in a General Investment Account?
What can you invest in with a GIA?
Is investing in stocks worth the risk?
Can I open more than one General Investment Account?
What is the difference between a GIA and an ISA?
What is the difference between a savings account and a GIA?
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Standard
£4.99
/Mo.
£59.88 billed annually
Accounts include
General investment account
Stocks and shares ISA
Benefits include
Commission-free investing in 6,500+ UK, US, and European stocks, ETFs, and more
FX fee of 0.59% on non-GBP trades
3% AER on up to £2k uninvested cash (changing to 2.5% on up to £2k from 1 January 2026)
New
Plus
£9.99
/Mo.
£119.88 billed annually
Accounts include
General investment account
Stocks and shares ISA
Personal pension (SIPP)
Benefits include
Commission-free investing in 6,500+ UK, US, and European stocks, ETFs, and more
FX fee of 0.39% on non-GBP trades
5% AER on up to £3k uninvested cash (changing to 3.5% on up to £3k from 1 January 2026)
- New
Standard
£5.99
/Mo.
billed monthly
Accounts include
General investment account
Stocks and shares ISA
Benefits include
Commission-free investing in 6,500+ UK, US, and European stocks, ETFs, and more
FX fee of 0.59% on non-GBP trades
3% AER on up to £2k uninvested cash (changing to 2.5% on up to £2k from 1 January 2026)
- New
Plus
£11.99
/Mo.
billed monthly
Accounts include
General investment account
Stocks and shares ISA
Personal pension (SIPP)
Benefits include
Commission-free investing in 6,500+ UK, US, and European stocks, ETFs, and more
FX fee of 0.39% on non-GBP trades
5% AER on up to £3k uninvested cash (changing to 3.5% on up to £3k from 1 January 2026)
- New
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