Is Freedom Finance safe?
Freedom Finance is regulated by CySEC and 1 more authority, keeps client funds in segregated accounts, and clients are covered by ICF (€20,000).
Operating: 2 of 3 register entries hold a live authorisation as of 2026-09-17; the rest no longer take new clients.
Verdict based on verified regulatory data below. We are not affiliated with regulators.
Legal entities behind Freedom Finance
Each row is one register card, read on the date shown. A brand can span several licences with different statuses — the one you contract with decides your protection.
| Entity | Regulator | Reference | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom Finance Europe Ltd | CySEC · Cyprus | 275/15 | AuthorisedRegister wording: Investment Firms (Cypriot) · licence 275/15 of 20/05/2015 | 2026-09-17 |
| Freedom Finance Europe Ltd | FCA · United Kingdom | FRN 745215 | Applied to cancel — closed to new clientsRegister wording: EEA Authorised - Applied to Cancel · sub status Applied to Cancel since 25/02/2026FCA notice: "This firm is running off its UK business and cannot deal with new customers." Sub-status Applied to Cancel since 25/02/2026. | 2026-09-17 |
| Freedom Finance Global PLC | AFSA · Kazakhstan (AIFC) | AFSA-A-LA-2020-0019 | AuthorisedRegister wording: active · licence active since 20-05-2020 | 2026-09-17 |
Register records for all brokers (CSV, JSON) · Register change log
Why this broker scores 75/100
Full methodology →⚠ 1 axis accounts for 25 of 25 lost points
How safe is your money
Segregated client accounts
Client funds held separately from operating capital. Required by regulator.
Investor compensation: ICF (€20,000)
If broker becomes insolvent, your covered assets are reimbursed up to the scheme's limit.
Publicly traded company
Listed on a regulated exchange — financials are public.
18 years of operations
Founded 2008. No major regulatory actions on record.
Negative balance protection
You cannot lose more than your account balance.
What could go wrong
- Regulatory scrutiny over alleged sanctions-compliance — but not sanctionedShort-seller Hindenburg Research (2023) alleged sanctions-evasion and accounting problems at parent Freedom Holding, and the group has reportedly faced SEC/DOJ scrutiny. Often misreported: neither Freedom nor founder Timur Turlov is on the US OFAC sanctions list — we re-checked the OFAC SDN list and it returns no match (verified 2026-10-11). The company denies wrongdoing. The practical effect today is heavier KYC on some payment rails and that US residents cannot open accounts — not a freeze on EU/CIS clients.
- AIFC regulatory protection weaker than EU/UK/US schemesNo €20k ICF equivalent for KZ-residents accounts. AFSA register exists but practical recourse if Freedom Finance Kazakhstan fails is unclear vs FSCS (£85k) / SIPC ($500k) / ICF (€20k). EU clients trade via Freedom24 with CySEC license — better protection but consumes the 'local broker' advantage.
- FX at 0.5% per leg and €7 per withdrawalSafekeeping is free on the Smart and All-Inclusive plans and there is no inactivity fee, but FX conversion (USD↔EUR↔KZT) is 0.5% per leg and every withdrawal costs €7. For a small account funded in one currency and invested in another, the conversion is the cost that adds up.
- Mobile app rating 3.8 (Google Play, 5,354 reviews) — below industry normReviews flag latency on order entry, occasional KYC document upload loops, and confused account-funding flows amid tighter compliance checks. iOS rating 4.5 is healthier but on a smaller sample (518 reviews).
- Compensation caps at €20,000 — below FCA (£85k) / SIPC ($500k)Investor compensation tops out at the listed cap — well below the FCA (£85k) or SIPC ($500k). Matters most if your balance exceeds it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Freedom Finance regulated?
Is Freedom Finance legit or a scam?
Is Freedom Finance still operating, or closing down?
Is my money protected at Freedom Finance?
What happens if Freedom Finance goes bankrupt?
How we verified this review
Every fact below is verified against primary sources. We refresh on a schedule and on reader feedback.