Stock brokers in Europe
Compare popular European stock brokers such as DEGIRO, Trade Republic, eToro or Scalable Capital. Our selection focuses on retail investors and takes into account costs, investment products and ease of use. The best broker depends on your investment strategy and experience.
Content:
- Top European stock brokers
- Selecting the best stock broker
- Active vs. passive investing
- Products and services
- Trading costs and fees
- Safety and regulation
Please note: investing with a stock broker involves risks, you may lose (part of) your investment during trading.
European stock brokers
Top stock brokers for retail investors in Europe are:
At the online broker DEGIRO, you can personally invest worldwide in stocks, bonds, funds, ETFs, options, and futures. DEGIRO is the market leader in the Netherlands and is known for its low fees and high user convenience. Note that investing can result in the loss of your capital.
- used by 3.5+ million investors
- low costs (low spreads)
- assets under custody: 95+ billion euros
- trade on 50+ global exchanges
- 5-star award winner (Financial Times)
If you want to trade and invest all by yourself eToro is currently Europe’s online brokerage champion. You can trade in stocks, commodities, crypto and other currencies. Templates allow you to invest directly in a variety of sectors. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose the money you invest.
- beginner-friendly platform
- you can copy other traders
- 24/5-trading (S&P 500 & Nasdaq 100)
- premade investment strategies
- zero commission on ETFs
- over 40 million users worldwide
Invest through this European broker in stocks, ETFs, and crypto. Transactions in iShares ETFs and investment plans are free; other trades cost 0.99 euros. With Prime+ (4.99 per month), trades from 250 euros are free. Uninvested funds earn an expected return of 2 percent.
- 20+ billion euro in assets under management (AUM)
- flat-fee model for 4.99 euro per month (PRIME+)
- extended trading hours (07:00 to 22:00)
- Stop-loss and take-profit orders available
- fractional investing in stocks and ETFs
- founded in 2014, Munich Germany, regulated by BaFin
With the platform Trade Republic, you can invest in 10,100 stocks and ETFs. Start investing in fractional shares, ETF's or bonds from 1 euro. Deposits can easily be done by Google or Apple Pay. You can also earn 2,50 percent interest on uninvested balances.
- 10+ million investors
- 150 billion euro in assets under management
- optional: virtual debit card
- unique saveback rewards program
- fractional investing
- 24/7 customer support
Invest in over 1 million stocks, ETFs, bonds, and other instruments across U.S., European, and Asian markets. Explore predefined selections of high-yield ETFs and bonds with potential dividend returns of up to 6 percent in EUR. Utilize in-house market research and weekly investment ideas.
- no EUR/USD currency conversion fees
- extensive bond selection
- optional: business accounts
- weekly investment ideas
- dedicated relationship managers
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) scores a 7 in our review. It offers low fees, global market access, and advanced tools. While suitable for beginners, it is mainly popular among experienced investors due to its wide range of products, including some high risk investment products.
- 3+ million users worldwide
- focus on experienced investors
- low trading fees
- professional trading tools available
- including bonds, options and futures
- founded in 1978 and listed on Nasdaq
This Copenhagen-based broker offers access to over 72,000 financial products through a user-friendly app. It features an auto-invest function, multi-currency accounts, and strong trading options. Best suited for more experienced investors due to its advanced tools and market access.
- both EUR and USD accounts
- focus on more experienced traders
- low transaction costs (spreads)
- securities lending available
Platform for experienced traders familiar with the trading and risks of turbos, CFDs, barriers, forex and derivatives. Please note that these are complex instruments and, due to the leverage effect, bring a high risk of rapidly mounting losses. 75% of investors suffer losses on these trades.
Popular European crypto platform with a wide selection of cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, ethereum and solana. In addition to crypto, investors can also access popular stocks, ETFs and commodities such as gold and silver through a single account.
- beginner-friendly platform
- 600+ cryptocurrencies
- supports multiple European languages
- optional: stocks, commodities and ETFs
- recurring investment plans
- MiCAR-licensed in Austria
Young online broker that lets you invest in stocks and ETFs at low cost. Offers low trading fees and multiple currencies, helping you reduce foreign exchange costs or invest in money market funds. Lightyear also supports fractional investing and provides relatively detailed stock information.
- founded in 2020 by former Wise employees
- available in 25+ European countries
- uses AI to provide news arounds popular stocks
- regulated in the EU by the Estonian authority EFSA
Selecting the best stock broker
Before opening an account, compare the costs, available products and features that matter most to you.
Although we sort brokers based on our own ranking, our top pick will not be the best choice for every investor. The right broker depends on how you invest and which features you actually use.
Active vs. passive investing
Thanks to fractional shares, commission-free ETF purchases and automatic investment plans, platforms aimed at passive investors are often the better choice for investors following a buy-and-hold strategy.
For active investors who like to respond to market events, trading costs are usually more important. Access to products such as options and up-to-date market information can also play a role. For example, DEGIRO is one of our favourite brokers because of its options trading, low spreads on shares and daily market news.
However, investors who mainly buy ETFs and shares for the long term may place less value on these features. For them, a broker such as Trade Republic or Scalable Capital may be a better fit.
For active investors, trading costs are usually more important.
Investment products and services
Most brokers offer shares and ETFs. Some also provide access to options, forex, futures, CFDs and crypto. Some brokers even specialize in such specific products. If you mainly invest in one type of asset, it may be worth looking beyond general-purpose stock brokers.
Many of these products involve higher risks. Our reviews focus on retail investors, for whom these products often add little value. Features such as fractional shares and investment plans can be more important. Fractional shares allow investors to buy part of a share or ETF and invest fixed amounts on a regular basis.
Trading costs and fees
Broker fees affect your returns, but the cheapest broker is not always the best choice. Almost every broker claims to offer low fees, but comparing costs is not always easy and the best option depends on how you invest.
Monthly fees
Some platforms, such as Saxo and Scalable Capital, combine low trading fees with monthly subscription plans. These can be attractive for investors who trade regularly. However, if you only invest occasionally, fixed monthly costs can quickly add up.
The cheapest broker is not always the best broker.
Spreads or currency conversion fees
When investing in US stocks, check whether your broker offers a separate US dollar account or competitive currency conversion rates. Some brokers, such as eToro, charge low transaction fees, but currency conversion costs can still make investing in US stocks more expensive if you hold a EUR account.
The same applies to spreads. This is the difference between the buy and sell price. For popular stocks, spreads are usually similar across brokers. However, if you invest in smaller or less liquid stocks, the differences can be larger. Because spreads are built into the price, they are less visible.
Brokers aimed at active investors, such as DEGIRO, Interactive Brokers and Saxo, often offer lower spreads and access to more exchanges. However, for long-term investors who mainly buy ETFs or shares, these brokers can be quite complex to use. This is one reason why low-cost brokers do not always rank highest in our comparison.
Other costs
Some brokers charge additional fees. Trade Republic and Scalable Capital, for example, may charge fees for certain payment methods. eToro charges withdrawal fees. Brokers may also charge for market data, dividend processing or custody services.
Some brokers also lend out your investments to generate additional income. This practice is known as securities lending. Investors should review the risks and conditions before using this service.
Finally, ETFs, mutual funds and other investment products have their own ongoing costs. These costs are usually reflected in the ETF or fund price already.
Safety and regulation
All brokers in our comparison are regulated financial institutions in Europe. Depending on the location of the broker, supervision may come from authorities such as BaFin (Germany), AFM (Netherlands), FCA (United Kingdom) or CySEC (Cyprus).
