Best Brokers for European ETF Investors (2026)

Choosing the right broker is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as an investor. The wrong choice can cost you hundreds of euros per year in unnecessary fees. Here’s our complete, unbiased comparison of the best brokers for European ETF investors in 2026.

Quick Comparison Table

Broker	Stock/ETF Fee	Min. Deposit	Free ETFs	Savings Plan	Best For
DeGIRO	€0 + 0.03%	€0	1	No	Active traders
Interactive Brokers	$0 (US) / varies	€0	US-listed	No	Large portfolios, US ETFs
Trading 212	€0	€1	All	Yes	Beginners, free investing
eToro	0% commission	$50	US stocks	No	Social/copy trading
Trade Republic	€1 flat	€0	Savings plan	Yes	German investors
Scalable Capital	€0 (Prime)	€0	Savings plan	Yes	Robo-advisory + self-directed

#1: DeGIRO — Best for Active European Traders

DeGIRO is the most popular broker among Dutch and European investors, and for good reason: it offers access to 50+ exchanges worldwide at very low fees.

Key Features:

Stock/ETF fees: €0 + 0.03% per transaction (minimum €1 for most European exchanges)
Free ETF selection: 1 free ETF per month (core selection)
Exchanges: 50+ worldwide including Xetra, Euronext, NASDAQ, LSE
Account protection: €20,000 investor protection scheme (DEGIRO is regulated by the Dutch AFM)

Pros:

Very low fees for European exchanges
Wide exchange access — trade ETFs on Xetra, Euronext Amsterdam, etc.
Clean, easy-to-use interface
Regulated in the Netherlands (AFM)

Cons:

No fractional shares
Limited savings plan options
Securities lending enabled by default (opt-out available)
Fee structure can be complex (connectivity fees, etc.)

Best for: Dutch investors who trade ETFs actively and want access to the widest range of European exchanges.

#2: Interactive Brokers (IBKR) — Best for Large Portfolios

Interactive Brokers is the broker of choice for serious investors with larger portfolios. It offers the lowest margin rates and access to the most markets globally.

Key Features:

Stock/ETF fees: $0 for US-listed stocks/ETFs; varies for European exchanges
Margin rates: Among the lowest in the industry (SOFR + 0.75-1.5%)
Exchanges: 150+ globally
Currency conversion: At or near interbank rates (very cheap)

Pros:

Cheapest US stock/ETF trading ($0)
Best forex rates — save 0.5-1.5% vs other brokers on currency conversion
Access to US-domiciled ETFs (IVV, VOO, etc.)
Professional-grade trading tools (TWS, IBKR Mobile)
Strong financial position (publicly traded, $11B+ equity)

Cons:

Complex interface — steep learning curve
Inactivity fee ($10/month if balance < $100K and no trades)
Customer support can be slow
Dutch tax reporting less straightforward than DeGIRO

Best for: Investors with €50K+ portfolios who trade US ETFs or need the cheapest currency conversion.

#3: Trading 212 — Best for Beginners

Trading 212 has disrupted the European market with truly free investing — no commission on stocks and ETFs, and an auto-invest feature for building positions over time.

Key Features:

Stock/ETF fees: €0 (all stocks and ETFs)
Fractional shares: Yes (from €1)
Auto-invest: Set up recurring purchases
Interest on uninvested cash: 4.2% AER (GBP), 3.8% (EUR)

Pros:

Truly free trading on all ETFs and stocks
Fractional shares — invest any amount
Auto-invest feature (similar to savings plans)
Earn interest on uninvested cash
Very beginner-friendly interface

Cons:

Limited exchange access (no Xetra, limited European exchanges)
No Dutch tax documents (you’ll need to calculate Box 3 yourself)
Smaller ETF selection than DeGIRO or IBKR
Not suitable for active/day trading

Best for: Beginners who want to start investing small amounts regularly without worrying about fees.

#4: eToro — Best for Social/Copy Trading

eToro is known for its social trading features, allowing you to copy the portfolios of successful traders. It’s also commission-free for stocks and ETFs.

Pros:

Commission-free stocks and ETFs
CopyTrader — automatically copy successful investors
Crypto trading built-in
Large community and educational content

Cons:

Higher spreads than competitors
Withdrawal fee ($5)
Limited ETF selection vs DeGIRO/IBKR
Not ideal for pure buy-and-hold ETF investing

Best for: People who want a mix of stocks, ETFs, and crypto in one platform, or are interested in copy trading.

Which Broker Should You Choose?

You’re a beginner starting small → Trading 212. No fees, fractional shares, auto-invest. Start with €50/month and build from there.

You’re a Dutch investor doing monthly ETF buys → DeGIRO or Trading 212. DeGIRO has better Dutch exchange access; Trading 212 is fully free.

You have a large portfolio (€50K+) → Interactive Brokers. The currency conversion savings alone can be €200+/year on a €100K portfolio with US exposure.

You want everything in one place (stocks + ETFs + crypto) → eToro. Just be aware of the wider spreads.

You’re in Germany and want savings plans → Trade Republic or Scalable Capital. Both offer free ETF savings plans.

Fee Comparison: Real-World Example

Let’s say you invest €500/month into a VWCE (Vanguard FTSE All-World) ETF on Xetra. Here’s what you’d pay in fees over one year (€6,000 invested):

Broker	Monthly Fee	Annual Fee	Currency Fee	Total
DeGIRO	~€1.50	~€18	€0	~€18
Trading 212	€0	€0	€0	€0
IBKR	~€3.50	~€42	€0	~€42
eToro	€0*	€0*	€0	€0*

*eToro charges through wider spreads, estimated at 0.1-0.15% per trade = ~€6-9/year on €6,000

Over 10 years, these fees compound. A €18/year difference may seem small, but on a growing portfolio, it adds up to hundreds of euros.

Our Methodology

We compare brokers based on:

Total cost of ownership — including hidden fees, spread costs, and currency conversion
Product range — how many ETFs and exchanges are available
Usability — how easy the platform is for regular investors
Regulation & safety — investor protection, regulatory oversight
Tax reporting — availability of Dutch/Belgian tax documents

All reviews are independent. We may earn a commission if you sign up through our affiliate links, but this does not affect our rankings or opinions.