Ireland – the Emerald Isle – is best known in finance as one of Europe’s largest hubs for internationally domiciled funds, with thousands of UCITS funds and ETFs administered out of Dublin. For everyday investors, though, the more practical question is how to trade options from Ireland, and which brokers do it well.
Irish residents invest under the EU’s MiFID II framework, with the Central Bank of Ireland as the national regulator and ESMA’s retail protections (leverage limits, standardised risk warnings) applying across the bloc. The national stock exchange, Euronext Dublin (formerly the Irish Stock Exchange), runs the benchmark ISEQ All Share index. In practice, though, most Irish options traders look well beyond Irish-listed names, using international brokers to access US and European equity and index options.
We saw the need for a clear guide on options trading in Ireland: to summarise its leading brokers, their merits, and where they fall short. If you are new to the mechanics, our options trading guide covers calls, puts, and the core strategies first. This article delves into our top four picks and why. Let’s get to it.
The best Options brokers in Ireland
Interactive Brokers | The globe’s award-winning default broker
With a history spanning nearly five decades, IBKR remains one of the most trustworthy brokers available and is unofficially the globe’s default broker, Ireland included (clients trade via a Central Bank of Ireland-regulated entity). For options, European contracts run from EUR 1.00 to EUR 1.50, varying by market, while US options cost just USD 0.15 to USD 0.65. Interactive Brokers also offers IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile app for options, stocks, and ETFs, ideal for novice investors.
Saxo | Premium online broker providing incredible research
A Danish online broker, Saxo has prepared an extensive offering for residents of Ireland, including listed options, forex options, commodities, futures, and more. It provides a tiered pricing system that balances monthly fees and trading commissions.
DEGIRO | Reliable low-cost options broker for global access
DEGIRO stands out as an options broker for the knowledgeable trader who knows what they’re doing and wants the right tools for succeeding across international markets. It provides a solid range of ETFs, stocks, bonds, futures, options, and more, with a per-contract option fee starting from EUR 0.75, varying by exchange.
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.
Tastytrade | Excellent discount broker, but US-focused
Tastytrade, formerly known as Tastyworks, stands out as an up-and-coming options broker focusing on the retail trader who truly wants to hone their craft. It provides options trading in addition to futures, stocks, indices, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies, while keeping to USD 1 per options contract (0 to close).
| Options broker | Commission per contract | Best for |
| IBKR | Up to EUR 3 | All |
| Saxo | Up to EUR 3 | Research |
| DEGIRO | From EUR 0.75 | Low fees |
| tastytrade | USD 1 (free to close) | US trading |
Video summary
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Options brokers reviewed
1# Interactive Brokers
A subsidiary of the Nasdaq-listed Interactive Brokers Group, Interactive Brokers Ireland echoes its parent’s world-leading strength, offering, and product range, options included. It is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and is a member of the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme, so Irish clients trade with the reassurance of local oversight. That blend of safety, global reach, and risk-management tools earned IBKR the trust of options traders and the top spot on our list of the best options brokers in Ireland.
The platform serves institutions and individuals, beginners and professionals alike, pairing access to nearly every asset class with a capable web platform and streamlined mobile apps. You can trade across more than 150 markets in over 30 countries, and IBKR’s toolkit spans Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, the Client Portal, and its mobile apps. In particular, IBKR GlobalTrader brings simplified stock and options trading to a clean mobile interface, available to Irish investors too.
On cost, IBKR’s options commissions are among the lowest available: from USD 0.15 to USD 0.65 per contract on US markets, around EUR 1.00 to EUR 1.50 on most European exchanges, and GBP 1.70 on UK stock and index options. There are no account-opening fees and no inactivity or minimum-activity fees.
Interested? Read our comprehensive IBKR review.
2# Saxo
62% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Our runner-up, Saxo, is a deeply research-oriented broker founded in Copenhagen in 1992, giving it a track record measured in decades, much like IBKR. It caters to all levels of experience, but its focus on premium perks and polished design works best for intermediate to advanced options traders.
In 2025, Saxo replaced its old SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO split with a single, unified SaxoTrader platform that pairs a sophisticated desktop experience with a powerful mobile app for around-the-clock coverage. Long-term and lower-volume investors can instead opt for the simpler SaxoInvestor app, and both offer demo previews so you can try before committing.
Saxo’s pricing runs across three account tiers, set by your balance rather than an upfront requirement: the entry-level “Classic” has no minimum and charges around EUR 2 per European stock option contract, while “Platinum” (from EUR 200,000) and “VIP” (from EUR 1,000,000) unlock progressively lower rates, with VIP reaching about EUR 0.75 per contract. Saxo is regulated in Denmark by Finanstilsynet, and has also dropped its custody and inactivity fees.
3# DEGIRO
Investing involves risk of loss.
There’s a lot to love about DEGIRO. We would rank this broker first place for options trading in Ireland if the main priority was cost. DEGIRO is Europe’s leading broker for low-cost options trading through an advanced desktop platform, or streamlined mobile app, providing access to European and American options.
The platform operates an extensive blog catering to beginners and intermediate traders, or anyone who wishes to brush up on the basics before diving into options trading. You can immediately feel that DEGIRO, while championing the “do-it-yourself” ethos, also has “safety first” in mind. This is not a discount brokerage that sees you as a number and wants you to succeed.
From a cost perspective, it’s extremely competitive at EUR 0.75 plus a flat EUR 5 for “connecting” to relevant options exchanges. The broker does cover the necessities for active trading, such as charting, news alerts, and analyst views, but the research may not be deep enough for value- or fundamentals-based investors. A solid third place entry.
Interested? Read our comprehensive DEGIRO review.
4# Tastytrade
Based in the US, Tastytrade is a relatively new options-focused broker that caters to “do-it-yourself” traders who prefer to make their own calls rather than lean on algorithms or robo-advisors. It offers access to stocks, options, futures, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. Its pedigree is notable: the platform was built by the same team behind thinkorswim, the advanced platform they created and later sold, and which now sits with Charles Schwab.
Tastytrade provides a capable trading experience across desktop and mobile, with a strong tilt towards options analytics. There is a learning curve, so beginners should get comfortable with the basics, the option greeks like delta and gamma, before diving in. Once you are up to speed, you can follow the trades of well-known options traders through the platform’s feed.
For stock options, Tastytrade charges USD 1 per contract to open and nothing to close (capped at USD 10 per leg), and it lays out every potential fee transparently. It is highly competitive on options pricing and education, though its global market access and fundamental research tools are narrower than IBKR’s.
What makes a good broker for options trading in Ireland?
Options brokers in Ireland keep up with the global standards set by the US, the world’s most active financial marketplace. Good brokers in Ireland have these seven virtues in common:
- Low account or trading minimums
- Competitive and transparent fees
- Many product options
- Multiple trading and analytic tools
- Support for news alerts
- Ample learning material
- The ability to trade real options rather than CFDs on options (more on this in our guide to the differences between CFDs vs real shares)
Not every options broker will make our list, but these criteria help us determine the truly best brokers out there.
Bottom line
Options trading is robust and competitive in Ireland, with world-leading providers and low fees. Selecting the best options broker as an Irish resident is still a tricky choice as interest in retail trading continues to grow, so we have narrowed the field to four leading choices based on our criteria.
Each of our recommended options brokers in Ireland excels at something different. Want both European and American options? DEGIRO. Prefer an established, global platform known for reliability and low fees? IBKR. After deep research and a premium, polished experience? Saxo. Focused mainly on US options with a specialist’s toolkit? Tastytrade.
Need more recommendations? Check out our platform finder.
FAQs
Can you buy options in Ireland?
Absolutely! Ireland is one of the world’s leading economies and financial centers. However, some options brokers may be limited to US stocks and stock options.
What is an options broker?
Usually related to “full-service brokers” that try to provide all the necessary tools for an intermediate or professional trader, an options broker is an online intermediary between you and the exchanges that enables the trading of options. The best options brokers in Ireland offer stock options, futures, and options on futures.
How do you open an options trading account?
While the process changes per options broker, it remains relatively straightforward. Simply be ready to provide digital copies of official IDs (i.e., passport, driving license, etc.) and proof of address, and transfer an opening sum through ACH or wire, for example. The options broker, like IBKR, may want to verify your age as well.
How do you buy options?
Thanks to advances in web and mobile trading platforms, trading options remains largely intuitive. Almost all mobile apps guide you through the purchase (opening) process and the selling (closing) process. Web platforms may have a learning curve and require an introductory tutorial. This is the case for some users who use IBKR, for example.
However, we recommend at least a beginner options course to walk you through calls, puts, strategies, opening, closing, and margin trading.
What are the risks of buying, trading, and selling options?
Since options trading almost always includes the use of margin or borrowed funds, the risks generally are much greater than trading stocks or commodities with only the cash you own. This is referred to as leverage. Again, we recommend completing a basic course in options trading, which is almost always provided by brokers serving Ireland.
