Managing your investments from a phone is now entirely routine, and the range of apps available can make choosing between them harder rather than easier.
Whether you use Android or iOS, there is no shortage of options for monitoring asset prices, tracking your portfolio, and placing trades.
So which is right for you? We have selected investing apps suited to different asset classes and investor profiles, assessed against usability, safety and regulation, order type availability, currency handling, and total cost, not just headline commissions.
Best investing apps in Europe for 2026
- Interactive Brokers: Best overall investing app in Europe
- eToro: Best for commission-free ETF investing and social trading
- XTB: Best for CFD and Forex trading
- DEGIRO: Best for low-cost investing
- inbestMe: Best for automated investing
- Lightyear: Best for earning on cash through money market funds
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.
55% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
69-80% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Investing involves risk of loss.
Terms apply, seek guidance if necessary. When you invest, your capital is at risk.
Comparison of the best investing apps in Europe
| Broker | Minimum deposit | Products | US stock fees | Regulators |
| Interactive Brokers | €0 | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, forex, commodities, bonds, funds, crypto | From $0.0035 per share (min. $0.35, capped at 1% of trade value) | SEC, FINRA, FCA, CBI, BaFin, ASIC, CIRO, MAS, SFC |
| eToro | $50 (varies by country) | Stocks, ETFs, crypto and CFDs. Social trading and Smart Portfolios | $1 or $2 per trade, depending on country and exchange (ETFs commission-free) | CySEC, FCA, ASIC, FSRA, SEC/FINRA |
| XTB | €0 | Stocks, ETFs, options and CFDs on forex, stocks, ETFs, indices, crypto and commodities | €0 up to €100,000 monthly turnover (0.2% above, min. €10) | KNF, CySEC, FCA, DFSA, FSCA, FSC |
| DEGIRO | €0 | Stocks, ETFs, investment funds, options, futures, leveraged products, bonds, crypto (in some countries) | €1 + €1 handling fee (plus €2.50 annual connectivity fee per exchange) | BaFin, Deutsche Bundesbank, AFM, DNB |
| Lightyear | €0 | Stocks, ETFs, money market funds, bonds, crypto | 0.1% (min $0.10, max $1 per order) | EFSA and FCA |
| inbestMe | €1,000 for index funds, €5,000 for ETF portfolios | Managed ETF, index fund and pension plan portfolios | Not applicable (robo-advisory) | CNMV |
Data as of October 2026. Fees and minimums can vary by country of residence.
Interactive Brokers at a glance
Founded in 1978 and publicly listed on NASDAQ (ticker: IBKR, an S&P 500 constituent since August 2025), Interactive Brokers is a global broker with a strong capital position, a conservative balance sheet and automated risk controls. At the end of September 2026, it had 5.58 million client accounts and $965 billion in client equity.
Interactive Brokers offers two distinct mobile apps, which is unusual and useful, since most brokers offer a single interface for every user:
- IBKR Mobile: the advanced app, giving access to stocks, options, funds, ETFs, futures, bonds, currencies and cryptocurrencies across 170 markets in 40 countries, alongside EventTrader, Impact Lens and a full set of technical and fundamental tools.
- IBKR GlobalTrader: a cleaner, modern app aimed at beginners and long-term investors who do not trade actively. It covers stocks, ETFs, options and crypto, with fractional shares from $1, automatic currency conversion and a $10,000 demo account.
Since March 2026, EU clients of Interactive Brokers Ireland can also trade a selection of cryptocurrencies. In practice, you can start on GlobalTrader and move to IBKR Mobile as your needs grow, without changing broker or reopening an account.
On the downside, Interactive Brokers’ fee structure is comparatively complex and it does not offer fully commission-free trading. However, factoring in FX conversion at 0.2 basis points, or 0.002% (minimum $2), tight spreads, the Stock Yield Enhancement Program, and interest paid on uninvested balances, clients achieve significant savings compared with most brokers.
For a euro-based investor buying US assets, that conversion cost often matters more than the commission itself, because it applies every time you convert currency.
Want to know more? Check our Interactive Brokers review.
eToro at a glance
55% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
eToro is a multi-asset platform and one of the leading social trading platforms in Europe. With over 40 million registered users worldwide, it lets you copy other people’s trades, invest in Smart Portfolios or build your own portfolio of stocks and ETFs. ETFs are commission-free and stocks cost $1 or $2 per trade, depending on your country of residence and the exchange (other fees apply). Crypto and CFDs on several asset classes are also available.
The eToro mobile app offers the same features as the web version in an intuitive mobile layout. You can build and monitor your portfolio from more than 6,000 stocks plus ETFs, crypto, indices and commodities, receive alerts, follow other investors, deposit and withdraw money, and contact customer support.
eToro is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), which supervises its European entity, as well as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), among others.
On the downside, withdrawals from the USD account cost $5 (withdrawals from EUR and GBP accounts are free), and CFD positions carry spreads and overnight fees. There is no inactivity fee.
If you are interested, please read our eToro Review.
DEGIRO at a glance
Investing involves risk of loss.
Founded in 2013, DEGIRO is a low-cost broker available in 15 European countries. With more than 2.6 million customers, it has built its reputation on reliable execution, no deposit or withdrawal fees and a Core Selection of more than 1,000 ETFs tradeable with no commission, paying only a €1 handling fee per transaction. In Germany, the Netherlands, France and Spain, it also offers crypto.
The DEGIRO mobile app complements the web platform well, with a useful search function, a clear portfolio summary, and a solid overview of market events and live news.
Its main shortcomings are limited fundamental research, a €2.50 annual connectivity fee per exchange, no interest paid on uninvested cash, no demo account and no price alerts.
On security, DEGIRO operates as the Dutch branch of flatexDEGIRO Bank SE, a German credit institution supervised by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank. It falls under the German Investor Compensation Scheme, covering 90% of losses on non-returned assets up to €20,000. Cash held with flatexDEGIRO Bank SE is separately guaranteed up to €100,000 under the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
Still have doubts? Read our DEGIRO review.
XTB at a glance
69-80% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Founded in 2002 in Warsaw and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, XTB is a well-established broker serving more than 2.9 million clients in over 12 countries. It runs the xStation 5 platform and the xStation Mobile app, alongside a broad instrument range, strong customer service, and extensive free educational material through the XTB Trading Academy.
xStation Mobile is among the better apps for charting and technical analysis, supporting numerous indicators including moving averages, volume, and pivot points. Navigation is straightforward, with intuitive order placement across asset classes.
On the downside, XTB charges a €10 monthly inactivity fee after one year without trading and no deposit in the past 90 days, which is worth noting if you intend to buy and hold for long periods without touching the account. Crypto CFD spreads are also relatively wide compared with its competitive forex pricing.
That said, the product range has broadened considerably. XTB offers real stocks and ETFs commission-free up to €100,000 of monthly turnover (0.2% above that, minimum €10), and in 2026 it launched options on around 110 US stocks and ETFs in several EU countries, including Germany, Spain, France and Portugal. It also pays interest on uninvested cash in several countries, with rates that vary by country and currency.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
Read our XTB review for more detail.
inbestMe at a glance
inbestMe is a robo-advisor that builds a portfolio around your financial goals and risk tolerance. The service is fully automated, includes automatic rebalancing and offers tax-loss harvesting at no extra cost, designed around Spanish tax rules. Access to a human adviser is available at higher balances.
The inbestMe app serves a different purpose from a broker’s app, since you are not trading, following news, or setting alerts. Its main functions are managing deposits and withdrawals and tracking your portfolio through the investment dashboard. Within that scope it works well, giving you a clear view of how your portfolio is developing.
Several portfolio styles are available, including ETF, Value and Socially Responsible ETF portfolios, index fund portfolios, pension plans, savings portfolios and a kids’ account. The minimum is €1,000 for index fund portfolios and €5,000 for ETF portfolios. Index fund portfolios require a Spanish ID number (DNI or NIE).
inbestMe is regulated and supervised by the CNMV, the Spanish securities market authority. Protection depends on where your assets are held:
- Index funds and pension plans: held with GVC Gaesco through Allfunds and covered by Spain’s FOGAIN scheme up to €100,000.
- ETF portfolios: held with Interactive Brokers Ireland and covered by the Irish Investor Compensation Company (ICCL), which pays 90% of losses up to €20,000.
Lightyear at a glance
Terms apply, seek guidance if necessary. When you invest, your capital is at risk.
Lightyear is one of the newer investing apps in Europe, with a well-designed mobile platform featuring an efficient search function and clearly organised asset groups. It is available on both Android and iOS, in nine languages including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.
On setup you choose a four-digit PIN to secure the app, with biometric login (Face ID or fingerprint) available thereafter.
Lightyear lets you earn a return on your cash through money market funds (MMFs) in EUR, GBP and USD. In the EU, EUR savings are invested in the BlackRock ICS Euro Liquidity Fund. MMF returns follow prevailing interest rates and are not guaranteed. Unlike a bank deposit, an MMF is an investment and its value can go down.
The interface puts a search bar at the top alongside key information such as your interest status, “Popular this week”, and “Discover”, each divided into Stocks and ETFs as a collection of trending assets. The app supports market, limit, stop and recurring orders, plus Plans with auto-invest. Compared with a broker like Interactive Brokers, the order type selection is more limited, which suits long-term investors better than active traders. Lightyear also offers crypto in the EU and a selection of individual bonds.
Lightyear operates under Estonian and UK regulation. Lightyear Europe AS is supervised by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA), with UK services provided by Lightyear UK Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA. Client assets are covered up to €20,000 in the EU and £85,000 under the FSCS in the UK.
Lightyear also offers a free share worth up to €100 with our promo code.
Disclaimer: Capital at risk. The provider of investment services is Lightyear Financial Ltd for the UK and Lightyear Europe AS for the EU. Terms apply: lightyear.com/terms. Seek qualified advice if necessary.
Bottom line
To summarize here’s the list of “Best investing apps in Europe”:
- Interactive Brokers: Best overall investing app in Europe
- eToro: Best for commission-free ETF investing and social trading
- XTB: Best for CFD and Forex trading
- DEGIRO: Best for low-cost investing
- inbestMe: Best for automated investing
- Lightyear: Best for earning on cash through money market funds
Choosing the right app matters as much as choosing what to invest in. We understand that the information concerning investing apps is dispersed online, so we hope our suggestions give you a clear path on which one may suit your needs.
Remember that this article should not be construed as investment advice but should be considered information only. Investors should do their own research and due diligence regarding the services and opportunities best suited for their risk tolerance.
FAQs
What is an investment app?
An investment app is a mobile application for Android or iOS that lets you manage your investments without logging into the desktop version of an investment platform. Most investment platforms develop their own trading apps for customers to use.
What is the best trading app?
As much as we would like to give a straight answer, there is no “correct” one. What are you looking for? Trade ETFs, Stocks, a mix of both? Do you value educational materials? Is good customer support non-negotiable for you? It all depends on your personal preferences.
Is it recommended for beginners?
Yes, since it allows you to check your overall portfolio and live news and, in some apps, even gives you access to educational videos. Still, beware that an app-based trading platform can induce overtrading. The power of investing in the palm of your hand sounds appealing, but it can harm you if you don’t use it wisely.
How much money do I need to open an investment app?
It depends on the app. Interactive Brokers, XTB, DEGIRO and Lightyear have no minimum deposit, eToro asks for a first deposit of around $50 (it varies by country), and robo-advisors like inbestMe start at €1,000 to €5,000 depending on the portfolio.
How do I open an account with an investment app?
Go to the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, search for the app, download it and follow the instructions after tapping sign-up. You will need to verify your identity with an ID document and proof of address.
What assets can you trade on investing apps?
It depends on the app. Generally, you can trade stocks, ETFs, options, cryptocurrencies, funds and CFDs on indices, commodities and currencies.
Are investing apps safe?
Apps from regulated brokers are generally safe to use. Most require two-factor authentication and offer biometric login such as fingerprint or Face ID. The regulation and investor compensation scheme that applies to the broker also covers accounts opened through its app. In the EU, investor compensation schemes cover at least 90% of losses up to €20,000 per investor if a broker fails, but they do not protect you against market losses.
Which investing app has the lowest fees in Europe?
It depends on what you buy. For ETFs, eToro, Lightyear and XTB (up to €100,000 of monthly turnover) charge no commission, and DEGIRO charges only a €1 handling fee on its Core Selection. For frequent trading in US stocks, Interactive Brokers is usually among the cheapest once FX conversion costs are included.
