For both Android and iOS, there remains a virtually limitless plethora of trading apps available to Europeans. Sifting through them all to find the coveted best trading app in Europe feels like a daunting challenge. How do we go through them all?
To save you hours googling through the choices, we’ve narrowed down the field to the top four options. Each trading app specialises in a different competitive edge. In other words, they all collectively are the best trading apps in Europe, depending on your specific preferences.
Our criteria includes: the mobile platform itself, products available, regulatory environment, fees, minimum deposits, and customer service options. We also review the top four trading apps from the separate lenses of beginner and advanced traders.
The Best Trading Apps in Europe
76% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
77% of retail CFD account lose money.
Investing involves risk of loss.
Terms apply, seek guidance if necessary. When you invest, your capital is at risk.
#1 Interactive Brokers (IBKR GlobalTrader)
Interactive Brokers at a glance
With IBKR GlobalTrader, this is the all-around best trading app in Europe. Its track record spans over 40 years, through several financial crises, with an incredible range of products, access to over 150 markets, and the latest trading technology.
The mobile app designed for more advanced users, IBKR Mobile, features trading features perfect for those coming with some experience. However, these may feel daunting for learners, such as the spread grid and order entry wheel.
IBKR GlobalTrader remains much simpler to use, available in several languages, and a joy to use. It’s perfect for European investors simply wanting to execute trades quickly in multiple asset classes.
Best Trading Apps in Europe – Interactive Brokers GlobalTrader
IBKR is one of the most trustworthy names in the business as its parent company, Interactive Brokers Group, is publicly listed on NASDAQ. In addition, the broker is regulated by several leading financial authorities.
Read our comprehensive IBKR review.
#2 eToro
eToro at a glance
Home to over 30 million users, eToro remains a popular name amongst European beginners desiring simplicity and access to a good range of products. It’s the best trading app in Europe for social trading. Investors benefit from zero-commission stock and ETF trades, in addition to a bustling community of social traders.
Social trading represents the growing practice of copying the trades of fellow traders you like or whose strategies you agree with. eToro automates this process, allowing you to effectively and passively follow various strategies.
The platform provides an intuitive trading app suitable for beginning investors. It features a two-step login feature and 21 languages (and counting), making it ideal for the diverse eurozone. However, advanced users should keep in mind that there are no drawing tools and few alert settings.
eToro is also known for CFDs, or contracts for differences. These enable traders to participate in the price movements of the underlying securities, currencies, or commodities without actually owning them.
Read our eToro review.
Best Trading Apps in Europe – eToro Mobile App
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
#3 XTB
XTB at a glance
Founded in 2002, XTB is a major player in the brokerage industry with extensive worldwide experience, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – plus other relevant regulatory bodies – and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
You can invest through xStation 5 and xStation Mobile in different investment products, such as stocks, ETFs, and CFDs on stocks, Forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies (this product offering may vary slightly from country to country). It offers 0% commission on stocks and ETFs, but only in some European countries*. International investors only get a 0% commission on stock and ETF CFDs.
Opening an account and transferring money is a quick and hassle-free process. For beginners, it presents a demo account where you can trade as if it were real money to help you feel the investment platform firsthand, and you get access to educational tools. For intermediate and advanced investors, you will find plenty of technical and fundamental tools to help you better assess your investment decisions.
On the downside, you will face an inactivity fee of €10/month after one year of non-trading, and if you have not deposited in the last 90 days, it charges high commissions on CFDs of cryptocurrencies but low costs for Forex.
Want to know more about XTB? Check our XTB Review.
*The Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain.
Best Trading Apps in Europe – XTB Mobile App (xStation Mobile)
#4 DEGIRO
DEGIRO at a glance
Founded in 2008, DEGIRO remains one of the best trading apps in Europe for traders specialising in equities and ETFs. It’s the discount broker for over 2.5 million Europeans, including beginners and more advanced users. It features low fees all-around, no inactivity fees, a +€/£1 commission for US stock trading (+€/£1 of external costs), and select commission-free ETFs (+€/£1 of external costs).
The platform operates on a “do-it-yourself” basis by providing the necessary tools to trade many equities often. The products on offer include futures, warrants, investment funds, and some leveraged products in addition to stocks, ETFs, and bonds. That being said, DEGIRO is a winner for buy-and-hold investors, given a lack of fees for maintenance, custody, and inactivity.
While focusing on simplicity, its mobile app provides straightforward trade executions alongside two-way and biometric authentications. However, it lacks price alerts.
Read our DEGIRO review here.
Best Trading Apps in Europe – DEGIRO Mobile App
#5 inbestMe
inbestMe at a glance
inbestMe is a Robo-Advisor that allows you to build a customized portfolio based on your financial objectives and risk tolerance. It is fully automated and even offers tax-loss harvesting (tax efficiency). It charges a maximum management fee of 0.41%/year. Access to a human advisor is available for amounts above €100,000.
The inbestMe app is not particularly relevant when compared to the brokers’ app since you do not have the purpose of trading, following the news or set alerts. The main functions will be to deposit/withdraw and follow your current portfolio through your investment dashboard. Nonetheless, it is a smooth app, and in the palm of your hand, you check how your portfolio evolves.
Best Trading Apps in Europe – inbestMe Mobile App
You have four available ETF investment styles: inbestMe ETF, inbestMe ETFs Dynamic, inbestMe ETFs Value, and a Socially Responsible Investing ETF. You can start investing in this portfolio with a minimum of €/$5,000.
InbestMe is regulated and supervised by the CNMV (National Securities Market Commission), the body supervising and inspecting the Spanish securities markets. Your investments are protected up to €100,000 by FOGAIN, depending on which Interactive Brokers account is opened (€20,000 for IB Ireland and up to $500,000 for the IB United States).
#6 Lightyear
Lightyear at a glance
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Lightyear is an emerging investing app in Europe. Its user-friendly and well-designed mobile trading platform features an efficient search function and neatly organised asset groups. It’s available for both Android and iOS. One drawback compared to the web platform is that the mobile app is only available in English.
In the mobile app, you are prompted to choose a 4-digit PIN to secure your app. One notable feature of the mobile app is that it allows you to use biometric data (Face ID or fingerprint) to log in.
Best Trading Apps in Europe – Lightyear Mobile App
You can find a search bar at the top and essential information, such as the announcement “You’re earning interest”, “Popular this week” or “Discover”. These sections are further divided into Stocks and ETFs, serving as a collection of “Trending Assets” on the platform for the current week. The Lightyear mobile app offers Market, Limit, and recurring orders, just like the web trading platform. However, it’s essential to note that compared to competitors such as Interactive Brokers, the order choices are somewhat limited.
Lightyear operates under the regulations of Estonia and the UK authorities. Lightyear Europe is directly regulated by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) -4.1-1/31. In the UK, Lightyear Financial Ltd administers your Lightyear account. Lightyear Financial Ltd (FRN 955739) is an appointed representative (AR) of RiskSave Technologies Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 775330, FCA).
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.
The bottom line
To summarize here’s the list of “Best Trading Apps in Europe”:
Venturing into online trading feels daunting at first–we’ve made the journey ourselves–but it is one filled with new opportunities and new rewards daily. Before registering with a new broker, take the time to evaluate your priorities.
Do you value ETFs with minimal fees? DEGIRO. Not sure, but do you simply want to get started today with a great mobile app? Interactive Brokers.
We hope you’ve found this article helpful and feel confident in your next trading journey, whether you’re new to the game or getting back in. If you have any feedback, feel free to let us know down in the comments section.
Other FAQs
What is the best trading app in Europe?
The “best” app depends upon your personal preferences and priorities. However, most traders cannot go wrong with either IBKR, eToro, DEGIRO or XTB.
What is the best trading app in Europe for beginners?
All four trading apps mentioned in this article are suitable for beginners. If you do opt for IBKR, be sure to select IBKR GlobalTrader instead of IBKR Mobile.
How much money is needed to get started?
As little as a single euro or pound, given that many European brokers offer commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs, alongside no minimum deposit. IBKR, and DEGIRO are prime examples.
Is using a desktop better than an app?
The majority of trades still happen through desktop trading instead of through an app. Given the increased monitor size and processing speed, avid traders tend to prefer desktops while using mobile phones when away from the desk. More casual traders can still do well using only a mobile app.