Best Online Brokers in Europe in 2026 (compared)

Interactive Brokers leads the list as the best online broker in Europe. Founded in 1978, Interactive Brokers is one of the largest international brokers, listed on NASDAQ (ticker: IBKR) and a constituent of the S&P 500 since 2024. It is regulated by multiple top-tier authorities including the FCA (UK), Central Bank of Ireland (CBI), BaFin (Germany), ASIC (Australia), and SEC and FINRA (US), with no minimum deposit requirement. The broker serves 3+ million client accounts across 170+ markets in 36+ countries.

Interactive Brokers supports more than 20 account base currencies including GBP, USD, EUR, CHF, and other major currencies. Funding is primarily via bank transfers (SEPA, Faster Payments, wire), though debit card deposits are available in some jurisdictions. They offer one of the tightest spreads in the market alongside best-execution routing through IB SmartRouting. Commissions are tier-based, varying with monthly trading volume:

• US stocks (IBKR Pro): $0.0035 per share, $0.35 minimum per order, capped at 1% of trade value;
• European stocks/ETFs: 0.05% of order value (€1.25 minimum, €29 maximum);
• US options: $0.65 per contract ($1 minimum per order);
• FX conversion: 0.0020% with $2 minimum – one of the lowest in the industry.

For investors who prefer trading on the go, Interactive Brokers offers several mobile applications:

• IBKR Mobile: the full-featured app with advanced order types, options chains, real-time data, and multi-currency portfolio views;
• IBKR GlobalTrader: a streamlined app for beginners with fractional shares from $1, automatic currency conversion, and a $10,000 virtual demo account to practise before going live;
• Impact: a values-aligned investing app for ESG-focused retail investors;
• Trader Workstation (TWS): the professional desktop platform with advanced charting, algorithmic order types, and customisable workspaces.

IBKR also offers tiered cash interest on uninvested balances (USD 3.12%, EUR 1.5%, GBP 3.207% as of June 2026, applicable above tier thresholds of $100,000 NAV) and the Stock Yield Enhancement Program (SYEP) for clients willing to lend out eligible securities for additional income.

On the downside, the platform’s depth can feel overwhelming for newcomers, with a steeper learning curve than simpler apps like Trading 212 or eToro. Fortunately, Interactive Brokers offers extensive educational resources through IBKR Campus (formerly Traders’ Academy), including video tutorials, courses, and webinars covering platforms, strategies, and asset classes.

Want to know more? Check out our comprehensive Interactive Brokers review and visit IBKR’s website.

Another exceptional trading platform in Europe is eToro, a publicly traded social investing platform with over 40 million users across 140+ countries. The company listed on NASDAQ in May 2025 (ticker: ETOR), reinforcing its credibility and transparency. eToro is best known for its social trading feature, which allows users to copy the trades of experienced investors. There are thousands of verified Popular Investors on eToro, and you can select traders to follow based on past return on investment (ROI), risk score, asset allocation, or other criteria.

The eToro platform provides access to over 3,000 financial instruments, including real stocks (not CFDs), ETFs, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and indices. Additionally, users can invest in ready-made thematic portfolios called Smart Portfolios, which group together assets or traders around themes such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, dividend-paying stocks, or sector-specific opportunities. New users can also benefit from a sign-up bonus: eToro offers a free asset for new users meeting deposit thresholds.

eToro offers commission-free real stock and ETF trading in Europe (other fees apply). European investors can also earn interest on uninvested USD cash balances of approximately 3.55% (subject to change and linked to US Federal Reserve policy). Account opening and funding are quick and straightforward, and you can practise with a $100,000 virtual demo account before committing real capital.

On the downside, spreads can be relatively high for some products (particularly forex and crypto), there is a $5 withdrawal fee, and a $10 monthly inactivity fee applies after 12 months of account inactivity. eToro is regulated by top-tier authorities globally, including the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), and SEC and FINRA (US). European clients are typically served by eToro (Europe) Ltd, authorised and regulated by CySEC and passported across the EEA under MiFID II, with client funds protected up to €20,000 under the Cyprus Investor Compensation Fund (ICF).

If you want to learn more, check out our eToro review.

Founded in 2002, XTB is a major player in the European brokerage industry serving over 1.7 million clients across 16 countries. The company is publicly listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ticker: XTB) and regulated by multiple top-tier authorities including the FCA (UK), KNF (Poland), CySEC (Cyprus), BaFin (Germany), and AFM (Netherlands).

The platform offers 0% commissions on real stocks and ETFs up to €100,000 monthly trading volume (0.2% commission applies above that threshold, with a €10 minimum per order). While XTB’s xStation 5 platform supports a wide range of asset classes, it is particularly well-suited to active CFD and forex traders, offering competitive spreads and advanced tools across all asset classes.

Opening an account and transferring funds is a quick and hassle-free process. For beginners, XTB provides a demo account where you can trade with virtual money to test the platform firsthand, plus comprehensive educational tools through the XTB Trading Academy (video courses, webinars, and market analysis). For intermediate and advanced investors, the platform offers extensive technical and fundamental analysis tools to support trading decisions.

XTB’s product range includes 5,300+ real stocks, 1,300+ ETFs, 70+ forex pairs, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrency CFDs. Additional features include Investment Plans for automated ETF investing, cash interest on EUR balances (linked to ECB deposit facility rate), and vanilla options on US stocks (launched in early 2026, ~140 US stocks and ETFs covered, no per-contract commission).

On the downside, XTB charges relatively high spreads on cryptocurrency CFDs (although forex spreads are competitive), and an inactivity fee of €10/month applies after one year of no trading and no deposits in the previous 90 days. There is also a 0.5% currency conversion fee on trades in non-base currencies.

Still have doubts? Go through our XTB review.

Disclaimer: 76-83% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Lightyear is a European investment platform operating via two regulated entities: Lightyear Europe AS, authorised and regulated by the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority (EFSA, licence number 4.1-1/31), and Lightyear UK Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). EU clients benefit from up to €20,000 protection under the Estonian Investor Protection Sectoral Fund, while UK clients are covered by the FSCS up to £85,000. US securities are covered by SIPC up to $500,000 (with a $250,000 cash sub-limit).

Lightyear offers a highly competitive fee structure:

• ETFs: zero execution fees;
• Stocks: commissions capped at €/$/£1 per order (or commission-free on US, EU, and UK stocks for UK clients since March 2026, both on GIA and ISA);
• FX conversion: 0.10% flat fee (reduced from 0.35% in March 2026) – one of the lowest in Europe, further minimised through Lightyear’s multi-currency account in EUR, GBP, and USD;
• Cash interest via AAA-rated BlackRock Money Market Funds: EUR ~2.12%, GBP ~3.80%, USD ~3.67% AER (June 2026, linked to ECB/BoE/Fed policy);
• Card deposit fee: 0.6% (bank transfers via SEPA and Faster Payments are free).

Note: direct cryptocurrency trading was removed from the Lightyear platform in 2025 – the broker now focuses exclusively on equities, ETFs, government bonds, and money market funds.

The investment platform is well-suited to beginners and intermediate investors who want to build long-term diversified portfolios through fractional shares. With an easy-to-use mobile and desktop app and access to 6,000+ instruments across 16 stock exchanges (US, UK, European, and Asian markets), 500+ ETFs from leading providers (iShares, Vanguard, Invesco, HSBC, Amundi, Xtrackers), and EU/UK government bonds via the Bonds Showcase, Lightyear provides solid exposure to global capital markets.

Lightyear also offers a free share worth up to €100 with our promo code INVESTINGINTHEWEB.

UK investors can now benefit from Lightyear’s Stocks and Shares ISA (launched in 2024) and Cash ISA (launched in 2025), with fractional shares enabled within the ISA wrapper from early 2026. Plans (launched November 2025) enable automated goal-based investing across customisable stock and ETF portfolios, and Lightyear AI (launched in 2026) provides contextual portfolio insights.

There are, however, some product gaps to be aware of: the platform does not offer options, futures, forex, CFDs, mutual funds, or SIPP accounts, and there is no demo account for paper trading. GBP-denominated UK stocks are not available as fractional shares (only whole-share purchases on these), which is a notable limitation for UK investors wanting to access expensive London-listed names with small amounts.

To know more about the platform, check out our Lightyear review.

Freedom24, part of Freedom Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: FRHC), has emerged as a standout European brokerage platform for retail investors. It provides access to a diverse range of global financial products – including stocks, ETFs, bonds, futures, and options – with a particularly strong focus on ETF investing and an unusually broad Bonds Showcase for European investors.

Providing access to more than 3,600 ETFs, Freedom24 offers not only the most popular ETFs from global issuers like Vanguard, iShares, and Invesco, but also a broad range of investment strategies, including dividend-focused, short-term bond, and ESG-themed ETFs, as well as niche and high-yield options such as covered call and swap-based ETFs. If a specific ETF isn’t listed, clients can request its addition directly – a level of flexibility rarely found among European brokerage platforms.

Freedom24 also offers Bonds Showcase, allowing investments from as little as €/$1,000. This is a curated list of high-rated bonds (B+ and above) designed to provide investors with predictable and stable returns. The feature streamlines the process of finding and purchasing bonds, making fixed income more accessible for investors seeking reliable market opportunities and long-term portfolio diversification.

The platform’s web and mobile interfaces are intuitive and well-designed, complemented by market analysis tools (Investideas) and educational resources (Freedom Academy) that support informed investment decisions. New users can also benefit from a signup promotion of up to 20 gift stocks.

With no minimum deposit, Freedom24 offers two main pricing plans:

• Smart in EUR: suitable for investors with lower trading volumes – $0.65 per US options contract, $0 per stock/ETF order base fee;
• All Inclusive in EUR: includes a personal account manager and higher service tier – $3 per US options contract + €10 per order, with priority support.

Freedom24 also offers US stock options and European options, plus interest on uninvested EUR cash balances via its D Account. On the downside, it charges a €7 withdrawal fee and does not support direct cryptocurrency trading.

Freedom Finance Europe Ltd is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and serves EU clients via MiFID II passporting (including AFM oversight for Dutch clients). In the unlikely event that segregated client assets cannot be returned, Freedom24 falls under the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), which compensates non-returned investments up to €20,000.

Want to learn more? Check out our Freedom24 review or visit Freedom24 directly.

Founded in 2013, DEGIRO is a low-cost European brokerage that has become very popular thanks to its competitive pricing. With over 3 million users across 18+ European countries, the platform has built a reputation around its “do-it-yourself” philosophy – giving investors everything they need to manage their own portfolios. DEGIRO offers a wide range of financial assets including stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, warrants, investment funds, and leveraged products (which are similar to but not identical to CFDs – more details here).

Key cost considerations:

• Core Selection ETFs: commission-free (a €1.00 flat handling fee for external costs still applies);
• US stocks: €1.00 per trade;
• European stocks: €3.90 + €1.00 handling fee on most major exchanges;
• Annual connectivity fee: €2.50 per exchange (charged once per year for each exchange you actively use);
• Options: €0.75 per contract on European and US exchanges.

The web and mobile platforms are intentionally minimalist – efficient and straightforward, with a short learning curve. On the downside, the absence of in-depth fundamental research, the lack of price alerts in the app, and the limited charting tools may frustrate more advanced traders.

In terms of safety, DEGIRO is the Dutch branch of flatexDEGIRO Bank AG, a German credit institution supervised by BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank, with AFM oversight for Dutch clients. In the unlikely event that segregated client assets cannot be returned, DEGIRO falls under the EdW German Investor Compensation Scheme, which compensates non-returned securities up to 90% with a maximum of €20,000.

Cash deposited into a DEGIRO Cash Account with flatexDEGIRO Bank AG is additionally protected up to €100,000 under the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme.

Still have doubts? Go through our DEGIRO review.

Launched in 1992, Saxo (rebranded from Saxo Bank) is one of the most established names in the European brokerage industry, with a proven multi-decade track record. In March 2025, Saxo was acquired by J. Safra Sarasin, further reinforcing its financial backing. Saxo holds an A- credit rating from S&P and provides access to over 71,000 financial instruments through its proprietary platforms: SaxoTraderPRO (desktop) and SaxoTraderGO (web and mobile).

The product range includes stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, options, futures, CFDs, forex, and commodities – covering both cash and margin trading across global markets. Saxo also provides advanced research tools designed to support both long-term investing and active leveraged trading. Note that direct cryptocurrency trading is not offered – only crypto ETPs.

Saxo account tiers as of 2026:

• Classic: $0/€0 minimum deposit (since 2024, varying slightly by country of residence); access to tight spreads and 24/5 customer support;
• Platinum: €/$200,000 portfolio value; up to 30% lower trading fees and priority local-language support;
• VIP: €/$1,000,000 portfolio value; best available pricing, access to trading experts, and exclusive event invitations.

Pricing varies by account tier and instrument. For example, a US stock order costs 0.08% of trade value (minimum $1) on Classic, dropping to 0.03% of trade value (minimum $1) on VIP. Options start from USD 1.25 per contract on Classic. Accounts holding stocks, ETFs/ETCs, or bond positions incur a custody fee of up to 0.15% per year – this fee can be avoided by opting into Saxo’s securities lending programme.

Saxo Bank A/S is a fully licensed European bank supervised by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (DFSA). Saxo is a member of the Danish Guarantee Fund, which protects client cash deposits up to €100,000 and financial securities (stocks, ETFs, etc.) up to €20,000 per client. Saxo serves clients across 180+ countries through multiple regulated entities, including local branches in the Netherlands (formerly BinckBank, fully integrated since 2023 with AFM oversight), UK, Germany, Italy, France, and others.

Founded in 2004 in Sofia, Bulgaria, and now headquartered in London, Trading 212 is a fintech that has democratised retail investing through an intuitive mobile and web platform. The company serves over 5 million registered users, offering access to 10,000+ stocks and ETFs, forex, commodities, CFDs, and cryptocurrencies. New users can claim a free fractional share worth up to €/£100 when signing up and depositing at least €/£10.

Trading 212 offers commission-free real stock and ETF trading, fractional shares from €/£1, and an automatic investing feature called Pies and AutoInvest (note: execution-only thematic portfolios, not a true robo-advisor). The platform also provides:

• Stocks and Shares ISA + Cash ISA: tax-wrapped accounts for UK residents;
• Cash interest: ~2.40% EUR, ~3.55% GBP, ~3.30% USD (June 2026, opt-in QMMF managed by BlackRock and Fidelity, linked to ECB/BoE/Fed policy);
• Multi-currency accounts: hold balances in 12 currencies;
• Stock lending (opt-in): 50/50 revenue split with government treasury collateral;
• 24/7 customer support in 16 languages.

Account opening is quick and fully digital. On the downside, the product range has notable gaps – no bonds, options, or futures – and there is a 0.15% FX conversion fee when trading assets in a currency different from your base account.

Within the Trading 212 app, you’ll find two distinct accounts: Trading 212 Invest (real stocks, ETFs, and ISA wrapper) and Trading 212 CFD (leveraged CFDs on stocks, indices, commodities, forex, and crypto). For UK retail clients, spread betting accounts are also available as a tax-efficient alternative to CFD trading.

Trading 212 operates through four regulated entities, providing strong client protections:

• Trading 212 UK Ltd – FCA-regulated (FRN 609146), FSCS protection up to £85,000;
• Trading 212 EU GmbH – BaFin-regulated (10109603), passported across the EEA under MiFID II with AFM oversight for Dutch clients, German Deposit Guarantee Scheme up to €100,000;
• Trading 212 Markets Ltd – CySEC-regulated (398/21), Cypriot Investor Compensation Fund up to €20,000;
• Trading 212 AU PTY LTD – ASIC-regulated (AFSL 541122) for Australian clients.

If you want to learn more, check our Trading 212 review.