Are you confused about whether to choose DEGIRO or Scalable Capital as a broker for your investing needs?
In this side-by-side comparison, we analyse DEGIRO and Scalable Capital to help you understand how these apps compare on some of the most common features and make a better-informed decision about the best broker for you.
Below, you’ll find the pros and cons of each broker, as well as a comparison table that features the different fees charged, the financial instruments supported, the regulation, and more. Keep reading!
DEGIRO vs Scalable Capital
- DEGIRO is best for broad market access and low cost ETF trading
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss. - Scalable Capital is best for beginners, savings plans and interest on cash
DEGIRO gives you access to more than 50 exchanges in around 30 countries, plus options, futures, bonds and investment funds. It pays no interest on uninvested cash and it has no savings plans at all, so regular monthly investors have to place every order manually. Its strength is breadth: if you want to buy a specific security on a specific exchange, DEGIRO is far more likely to list it.
Scalable Capital takes the opposite approach. It routes almost everything through two venues, gettex and the European Investor Exchange, but gives you free ETF savings plans from €1, commission-free purchases of PRIME ETFs above €250, and interest on cash. It is available in fewer countries, currently Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.
Both are now full banks. DEGIRO operates as part of flatexDEGIRO Bank SE, and Scalable Capital received its own banking licence from the European Central Bank in September 2025, so the regulatory standing that once separated them no longer does.
Side-by-side comparison
| Category | DEGIRO | Scalable Capital |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Account minimum | €/£0 | €0 |
| Subscription fee | €0 | €0 or €4.99/moFREE Broker is €0, PRIME+ Broker is €4.99 per month |
| Interest on uninvested cash (annually) | 0% | EUR: up to 2.60%Variable, paid on the Scalable Overnight account |
| US stocks fees | €/£2€1 commission + €1 handling fee per trade | €0 to €0.99€0 on PRIME+ for orders of €250 or more, otherwise €0.99 (gettex and EIX) |
| EU stock fees | €2 to €4.90Varies by exchange and country entity, includes the €1 handling fee | €0 to €0.99€3.99 + 0.01% (min. €1.50) on Xetra, on both plans |
| ETFs | €/£1Handling fee only on the Tradegate Core Selection, €3 on other exchanges | €0 to €0.99€0 on PRIME ETF purchases of €250 or more, otherwise €0.99 |
| Savings plans | Not available | Free, from €1Unlimited, on all plans, for stocks and ETFs |
| Crypto | 0.5% per trade | 0.69% to 0.99%Spread surcharge on crypto ETPs, 0.99% on FREE and 0.69% on PRIME+ |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.25%AutoFX, manual conversion costs €10 + 0.25% | Not publishedAccounts are EUR only, conversion is embedded in the execution price |
| Connectivity fee | €2.50 per yearPer exchange used, home market and Tradegate exempt | None |
| Regulators | BaFin, AFM, DNB | BaFin, Deutsche Bundesbank |
About Scalable Capital
Scalable Capital was founded in Munich in 2014 and launched its digital wealth management service in 2016, adding a neobroker platform in 2020. It now serves more than one million clients with over €60 billion in assets across Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.
The broker lets you invest in stocks, ETFs, funds and crypto ETPs on your own, or hand the job over to Scalable Wealth for a managed, globally diversified portfolio. Two pricing models are available: the FREE Broker with no monthly fee, and the PRIME+ Broker at €4.99 per month with a trading flat rate on orders of €250 or more.
In September 2025 Scalable Capital was granted a full banking licence by the European Central Bank, making it a CRR credit institution supervised by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank. In November 2025 it migrated client securities from Baader Bank onto its own custody platform, though Baader remains the market maker on gettex.
Scalable Capital pros and cons
Pros
- Stocks and ETFs commission-free (in PRIME Broker)
- €1 minimum deposit
- Interest on idle cash
- No custody fee
- Regulated by Bafin
Cons
- No access to US stock exchanges
- No fractional shares
- Limited crypto available
- €3.99 per trade on Xetra
About DEGIRO
DEGIRO is a European low-cost brokerage firm that has become very popular due to its low rates. With more than 3 million clients across 15 European countries, the platform is widely known for its “do-it-yourself” philosophy.
It offers a wide range of financial assets to trade, including stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures contracts, warrants, investment funds, some leveraged products and, since October 2025, crypto at 0.5% per trade.
In October 2025 DEGIRO also restructured its ETF Core Selection. It now covers the full range of ETFs, ETCs and ETNs listed on Tradegate, over 1,000 products, for a €1 handling fee with no connectivity fee, and the previous Fair Use Policy has been removed.
The mobile app and web trading platform are basic but very efficient and straightforward to use. Some downsides are the absence of any significant fundamental research, the lack of pricing alerts, the lack of savings plans, and the fact that no interest is paid on uninvested cash.
DEGIRO pros and cons
Pros
- ETF Core Selection: full range of ETFs/ETCs/ETNs on Tradegate (1,000+ products) for only the €/£1 handling fee, with no connectivity fee (external fees apply)
- User-friendly web and mobile app
- Wide range of investment options
- Education material: Investor’s Academy and Investing with DEGIRO
- Low overall commission structure
- No account opening, inactivity, or withdrawal fee
Cons
- 0.25% currency conversion fee (charged if you deposit or invest in a different currency than your base currency)
- €/£1 flat handling fee (charged in most transactions)
- €/£2.50 of connectivity fee (paid annually), per exchange where you’re invested
- Does not offer Forex or CFDs
- No ISA account (for UK residents)
- Low-quality customer support
- No interest paid on cash balances
DEGIRO vs Scalable Capital: our verdict
DEGIRO
Best for low cost trading and commission-free ETFsScalable Capital
Best for beginners and commission-free savings plans
Choosing between these two online brokers isn’t always an obvious decision. The differences between DEGIRO and Scalable Capital come down to market access, savings plans, cash interest and how you actually invest.
If you contribute a fixed amount every month, Scalable Capital is built for that: savings plans are free from €1 on both plans, and your cash earns interest while it waits. If you place occasional larger orders, want options, futures or bonds, or need a specific listing on a specific exchange, DEGIRO’s reach is far wider. Country availability matters too, since Scalable Capital currently covers six markets while DEGIRO covers fifteen.
Ultimately, the best online broker for you will depend on your profile, personal preferences, and objectives. Explore the websites above and decide for yourself.
Want to know more about DEGIRO and Scalable Capital? Explore our in-depth broker reviews, comparison table, and BrokerMatch tool.
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss. Fees verified against DEGIRO’s and Scalable Capital’s published fee schedules in September 2026 and are subject to change.
