XTB vs DEGIRO 2026 – Which is best? We tested both!

XTB and DEGIRO are among the top brokers internationally, each offering unique features for traders.

Both XTB and DEGIRO are among the most popular online brokers in Europe, but they take very different approaches. This article compares them side-by-side to help you choose the best platform for your needs.

Quick summary

• XTB: Best for commission-free real stocks and ETFs, interest on uninvested cash, and an all-in-one platform that also covers forex, CFDs, options (in selected countries), and spot crypto.
• DEGIRO*: Best for bonds, options, futures, and access to local European stock exchanges at very low fees, with the safety of a German banking licence (via flatexDEGIRO Bank SE).

All in all, we would be confident investing with both brokers – but they serve different investor profiles.

XTB is best for those looking to invest in real stocks and ETFs commission-free, earn interest on uninvested cash, or trade forex, CFDs, and options in a single platform. XTB is also publicly listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE: XTB) and serves over 2.5 million clients worldwide.

DEGIRO is best for cost-conscious buy-and-hold investors seeking the cheapest mainstream access to European stock exchanges, bonds, options, and futures. While DEGIRO doesn’t offer commission-free trading or interest on uninvested cash, its all-in pricing remains among the most competitive in Europe, and the underlying flatexDEGIRO Bank SE banking licence adds an extra layer of regulatory and deposit protection (up to €100,000 under the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme).

*Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.

Want to see a more in-depth comparison of XTB and DEGIRO? Don’t worry – below, we dig deeper and compare XTB and DEGIRO in terms of fees, safety, products and more!

Feel free to also check our broker comparison tool page for a side-by-side comparison of XTB and DEGIRO.

XTB overview

Founded in 2002, XTB is a major player in the European brokerage industry, regulated by top-tier authorities including the UK’s FCA, Cyprus’ CySEC, and Poland’s KNF, and publicly listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE: XTB). As of Q1 2026, XTB serves over 2.5 million clients worldwide.

You can invest through the proprietary xStation 5 and xStation Mobile platforms across a wide range of products, including real stocks, ETFs, options (in selected countries), spot cryptocurrencies, and CFDs on stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies (the exact product offering varies by country). XTB also offers Investment Plans for automated recurring investing in ETF baskets.

XTB offers 0% commission on real stocks and ETFs for monthly turnover up to €100,000 (above which a 0.2% fee applies, with a €10 minimum), as well as interest on uninvested cash in EUR, USD, GBP, and PLN. Rates vary by currency and are calculated daily and paid monthly.

For more insights, please check our XTB review.

XTB pros and cons

DEGIRO overview

Founded in 2008 in the Netherlands and merged into flatexDEGIRO Bank SE in 2020, DEGIRO is one of Europe’s largest low-cost online brokers, serving over 2.5 million clients across 18 European countries as of 2026. It is regulated by Germany’s BaFin as well as the Dutch AFM and DNB, and operates under a full banking licence via its parent group, which provides deposit protection of up to €100,000 under the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme.

DEGIRO provides access to 50+ global exchanges with a broad range of investment products, including stocks, ETFs (with a commission-free Core Selection of around 200 ETFs), bonds, options, futures, and mutual funds. DEGIRO does not offer forex or CFDs, and does not pay interest on uninvested cash.

DEGIRO is recognised for its very competitive all-in pricing (for example, €2 per US stock trade plus a €1 handling fee, and €0.75 per option or futures contract), and is particularly well suited to cost-conscious European buy-and-hold investors.

Check our DEGIRO review for an in-depth analysis.

DEGIRO pros and cons

Safety

Both brokers offer great transparency since they are listed on stock exchanges, ensuring tighter public scrutiny over their financial statements.

Investment products

While DEGIRO offers a more diverse product range in terms of stocks, ETFs, bonds, and options, XTB has broader exposure to commodities, Forex, and cryptocurrencies (CFDs).

Trading platforms

XTB’s xStation 5 offers more advanced trading tools and charting, while DEGIRO’s platform is simpler and more suitable for long-term investors.

Fees & comissions

XTB is more competitive in offering commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs, while DEGIRO has a transparent fee structure with low transaction costs.

Customer support

XTB: Offers 24/5 multilingual customer support via live chat, phone, and email, with comprehensive educational resources available.

DEGIRO: Provides customer support via email and phone, available on trading days but with limited hours.

How to invest in the S&P 500 on XTB and DEGIRO

Want to learn how to invest in the S&P 500 in both platforms?

Check our step-by-step videos, where we show you how to place your trade using both apps. It might be useful to get a feel of both companies before deciding which one to use! You can also read our article on how to invest in S&P500 with XTB.

Bottom line

All in all, choose XTB if you want a more professional trading environment, competitive fees, and excellent customer service.

Choose DEGIRO if you prefer a low-cost broker with access to a broader range of international markets.

Ultimately, the “best” platform depends on your trading style, experience level, and preference for social trading or advanced trading tools. 

Want to learn more about other brokers? Check out our in-depth broker reviews, comparison table, and BrokerMatch tool to find the best option for you! We particularly recommend digging deeper into how XTB performs against Interactive Brokers or our comparison between XTB and eToro.