Are you confused about whether to choose Scalable Capital vs Trade Republic as a broker for your investing needs?
In this side-by-side comparison, we analyse Scalable Capital vs Trade Republic 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!
Scalable Capital vs Trade Republic
- Scalable Capital is our recommendation overall
- Trade Republic is best for beginners and earning interest
Both platforms are a user-friendly and low-cost way to invest.
Scalable Capital is best if you want to invest in the stock market by yourself or want to use their Robo-advisory service, that allows you to invest automatically.
Trade Republic, on the other hand, is best for earning interest but, on the downside, it lacks some financial products and doesn’t offer direct access to US exchanges, so you won’t find some stocks such as Reddit.
Side-by-side comparison
| Category | Scalable Capital | Trade Republic |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Account minimum | €1 | €0 |
| Interest on uninvested cash (annually) | EUR: 2.25% | EUR: 2.25% |
| US stocks fees | Not applicable | €/$/£0+ €1 settlement fee per trade |
| EU stock fees | Up to €3.99 | €/$/£0+ €1 settlement fee per trade |
| ETFs | Up to €3.99 | €/$/£0+ €1 settlement fee per trade |
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | 0% |
| Regulators | BaFin | BaFin |
About Scalable Capital
Scalable Capital is an online broker (“Do-it-yourself” service) and Europe’s largest Robo-Advisor.
They help investors invest in stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies by themselves and also help investors get a personalized, globally diversified, and fully managed portfolio.
It is regulated by the BaFin, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority in Germany. It is supervised by both BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank.
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 Trade Republic
Trade Republic is a discount broker based in Berlin, Germany. It focuses on four types of financial assets: stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and derivatives.
It uses the motto “From the people, for the people” to express its commitment to its customer by selling itself as a “no order fee” platform.
Nonetheless, a €1 external fee is applied in every single trade (Except saving plans), meaning that in practice, you will charge at least €2 (€1 for buying and another €1 for selling).
Trade Republic pros and cons
Pros
- Automatic saving plans
- Interest paid in idle cash balances
- Invest from only €1
- No minimum deposit
- Direct debit in the share-saving plans
- Supervised and regulated by a top-tier regulator
- Has a banking license - deposits are protected by deposit guarantee scheme
Cons
- €1 flat external fee in every single trade (Except saving plans)
- No demo account
- Only one base currency (EUR)
- No direct access to US Stock Exchanges - you might not be able to buy some popular US-listed companies, such as Reddit
- Currency conversion fees apply
- Engages in PFOF - Payment for Order Flow
Trade Republic vs Scalable Capital: our veredict
Trade Republic
Best for beginners and earning interestScalable Capital
Best for robo-advisors and commission-free savings plans
Choosing between these two online brokers isn’t always an obvious decision. The differences between Scalable Capital vs Trade Republic come from the trading platforms, products, fees, and security. Do you prefer a primary trading platform? Do you want to invest in ETFs only? Do you value security more?
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 Scalable Capital vs Trade Republic? Explore our in-depth broker reviews, comparison table, and BrokerMatch tool.
