Selecting the best broker or trading app in Germany is a crucial step in your online trading journey. With numerous options available, making an informed decision becomes essential for managing your investments effectively.
This guide takes a closer look at various online trading brokers and apps in Germany, examining their features, costs, and user-friendliness. Whether you’re a beginner trader or someone with prior experience, our goal is to provide you with insights that will empower you in making a well-informed choice.
Join us as we delve into detailed analysis, helping you discover the broker/trading app in Germany that not only meets your specific financial objectives but also aligns seamlessly with them.
Best Online Brokers & Trading Apps in Germany
No time to read the whole article? Here is the top seven list of what we believe are the best trading brokers in Germany:
- eToro: Best broker for beginners and social trading
- Interactive Brokers: Best German broker overall
- Scalable Capital: Best for automatic investing (Robo-advisor)
- Plus500: Ideal for CFDs
- DEGIRO: Best for long-term investors
- Saxo Markets: Best for experienced investors
- Trading 212: Best for auto invest and commission-free ETFs
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.
✔️ All of them are authorized to operate in Germany by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
51% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
82% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Investing involves risk of loss.
62% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
When investing, your capital is at risk.
Comparison of Online Brokers available in Germany
#1 eToro: Best broker for beginners and social trading
eToro at a glance
51% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
One of the leading trading platforms in Germany is eToro, an international online broker with over 30 million users who trade stocks, forex, commodities, CFDs, and ETFs. It is known for its social trading feature where you can copy the trades of other experienced traders. There are thousands of verified traders on eToro, and you can pick the best trader based on past Return on Investment (ROI), risk profile, or other factors.
The eToro platform gives users access to over 3,000 different financial instruments, including stocks and ETFs. Additionally, users can invest in ready-made investment portfolios (Smart Portfolios), a group of several assets or traders combined together based on a theme or strategy.
Plus, eToro offers commission-free stock and ETF trading in Germany (other fees apply).
Opening an account and depositing is easy, and you can even try it out with virtual money (a demo account). On the downside, spreads can be high for some products. The only currency accepted (base currency) is the USD, which means that you’ll be charged currency conversion fees upon deposit and withdrawal if you deposit in another currency.
The eToro trading app stands out as a sophisticated platform catering to both novice and seasoned traders. Its intuitive interface facilitates seamless navigation for users across all levels of expertise. Supporting a diverse array of financial instruments, eToro offers a comprehensive trading experience. The app is also like a community where people share ideas and help each other. It’s a friendly place for anyone who wants to get into online trading.
If you want to learn more, check out our eToro Review.
Pros
- Low stock trading fees (from $0 per trade)
- Commission-free ETFs (other fees apply)
- Social trading and other innovative products
- Wide variety of financial products
- Slick, modern, and easy for anyone to use
- European users have access to three account currencies: EUR, USD and GBP
- Top tier regulators
Cons
- Limited disclosed financial information
- Withdraw and inactivity fees
- Spread, overnight, inactivity, and currency conversion fees higher than average
- Doesn’t offer bonds, futures, or options
#2 Interactive Brokers: Best overall
Interactive Brokers at a glance
Another exceptional trading platform in Germany is Interactive Brokers. Founded in 1978 and publicly listed in NASDAQ (ticker: IBKR), Interactive Brokers is a global online broker that surpassed major financial crises, showing resilience and a rigorous risk management process.
Interactive Brokers offers an advanced investment platform that includes a wide range of products (stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs, futures, bonds, and currencies) from +135 markets, solid trade execution (IB SmartRouting), and a set of technical and fundamental tools to help you in your investment decisions.
Beginners and intermediate investors have educational tools to explore, but the learning curve will be steep. Besides, customer service gives crystal clear answers to your doubts, so there is no need to go back and forth.
On the downside, Interactive Brokers’ fee structure is quite complex, the registration process is lengthy (but fully online), and the broker doesn’t offer commission-free trading. However, when considering FX fees, narrower spreads, and the stock loan program, Interactive Brokers’ clients still get significant savings compared to most brokers.
Interactive Brokers also launched IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile trading app to trade stocks, ETFs, and options, ideal for beginner investors. Some of the features of IBKR GlobalTrader include automatic currency conversions, fractional shares, and a demo account.
Want to know more about Interactive Brokers? Check our Interactive Brokers Review.
Pros
- Low commissions on US stock trading
- No monthly inactivity fee
- The broadest product and markets range in the brokerage industry
- Demo account
- Excellent reputation (founded in 1978)
- Extensive research and Education tools
- Has a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks, Options and ETFs, ideal for novice investors, IBKR GlobalTrader.
- Offers interest on uninvested cash balances
Cons
- Complicated and lengthy account opening process (but fully online)
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Website is difficult to navigate
- Interactive Advisors (Robo-advisor feature) is only available for US customers
#3 Scalable Capital: Best for automatic investing (robo-advisor)
Scalable Capital at a glance
Founded in 2014, Scalable Capital is a German fintech that offers two services: Brokerage, where you can trade shares, ETFs, funds, crypto, and derivatives and invest via a savings plan by yourself, and a Wealth Service (Robo-advisor), where you get a personalized portfolio managed by Scalable Capital.
On the brokerage side, the range of available products is considerable: 7,500+ shares, 2,400+ ETFs, 3,000+ Funds, 70+ Crypto ETPs, and 375,000+ derivatives. It offers three pricing plans: “Free broker” for €0/month; “Prime Broker” for €2.99/month and “Prime Broker Flex” for €4.99. In all of them, you have free trading in a list of “PRIME ETFs”. Commission-free trading in shares is included in the “Prime Broker” plan.
Within the Wealth Service, you will only be presented with different portfolios/strategies using ETFs. First, you need to answer a short questionnaire to access your risk profile, and then an appropriate portfolio will be set for you. Up to €100,000, you are charged an annual management fee of 0.75%. You can pay the minimum annual fee of 0.49% if you deposit over €500,000.
Scalable Capital has regulatory permission from the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) to provide securities services, and it is also supervised by the German Federal Bank (Deutsche Bundesbank). As such, it is a member of the investor compensation scheme, which protects your cash (up to €100,000) and your assets (limited to 90%, up to a maximum of €20,000 per investor).
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
#4 Plus500: Ideal for CFDs
Plus500 at a glance
82% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Founded in 2008, Plus500 is an online broker offering a wide range of financial products, including real shares and CFDs on forex, indices, shares, commodities, options, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. It is available in over 50 countries and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
There are two distinct account types:
- Plus500 CFD: It only focuses on CFD products;
- Plus500 Invest: Where you can trade stocks (real shares);
The web platform you will use is the WebTrader, Plus500’s proprietary platform, offering a stable trading experience and reliable access from multiple devices, including a mobile app. All platforms are accessible and responsive, and you can start testing the features by opening a demo account.
Their customer support is helpful and readily assesses through a chat that is always shown on the trading platform. Their spreads are low, offering accounts in sixteen currencies, including USD, EUR, and GBP. Still, they charge a 0.70% currency conversion fee and a $10 monthly fee following three months with no activity. On Plus500 Invest, they only charge a small commission per trade (US market: $0.006/share).
Finally, it is regulated by financial regulators like the FCA and CySEC, meaning that Plus500 is appropriately supervised and that there is an investor protection scheme under the entity in which you open an account. For instance, If you open an account as a European investor through Plus500CY Ltd, you are protected up to €20,000. Additionally, Plus500 provides negative balance protection for CFD trading on a per-account basis – only to retail clients from the European Union (regulatory requirement).
Want to know more about Plus500? Check our Plus500 Review.
Pros
- Acessible and responsive platform
- Low spreads
- No dealing commissions
- Demo Account
- Top-tier regulators
Cons
- No ETF offering
- Inactivity fee ($10 per month after no login activity in 3 months)
- High overnight funding fees
- Very little research and education provided
#5 DEGIRO: Best for long-term investing
DEGIRO at a glance
Investing involves risk of loss.
Founded in 2013, DEGIRO is a low-cost brokerage firm that has become very popular due to its low rates! With over 2.8 million users, the innovative platform has become widely known for its “do-it-yourself” philosophy in the sense that you have everything at your disposal to start investing on your own. It offers a wide range of financial assets to trade, including stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures contracts, warrants, investment funds, and some leveraged products (not quite the same as CFDs. More info here).
For instance, you can trade some ETFs for a low cost (a €1.00 flat handling fee – external costs – still apply) with no minimum amount required. The web trading platform is basic, but it is efficient and straightforward to use. In a matter of minutes, you get used to it. The same applies to its mobile app. On the downside, there is an absence of significant fundamental research, a €1.00 commission for US stocks, a €2.50 connectivity fee applies, and pricing alerts are missing.
Regarding security, DEGIRO is the Dutch branch of flatexDEGIRO Bank AG (a German-regulated bank). In the unlikely event that the segregated assets cannot be returned to clients, DEGIRO falls under the German Investor Compensation Scheme, which compensates any losses from non-returned assets up to 90% (with a maximum of €20,000), so do bear this in mind if you are planning to invest much larger volumes. Furthermore, any money deposited on a DEGIRO Cash Account with flatexDEGIRO Bank AG will be guaranteed up to €100,000 under the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
Still any doubts? Go through our DEGIRO Review!
Pros
- ETF Core Selection list (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, CFDs, and Cryptos
- No ISA account (for UK residents)
- Low-quality customer support
- No interest paid on cash balances
#6 Saxo Markets: Best for experienced investors
Saxo at a glance
62% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Launched in 1992, Saxo Bank is one of the most solid financial entities in the brokerage industry, with a proven track record of success. It lets you trade over 70,000 financial instruments through their trading platforms: SaxoTraderPRO (for PC) and SaxoTraderGO (on mobile).
The wide range of cash and margin trading products across global markets includes stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, cryptos, options, futures, CFDs, forex, and more! Saxo Bank presents its advanced research tools for “Buy and hold or trade on leverage”.
The Saxo Bank account tiers are the following:
- Classic: A minimum €2,000 deposit is required (depending on the country of residency), giving you access to tight spreads and customer and technical support 24/5.
- Platinum: A minimum €200,000 deposit is required. In addition to Classic features, it also lowers trading prices by up to 30% and prioritizes local-language customer support.
- VIP: A minimum €1,000,000 deposit is required. Here, you will find the best prices, access to trading experts, and exclusive event invitations.
The pricing structure will vary according to your account tier. For instance, a US stock order will be 0.08% of the trade value, with a minimum of $1 in Classic. However, within the VIP tier, the same trade would be 0.03% of the trade value with the same minimum of $1. Plus, for accounts with stocks, ETFs/ETCs, or bond positions, a custody fee of up to 0.15% p.a. will apply.
The listed prices are approximate and will differ based on the resident country. For precise pricing details, refer to the platform’s trade tickets for a comprehensive overview.
Saxo Bank A/S is a fully licensed European bank under the supervision of the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA). Saxo Bank is a member of the Danish Guarantee Fund, which protects client cash deposits up to €100,000 and financial securities (stocks, ETFs,…) up to €20,000 per client.
Pros
- Excellent research materials
- Outstanding trading platforms (SaxoTraderPRO and SaxoTraderGO)
- Extensive range of investment products
- Long track record
- Supervised by worldwide top-tier regulators
Cons
- High minimum deposit (varies between countries)
- Fees higher than average
- Fee structure is complex
- Does not accept US residents
#7 Trading 212: Best for auto invest and commission-free ETFs
Trading 212 at a glance
When investing, your capital is at risk.
Founded in 2006, Trading 212 is a fintech based in London that aims to democratize the entire investment process through a simple mobile application. The company aims to do this by allowing anyone to invest in over 10,000 stocks and ETFs, Forex, commodities, CFDs, and cryptocurrencies. Over 15 million people have already downloaded the app.
In Trading 212, you will find commission-free stocks and ETFs trading, fractional shares, and even an automatic investment system (Robo-advisor). Opening an account is extremely quick and easy. On the downside, it shows limitations regarding available products, such as the lack of bonds and options. It charges a 0.15% currency conversion fee when buying assets in a currency different from your base account.
Within the app, you will notice two distinct sub-platforms: Trading 212 Invest, where you can trade a range of assets free of charge, and Trading 212 CFD, where you may trade leveraged financial products (CFDs).
If you want to learn more, check our Trading 212 Review.
Pros
- Commission-free Real Stocks and ETFs trading (other fees may apply. See terms and fees)
- AutoInvest & Pies feature
- Fast and easy account opening process
- Demo account
- Top Tier Regulators
- Free fractional shares worth up to €100
- High interest on uninvested cash
Cons
- Limited product portfolio (no Options, Bonds, Mutual Funds or Futures)
- No relevant Fundamental tools
- 0.15% of Foreign exchange fees
How to buy stocks in Germany with a trading app?
To buy stocks in Germany using a trading app, follow these steps:
- Download and Install a Regulated Trading App: Begin by selecting a trusted trading app available for download on your mobile device.
- Create an Account and Deposit Funds: After installing the app, follow the registration process to create an account. Once registered, deposit funds into your trading account using a secure payment method provided by the app.
- Search for Stocks: Explore the app’s features to locate the search function. Enter the names or symbols of the stocks you’re interested in to access their profiles and market data.
- Analyze Stock Performance: Take advantage of the app’s analytical tools to assess the performance and potential of the chosen stocks. Review historical data, charts, and relevant news to make informed decisions.
- Choose the Number of Shares: Determine the quantity of shares you wish to purchase. The app typically allows you to specify the number of shares or the monetary amount you want to invest.
- Execute the Purchase Through the App: Initiate the buying process by following the app’s prompts to execute the purchase. Confirm the transaction details, including the stock, quantity, and total investment.
- Confirm Transaction Details: Before finalizing the transaction, carefully review the provided details to ensure accuracy. Confirm the purchase, and the app will process the order.
- Monitor Investments with Portfolio Tracking: Utilize the app’s portfolio tracking features to monitor the performance of your investments. Keep an eye on market changes, stock fluctuations, and overall portfolio growth.
By following these steps, you can seamlessly navigate the process of buying stocks in Germany using a trading app, empowering yourself to make informed investment decisions.
Which platform should you choose?
When selecting a trading broker in Germany, consider factors like fees, customer service, platform usability and if it is regulated or registered in top-tier institutions such as the BaFin and FCA. Also it is important to check the range of products it allows you to trade (not all platforms allow you to trade stock options, for instance).
Ultimately, choose a broker that aligns with your trading preferences and financial goals. Explore the websites above and decide for yourself!
A reminder that the above should not be seen as investment advice and should be considered information only. Investors should do their own research and diligence about the best-suited services and opportunities for their risk, returns, and impact strategy.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, navigating the world of online trading in Germany requires careful consideration of various factors, and this guide has aimed to simplify that process. Choosing the right broker or trading app is a critical decision.
Our top picks include:
eToro
Best for beginners and those interested in social trading.Best overall
Best overallScalable Capital
Best for automatic investingPlus500
Best for CFDsDEGIRO
Best for long-term investingSaxo Markets
Best for experienced investorsTrading 212
Best for auto invest and commission-free ETFs
Happy investments!
FAQs
How to invest in stocks from Germany?
You can use one of the online brokers shown above: eToro, Plus500, Interactive Brokers, Saxo Markets, DEGIRO, Scalable Capital and Trading 212. Most US-based online brokers like Vanguard, TD Ameritrade and Robinhood are not available in Germany.
What is a brokerage company?
It is an entity designed to be the middleman between you and the people you are trying to buy or sell a stock, ETF, crypto,… you name it!
Which broker is best in Germany?
There is no single answer. It depends on what you value most: fees, security, investment platform or any relevant feature.
What are the types of investments you can make with a brokerage account?
You can trade stocks, ETFs, Forex, Bonds, Futures and CFDs on stocks, ETFs, indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities.
Is Forex trading legal in Germany?
Yes, forex trading is legal in Germany. Traders can participate through authorized and regulated brokers, complying with European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) regulations and obtaining approval from the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
How to buy bonds in Germany?
To buy bonds in Germany, follow these steps:
- Open a brokerage account with a reputable platform.
- Research and choose the desired bonds.
- Place an order through your broker’s trading platform.
- Specify the bond quantity and confirm the purchase.
- Monitor your bond investments through your brokerage account.