BUX is a European investing app with more than 1 million users in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. It is owned by the Dutch bank ABN AMRO and regulated by the Dutch AFM (Authority for the Financial Markets).
For years, BUX gave new users a free share worth up to €200 and rewarded them for inviting friends. That programme has ended: BUX now states that its referral programme has been discontinued.
The current BUX offer is a €50 start bonus for residents of the Netherlands who open an account between 1 October and 30 November 2026 and keep at least €1,000 at BUX until 1 January 2027. Below, we explain how it works and which brokers still offer free shares.
BUX promotion at a glance
| 🎁 Free share | Discontinued, together with the referral programme |
| 💰 Current bonus | €50 in cash (Netherlands only) |
| 🧾 Condition | Net deposit of at least €1,000, kept at BUX until 1 January 2027 |
| ⏱️ Registration window | 1 October to 30 November 2026 (account opened and approved by 30 November) |
| 📅 Payment | Monday 4 January 2027, freely withdrawable |
| 🌐 BUX available in | Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain |
| 🏆 Link | Open a BUX account |
Source: BUX €50 start bonus terms and BUX referrals page, checked October 2026.
Limitations, conditions and fees
€50 start bonus:
- One participation per person, for new clients only.
- Only for residents of the Netherlands who are not acting in a business capacity.
- Your net deposit must stay at BUX without interruption until 1 January 2027.
- The bonus is paid in cash, so you can withdraw it after it is credited.
BUX fees: BUX is no longer fully commission-free. Investment plan buys cost €0, but other orders pay a fee and US stocks carry a currency conversion markup, depending on your plan. Basic also charges a 0.20% yearly service fee on your portfolio. Plus and Prime pay interest on uninvested cash (1.75% and 2.00% respectively, up to €100,000).
| Plan | Monthly fee | Orders (US stocks and ETFs) | FX markup on US stocks |
| Basic | €0 | €0.99 per market order (no limit orders) | 0.75% |
| Plus | €2.99 | €0.99, plus 3 zero-fee orders a month on ETFs and EU stocks | 0.25% |
| Prime | €7.99 | €0.99, plus 5 zero-fee orders a month on ETFs and EU stocks | 0.20% |
Source: BUX fees, checked October 2026. EU stock orders cost €3.99 on Basic, €1.99 on Plus and €0.99 on Prime.
Read the full conditions on the BUX start bonus page before you sign up.
Other free share promotions
| Referral link | Bonus Promotion | Terms and Conditions |
| Trading 212 | 1 free fractional share worth up to €100 (code IITW, sponsored link) | Trading 212 free share details |
| Lightyear | Fractional share or ETF worth €10 to €100 (code INVESTINGINTHEWEB) | Lightyear promotion terms |
| Freedom24 | Up to 20 gift shares with a deposit from €1,000, until 31 October 2026 (not available in the Netherlands) | Freedom24 free stock details |
Source: each provider’s website, checked October 2026.
Disclaimer: When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.
*Sponsored Link: To get a free fractional share worth up to €100, you can open an account with Trading 212 through our sponsored link or with the promo code “IITW”. The value is random: there is an 80% chance it is worth €8 to €25, 15% for €25.01 to €50, 3% for €50.01 to €75 and 2% for €75.01 to €100. Terms apply. A 0.15% FX fee applies when converting funds. Other fees may apply.
Lightyear: Investing involves risk. The reward value is random and the promotion conditions are shown in the app. Terms apply.
Bottom line
The BUX free share is gone, and the referral programme that came with it has been discontinued. If you live in the Netherlands, the €50 start bonus is the current BUX offer, but it requires a €1,000 net deposit kept at BUX until 1 January 2027, so it only makes sense if you were planning to use BUX anyway.
If a free share is what you are after, Trading 212 and Lightyear still offer one to new clients, and Freedom24 offers gift shares outside the Netherlands until 31 October 2026.
Are you still undecided on whether BUX is the right platform for you? Check our BUX review.
FAQs
How good is BUX as a brokerage?
BUX is an AFM-regulated app owned by ABN AMRO, with simple plans and low fees on ETF investment plans. For a full assessment, see our BUX review linked above.
Where is BUX available?
BUX is available in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain.
Is the BUX bonus subject to tax?
It depends on your country’s tax rules. Ask a tax adviser about the treatment of promotional bonuses.
Does BUX still give free shares?
No. BUX has discontinued its free share and referral programme. The current offer is a €50 cash start bonus for new clients in the Netherlands, limited to one per person.
Why do companies give free shares?
Companies give free shares to incentivize referrals and grow their customer base.
Does BUX offer crypto trading?
No. BUX stopped crypto trading on 19 March 2024, and remaining crypto positions were moved to Coinmerce. BUX now offers shares, ETFs and ETCs.
Are there other trading apps offering free bonuses?
Yes. Trading 212, Lightyear and Freedom24 offer free or gift shares to new clients (see the table above). UK investors can also check our list of free shares in the UK.
