Best Broker 2026
There’s no single “best” broker — it depends on what you want to do. We compare the main brokers for the DACH region by use case: cheap savings plan, active trading, large ETF selection, or crypto. With real fees, number of savings plans, cash rates and deposit protection.
There is no single best broker
A neobroker like Trade Republic is perfect for a cheap ETF savings plan, but it’s no tool for active options traders. A retail-bank subsidiary like Comdirect offers huge selection and service, but costs more per order. Choose by your use case — the overview below sorts the brokers exactly that way.
Broker comparison at a glance
The main providers for investors in the DACH region, with the metrics that truly matter — order fee, free savings plans, custody fee, cash rate and our overall rating.
The major brokers compared (as of June 2026)
| Broker | Order fee | Free savings plans | Cash rate | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Republic | €1 | ~2,200 | 3.25% | 4.3 / 5 |
| Scalable Capital | €0.99 / flat from €4.99/mo | ~2,400 | 2.6% (PRIME+) | 4.2 / 5 |
| Interactive Brokers | from $1 / tiered | — | 4.33% (USD) | 4.5 / 5 |
| DEGIRO | €2 + 0.03% | — | — | 4.0 / 5 |
| Comdirect | €9.90 (min) | ~150 | — | 3.7 / 5 |
| ING | €9.90 (min) | promotions | — | 3.5 / 5 |
| Smartbroker+ | €0 (from €500) | ~2,000 | — | 4.0 / 5 |
| eToro | €0 (stocks) | — | 4.55% | 3.9 / 5 |
The best broker — by use case
Instead of a blanket winner: here’s the best broker for each thing you actually want to do.
| You want … | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap ETF savings plan | Trade Republic / Scalable | 2,200–2,400 free savings plans from €1, simple app |
| Active trading & US markets | Interactive Brokers | lowest fees, 150+ exchanges, pro tools |
| Largest ETF/fund selection | Scalable / Smartbroker+ | over 2,000 free savings plans, wide selection |
| Service & a German retail bank | Comdirect / ING | phone support, current-account bundle, German deposit protection |
| High cash rates | Trade Republic / eToro | 3.25% unconditional, or up to 4.55% via eToro Money |
| Crypto + stocks in one app | Bitpanda / Trade Republic | real coins and securities combined |
What to look for when choosing a broker
Add up the order fee, savings-plan cost, custody fee and third-party cost flat rate. A €0 teaser rate is no use if every order afterwards is expensive. For savings plans, what counts most is the number of permanently free ETFs.
In the EU, the statutory deposit protection scheme covers up to €100,000 per customer and bank. Securities are segregated assets anyway and protected in the event of insolvency. Pay attention to which country the broker is regulated in.
Domestic brokers (TR, Scalable, Comdirect, ING) remit the flat withholding tax and Vorabpauschale automatically — convenient. With foreign brokers (IBKR, DEGIRO, eToro) you may have to declare income yourself on the Anlage KAP form.
Savings-plan investors don’t need a pro trading account, and vice versa. Choose the broker that fits your actual behaviour — not the one with the most features you’ll never use.
You don’t have to settle on a single broker. Many investors use a neobroker for the cheap savings plan and a second account at a direct bank or at IBKR for individual trades. Switching or transferring a securities account is possible at any time and is free within the EU.
FAQ — Broker & Account 2026
Which broker is best in 2026?
There’s no broker that’s best across the board — it depends on the use case. For cheap ETF savings plans, Trade Republic and Scalable Capital lead; for active trading and US markets, Interactive Brokers; for service and German deposit protection, Comdirect and ING. Choose based on what you specifically plan to do.
What does a brokerage account cost?
At modern neobrokers like Trade Republic, Scalable and Smartbroker+, account custody is free; you only pay order fees (often €0–1), and savings plans are frequently free. Retail-bank subsidiaries like Comdirect charge from about €9.90 per order. The major providers in this comparison don’t levy a pure custody fee.
Is my money safe with the broker?
Securities are segregated assets and remain yours in the event of insolvency — they’re not part of the broker’s insolvency estate. Uninvested cash is protected by the statutory deposit protection scheme up to €100,000 per customer and bank. Pay attention to the provider’s regulatory domicile.
Can I transfer my account?
Yes. A securities transfer (moving holdings from one broker to another) is free within the EU and possible without selling, so no tax is triggered. The process usually takes one to three weeks and is initiated by the new broker.
Neobroker or direct bank?
Neobrokers (TR, Scalable) score with low costs and a simple app — ideal for savings plans and buy-and-hold. Direct banks (Comdirect, ING) offer more service, phone support and a current-account bundle, but are more expensive per order. Many people combine both.
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