DEGIRO
★★★★★4.0/5
Strengths
- 50+ Global Exchanges
- Low Fees
- Options & Futures
- Access to Asian Markets
Weaknesses
- No Savings Plan
- No Crypto
Best for
International Stocks
Go to DEGIRO →* Affiliate link · no extra cost for you
Broker Comparison 2026
DEGIRO vs. Flatex
Detailed comparison of all fees, features, and suitability — updated for 2026.
DEGIRO
vs
Flatex
Our Recommendation
DEGIRO is the better choice for International Stocks, while Flatex wins for Austrian Investors. Which one suits you depends on your strategy — the detailed comparison below shows every difference.
Numeric Comparison
| Metric | DEGIRO | Flatex | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order fee per trade | 2.00 € | 5.90 € | 3.90 € cheaper at DEGIRO |
| 10y savings plan cost @ €100/month | 240 € | 708 € | 468 € cheaper at DEGIRO |
| Available exchanges | 8 | 6 | +2 more at DEGIRO |
| BMInsider rating | 4.0/5 | 3.8/5 | +0.2 at DEGIRO |
Bottom line: a €100/month savings plan over 10 years costs 468 € less at DEGIRO.
Flatex
★★★★★3.8/5
Strengths
- Many Trading Venues
- Options & Futures
- Tax-Simple for Austria
- Demo Account
Weaknesses
- Higher Order Fees
- Savings Plan Not Free
Best for
Austrian Investors
Go to Flatex →* Affiliate link · no extra cost for you
Detailed Comparison
All fees, products, and platform features compared side-by-side. The "Winner" column shows which broker leads in each category.
| Feature | DEGIRO | Flatex | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & Costs | |||
| Order Fee | 2€ + 0.03% (Europa) / 2€ + 0.05% (USA) | 5.90€ + Börsengebühr | DEGIRO |
| ETF Savings Plan Fee | - | 1.50€ | Tie |
| Account Fee | 0€/Year + 2.50€ Connectivity fee/Exchange/Year | 0€/Year | Flatex |
| Minimum Deposit | 0€ | 0€ | Tie |
| Interest on Cash | 0% | 0% | Tie |
| Product Range | |||
| Stocks | Tie | ||
| ETFs | Tie | ||
| Crypto | Tie | ||
| Options | Tie | ||
| CFDs | Tie | ||
| Fractional Shares | Tie | ||
| Number of Exchanges | Xetra, Euronext, NYSE | Xetra, Frankfurt, Wien | DEGIRO |
| Platform & Tools | |||
| Mobile App | Tie | ||
| Desktop Platform | Tie | ||
| Demo Account | Flatex | ||
| Security & Regulation | |||
| Regulated by | AFM / BaFin | BaFin / FMA | Tie |
| Deposit Protection | 100.000€ | 100.000€ | Tie |
| Founded | 2013 | 2006 | Tie |
| Overall Rating | |||
| Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | DEGIRO |
Which Broker for Whom?
Depending on your strategy and experience, one broker fits better. Here's how to decide:
For Beginners
Flatex
Low barriers, simple app, demo account and no hidden costs — perfect to get started.
More about Flatex →For Active Traders
DEGIRO
Low per-order fees, many trading venues and derivatives access — important if you trade regularly.
More about DEGIRO →For Long-Term Investors
Flatex
Free savings plans, interest on cash and no custody fee — what matters when you buy & hold.
More about Flatex →Detailed Assessment
Who is DEGIRO?
DEGIRO offers access to 50+ exchanges worldwide at low fees. Ideal for internationally diversified portfolios.
Strengths in Detail
- 50+ Global Exchanges
- Low Fees
- Options & Futures
- Access to Asian Markets
Weaknesses
- No Savings Plan
- No Crypto
- No Interest on Cash
- Not Tax-Simple for Austria
Who is DEGIRO worth it for?
Particularly suitable for: International Stocks, Active Traders, Advanced Investors.
Who is Flatex?
Flatex is especially popular in Austria as a tax-simple broker with access to many exchanges and derivatives.
Strengths in Detail
- Many Trading Venues
- Options & Futures
- Tax-Simple for Austria
- Demo Account
Weaknesses
- Higher Order Fees
- Savings Plan Not Free
- No Interest on Cash
- No Crypto
Who is Flatex worth it for?
Particularly suitable for: Austrian Investors, Options Trading, Many Exchanges.
DEGIRO vs Flatex — sister companies under flatexDEGIRO
This comparison has a unique twist: DEGIRO and Flatex are now part of the same parent company — flatexDEGIRO Bank AG, listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The merger (completed 2020) preserves both brand identities while sharing back-end infrastructure. This means similar regulatory frameworks (BaFin / AFM), similar deposit protection (€100 000), and surprisingly different product offerings depending on whether you sign up via flatex.de or degiro.de.
The key differentiation: Flatex serves the German + Austrian retail market with a Direktbank-style depot interface and steuereinfach status. DEGIRO serves the pan-European market with a more international focus — Tokyo, Hong Kong, Australia all available — but no automatic German tax withholding. Both are owned by the same group; the user-facing products diverge meaningfully.
When DEGIRO is the better pick
You want non-European market access. DEGIRO routes to Tokyo (TSE), Hong Kong (HKEX), Australia (ASX), Toronto (TSX), Singapore (SGX), and 50+ exchanges total. Flatex offers Wien, Six, US, Frankfurt — but no Asian or Australian markets. For investors picking single stocks on Asian exchanges, DEGIRO is one of the only retail options.
You want lower commissions on European stocks. DEGIRO charges 2 € + 0.03 % for European trades — about 2 € + €1.50 = €3.50 on a €5 000 European order. Flatex charges €5.90 + €1.50 venue = €7.40 on the same trade. DEGIRO is ~50 % cheaper at this size on European equities.
You're a younger digital-native investor. DEGIRO's interface is more app-modern; the order flow, charts and portfolio analytics feel newer-generation. Flatex's WebFiliale is functional but visibly older — the order ticket and charting are less polished.
You want a "Core Selection" of commission-free ETFs. DEGIRO offers ~200 ETFs with one free trade per month under their Core Selection promotion. Flatex's free-ETF list is similarly structured but smaller. For users who target a 3-fund DCA setup with monthly buys, DEGIRO's Core Selection is slightly more flexible.
When Flatex is the better pick
You want German tax-simple status. Flatex withholds 25 % KESt + 5.5 % Soli at source automatically. DEGIRO is not a German tax-simple broker — every trade requires manual Anlage KAP filing. For German residents valuing automatic tax handling, this single dimension closes the comparison.
You're an Austrian tax resident. Flatex Austria is austriakonform — automatic Austrian KESt withholding. DEGIRO Austria explicitly states it is not steuereinfach. For AT residents, Flatex Austria offers a meaningful operational advantage.
You trade Eurex options. Flatex offers full Eurex retail access — DAX/Bund options and futures, single-stock options on European underlyings. DEGIRO offers some options but with a less mature interface. For active options traders, Flatex's Eurex implementation is preferred.
You want German telephone customer service. Flatex's phone support is in German with experienced staff. DEGIRO's support is English-first with German available; the call quality can be more variable depending on which support team is reached.
You want all German Regional-Börsen direct. Flatex routes to Stuttgart, München, Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Tradegate, Quotrix. DEGIRO routes to Xetra and Euronext but with less coverage of regional German exchanges.
Taxes — DACH specifics
Germany — Flatex is steuereinfach, DEGIRO is not. Flatex withholds 25 % KESt + 5.5 % Soli + optional Kirchensteuer at source. DEGIRO acts as a foreign broker for German tax purposes — annual statement only, manual Anlage KAP filing required. This is the operational difference that defines the choice for German tax residents.
Austria — Flatex Austria is austriakonform; DEGIRO is not. Flatex Österreich actively withholds Austrian 27.5 % KESt at source. DEGIRO Austria explicitly states it is "kein steuereinfacher Broker für AT", requiring manual Anlage E1kv reporting on FinanzOnline.
Vorabpauschale 2026: Flatex applies the Vorabpauschale automatically on January 2 by debiting the cash account. DEGIRO reports the Vorabpauschale base in the year-end statement; you must report it manually in Anlage KAP-INV.
Quellensteuer on US dividends: Flatex credits the standard 15 % US withholding against German KESt automatically. DEGIRO withholds 15 % (W-8BEN filed) but does not auto-credit — you claim it yourself in Anlage KAP.
Currency-gain tracking: EUR-tax-resident clients holding USD-denominated DEGIRO positions trigger taxable currency gains/losses on every position close. Flatex EUR-only operations abstract this away.
Cost example — €25 000 active investor over 10 years
Profile: 1 monthly ETF savings plan at €100 (Core Selection on DEGIRO, partner ETF on Flatex), 6 manual European stock buys per year at €2 000 average, average €5 000 idle EUR cash buffer, DIY tax filing.
| Item | DEGIRO | Flatex |
|---|---|---|
| 120× savings-plan equivalent | €0–€60 (Core Selection) | €180 (€1.50 each) |
| 60× manual European orders €2 000 | €156 (€2 + 0.03 % × €2 000) | €354 (€5.90 each) |
| Connectivity fees (1 venue) | €25 (€2.50 × 10 yrs) | €0 |
| Cash interest | €0 | €0 |
| FX conversion (USD trades ~10 %) | ~€60 (0.25 % spread) | ~€60 (depot bank rates) |
| Net 10-year cost | €241–€301 | €594 |
DEGIRO comes out ~€293 ahead at this profile, primarily because of the Core Selection commission-free ETF promotion plus lower per-order commissions on European trades. Flatex's strength shows up only when you need (a) Eurex options, (b) German tax-simple, or (c) Wien direct.
For German-tax-resident DIY filers willing to handle Anlage KAP, DEGIRO is economically attractive. For German-tax-resident users who delegate to a Steuerberater, Flatex's steuereinfach status often saves €200–€500/year in tax-prep costs that exceed the commission gap.
Verdict by investor profile
German tax resident with bundled-banking preference + tax-simple need
Pick: Flatex. Steuereinfach + Wien direct + German support. DEGIRO's tax-handling overhead deletes the commission savings.
Austrian tax resident
Pick: Flatex Austria. Austriakonform alone justifies the choice. DEGIRO is explicitly not for AT residents wanting automatic withholding.
DIY tax filer wanting low European commissions
Pick: DEGIRO. Core Selection ETFs + €2 + 0.03 % commissions on European trades make DEGIRO the cheaper option for users who file Anlage KAP themselves.
International stock picker (Asian markets)
Pick: DEGIRO. Flatex does not route to Tokyo, Hong Kong, ASX. For Asian/Pacific market access from Germany, DEGIRO is one of the only retail options.
Active Eurex options trader
Pick: Flatex. DEGIRO offers options but the interface and tax treatment are less mature than Flatex's Eurex implementation for active options strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about DEGIRO vs Flatex.
For order fees, DEGIRO leads at 2€ + 0.03% (Europa) / 2€ + 0.05% (USA), while Flatex charges 5.90€ + Börsengebühr. Note: with CFD brokers, spreads add hidden cost — the lower nominal price isn't always cheaper overall.
DEGIRO is regulated by AFM / BaFin, Flatex by BaFin / FMA. Both fall under EU oversight. Deposit protection: DEGIRO 100.000€, Flatex 100.000€.
For German/Austrian customers, language, BaFin regulation and tax-simple status often matter most. Check the 'Regulated by' and 'Languages' rows — DACH-focused brokers usually have the edge.
Neither DEGIRO nor Flatex offers free ETF savings plans. If recurring investing matters, check a savings-plan-focused broker.
Both are covered under their home regulator's deposit protection. DEGIRO: 100.000€, Flatex: 100.000€. Securities are held in segregated accounts and protected in case of broker insolvency.
Neither broker pays meaningful interest on uninvested cash. Look elsewhere if cash yield matters.
Both offer native mobile apps with good app-store ratings. Which is better depends on your needs — try both with a demo account if available.
A second broker makes sense when one offers features the other lacks (e.g. options, crypto, more exchanges). A full switch is only worth it if the cost difference or missing features are significant.
Ready to Get Started?
Sign up with the broker that fits your strategy. Both are regulated and offer a demo account to test risk-free.