How to Set Up Recurring ETF Investments With Trade Republic, DEGIRO, and Interactive Brokers

Automating your ETF investments with a recurring plan is one of the most effective ways to consistently build wealth in Europe. In this tutorial, you’ll learn—step-by-step—how to set up, manage, and optimize recurring ETF investments (“savings plans”) on three of Europe’s most popular brokers: Trade Republic, DEGIRO, and Interactive Brokers. We’ll cover minimums, fees, supported ETFs (like VWCE and CSPX), and exactly what to click for each platform. All examples use EUR and are tailored for European investors.

If you want a broader overview of automating ETF investing, see our related guide: How to Automate Your ETF Investing in Europe: Monthly DCA With Trade Republic and DEGIRO.

Step 1: Choose Your ETF(s) and Investment Amount

What to do: Decide which ETF(s) you want to invest in regularly, and how much you’ll invest each time (e.g., monthly or quarterly).

• Popular options: Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF (VWCE) and iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF (CSPX), both EUR-denominated, available on all three platforms.
• Minimum investment:
  • Trade Republic: €1 per plan (fractional shares supported)
  • DEGIRO: No official recurring plan, but you can automate via scheduled orders (typically €50+ practical minimum for meaningful investment)
  • IBKR: €5 per plan (fractional shares supported on many ETFs)

Why it matters: Selecting the right ETF and amount aligns your plan with your goals (e.g., global diversification or S&P 500 focus). Knowing minimums ensures your plan will execute without errors.

Step 2: Set Up a Recurring ETF Investment With Trade Republic

What to do: Use Trade Republic’s “Savings Plan” feature to automate ETF purchases.

1. Open the Trade Republic app and log in.
2. Tap Portfolio at the bottom.
3. Select Savings Plan and tap + to add a new plan.
4. Search for your ETF (e.g., “VWCE” or “CSPX”).
5. Select the ETF, tap Create Savings Plan.
6. Enter your monthly investment amount (minimum €1). Example: €100 per month.
7. Choose the execution date (e.g., 1st or 15th of each month).
8. Select your payment method (usually linked bank account or SEPA direct debit).
9. Review the summary and confirm your plan.

Fees: €1 per execution, or free for select ETFs (Trade Republic frequently offers “free savings plan” promotions—check their official help pages for the current list).

Supported ETFs: 1,500+ ETFs, including VWCE and CSPX, with fractional investing supported.

Expected outcome: You should now see your ETF savings plan listed in your dashboard, with the next scheduled investment date shown. Funds will be automatically debited and invested on schedule.

What can go wrong: Insufficient funds, invalid bank details, or trying to set up a plan for an unsupported ETF. Always double-check your bank connection and ETF availability.

How to Pause, Edit, or Cancel a Trade Republic Savings Plan

• Go to Portfolio → Savings Plan.
• Select your existing plan.
• Tap Edit to change amount, date, or ETF. Tap Pause to temporarily stop, or Delete to cancel entirely.

Step 3: Set Up a Recurring ETF Investment With DEGIRO

What to do: DEGIRO does not offer automated ETF savings plans like Trade Republic, but you can simulate recurring investments using scheduled bank transfers and “commission-free” ETF lists.

1. Log in to your DEGIRO account via web or app.
2. Search for your chosen ETF (e.g., “VWCE” or “CSPX”).
3. Check if it’s on DEGIRO’s commission-free ETF list (updated quarterly).
4. Set up a recurring SEPA transfer from your bank to your DEGIRO IBAN for your monthly investment amount (e.g., €100).
5. On your chosen day each month (e.g., the 5th), log in and manually place a buy order for your ETF using the transferred funds.

Why it matters: While not fully automated, this approach keeps costs very low (often zero commission if your ETF is on the free list and you follow the rules). It also builds discipline and can be paired with calendar reminders.

Fees: Most commission-free ETFs are free for one transaction per month if you meet DEGIRO’s conditions (see their fee schedule for details). Otherwise, €2 + 0.03% per transaction.

Supported ETFs: Over 200 commission-free ETFs, including CSPX. VWCE sometimes features on the list; otherwise, standard fees apply.

Expected outcome: After each monthly manual buy, you’ll see your ETF position increase in your portfolio. The process is not fully hands-off, but can be streamlined.

What can go wrong: Forgetting to execute your order, missing the commission-free window, or transferring insufficient funds. No fractional shares—so you may need to adjust your order to whole shares only.

How to Pause, Edit, or Cancel on DEGIRO

• Cancel or adjust your scheduled bank transfer for pausing/increasing/decreasing your investments.
• No recurring plan interface—everything is managed via manual orders and your bank.

Step 4: Set Up a Recurring ETF Investment With Interactive Brokers (IBKR)

What to do: IBKR offers a “Recurring Investment” feature for eligible ETFs (including most UCITS ETFs available in Europe). This can be set up via their web platform or mobile app.

1. Log in to IBKR Client Portal or open the IBKR mobile app.
2. Navigate to Menu → Trade → Recurring Investments.
3. Click Create Plan and search for your ETF (e.g., “VWCE” or “CSPX”).
4. Select the ETF, then enter your investment amount (minimum €5; fractional shares supported for many ETFs).
5. Choose frequency (e.g., monthly, bi-weekly) and start date.
6. Select your funding source (usually your IBKR EUR cash balance).
7. Review and confirm your plan.

Fees: Standard IBKR commissions apply (typically €1–€2 per trade for European ETFs; check IBKR’s official commission table for your country).

Supported ETFs: Most major UCITS ETFs (VWCE, CSPX, etc.) are available. Fractional investing is supported for many, but check eligibility in your account.

Expected outcome: Your plan will appear under “Recurring Investments.” On each scheduled date, IBKR will automatically execute your ETF purchase, using available EUR funds.

What can go wrong: Insufficient EUR balance in your IBKR account (the plan will fail—set up a recurring deposit to avoid this), or selecting an ETF that does not support fractional shares (may result in unused cash accumulating).

How to Pause, Edit, or Cancel an IBKR Recurring Investment

• Go to Recurring Investments in the menu.
• Select your plan, then choose Edit (to change amount, ETF, or schedule) or Delete (to cancel).

Step 5: Tailor Your Recurring ETF Plan to Your Goals

What to do: Match your recurring investment plan to your personal financial objectives.

• Long-term global growth: Set up a monthly €200 investment in VWCE to maximize global diversification.
• US market focus: Choose CSPX (S&P 500), investing €100/month via Trade Republic or IBKR.
• Starting out with smaller amounts: Trade Republic enables as little as €1/month—ideal for students or those testing the approach. For more on this, see Simple Steps to Start Investing as a Student in Europe (With EUR 50/Month).
• Combining multiple ETFs: Set up separate plans for each ETF (e.g., €150/month VWCE, €50/month CSPX) for more tailored portfolios.

Why it matters: Your recurring ETF strategy should reflect your risk tolerance, investment horizon, and diversification needs. Automating the process helps you stay invested through market ups and downs—a key advantage of DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting to fund your account: Most recurring plans require pre-funded accounts (except Trade Republic, which can auto-debit). Missed funding means missed investments.
• Using unsupported ETFs: Not all brokers support all ETFs or fractional investing—always check availability before setting up a plan.
• Setting investment amounts below minimums: Orders may fail or not execute if below platform minimums.
• Missing commission-free windows (DEGIRO): Only one free transaction per ETF per month—extra buys incur fees.
• Neglecting to review plans after changes: If you change bank accounts or ETFs, review and update your savings plan settings to avoid failed transactions.

Next Steps

• Review your recurring ETF plans every 6–12 months to adjust for changes in income, goals, or market conditions.
• Consider rebalancing your ETF portfolio once a year—see our guide: How to Rebalance Your ETF Portfolio in Europe: Step-by-Step (With Trade Republic & DEGIRO Screenshots).
• Track your progress and stay consistent—automated investing works best over the long term.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consider consulting a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.