Before You Start
- Basic understanding of ETF and stock investing principles
- Registered accounts with both Trade Republic and DEGIRO
- Access to your bank account for transfers
- Awareness of your local tax reporting requirements in your EU country
- Calculator or spreadsheet for cost comparison
Time needed: 30–60 minutes
What you'll need: Two brokerage accounts, internet access, sample ETFs or stocks you wish to compare, and recent fee schedules for both platforms
Comparing Trade Republic vs DEGIRO cost is essential for European investors who want to maximise returns and avoid surprise fees. While both brokers offer low-cost access to stocks and ETFs, the actual expenses can vary widely depending on your investing style, currency exposure, and tax situation. In this guide, you'll learn how to calculate and compare the true, all-in cost of investing with Trade Republic and DEGIRO in 2026, using specific, real-world examples relevant to EU residents.
For a broader strategy context, see our European ETF Portfolio Blueprint. This tutorial is focused specifically on granular cost comparison.
Step 1: Gather the Latest Fee Schedules
What to do: Download or access the most recent official fee schedules from both platforms:
Why it matters: Fee structures change. Relying on outdated information can lead to an inaccurate cost calculation, especially for new products or updates introduced in 2026.
What can go wrong: Copying fees from review websites or forums instead of the official sources may result in missed changes or country-specific differences.
Pro Tip
Save the PDFs or take screenshots of the fee tables for your records. This will help you resolve disputes or clarify charges later.
Step 2: Identify Your Investment Scenario
What to do: Decide which investing pattern best fits your needs. For this guide, we’ll compare two common scenarios:
- Buy & Hold: One-time €10,000 investment in a European-domiciled ETF, held for 3 years.
- Frequent Trading: 12 trades per year (monthly), €1,000 per trade, split between stocks and ETFs.
Why it matters: The cost structure (flat fees, per-trade fees, FX spreads) impacts each scenario differently. Buy & hold investors are more sensitive to custody and inactivity fees, while frequent traders are impacted by commission and FX costs.
What can go wrong: Using the wrong scenario for your style will distort your cost estimate.
Step 3: Calculate Explicit Trading Fees
What to do: For each platform, calculate the direct fees you’ll pay for your scenario.
Trade Republic (2026)
- Stocks & ETFs: €1 per trade (all-in, no custody fee)
- Savings plans: €0 commission for selected ETFs and stocks (check availability)
DEGIRO (2026, Dutch Pricing Example — check your country)
- European stocks & ETFs: €1 + €1 handling fee per trade (total: €2)
- Core Selection ETFs: 1 free buy/sell per ETF per month (see DEGIRO’s Core Selection)
- Custody Fee: €0.03 per ETF per month (new in 2026)
Example 1: Buy & Hold €10,000 in iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF (IE00B4L5Y983)
| Trade Republic | DEGIRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Buy Fee | €1 | €2 (if not Core Selection; €0 if Core Selection used correctly) |
| Custody Fee (3 years) | €0 | €0.03 × 36 months = €1.08 |
| Sell Fee | €1 | €2 (or €0 with Core Selection) |
| Total Explicit Fees | €2 | €3.08 (or €1.08 with Core Selection) |
Example 2: 12 Trades/Year (€1,000 per trade, stocks & ETFs)
| Trade Republic | DEGIRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Fees (12 trades) | 12 × €1 = €12 | 12 × €2 = €24 |
| Custody Fees (12 positions for 1 year) | €0 | 12 × €0.03 × 12 = €4.32 |
| Total Explicit Fees | €12 | €28.32 |
What can go wrong: Not checking if your ETF is part of DEGIRO’s Core Selection can lead to unexpected charges. For Trade Republic, assuming all ETFs are zero-commission (only certain savings plans are free).
Step 4: Factor in Hidden and Indirect Fees
What to do: Identify less obvious costs, including:
- Currency Conversion (FX) Fees
- Dividend Processing Fees
- Market Spread and Slippage
Currency Conversion (FX) Fees
- Trade Republic: 0.25% FX markup for non-EUR trades
- DEGIRO: 0.25% (Auto FX) or €10 + 0.02% (Manual FX)
If you buy a US stock (e.g., Apple) worth €1,000:
- Trade Republic: €1,000 × 0.25% = €2.50 FX cost
- DEGIRO Auto FX: €1,000 × 0.25% = €2.50 FX cost
Pro Tip
Always check the currency of your ETF or stock. European-domiciled ETFs (with “UCITS” in the name) are usually in EUR, so no FX fee applies for EUR investors.
Dividend Processing and Withholding Tax
- Trade Republic: No explicit dividend fee, but withholding tax is applied as per the ETF or stock’s domicile.
- DEGIRO: No explicit dividend fee; however, “Custody” account holders may pay €1 + 3% of the dividend (rare for new clients).
What to do: For both brokers, check the ETF factsheet for expected annual dividends and estimate withholding tax based on your residency and the ETF domicile (Ireland, Luxembourg, etc.).
What can go wrong: Assuming all dividends are taxed the same way, or not realising your country may allow you to reclaim part of the withholding tax.
Step 5: Consider Tax Reporting and Local Implications
What to do: Investigate how each broker supports tax reporting in your country. This varies widely across the EU.
- Trade Republic provides annual tax statements (Jahressteuerbescheinigung) for German residents, but not always for other countries.
- DEGIRO offers downloadable annual account statements, but you may need to do your own calculations for local tax authorities.
Why it matters: If your broker does not provide country-specific tax documents, you may need to spend extra time or pay for tax software/accounting services, which adds to your effective cost.
Pro Tip
If you reside in France, Italy, or Spain, check if your broker is a “tax agent” (collecte à la source) or if you must self-report. This can save hours at tax time and reduce errors.
Step 6: Add Up the True Total Cost for Your Scenario
What to do: Sum all explicit and hidden costs for your use case.
Example: Buy & Hold €10,000 in a EUR-denominated ETF for 3 years
- Trade Republic:
- Buy/Sell: €2
- Custody: €0
- FX: €0
- Total: €2
- DEGIRO (Core Selection):
- Buy/Sell: €0
- Custody: €1.08
- FX: €0
- Total: €1.08
Example: 12 Trades/Year (€1,000 each, mix of EUR stocks and ETFs)
- Trade Republic:
- Trading Fees: €12
- Custody: €0
- FX: Only if non-EUR assets (e.g., 4 US trades × €2.50 = €10)
- Total: €22 (assuming 4 US trades)
- DEGIRO:
- Trading Fees: €24
- Custody: €4.32
- FX: 4 US trades × €2.50 = €10
- Total: €38.32
Expected outcome: You should now have a clear, scenario-specific estimate of your annual and total costs for each platform. This enables a true apples-to-apples comparison.
Step 7: Double-Check for Special Offers and Platform-Specific Features
What to do: Review platform promotions, savings plans, and any “hidden” perks or limitations that may affect your cost calculation.
- Trade Republic: Commission-free savings plans on selected ETFs and stocks; no custody fee; app-only interface may limit order types.
- DEGIRO: Core Selection offers one free trade per ETF per month; desktop and app interfaces; wide market access for advanced traders.
Why it matters: These features can shift the cost equation, especially for regular savers or those trading less popular markets.
What can go wrong: Assuming that all trades are free or all order types are available. Always check the current terms before executing trades.
Pro Tip
If you use savings plans for monthly investing, Trade Republic may be cheapest. For one-off, large ETF buys, DEGIRO’s Core Selection can be hard to beat if you use it correctly.
Common Mistakes
- Ignoring currency conversion fees when buying non-EUR assets
- Assuming all ETFs/stocks have the same fee structure on each platform
- Not checking if your ETF is in DEGIRO’s Core Selection
- Overlooking new custody or platform fees introduced in 2026
- Failing to consider tax reporting complexity in your country
Next Steps
- Apply this cost comparison method to your own portfolio and trading habits
- Read our detailed comparison of DEGIRO vs Trade Republic for more broker-specific insights
- If you’re considering a broader range of brokers or investing styles, see our guide: Which Is Best for European Value Stock Investors?
- For portfolio construction tips, review the 2026 European Diversified ETF Blueprint
- If you’re unsure about tax or platform choice, consider consulting a professional (see how to choose a financial advisor in Europe).
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.