Trade Republic Review 2026: Honest Analysis for Dutch and EU Investors
Important upfront. This article is an independent educational review of Trade Republic, not personal investment advice. We tested the app and gathered public fee and regulatory data between April and May 2026. Investing involves real risk — you may lose part of your invested capital. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
BaFin, not CySEC: an important myth to address first
Search results sometimes link Trade Republic to CySEC (the Cyprus regulator). This is incorrect. Trade Republic Bank GmbH is a German bank headquartered in Berlin, supervised by BaFin (the German equivalent of the Dutch AFM or UK FCA) and the Deutsche Bundesbank.
Where does the confusion come from? Many comparison sites unintentionally copy one broker’s regulator to another. eToro is regulated by CySEC (Cyprus). Trade Republic is regulated by BaFin (Germany). Plus500 became regulated by EFSA (Estonia) in 2025. Three different regulators, three different countries.
What does BaFin regulation mean for you as a Dutch or EU investor? Your money falls under the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme: up to €100,000 protected per customer, comparable to other EU deposit schemes. BaFin is recognised by the European Central Bank as a top-tier supervisor. Trade Republic obtained a full German banking license in December 2023 and operates across all 18 EU countries via the EU passport under MiFID II.
Quick verdict: our rating
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Who is Trade Republic?
Trade Republic is a German neo-broker, founded in 2015 in Berlin by Christian Hecker, Thomas Pischke and Marco Cancellieri. The company has held a full German banking license since December 2023 and now serves more than 10 million customers across 18 EU countries. By end of 2025, assets under management stood at €150 billion.
Trade Republic has been profitable for three years in a row — an unusual feat among European fintechs. In December 2025 a secondary share sale took place, during which early investors including Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund partially cashed out at a company valuation of €12.5 billion. Other notable investors: Sequoia, Accel, TCV, Wellington, Fidelity, and Khosla Ventures. Trade Republic is not publicly listed.
The strategy is straightforward: low flat commission (€1 per trade), free ETF savings plans, and since 2024 also a free current account with high cash interest. The target audience is clear: people who want to invest monthly in ETFs, not active traders.
Trade Republic costs in detail
Cost is the deciding criterion for most beginners. Trade Republic is unusually transparent here: one flat rate, no hidden layers.
| Item | Trade Republic | DEGIRO (compare) | eToro (compare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock/ETF trade | €1 flat | €1 Core Selection (Tradegate) / €3.90 NL stocks | $1–$2 + 0.5% FX on US stocks |
| ETF savings plan | €0 commission | No native savings plan | No savings plan |
| Stock savings plan | €0 commission | Not available | Not available |
| Fractional investing | From €1 | Not available | From $10 |
| FX fee | ~0.5% on non-EUR trades | 0.25% AutoFX | 0.5% (50 pips) |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | €0 | $10/month after 12 months |
| Deposit fees | €0 SEPA | €0 SEPA | $0 EUR / $5 withdrawal |
| Minimum deposit | €0 | €0 | $50 (~€46) |
| Minimum savings plan | €1/month | n/a | n/a |
| Eligible savings-plan ETFs | 2,500+ | n/a | n/a |
| NL cash interest | 2% p.a. uncapped | 0% on cash | 0% on cash |
The savings-plan commission is literally €0. The ~0.5% FX fee is worth keeping in mind for US stocks or non-EUR-listed ETFs.
ETF savings plan: how it works and what it delivers
The ETF savings plan is Trade Republic’s killer feature. Here’s how it works:
- Choose an ETF from the 2,500+ eligible funds (including VWRL, IWDA, VWCE, SWRD, SPYI).
- Set a fixed monthly amount (minimum €1, no maximum).
- Pick an execution date.
- Trade Republic executes automatically.
- Fractional buying is standard from €1.
What does this actually save over 30 years?
Example: you invest €100/month in VWRL over 30 years at an average real return of 7%.
| Broker | Method | Total fees over 30 years | Final value (after fees) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Republic | ETF savings plan | €0 | ~€122,000 |
| DEGIRO Core Selection | €1/trade × 360 trades | ~€360 | ~€121,640 |
| DEGIRO outside Core Selection | €2/trade × 360 trades | ~€720 | ~€121,280 |
The cumulative difference between Trade Republic and DEGIRO Core Selection over 30 years is modest (~€360, or 0.3% of the final value). But it’s effectively “won” if you buy the same fund at the same frequency.
Dutch banking since July 2025
Since 21 July 2025 Trade Republic offers a full Dutch banking proposition:
- Dutch IBAN (NL…).
- Free current account — receive salary, pay bills, instant SEPA transfers.
- 2% interest p.a. on all cash, uncapped, paid monthly.
- 1% Saveback on card payments — automatically invested in your ETF savings plan.
- No ATM fees on withdrawals above €100.
- No surcharges on international payments.
Trade Republic now competes not only with DEGIRO and eToro on investments, but also with ING, Bunq and Revolut on current accounts and cash interest.
Note: 2% is the current ECB pass-through rate. If the ECB lowers the Deposit Facility Rate, the Trade Republic rate automatically follows.
Want 2% interest on cash plus free ETF savings plans? Trade Republic combines both in one app.
Start with Trade Republic →Investing involves real risk — you may lose part of your invested capital.
Safety: how is your money protected?
1. Regulation
Trade Republic Bank GmbH is supervised by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank. Under the EU passport, Trade Republic offers its services in the Netherlands under MiFID II.
2. Cash protection
Cash is held at partner banks (verified May 2026):
- Citibank Europe plc
- Crédit Agricole CIB
- Deutsche Bank AG
- HSBC Continental Europe S.A.
- J.P. Morgan SE
- Natixis CIB
- SEB AB
Cash up to €100,000 is protected per customer. Above that, the system automatically diversifies across multiple partner banks.
3. Securities protection
Securities are held in segregated custody — outside Trade Republic’s balance sheet. If Trade Republic were ever to fail, your investments remain your property.
4. Complaint procedure
File complaints with Trade Republic directly via in-app chat or email, or escalate to BaFin. For consumer disputes, the German Schiedsstelle für Verbraucher applies. The Dutch Kifid does not have jurisdiction.
What can you trade on Trade Republic?
| Asset class | Available | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | ~10,000+ globally |
| ETFs | Yes | 2,500+ all eligible for savings plan |
| Bonds | Yes | Corporate + government, from €1 |
| Crypto | Yes | 50+ coins, available in NL since April 2025 |
| Options | No | Not offered — deliberate |
| Futures | No | Not offered |
| CFDs | No | Trade Republic is not a CFD broker |
| Forex | No | No separate forex trading |
Trade Republic offers no CFDs. 80% of retail traders lose money on CFDs. Trade Republic deliberately chose not to offer them, fitting their positioning as an ETF broker for long-term investors.
Available order types
- Market — execute immediately
- Limit — execute only at your desired price
- Stop — sell below threshold
- Savings plan (recurring) — automatic monthly purchase
Not available: trailing stop, iceberg orders, or advanced order conditions.
Pros and cons
Pros
- €1 flat per trade — predictable and low.
- €0 commission on ETF savings plans — unique in NL/EU for 2,500+ ETFs.
- BaFin + full German banking license — strong EU regulation, €100k DGS.
- EUR account with Dutch IBAN.
- 2% interest on cash — uncapped pass-through ECB rate.
- Fractional investing from €1.
- 1% Saveback on card spending.
- No inactivity fees, no hidden costs.
- Fully Dutch-language app.
- Trustpilot 4 out of 5 stars (34,000+ reviews).
Cons
- App-only — no desktop platform.
- Limited order types.
- No options, futures, CFDs, or forex.
- No automatic Box 3 pre-filling (provides annual tax report).
- Customer support mainly via in-app chat.
- No TradingView integration.
- FX fee of ~0.5% on non-EUR trades.
Who is Trade Republic suited for?
Good fit if you…
- Want to invest €25-€500 per month in ETFs (DCA strategy).
- Take a passive approach: a few broad index funds, hold long-term.
- Want to invest fractionally from €1.
- Want to earn 2% interest on cash.
- Prefer BaFin regulation and the German deposit guarantee scheme.
- Want to combine a free Dutch current account with investing.
Less suitable if you…
- Want to actively trade with options, futures, or CFDs.
- Trade many non-EU stocks (FX fees stack up).
- Want automatic Box 3 pre-filling.
- Need a desktop trading platform.
- Use trailing stops or advanced order types.
- Prefer Dutch-language phone support.
How to open a Trade Republic account
- Download the app in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).
- Enter your details — full name, address in the Netherlands, phone, email.
- Video ID verification — 15-20 minutes with passport or ID card.
- Open your account — no minimum deposit required.
- Deposit via SEPA from your Dutch bank.
- (Optional) Set up a savings plan.
- (Optional) Activate current account — physical Mastercard debit card by post.
Trade Republic vs DEGIRO vs eToro — per use case
| Situation | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Investing €100/month in VWRL | Trade Republic | €0 savings plan, fractional |
| Actively trading Dutch stocks | DEGIRO | €1 for NL stocks via Tradegate |
| Copy/social trading | eToro | Unique offering |
| Parking cash at high interest | Trade Republic | 2% uncapped, Dutch IBAN |
| Trading options/CFDs | None of these three | TR + DEGIRO offer no CFDs |
| Adding crypto alongside stocks | Trade Republic | MiCA licence integrated |
| Full Dutch banking license | None of these three | All three EU-passport, no NL license |
For most beginners in the Netherlands who simply want to invest in a few broad index funds, Trade Republic is our pick. For those building a broader stock portfolio with NL-specific listings, DEGIRO is stronger. eToro remains unique for copy trading.
Also read our eToro review for the Netherlands and the full broker comparison.
Our review methodology
We rate brokers on four dimensions: cost, safety, ease of use, and product range. For this Trade Republic review we have:
- Tested the app by executing real transactions between April and May 2026.
- Checked official BaFin registers for licensing status.
- Validated fee data directly via Trade Republic’s official pricing page.
- Reviewed Trustpilot reviews (all 34,000+) for recurring patterns.
- Cross-checked the Dutch banking launch (July 2025) via primary sources.
Our rankings are not determined by affiliate compensation. Trade Republic is currently our pending affiliate partner.
Frequently Asked Questions — Trade Republic
Is Trade Republic safe for Dutch investors?
Yes. Trade Republic Bank GmbH has held a full German banking license since December 2023 and is supervised by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank. Cash is protected up to €100,000 per customer via the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme, and securities are held in segregated custody. Trade Republic has also been profitable for three years in a row.
Which regulator supervises Trade Republic? Is it CySEC?
No, Trade Republic is regulated by BaFin (Germany), not CySEC. CySEC regulates eToro, not Trade Republic. Trade Republic is a German bank headquartered in Berlin, supervised by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank.
What are the real costs of Trade Republic?
€1 flat per stock or ETF trade, €0 commission on ETF savings plans (2,500+ funds), €0 inactivity fee, €0 deposit or withdrawal fees. Non-EUR trades carry an FX fee of approximately 0.5%.
Does Trade Republic work with the Belastingdienst for Box 3?
Trade Republic does not provide automatic pre-filling at the Belastingdienst — almost no broker does. Trade Republic does provide an annual tax certificate in the app under Profile → Taxes, usable for your Box 3 declaration but you have to file yourself.
Can I buy VWRL on Trade Republic?
Yes, VWRL is available on Trade Republic and is eligible for the free ETF savings plan. Other popular broad ETFs such as IWDA, VWCE, SWRD and SPYI are also available.
What is an ETF savings plan and how does it work?
An ETF savings plan is an automatic monthly purchase of a fixed amount in a chosen ETF. Fractional investing is standard. At Trade Republic this costs €0 per execution.
Is Trade Republic suitable for beginners?
Yes, provided you want to invest passively. Trade Republic is designed for people who want to invest monthly in ETFs, not for active traders.
What if Trade Republic goes bankrupt?
Your investments remain your property because they are held in segregated custody — outside Trade Republic’s balance sheet. Your cash is protected up to €100,000 per customer via the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
Does Trade Republic offer CFDs?
No. Trade Republic is not a CFD broker. Trade Republic offers stocks, ETFs, bonds and crypto — no Contracts for Difference, options, futures, or forex.
Trade Republic vs DEGIRO — which is cheaper?
For monthly ETF investing, Trade Republic is cheaper because the savings plan costs €0 vs €1 per trade at DEGIRO Core Selection. Over 30 years you save approximately €360 in fees.
Our conclusion
Trade Republic is a strong option for Dutch and EU investors who want to invest passively in ETFs and earn interest on cash within the same app. The combination of €0 savings plan commission, €1 flat trades, 2% interest on cash, BaFin regulation, and Dutch IBAN support makes it unique in the Dutch market.
It is not a do-everything platform: active traders, options traders, and those who need phone-based customer service are better off with other brokers. But for Dutch and EU beginners who want to invest long-term, this is one of the best choices currently on the market.
Ready to get started? Opening Trade Republic takes ~15 minutes — no minimum deposit.
Open a Trade Republic account →Investing involves real risk — you may lose part of your invested capital.