Best stock brokers for European investors

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced investor, you’ll want a stock broker that offers low fees, a large number of stocks and ETFs, excellent customer service, and easy-to-use mobile and web platforms. DEGIRO, Interactive Brokers, eToro, Firstrade are the best stock and ETF brokers in Europe. I compiled this list of European brokers based on price, products, ease in use, regulatory oversight, investor protection – and accessibility across Europe.

First, we have Degiro, based in the Netherlands. They are one of the most popular brokers in Europe and for good reason.

DEGIRO

DEGIRO is a European brokerage company, based in Amsterdam. The legal entity behind the DEGIRO name is Flatex Bank, a large German bank. DEGIRO is regulated by the tier-one financial authorities, the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), and under prudential supervision of the De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). It is also registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Moreover, clients are protected under the EU directive on investor compensation schemes, and assets are kept with a segregated custodian separated from the assets of the broker.

DEGIRO is a good choice if you want a simple platform and don’t want to spend too much on fees. At DEGIRO, you can access many markets and trade a lot of different products, although forex and CFDs are not available. It’s no surprise DEGIRO has become so popular among European investors as it offers ultra-low trading fees for all asset classes, from stocks to options; while US stock trading is free. Not only that, DEGIRO charges no fees for account opening or closing, deposits, withdrawals, annual maintenance, custodial services, or maintaining your account.

On the other hand, as DEGIRO is an execution-only broker, its research tools are limited. We should also mention that it offers no forex trading, and most clients can only deposit and withdraw by bank transfer. All-in-all, DEGIRO delivers a great package for everyday investors, so feel free to go ahead and give it a try.

Supported countries: Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Czech republic, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Greece, Hungary, Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom, Norway, Finland, and Ireland.

Interactive Brokers

As a stock broker for European retail investors, Interactive Brokers appeals with its plethora of products, rock-bottom pricing, long history, and high level of trust. Interactive Brokers is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including top-tier ones like the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Its parent company, Interactive Brokers Group, is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange.

We recommend this broker both for advanced traders and for everyday investors who want to have access to many stock markets. At Interactive Brokers, you have access to roughly 150 exchanges worldwide and all product types are available. Interactive Brokers's trading fees are low which makes it suitable for you even if you trade often like multiple times a week or daily. The web trading platform is user-friendly, even for beginners. The quality of research is good and you can choose various third-party providers as well. If you have experience navigating complex platforms and enjoy transparent, low-cost trading, Interactive Brokers is a great fit for you.

Supported countries: Most of Europe

eToro

With more than 12 million users worldwide, eToro has grown to become one of the most popular online stock brokerages in Europe. They are fully regulated within Europe, with financial oversight from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), as well as the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). Most importantly, European clients are protected by EU or UK investor compensation schemes.

eToro has commission-free stocks for EU and UK clients, meaning there is no broker fee for buying or selling. For the most part, you will trade and own the underlying asset in your name, not a derivative, which is important in terms of protection.

It has some drawbacks, though. eToro only allows USD accounts, There is a $10 inactivity fee after 12 months, but simply logging into your account will reset the timer.

Thanks to its beginner-friendly trading platforms and simple pricing structure, investors can easily trading without worrying too much about fees or complexity.

Supported countries: Visit eToro for the most up to date list of supported jurisdictions (click here)

Firstrade

Firstrade is a well-known, low-cost US online brokerage with extensive investing opportunities for both beginners and experienced investors. It is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). All customers are covered by the US investor protection scheme, called the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).

The firm is a standout due to its long-standing commission-free trading offer for stocks, options, and ETFs for investors across the world. If you are from Europe but focusing on the US market, feel free to try it on.

Supported countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Bottom line

Pick any of them and take the next step in your investment journey. Let us know what you think in the comment section.