0
Platforms compared
0+
Countries covered
0
Categories
Daily
Data updates
New to investing? Start with our beginner's guide to European stock brokers
How stock brokers work in Europe
A stock broker gives you access to exchanges where shares are traded. When you place an order, your broker routes it to the relevant exchange - Euronext, XETRA, NYSE, or others - and holds your securities in a custody account. In Europe, all brokers that serve retail clients must be licensed under MiFID II, which means segregated client assets, best execution policies, and transparent fee reporting.
Regulation protects your money
EU-regulated brokers must segregate your assets from theirs. If a broker goes bankrupt, your shares are still yours. Most countries also have investor compensation schemes (up to β¬20,000ββ¬100,000) through the national guarantee schemes.
Not all brokers are alike. The European market has three distinct categories, each with a different value proposition:
Which type fits you?
How fees really work
The headline βcommission-freeβ hides other costs. FX conversion fees, spread markups, and custody charges can add up quickly - especially for European investors buying US stocks. Here's what a typical investment looks like:
Frequently asked questions
DEGIRO and Trading 212 are among the cheapest, both offering near-zero commission on European stocks. DEGIRO charges a small handling fee of β¬2 + 0.03%, while Trading 212 is completely free but charges a 0.15% currency conversion fee for non-GBP trades.
Yes, all brokers operating in the EU must be licensed by a national financial regulator (such as BaFin, AFM, or FCA). Your investments are protected up to β¬20,000 under the EU Investor Compensation Scheme. Your shares are held separately from the broker's own assets, so even if the broker goes bankrupt, your stocks are safe.
Many European brokers have no minimum deposit. Trade Republic and Trading 212 let you start with as little as β¬1 using fractional shares. You do not need thousands of euros to begin building a portfolio.
Yes, most European brokers offer access to US stocks on NYSE and NASDAQ. However, you may face currency conversion fees (typically 0.15-0.25%) and some US ETFs are restricted for EU retail investors due to PRIIPs regulation. Interactive Brokers offers the best US market access with the lowest conversion fees.
Online brokers like DEGIRO and Trade Republic are specialized for investing, offering lower fees and better trading tools than traditional banks. Banks may charge β¬5-15 per trade and offer limited market access. However, banks can be more convenient if you want all your finances in one place.
The Netherlands does not tax capital gains on stocks directly. Instead, Dutch tax residents pay a wealth tax (box 3) on the total value of their assets above a threshold, regardless of whether they have gains or losses. This is approximately 0.5-1.7% per year depending on your total wealth.
Browse all 100 stock brokers
See the full directory with filters, ratings, and side-by-side comparison.
Comparing 100+ platforms across 30 countries
Also in Investing
Explore more investing categories
Our ratings follow a transparent methodology. Read our editorial policy and how we rate platforms.
Investing involves risk. You could lose some or all of your money. Capmap provides educational information only, not financial advice. Always do your own research before investing. Full risk disclaimer
