Trade Republic vs Scalable Capital (2026)

Trade Republic suits buy-and-hold investors who want simple pricing and banking features in one app, while Scalable Capital is the stronger pick for active traders who benefit from unlimited commission-free trades via the PRIME+ subscription.

Last verified: 2026-03-20

Feature	Trade Republic	Scalable Capital
Trading fee	EUR 1.00 flat per trade	EUR 0.99 per trade (FREE tier) or EUR 0.00 with PRIME+
Monthly subscription	None	FREE: EUR 0.00 / PRIME+: EUR 4.99
ETF savings plans	Free, from EUR 1.00	Free, from EUR 1.00
Cash interest	~2.0% p.a. (no subscription needed)	~2.6% p.a. (PRIME+ only, verify current rate)
Regulated by	BaFin (German banking licence)	BaFin
Countries available	11 (incl. NL, DE, FR, ES, IT, PT)	6 (incl. NL, DE, FR, ES, IT)
Best for	Buy-and-hold investors who want simplicity	Active traders who want unlimited trades for a flat fee

Introduction

Trade Republic vs Scalable Capital is one of the most-searched broker comparisons in Europe, and for good reason. Both are German neobrokers regulated by BaFin, and they compete directly for cost-conscious European investors who want a simple, low-fee way to buy ETFs, stocks, and set up automated savings plans.

If you are an expat or local investor in the Netherlands, Germany, France, or another EU country, there is a good chance you have seen both names come up in your research. Both platforms charge very little per trade, both offer free savings plans, and both pay interest on uninvested cash. So which one should you choose?

This Trade Republic vs Scalable Capital comparison breaks down the fees, features, availability, and use cases for each platform based on data available on Capmap. We present the facts and let you decide which fits your situation.

Trade Republic overview

Trade Republic launched in 2015 and has grown into one of Europe's largest retail investment platforms, with over four million users. It holds a full German banking licence, which means your uninvested cash is protected by the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme up to EUR 100,000, the same protection you would get from a traditional bank.

The platform is mobile-first. While there is a web version, the core experience is designed around the Trade Republic app. The fee model is about as simple as it gets: every trade costs EUR 1.00, regardless of order size. There are no monthly fees, no custody fees, and no inactivity fees.

Trade Republic also functions as a basic current account, offering a German IBAN, Apple Pay, and Google Pay support. A notable perk is the 1% Saveback feature: for every card payment you make, 1% of the amount is credited towards your savings plans (capped at EUR 15 per month). This makes it possible to use Trade Republic as both your broker and a secondary bank account, which can be convenient for expats who want to consolidate.

The platform is available in 11 European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Ireland, and Austria. This is a notably wider footprint than Scalable Capital.

Scalable Capital overview

Scalable Capital was founded in 2014, a year before Trade Republic, and has a slightly different origin story. It started as a robo-advisor offering automated portfolio management before adding a self-directed broker in 2020. Today it offers both: you can either pick your own investments or let the robo-advisor manage a portfolio for you.

The broker side uses a tiered pricing model. The FREE plan charges EUR 0.99 per trade for most stocks and ETFs, but trades on selected "PRIME" ETFs from providers like iShares, Invesco, and Xtrackers are completely free when you trade during XETRA opening hours. The PRIME+ plan costs EUR 4.99 per month and gives you unlimited commission-free trades on all eligible securities.

Scalable Capital is regulated by BaFin and available in six European countries: Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and Italy. That is a smaller footprint than Trade Republic, so if you live in Portugal, Belgium, Finland, Greece, or Ireland, Scalable Capital is currently not an option for you.

The robo-advisor service charges a 0.75% annual management fee on invested assets and offers 23 portfolio options with dynamic rebalancing. It includes ESG (socially responsible) portfolios and a tax optimisation feature for German tax residents. Customer support is available via phone, email, and chat, which is a step up from Trade Republic's more limited support channels.

Detailed fee comparison

One of the most important factors when choosing between Trade Republic vs Scalable Capital is the fee structure. Here is the full breakdown:

Fee type	Trade Republic	Scalable Capital (FREE)	Scalable Capital (PRIME+)
Stock/ETF trade	EUR 1.00	EUR 0.99 (PRIME ETFs: free)	EUR 0.00
ETF savings plan	Free	Free	Free
Minimum savings plan	EUR 1.00	EUR 1.00	EUR 1.00
Monthly subscription	EUR 0.00	EUR 0.00	EUR 4.99
Cash interest rate	~2.0% p.a.	Check current rate	~2.6% p.a.
Custody fee	EUR 0.00	EUR 0.00	EUR 0.00
Inactivity fee	None	None	None
Deposit/withdrawal	Free (SEPA)	Free (SEPA)	Free (SEPA)

Both platforms trade through a single exchange partner. Trade Republic routes orders through Lang and Schwarz, while Scalable Capital uses gettex (Bayerische Boerse). This single-exchange model is how they keep costs down compared to traditional brokers that connect to multiple exchanges.

For a passive investor making one or two ETF purchases per month, the cost difference between the two is minimal. If you stick to savings plans, both are completely free. The divergence shows up when you trade more actively: at five or more trades per month, Scalable Capital's PRIME+ subscription (EUR 4.99/month for unlimited trades) starts to save money compared to Trade Republic's EUR 1.00 per trade.

Cash interest is another differentiator. Trade Republic pays around 2.0% p.a. on uninvested cash without requiring a subscription. Scalable Capital offers a higher rate of around 2.6% p.a. for PRIME+ subscribers. For balances above EUR 10,000, Scalable Capital's higher rate can more than offset the EUR 4.99 monthly subscription cost. Rates are linked to ECB policy and change over time, so always verify the current rate on each platform's website.

Feature comparison

Feature	Trade Republic	Scalable Capital
ETFs available	~2,700	~2,700
Fractional shares	Yes (via savings plans)	Yes (via savings plans)
Robo-advisor	No	Yes (0.75% annual fee)
Banking features	Yes (IBAN, Apple Pay, Google Pay, 1% Saveback)	No
Desktop/web app	Yes (web + mobile)	Yes (web + mobile)
Crypto trading	Yes	Yes
ESG/SRI portfolios	Not as a managed product	Yes (robo-advisor)
Tax optimisation	No	Yes (German residents, robo-advisor)
Customer support	Email, in-app	Phone, email, chat
Countries available	11	6
Regulatory score (Capmap)	8/10	8/10
Founded	2015	2014

The most notable feature differences are Trade Republic's banking functionality and Scalable Capital's robo-advisor. If you want a broker that also works as a basic bank account with Apple Pay and the 1% Saveback on card spending, Trade Republic is the clear choice. If you want automated portfolio management alongside self-directed investing, Scalable Capital is the only option of the two.

Both platforms offer crypto trading alongside traditional securities, and both support SEPA direct debit for automated savings plans. The ETF selection is nearly identical, as both draw from the same major providers.

Availability across Europe

Trade Republic is available in 11 countries: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal. Scalable Capital covers six: Austria, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

For investors in Belgium, Finland, Greece, Ireland, or Portugal, Trade Republic is the only choice between the two. Both platforms are available in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Austria, which are Capmap's core Tier 1 markets.

Who should choose which?

Consider Trade Republic if: you prefer a single app for both investing and basic banking. The flat EUR 1.00 per trade is predictable and fair for occasional trading. The 1% Saveback on card payments is a unique perk that effectively subsidises your savings plans. If you live in one of the five countries that Scalable Capital does not serve (Belgium, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Portugal), Trade Republic is your neobroker option. The German IBAN and deposit guarantee also add a layer of banking convenience that Scalable Capital does not match.

Consider Scalable Capital if: you trade frequently enough that the PRIME+ subscription saves you money (roughly five or more trades per month). If you are interested in automated portfolio management, the robo-advisor is a unique feature that Trade Republic does not offer. The free PRIME ETF trades on the FREE tier also give you a way to buy specific iShares, Invesco, and Xtrackers ETFs at zero cost without any subscription. If you hold a large cash balance, the higher interest rate on PRIME+ can make the subscription pay for itself.

If you only use savings plans: both platforms are effectively identical in cost. Both charge nothing for savings plans, both start at EUR 1.00, and both pay interest on cash. In this scenario, the decision comes down to secondary features: banking and Saveback with Trade Republic, or robo-advisor access and higher cash interest with Scalable Capital.

Frequently asked questions

Is Trade Republic cheaper than Scalable Capital?

For occasional traders (one to four trades per month), both are very similar in cost. Trade Republic charges EUR 1.00 per trade while Scalable Capital charges EUR 0.99. If you trade five or more times per month, Scalable Capital's PRIME+ plan (EUR 4.99/month for unlimited trades) is cheaper. For savings plans only, both are free.

Can I use Trade Republic or Scalable Capital in the Netherlands?

Yes, both platforms are available in the Netherlands. Both are regulated by BaFin in Germany and operate across the EU under passporting rules. However, neither offers iDEAL for deposits. You will need to use SEPA bank transfer.

Is my money safe with these neobrokers?

Both platforms are regulated by BaFin. Your securities (stocks, ETFs) are held in segregated custody accounts and are not affected if the broker goes bankrupt. Cash deposits at Trade Republic are protected up to EUR 100,000 under the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme, as Trade Republic holds a full banking licence. At Scalable Capital, cash and securities are held by Baader Bank, which is also covered by German deposit protection.

Do Trade Republic and Scalable Capital offer crypto?

Yes, both platforms allow you to buy and sell cryptocurrencies alongside traditional stocks and ETFs. The available coins and fees may differ, so check each platform's current crypto offering on their website.

Which has better ETF selection?

Both offer approximately 2,700 ETFs from major providers including Vanguard, iShares, Amundi, and Xtrackers. The selection is very similar. Scalable Capital has the edge if you want free trades on PRIME partner ETFs (iShares, Invesco, Xtrackers) without a subscription.

Can I transfer my portfolio from one to the other?

Yes, both platforms support incoming portfolio transfers from other brokers. The process typically takes two to four weeks and is free of charge. Check the platform's support pages for current transfer instructions.

Conclusion

In the Trade Republic vs Scalable Capital debate, both are excellent low-cost neobrokers for European investors. For the majority of passive, buy-and-hold ETF investors using savings plans, the cost difference is negligible and the choice comes down to personal preference.

Trade Republic stands out for its wider European availability (11 countries vs six), its banking features (IBAN, Apple Pay, Google Pay, 1% Saveback), and its simple flat-fee pricing. Scalable Capital stands out for its subscription model that benefits active traders, its free PRIME ETF trades, its higher cash interest rate on PRIME+, and its robo-advisor for hands-off investing.

You can read more about each platform on their Capmap pages: Trade Republic and Scalable Capital. For a broader view of low-cost brokers available in Europe, see our investing platforms directory.

This article is educational content, not financial advice. Always do your own research before making financial decisions. Fees and features may change, so verify current details on the platform's official website. Last verified: 2026-03-20.

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Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice. Capmap.eu is an independent comparison platform — we do not provide personal recommendations. Always verify current fees, rates, and regulations with the provider or a qualified adviser before making financial decisions. Information was accurate at the time of writing but may have changed.