Top Trade Republic alternatives for 2026

Quick summary:

• DEGIRO: The best overall Trade Republic alternative for long-term investors. DEGIRO offers low-cost access to stocks, ETFs and bonds on a wide range of global exchanges, with more than 1,000 ETFs in its Core Selection for a €1 handling fee. There are no inactivity or custody fees (other fees may apply).
• Trading 212*: The most similar to Trade Republic. Trading 212 offers commission-free investing in stocks and ETFs (other fees may apply, see terms and fees), interest on uninvested cash in several currencies and a free fractional share with our promo codes “FINTECH” or “IITW”.
• Lightyear: A low-cost app with a savings feature. No commission on ETFs (fund manager fees apply), €1 per European stock trade and EUR Savings through money market funds managed by BlackRock or J.P. Morgan.
• Freedom24: Best alternative for sign-up bonuses. New clients can get up to 20 gift shares until 31 October 2026, with access to stocks, ETFs, bonds and US options.
• Interactive Brokers: Best for large amounts and advanced investors. IBKR is a long-established broker with an extensive product selection (stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures) and very low fees. It does not offer a debit card to EU clients and pays no interest on the first €10,000 of cash, so it suits larger accounts and more experienced investors.

*Capital at Risk. Sponsored Link. To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR/GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link. Most users (80%) receive a share worth between €8 and €25. Terms apply.

Trade Republic’s simplicity, interest on cash and free savings plans have earned it a loyal following.

But you may want more markets and products, a sign-up bonus, better tools or simply a second broker so that not all your money sits with one provider.

After personally testing several platforms, these five stand out as strong alternatives for European investors. If you are not sure Trade Republic is available where you live, check our guide to the countries where Trade Republic operates.

What Trade Republic offers in 2026

Before comparing, it helps to know what you would be leaving. Trade Republic is a German bank (Trade Republic Bank GmbH) that charges €1 per trade, offers free savings plans and pays interest on uninvested cash at the ECB deposit facility rate, currently 2.50% with no balance limit. New clients in several countries (not Germany) get a promotional 3.00% on up to €50,000. Cash is covered up to €100,000 by the German deposit guarantee scheme.

Since July 2026, Trade Republic is also gradually rolling out direct trading on US exchanges for €2 per order. Its main gaps remain the product range (no options or futures for retail investors) and the more limited choice of exchanges.

An alternative makes sense if you want those extra products and markets, a welcome offer or a second account to spread your money across providers.

Side-by-side comparison

Feature	DEGIRO	Trading 212	Lightyear	Freedom24	IBKR
Interest on EUR	No	4.20% promo for new Trading 212 EU GmbH clients (4 months), 2.50% at Trading 212 Markets Ltd	2.38% APY (BlackRock) or 2.37% APY (J.P. Morgan) via money market funds, depending on country	No	1.688% above €10,000 (full rate from $100,000 NAV)
US stocks	€2 per trade (€1 commission + €1 handling fee)	Commission-free (other fees may apply)	0.1% (min. $0.10, max. $1)	€2 + €0.02 per share (Smart plan)	$0.0005 to $0.0035 per share, min. $0.35 (Tiered)
EU stocks and ETFs	€3 on most exchanges, €1 for Core Selection ETFs on Tradegate	Commission-free (other fees may apply)	€1 per stock trade, ETFs without commission	€2 + €0.02 per share (Smart plan)	0.05%, min. €1.25 (Tiered)
FX fee	0.25% (AutoFX)	0.15%	0.35%	Depends on the plan	0.002% max. (min. $2)
Debit card	No	Selected countries (not for new EU GmbH clients)	No	No	No (EU clients)
Demo account	No	Yes	No	Demo terminal before account opening	Yes (paper trading)
Ease of use	Moderate	Very high	Very high	Moderate	Low (steep learning curve)
Products	Stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, crypto (selected countries), options and futures (depending on account profile)	Stocks and ETFs	Stocks, ETFs, money market funds, crypto	Stocks, ETFs, bonds, US options	Stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, FX and more
Welcome offer	Up to €100 in transaction fees reimbursed (varies by country)	Free fractional share worth up to €100	Reward worth up to €100 with code FINTECHFINDER	Up to 20 gift shares (until 31 October 2026)	No
Regulation	flatexDEGIRO Bank SE (BaFin), Dutch branch also supervised by AFM and DNB	Trading 212 EU GmbH (BaFin) or Trading 212 Markets Ltd (CySEC), depending on your country	Lightyear Europe AS (Estonian Financial Supervision Authority)	Freedom Finance Europe Ltd (CySEC)	Interactive Brokers Ireland Ltd (Central Bank of Ireland)
Protection	€100,000 on cash, €20,000 investor compensation	Depends on the entity	€20,000 (Estonian Investor Protection Sectoral Fund)	€20,000 (Investor Compensation Fund)	90% of losses up to €20,000 (Irish Investor Compensation Scheme)

Fees and rates checked in September 2026. Interest rates are variable and may no longer be current.

DEGIRO: best overall Trade Republic alternative

DEGIRO stands out as the best overall alternative to Trade Republic in 2026, especially for long-term investors who prioritise low costs, broad market access and direct ownership of assets over banking-style features.

DEGIRO is the brand of flatexDEGIRO Bank SE, one of Europe’s largest discount brokers. It offers stocks, ETFs, bonds, investment funds and, in selected countries, cryptocurrencies. Options, futures and leveraged products depend on your account profile, since new clients start on the Basic account. The highlight for ETF investors is the Core Selection: more than 1,000 ETFs on the Tradegate exchange for a €1 handling fee, with no connectivity fee (currency, external product and spread costs may apply).

The web platform is basic, but efficient and easy to learn, and the same applies to the mobile app. On the downside, fundamental research is limited and price alerts are missing. Outside the Core Selection, trades on most European exchanges cost €3 and a €2.50 connectivity fee applies once per year for each exchange outside your home market. US stocks cost €2 per trade, and the AutoFX currency conversion adds 0.25%.

Unlike Trade Republic, DEGIRO does not offer a debit card or interest on uninvested cash. Cash is held at flatexDEGIRO Bank and covered up to €100,000 by the German deposit guarantee scheme. DEGIRO compensates by focusing on what matters most to many investors: execution, cost efficiency and access to real investment products rather than app-based extras.

New clients can also get up to €100 in transaction fees reimbursed, although the offer period and eligibility vary by country.

Overall, DEGIRO is the best choice for investors who want to build and hold a diversified portfolio of stocks and ETFs at low cost, without being limited to a single exchange or product type.

Want a more in-depth analysis? Check our DEGIRO review or see how it compares in XTB vs DEGIRO.

Trading 212: the most similar alternative

I find Trading 212 to be one of the closest matches to Trade Republic’s user-friendliness.

It offers commission-free investing in stocks and ETFs, without the €1 fee per order that Trade Republic charges. Other fees may apply, see the terms and fees. 0.15% FX fee applies when converting funds. Other fees may apply.

Trading 212 also pays interest on uninvested cash. The EUR rate depends on the Trading 212 entity that holds your account, which depends on your country of residence. New clients onboarded to Trading 212 EU GmbH (regulated by BaFin) get a promotional 4.20% on EUR for 4 months if they open an Invest account between 16 September and 2 November 2026, deposit the minimum amount and opt in to interest within 10 days (see the promotional terms). After that, the rate reverts to the standard variable rate. Clients of Trading 212 Markets Ltd (regulated by CySEC) earn 2.50% on EUR. Rates are variable and were checked in September 2026.

When investing, your capital is at risk. If you enable interest, Trading 212 will hold your cash in qualifying money market funds and banks. Otherwise, your cash will be held only in banks. Interest applies on cash in an investment account. Terms apply. The rates shown may no longer be current. Please refer to Trading 212’s Terms and Fees page for the live rates.

In selected countries, you can also spend your cash with the 212 Card, which is available with a T212 Invest Account. It is not currently available to new Trading 212 EU GmbH clients. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface.

Plus, you can get a free fractional share when signing up with our promo codes “FINTECH” or “IITW”.

On the downside, the product range is limited to stocks and ETFs (no bonds, futures or options).

Want to learn more? Visit Trading 212’s website.

Risk disclaimer: When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

Lightyear: a low-cost app with a savings feature

If you like Trade Republic’s clean app but want lower costs on ETFs, Lightyear is worth a look. The Estonian broker gives access to more than 6,000 stocks and ETFs, charges no commission on ETFs (fund manager fees apply) and €1 per European stock trade. US stocks cost 0.1% per trade, with a minimum of $0.10 and a maximum of $1. The main cost to watch is the 0.35% FX fee.

For idle cash, Lightyear offers Savings through money market funds. Depending on your country, the EUR fund is managed by BlackRock (2.38% APY) or J.P. Morgan Asset Management (2.37% APY). Rates are shown net of fees, are variable and were checked in September 2026. Money market funds are investment products, not cash deposits, so they are not covered by deposit guarantee schemes and their value can go down.

Lightyear Europe AS is regulated by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, and your assets are covered up to €20,000 by the Estonian Investor Protection Sectoral Fund. On the downside, it has no debit card, no bonds, options or futures, and fewer exchanges than DEGIRO or IBKR.

New clients can get a welcome reward worth up to €100 with the promo code FINTECHFINDER. For more details, read our Lightyear review.

Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.

Freedom24: best for sign-up bonuses

If you want a broader product range than Trade Republic and a welcome offer, Freedom24 might be a good alternative. New clients who register between 1 June and 31 October 2026 can get up to 20 gift shares, depending on the size of their first deposit (from €1,000). The gift shares are allocated randomly and their value varies. Terms apply, and the promotion is not available in every country.

Freedom24 feels like a middle ground. It is still relatively user-friendly, but it gives access to stocks and ETFs on exchanges in the US, Europe and Asia, as well as bonds and US options. It also offers ETF Investment plans for recurring investing. Commission-free investing applies exclusively to specific recurrent investment plans made through the Freedom24 Recurring Investment function, and other fees apply as per the Freedom24 Fee Schedule.

On the downside, the interface is less intuitive than mobile-first apps, and fees can be higher than Trade Republic’s if you don’t pick the right plan. On the Smart plan, US and European stocks cost €2 plus €0.02 per share, and withdrawals cost €7.

Freedom24 is operated by Freedom Finance Europe Ltd, regulated by CySEC (licence 275/15), and clients are covered up to €20,000 by the Investor Compensation Fund. Read our Freedom24 review for a full analysis.

Want to learn more? More information about Freedom24.

Interactive Brokers (IBKR): best for advanced investors

For those ready to step up their investing game, IBKR is a powerhouse. Founded in 1978, it has weathered multiple market cycles and offers nearly every product: stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, currencies and more, on markets around the world. Fees are particularly low for US stocks and currency conversion, which makes it ideal if you invest larger sums or want more sophisticated tools.

It’s my go-to recommendation for experienced investors who need something beyond a simple mobile app. IBKR also offers fractional shares, recurring investments and more than 150 ETFs without transaction fees.

IBKR pays interest on uninvested cash, but with conditions. There is no interest on the first €10,000, and the balance above earns 1.688% on EUR (rate as of 18 September 2026) if your account is worth at least $100,000. Below that, the rate is reduced proportionally to the account size.

European clients are served by Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and a member of the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme, which covers 90% of losses up to €20,000.

On the downside, IBKR’s main platforms are powerful but can be intimidating for beginners (the simpler IBKR GlobalTrader app helps), and opening an account takes a bit more time and effort. It also has no debit card for EU clients.

If you are interested in options, see our guide to the best platforms for US options trading in Europe.

Want to learn more? Visit the Interactive Brokers website.

Which Trade Republic alternative should you choose?

If you want low costs and the widest choice of ETFs and exchanges for a long-term portfolio, DEGIRO is the best overall choice.

If you love Trade Republic’s simplicity and want commission-free investing plus a free fractional share on signup, Trading 212 is a natural fit.

If you mostly buy ETFs and want a savings feature in the same app, Lightyear keeps costs low.

If you are attracted to bonds or options and a welcome offer, Freedom24 could be your match.

Finally, if you are an experienced investor or plan to manage large amounts over the long haul, Interactive Brokers offers a professional-grade environment and a product range that goes far beyond Trade Republic’s.

Each of these alternatives has its own pros and cons, so consider what matters most to you: ease of use, interest on cash, bonus offers or product variety. For a wider comparison, see our ranking of the best online brokers for European investors.

Common questions

Which broker is most similar to Trade Republic?

Trading 212 is the closest match: a beginner-friendly app, commission-free investing in stocks and ETFs (other fees may apply) and interest on uninvested cash. Lightyear is another simple app, with no commission on ETFs and a savings feature through money market funds.

Which Trade Republic alternative pays the most interest on cash?

It depends on your country and account. In September 2026, new Trading 212 EU GmbH clients get a 4.20% promotional EUR rate for 4 months, while Trading 212 Markets Ltd clients earn 2.50%. Lightyear’s EUR Savings pays 2.38% APY (BlackRock) or 2.37% APY (J.P. Morgan) through money market funds, depending on your country, and IBKR pays 1.688% on EUR above €10,000 for accounts worth $100,000 or more. DEGIRO and Freedom24 pay no interest on EUR cash. All rates are variable.

Is it safe to use two brokers at the same time?

Yes. Many investors keep Trade Republic and open a second account elsewhere, for example to access more products or to spread their assets across providers. Protection limits, such as the €100,000 deposit guarantee on cash and the €20,000 investor compensation schemes, apply per client and per institution.

Is Trade Republic available in Switzerland?

No, Trade Republic does not accept Swiss residents. See our article on Trade Republic in Switzerland for the alternatives available there.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not investment advice. When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.