6 Best beste trading apps: mobile brokers compared

Opening — Who this guide is for and what it solves

You are a retail investor or beginner trader in Europe or internationally. You want a mobile-first broker to buy stocks, ETFs, or crypto. You value speed, low cost, and a simple app flow.

You need a short list of trustworthy mobile trading apps. You want clear differences in fees, assets, and tools. You want practical guidance to pick one that matches your budget, asset mix, and experience.

This guide compares 6 top apps on fees, asset classes, platform strengths, and real-world trade examples. It flags limits and gives quick actions. Read for step-by-step next moves: pick one app, verify ID, and place a small test trade under €50.

TL;DR — Quick answer / instant recommendations

• If you want lowest trading costs → choose Finanzen.net Zero or Trade Republic. Expect 0–low explicit commissions and per-order costs often under €3.
• If you want crypto-first trading → pick Bitpanda or eToro. Expect hundreds of crypto pairs and instant fiat rails.
• If you need all-round advanced tools → use Interactive Brokers. Access 100+ markets, options, futures, and margin.
• If you want automated investing or ETFs → try Scalable Capital. Use free broker tier or robo portfolios and ETF plans from €1.
  Action: Pick one app from the bullets, sign up, verify ID, and place a small test trade (<€50).

What we looked for — evaluation criteria

Check these five criteria before you commit.

• Fees & pricing: Look at order commission, custody fees, deposit/withdrawal costs. Example targets: ≤€1 recurring savings plan fee, single-digit euro per trade, 0% commission ETF tiers. Costs reduce long-term returns by tens of percent if ignored.
• Asset coverage: Count of classes matters. Examples: 3 main classes (stocks, ETFs, crypto), 4 classes (plus metals), or 100+ markets with options and forex. Match coverage to your strategy.
• Usability & tools: Test app navigation, charting, order types (market, limit), watchlists. Expect 1–5 order types on simple apps; 10+ advanced types on pro apps.
• Security & regulation: Confirm custodian setup, two-factor auth, and investor protection limits (e.g., €20,000+ or scheme-dependent). Prefer regulated EU entities or well-known international custodians.
• Extra features & limits: Check fractional shares (partial ownership of a share), ETF savings plans, minimum deposits, and subscription tiers. Example numbers: savings plans from €1, fractional trades from €0.01, monthly subscriptions from €2.99.

Comparison table — quick facts at a glance

(Use the table to compare quick specs. Then read each entry below for details and use cases.)

1. Trade Republic — Ultra-low-cost neobroker (3 main asset classes)

Trade Republic is a mobile-first broker focused on simplicity and low fees. The app targets straightforward investing with minimal clicks. Expect a clean flow and fast account opening in about 10–20 minutes.

Why it stands out: low per-trade costs and simple interface. Many users pay a single-digit euro flat fee or no explicit fee on ETF savings plans. The app supports stocks, ETFs, and crypto via partner integrations.

Usage context: build a low-cost stock or ETF portfolio with regular contributions. Start with €25 per month savings plans or one-off trades of €50–€500. Use fractional shares to invest from €1 in some ETFs.

Best for: Cost-conscious investors placing frequent trades and using savings plans.
Skip if: You need advanced order types, sophisticated charting, or margin trading.

Key points:
– Fee example: typical per-order fee often €1 or €1–€4; many ETF purchases are free on savings plans.
– Asset coverage: 3 primary classes — stocks, ETFs, cryptos (via partners).
– Savings plans: ETF plans from €1 per installment; common plan sizes are €25, €50, €100.
– Account opening: ID verification in 5–20 minutes; IBAN deposits via SEPA in 1–2 business days.
– Execution: mobile simplicity; check execution venue details on confirmations.

Watch out for: Mobile-only simplicity can hide execution details and venue fees. Check confirmations for venue and fee breakdown.

Concrete use case: Set up a €25 monthly ETF savings plan. Buy fractional ETF shares and track dollar-cost averaging over 12 months. Expect to invest €300 in the year. Monitor average price and total fees under €10 for the year.

2. eToro — Social trading plus 0% ETF commissions (3+ asset classes)

eToro combines social/copy trading with a broad multi-asset offering. The platform lists hundreds of stocks, hundreds of ETFs, and many crypto pairs. Expect a social feed, public portfolios, and copy tools.

Why it stands out: social features let you copy experienced traders. Many ETFs have 0% commission for buy-and-hold investors. Spreads or conversion fees apply on other assets.

Usage context: mirror other traders and access crypto alongside equities without explicit ETF commission. Test copy trading with small allocations of €50–€200.

Best for: Beginner-to-intermediate users who value community signals and easy crypto access.
Skip if: You require professional-grade order routing or absolute lowest spreads.

Key points:
– Fee example: 0% commission on many ETF purchases; crypto trades often have spreads from 0.5% to 5%.
– Asset coverage: stocks, ETFs, crypto — hundreds of crypto pairs and 100s of equities.
– Minimums: copy portfolios often require €200–€500 minimum allocation.
– Deposit/withdrawal: fiat deposit options; withdrawal fee often €5 per request.
– Platform idiosyncrasy: conversion fees apply when trading outside account currency; typical FX fee ~0.5%–1%.

Watch out for: Copy trading carries counterparty risk. Past performance of copied traders is not a guarantee.

Concrete use case: Copy a diversified investor with 30–50 positions. Allocate €200 and run the copy test for 3 months. Track returns, max drawdown, and number of trades (e.g., 10–30 trades).

3. Bitpanda — Crypto-first with multiple fiat rails (4 asset types)

Bitpanda is a European platform built around crypto. It offers strong coin coverage, plus stocks, ETFs, and precious metals. Expect instant buys via cards and SEPA. Wallet services are integrated.

Why it stands out: wide crypto coverage, multiple fiat rails, and integrated wallet functions. Instant buys often complete in seconds. Fees for instant buys are higher than limit orders.

Usage context: prioritize buying and storing cryptocurrencies with occasional stocks or ETFs. Use instant buy for small trades from €10 up to €10,000.

Best for: Crypto traders who want many coin options and instant buys.
Skip if: You need the absolute lowest fees for large, frequent stock trades.

Key points:
– Fee example: crypto spreads and fees vary; expect spreads of ~1%–5% on instant buys for small amounts.
– Asset coverage: crypto, stocks, ETFs, metals — 4 main types.
– Deposit rails: SEPA (1–2 business days), card instant (seconds), other rails with variable fees.
– Wallets: integrated custodial wallets; withdrawals to external addresses possible with network fees.
– Limits: instant buy limits often €2,000–€10,000 per day depending on verification.

Watch out for: Holding crypto on-exchange exposes you to custodial risk. Withdraw to self-custody if long-term.

Concrete use case: Buy €100 of a mid-cap altcoin. Convert back within 30 days to test liquidity and spread impact. Track net gain/loss and fees; example fee could be €3–€5 on the roundtrip.

4. Scalable Capital — Free broker tier and automated investing (3 asset classes)

Scalable Capital combines a free-broker tier with robo-advisory and ETF savings plans. The app offers a self-directed free broker option and paid subscription tiers with added execution venues and data.

Why it stands out: both self-directed trades and automated portfolio management in one app. You can run a robo ETF portfolio with monthly contributions from €1 or use the free tier for occasional trades.

Usage context: want a single app for DIY trades and a hands-off ETF portfolio. Use monthly ETF savings plans to build diversified exposure.

Best for: Investors who want low-cost ETF strategies plus optional active trading.
Skip if: You need derivatives, futures, or deep forex markets.

Key points:
– Fee example: free broker tier for many trades; subscription tiers from €2.99 to €9.99 per month for extras.
– Asset coverage: stocks, ETFs, and selected crypto exposures — 3 asset classes.
– Savings plans: ETF plans from €1 per month; typical users set €25–€200 monthly.
– Robo-advisory: automated portfolios with target allocations (e.g., 30% bonds, 70% equities).
– Execution: free tier may route to specific exchanges; subscription adds more market access.

Watch out for: automatic rebalancing can trigger realized gains. Check tax consequences for frequent rebalances.

Concrete use case: Start a €50 monthly ETF savings plan. Compare returns vs a manually managed buy-and-hold basket over 12 months. Expect to invest €600 in the first year and review performance quarterly.

5. Finanzen.net Zero — Extremely cheap trading (limited selection: tens to low hundreds)

Finanzen.net Zero positions itself on price. It aims to minimize visible trading fees. The app is one of the cheapest for explicit per-order costs.

Why it stands out: very low per-trade cost and minimal visible commissions. The selection is smaller than big multi-asset platforms but adequate for core ETFs and major stocks.

Why it’s limited: smaller ETF and crypto catalogs compared with larger brokers. Expect tens to low hundreds of instruments rather than thousands.

Usage context: trade basic stocks and ETFs at the lowest possible explicit cost. Use it for a core passive portfolio and occasional rebalancing.

Best for: Cost-focused investors trading a core set of ETFs and major stocks.
Skip if: You need extensive crypto lists, niche ETFs, or advanced order types.

Key points:
– Fee example: many orders show near-€0 explicit commission; typical visible fee often €0–€1.
– Asset coverage: limited selection — tens to low hundreds of instruments.
– Savings plans: available; common minimums €25 per installment.
– Execution: simplified order flow for market orders; possible slippage on large sizes.
– Custody: standard custodial setup with investor protection per provider rules.

Watch out for: Low visible fees can mean limited execution venues and slippage on large orders.

Concrete use case: Execute a €100 one-off stock purchase and a €25 monthly ETF plan. Compare fees saved vs a legacy broker that charges €9.90 per order. Example: 10 orders at €9.90 would cost €99; with Finanzen.net Zero, cost could be €0–€10.

6. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) — Pro-grade access and global markets (100+ markets)

Interactive Brokers is a full-featured broker with deep market access. Expect 100+ markets, equities, options, futures, and forex. Trading tools include advanced order types, algos, and APIs.

Why it stands out: deep market access, low spreads for professional traders, and many order features. Commission structures adapt by region and product. Some US equities have $0 commission tiers; other markets charge per-share or per-trade fees.

Usage context: need global market access, margin, options, or automated strategies. Active traders and professionals often prefer IBKR for tight spreads and flexible routing.

Best for: Active traders, professionals, and investors requiring 100+ markets and advanced order types.
Skip if: You are a complete beginner and want the simplest mobile-only experience.

Key points:
– Fee example: commission structures vary; some US equities offer $0 commission; other markets charge €0.0001–€0.01 per share or flat fees like €3–€10.
– Market access: 100+ markets across 30+ countries and multiple asset classes.
– Advanced tools: algos, advanced charting, and API access for automated strategies.
– Margin & leverage: margin rates vary; typical margin APR can be 1%–9% depending on currency and region.
– Platform complexity: steep learning curve; expect 2–10 hours to learn basic workflows.

Watch out for: Inattention to margin and maintenance rules can produce rapid losses. Monitor margin utilization and set alerts.

Concrete use case: Place a limit order on a U.S. stock for €500. Set a limit price 2% below current market price. If filled, track realized slippage and commission. Use IBKR tools to route to a preferred exchange and check fees per trade (e.g., €0–€5 depending on route).

Comparison — how to pick based on 5 scenarios

Use this quick scenario checklist. Pick the app that matches the numbers you plan to run.

• You trade <12 times per year and invest €200–€1,000 per trade: choose Finanzen.net Zero or Trade Republic to minimize explicit per-order fees.
• You want to dollar-cost-average with monthly contributions of €25–€100: choose Trade Republic, Scalable, or Finanzen.net Zero for ETF plans from €1–€25.
• You want crypto access for €10–€10,000 instant buys: choose Bitpanda or eToro for instant fiat rails and hundreds of coins.
• You need 100+ markets, options, and APIs: choose Interactive Brokers with multi-venue routing and margin settings from 1%–9% APR.
• You want social/copy trading with small test capital of €50–€200: choose eToro.

Action plan (3 steps):
1. Pick one app that matches your scenario.
2. Sign up and verify ID (expect 5–30 minutes).
3. Place a test trade under €50 to confirm UX, execution, and fees.

Closing — Next steps and final checklist

Pick one app from the six based on your goals. Test with a small amount first. Use €10–€50 to validate deposits, execution, and withdrawals. Track the following numbers during your test:

• Time to open account: aim for 5–30 minutes.
• Time to deposit via SEPA: 1–2 business days for bank transfer; instant for cards.
• Roundtrip fees: record buy fee + sell fee + spread; aim for <1% roundtrip for equities.
• Savings plan minimum: confirm €1–€25, depending on provider.
• Number of supported markets: check 10s, 100s, or 100+ depending on your need.

Checklist before you commit:
– Confirm total cost per trade (explicit commission + spread + FX conversion). Target total cost <1% for typical equity trades.
– Verify investor protection levels and custodian details. Look for regulated entities and two-factor auth.
– Test withdrawal process once with €10–€100. Expect any withdrawal fees (e.g., €0–€5).
– Review tax reporting exports. Ensure the app provides CSV or PDF statements covering at least 12 months.

Final tip: Start small. Use one weekly or monthly automated plan of €25–€100. Reassess after 3 months and 12 months. Compare costs saved vs legacy brokers charging €9.90 per order. Track real numbers: total invested, total fees paid, number of trades, and portfolio return. Test, learn, and scale as you gain confidence.