Opening block
You, a Romanian investor or trader, need a clear broker choice.
This guide targets you whether you trade stocks, ETFs (exchange-traded funds), forex (foreign exchange), CFDs (contracts for difference), or want passive investing.
Read 7 broker profiles, each with concrete costs, instruments and platform notes.
Expect comparisons across spreads, commissions, instrument counts and support.
Find a short comparison table and a decision tree to speed your choice.
Use the TL;DR for a quick pick.
Scan broker profiles for strategy-specific details.
Then confirm with the table and bottom-line guidance.
Check deposit options, fees, and required minimums before opening an account.
Quick Answer / TL;DR
Want lowest trading costs and pro-grade execution → Interactive Brokers: sub-€1 commissions and deep liquidity.
Want easy social and commission-free stock trading → eToro: 0% stock commission and copy-trading.
Want best multi-asset platform and research → Saxo: 10,000+ instruments and pro-grade analytics.
Want low Forex spreads and Romanian support → XTB or Vantage: spreads from 0.0–0.8 pips on majors.
Want low stock/ETF fees and US market access → MEXEM: low per-share fees and fractional shares.
What We Looked For
Check costs & fees first.
We compared trading commissions, spreads, custody fees and inactivity fees.
We measured product range next.
Stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs, options and bonds each count.
We tested platform quality.
Web, mobile and desktop speed and available APIs mattered.
We checked regulation and safety.
Segregated accounts and investor protection mattered in every case.
We assessed local access and support.
Romanian payment rails, lei deposits and local-language help improved usability.
We measured execution and liquidity.
Average spread, slippage and routing quality matter for active traders.
Watch out for: promotional pricing that expires after a set time.
1. Interactive Brokers — Best for lowest all-around trading costs
Interactive Brokers is a global execution powerhouse.
It offers access to 135+ markets across 33+ countries.
Expect 10,000+ instruments including stocks, ETFs, options, futures and forex.
Why it stands out: commission structures from near €0.00 on some ETFs.
Per-share pricing can be €0.005 or lower for US stocks.
Tiered plans can cut costs for traders doing 10,000+ shares monthly.
Order routing (how trades are sent to markets) delivers deep liquidity and low slippage.
Concrete use case: trade 20–50 US and EU stocks monthly.
You will often pay under €1 per trade in total.
FX conversions can cost 0.003–0.005 of the notional on some conversions.
Best for: Active multi-market traders and investors requiring deep liquidity.
Skip if: You want a simplified app with social trading and visible 0% commissions.
Key points:
– Instruments: 10,000+ instruments across stocks, ETFs, options and futures.
– Commission: example per-share pricing from ~€0.00–€0.005 per share.
– Markets: access to 135+ markets and 33+ countries.
– Account minimum: widely no enforced minimum for cash accounts; margin needs approvals.
– Margin: margin rates can be several percentage points below typical retail rates.
Watch out for: Platform complexity and learning curve for beginners.
2. Vantage — Best for low-cost forex and CFD trading with strong education
Vantage focuses on forex and CFD traders.
Raw spreads on EUR/USD can start from 0.0–0.3 pips.
Commission models often start at low fixed fees per lot.
Why it stands out: fast execution and VPS options for automated strategies.
You can run expert advisors on MT4/MT5 with latency under 20 ms in some servers.
Educational material includes webinars, video lessons and 100+ articles.
Concrete use case: scalp EUR/USD with spreads under 0.5 pips.
Place 50–200 trades per month and keep costs low.
Leverage for eligible accounts can be higher for professional clients.
Best for: Forex and CFD traders needing low spreads and solid education.
Skip if: You only want to buy and hold stocks and ETFs without CFDs or margin.
Key points:
– Spreads: EUR/USD from ~0.0–0.3 pips on raw accounts.
– Instruments: 5,000+ CFDs on forex, indices, commodities and shares.
– Execution: typical execution times from 10–50 ms on liquid pairs.
– Leverage: up to commonly 30:1 for majors for retail clients; higher for professionals.
– Commission: per-lot commission options often from $3–$7 per standard lot round turn.
Watch out for: CFD model increases risk for long-term buy-and-hold equity strategies.
3. Saxo — Best for platform power and institutional-grade research
Saxo offers deep research and a professional-grade platform.
Expect access to 10,000+ instruments across global markets.
Advanced order types and in-platform baskets speed portfolio moves.
Why it stands out: rich analytics with multi-leg orders and scenario testing.
Research coverage often includes 50–200 analyst reports per month.
Corporate bond and structured product access suits portfolio allocators.
Concrete use case: manage 50+ international stocks, bonds and funds.
Generate detailed tax and performance reports monthly or quarterly.
Use multi-asset allocation tools with rebalancing cycles of 1–12 months.
Best for: Investors who value research, sophisticated order types and multi-asset allocation tools.
Skip if: You require the absolute lowest per-trade commission or you have very small balances.
Key points:
– Instruments: 10,000+ including stocks, ETFs, bonds, options and futures.
– Account tiers: tiered pricing often linked to trade volume and assets under management.
– Minimums: some tiers require minimum balances such as €2,000–€10,000 for premium service.
– Research: 50–200 analyst notes or market insights per month on average.
– Platform: desktop and web with 10+ built-in order types.
Watch out for: Higher service tiers can carry larger minimums or base fees.
4. XTB — Best for low-commission forex and localized Romanian support
XTB combines local support with competitive forex pricing.
Majors often show spreads from ~0.1–0.8 pips.
Romanian-language resources and a local support line exist.
Why it stands out: clear fee lists and responsive local support.
Deposit and withdrawal times commonly range from 1–3 business days.
Education includes 200+ video lessons and 100+ daily market analyses.
Concrete use case: place 5–30 forex trades monthly with fast deposits in lei.
Make quick EUR or RON deposits via local rails and start trading within 24–72 hours.
Use the platform with mobile, web and a downloadable app.
Best for: Forex traders who value local-language resources and simple pricing.
Skip if: You need deep options or bond markets access.
Key points:
– Spreads: majors from ~0.1–0.8 pips depending on account and time.
– Instruments: several thousand CFDs and a growing selection of physical stocks/ETFs.
– Deposits: 1–3 business days for bank transfers; e-wallets often instant.
– Education: 200+ videos plus live webinars; daily market commentary 5 days/week.
– Fees: some stock trades from single-digit euros depending on market.
Watch out for: CFD focus may limit buy-and-hold instrument availability.
5. eToro — Best for commission-free stock investing and social trading
eToro offers commission-free stock and ETF buying for standard equity trades.
Platform includes copy-trading with thousands of trader profiles.
Crypto trading and thematic portfolios expand options.
Why it stands out: 0% stock commissions, though currency conversion fees apply.
Copy-trade features show performance over 3, 6 and 12 months for each signal provider.
Minimums to copy a trader often start at €200 per copied portfolio.
Concrete use case: buy US and EU stocks commission-free and mirror a verified trader.
Open an account with a typical minimum deposit between €50 and €200.
Trade dozens of stocks per month with no per-trade commissions.
Best for: Beginner to intermediate investors seeking simplicity and social features.
Skip if: You need professional order types or advanced charting for active trading.
Key points:
– Commission: 0% on standard stock trades; conversion fees typically around 0.5%–0.75%.
– Instruments: thousands of stocks and ETFs plus dozens of crypto assets.
– Minimum deposit: common initial deposit from €50–€200 depending on payment method.
– Copy-trading: performance stats over 3, 6 and 12 months; minimum copy amounts from €200.
– Fees: crypto spreads and non-stock product fees vary widely.
Watch out for: Wider spreads on some products and limited advanced trading features.
6. MEXEM — Best for low stock/ETF fees and fractional shares
MEXEM markets itself on low per-share trading costs.
Per-share fees can start as low as €0.002 per share.
Fractional shares allow investments from as little as €1.
Why it stands out: very low per-share pricing for active equity traders.
Access to US markets and options adds flexibility.
Account types often support margin and extended-hours trading.
Concrete use case: buy partial shares of high-priced US stocks for under €1 fee.
Trade 5–30 equity trades monthly and keep costs low with per-share pricing.
Hold ETFs and rebalance monthly or quarterly with minimal fees.
Best for: Cost-conscious equity investors and fractional-share buyers.
Skip if: You exclusively trade forex or need local Romanian support.
Key points:
– Commissions: per-share fees from €0.002–€0.01 depending on market and volume.
– Fractional trading: invest from €1 in some US stocks.
– Instruments: large list of US equities, ETFs and options.
– Account features: extended hours and margin available based on approvals.
– Execution: competitive access to US exchanges with direct routing.
Watch out for: Interface may be less polished, and local support can be limited.
7. IG — Best for web trading and derivatives access
IG runs a polished web trading interface.
Its derivatives offering includes futures and a large CFD catalog.
Charting includes advanced indicators and multi-timeframe analysis.
Why it stands out: powerful web platform with custom alerts and risk tools.
Futures fees vary by exchange; index CFD spreads are typically competitive.
Direct market access exists for some large-cap stock trades.
Concrete use case: trade index futures and CFDs, and use a clean web UI.
Open a derivatives-focused account and trade with per-contract fees from several euros.
Run technical strategies with alerts and 20+ built-in indicators.
Best for: Traders focused on derivatives and those who prefer a powerful web platform.
Skip if: You want the absolute lowest commission on long-term stock buys.
Key points:
– Instruments: large CFD and futures catalog plus physical shares and ETFs.
– Platform: award-winning web platform with 20+ chart indicators.
– Fees: futures per-contract fees vary by exchange; index spreads are competitive.
– Education: workshops, 100+ webinars and market insight daily.
– Account features: DMA (direct market access) for some products; customizable risk rules.
Watch out for: CFD leverage and additional custody fees for inactive holdings.
Comparison table intro
Quick snapshot comparing fees, instruments, regulation, and starting commission for the seven brokers.
| Broker | Best for | Starting commission / fee | Instruments available | Regulation / safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | Lowest costs, multi-market | From ~€0.00–€0.005 per share or low % | 10,000+ markets | Regulated by major EU/US bodies |
| Vantage | Forex/CFD low spreads | Spreads from ~0.0–0.3 pips + commission | 5,000+ CFDs/FX | Regulated regionally |
| Saxo | Platform & research | Tiered pricing; higher minimums | 10,000+ instruments | EU-regulated, institutional-grade |
| XTB | Local support, forex | Spreads from ~0.1–0.8 pips | Thousands of CFDs & stocks | EU-regulated |
| eToro | Commission-free stocks, social | 0% stock commissions; currency fees apply | Thousands of stocks/ETFs/crypto | EU-regulated |
| MEXEM | Low stock/ETF fees | Per-share fees from €0.002+ | US equities, ETFs, options | Regulated in major markets |
| IG | Derivatives & web platform | Variable: spreads and per-contract fees | CFDs, futures, shares | Regulated, large firm |
Summary after table
Fees and instruments vary.
Pick the broker whose pricing model and instrument coverage match your trade frequency and asset focus.
Closing — How to Choose / Bottom Line
If you trade frequently across many markets and want lowest cost → choose Interactive Brokers.
Expect sub-€1 trades and access to 135+ markets.
If you trade forex/CFDs and need ultra-low spreads and education → choose Vantage or XTB.
Expect EUR/USD spreads from 0.0–0.8 pips and deposit times of 1–3 days.
If you want polished research and multi-asset allocation tools → choose Saxo.
Expect 10,000+ instruments and 50–200 research notes monthly.
If you prefer simple, commission-free stock purchases and social trading → choose eToro.
Expect 0% stock commissions and minimum deposits from €50–€200.
If you need low per-share fees and fractional US stock access → choose MEXEM.
Expect per-share fees from €0.002 and fractional purchases from €1.
Test platforms with demo accounts where possible.
Compare first-month fees, currency conversion rates and inactivity policies.
Open one account for active trading and another for long-term holds if needed.
Track your first 30–90 days of activity to confirm your choice aligns with expected costs.
Make your final pick based on frequency, instruments required and support needs.