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You are an Irish retail investor who wants to trade stocks from your phone or desktop. You may want low fees, a simple app, social features, or advanced order types. This guide helps you shortlist the best stock trading app ireland for your needs. Save time on research. Focus on costs, available markets, ease of use, regulatory safety, and real-world limits.
Expect a quick TL;DR first. Then see the evaluation criteria we used. Read detailed breakdowns of 6 top apps. Each app has features, two concrete numbers, and one pitfall. Find a compact comparison table. End with a short decision tree that tells you which app to pick.
Check the short TL;DR if you want a fast pick. Compare fees and features if you plan 10–50 trades per month. Test account opening times (1–5 business days) before funding a large sum. Compare FX costs when trading USD stocks (typical conversion spreads 0.15%–0.5%).
Quick Answer / TL;DR
- If you want the simplest zero-fee entry → pick Trading 212 (0% stock commissions; fractional trades from around €1).
- If you want social/copy trading → pick eToro (0% commission on spot stocks; copy from roughly €50).
- If you want lowest-cost execution for EU/Irish investors → pick DEGIRO (low fixed fees from roughly €2 per trade).
- If you want a bank + trading combo for occasional trades → pick Revolut (a few free trades per month; extra trades from about €1).
- If you want advanced tools and deep liquidity → pick Interactive Brokers (very low commissions at scale; complex pricing with tiers that can go below €0.50 per share).
- If you want premium research and multi-asset access → pick Saxo Bank (higher fees from about €8 per trade; wide product range and VIP service).
What We Looked For
Check these five criteria when choosing an app.
- Trading costs — Include commission, per-trade flat fees, and FX conversion fees. Compare 0% commissions vs fixed fees from €1–€8. Watch FX spreads from 0.09%–1%.
- Market access — Count exchanges and regions. Note whether fractional shares are supported. Prefer apps with dozens of exchanges or at least EU + US access.
- Usability — Test mobile app and web UX, order types, and execution speed. Look for limit, market, and stop orders; advanced traders may need algos.
- Regulation & safety — Confirm EU/Irish regulation, deposit safeguarding, and negative balance protection. Check custody, segregated accounts, and investor compensation covers.
- Extras & limits — Assess research, social/copy features, minimum deposits, withdrawal times, and trading hours. Note real limits like 3 free trades per month, €1 fractional minimums, or T+2 settlement.
Watch out for inactivity fees, custody fees, and minimum withdrawal thresholds. Compare concrete numbers, not marketing claims.
1. eToro — Social trading with copy features
eToro is a social-first broker focused on copy trading and commission-free spot stock investing. It offers CFDs (Contract for Difference) and leveraged products; CFDs are derivatives (a contract mirroring price changes). Expect 0% commission on non-leveraged equities and separate spreads for CFDs.
Follow and copy traders with one click. Copy feature investments commonly start from around €50 per copied trader. Use fractional shares to split a €100 position across 3–10 stocks. The social feed surfaces trade ideas, charts, and public portfolios. Withdrawal time typically ranges from 1–3 business days.
Best for: You who want social investing and simple fractional buys.
Skip if: You want the absolute lowest FX fees or advanced order types.
Key points:
– Commission on stocks: 0% for spot equities.
– Copy trading: Invest from about €50 per copied portfolio; follow up to 100 traders per portfolio.
– Typical CFD spreads: from roughly 0.09% on major FX/indices (example).
– Withdrawal time: commonly 1–3 business days; minimum withdrawal often around €30 (check the app).
– Deposit methods: bank transfer, card; deposit verification often 24–72 hours.
Watch out for: Currency conversion fees. USD trades may incur conversion spreads near 0.5% or more. Factor in withdrawal fees that can add 0.5%–1% to costs over time.
2. DEGIRO — Low-cost EU broker for frequent traders
DEGIRO is a discount broker built for low fees across many European exchanges and global markets. Expect per-trade fees from roughly €2 on select EU exchanges. DEGIRO offers access to dozens of exchanges, including major EU and US venues, plus OTC access on request.
Trade volumes of 10–50 trades per month benefit most from DEGIRO’s structure. Execution quality is solid for cash equities. Account opening often completes within 1–5 business days. Settlement for cash equities is generally T+2 (two business days).
Best for: You who trade frequently and value low per-trade charges.
Skip if: You need a social feed or banking features.
Key points:
– Typical trade fee example: from around €2.00 per trade on some EU exchanges.
– Market access: access to 50+ exchanges including major EU and US markets.
– FX handling: currency conversion margins commonly around 0.25%–0.50% per conversion.
– Settlement time: T+2 for most cash equities.
– Account opening: typically 1–5 business days for verification.
Watch out for: Ancillary fees such as connectivity, custody, or inactivity charges. Check the precise fee schedule for Irish accounts to avoid surprises.
3. Trading 212 — Zero-commission simplicity for small trades
Trading 212 is a mobile-first app that offers commission-free stocks and fractional shares. Fractional trades allow you to buy portions of a share from about €1 per order. The app aims for a simple user experience with clean charts and instant fractional allocation.
Build diversified positions with small capital. Buy 10 different stocks at €10 each and hold a €100 portfolio with diversification across sectors. Verification often completes in 24–72 hours. Deposits via card clear instantly; bank transfers take 1–3 business days.
Best for: You who want zero-fee stock trades and fractional investing.
Skip if: You need pro-grade tools, broker-grade statements, or deep market analytics.
Key points:
– Commission: 0% commission on standard stock and ETF trades.
– Fractional trades: buy from around €1 per order.
– Minimum trade size: many fractional orders start near €1–€10.
– FX / currency: USD trades may incur conversion spreads around 0.15%–0.5%.
– Verification time: commonly 24–72 hours for new accounts.
Watch out for: Limited advanced order types and reduced reporting detail for some account types. Check deposit/withdrawal daily limits if you plan large transfers.
4. Revolut — Banking-first app with trading add-on
Revolut combines multicurrency bank accounts with a retail trading service. Use the same app for spending, FX, and occasional trading. Standard plans usually include a set number of commission-free trades per month (for example, 3 free trades). Additional trades may cost from about €1 each or a small percentage fee.
Trade US and EU stocks. Hold multiple currencies in your account, and convert EUR to USD at interbank rates during business days with small markups on weekends (e.g., 0.5%–1%). Settlement for equities follows standard T+2 where applicable. Withdrawals to your bank account usually take 1–3 business days.
Best for: You who trade infrequently and value integrated banking features.
Skip if: You are an active trader wanting deep order types and lowest FX spreads.
Key points:
– Free trades: typically around 3 free trades per month on the basic plan.
– Extra trade cost: from about €1 or a small percentage per trade beyond free allowance.
– FX weekend markup: commonly 0.5%–1.0% on currency conversions outside market hours.
– Deposit/withdrawal: bank transfers take 1–3 business days; card top-ups are instant.
– Account limits: monthly free trade count and per-trade limits depend on plan level.
Watch out for: Limited market depth and fewer advanced execution features. Avoid using Revolut for high-frequency or large-volume trading.
5. Interactive Brokers — Low-cost pro-grade execution
Interactive Brokers (IB) is a professional broker offering tiered pricing, advanced order types, and deep liquidity. Expect commissions that can be very low at scale — many trades can see effective commissions below €0.50 per share or fixed fees under €1 per trade in volume tiers. Choose IBKR Pro for active trading and IBKR Lite for simpler pricing where available.
Use margin with rates that vary by base currency and loan amount. Typical margin APR examples range from about 1% up to 4% depending on borrowed amount and base currency (check your contract). Trade across 135+ markets and dozens of currencies. Account opening and verification commonly complete in 1–3 business days.
Best for: You who are active, professional, or use automated strategies.
Skip if: You want a simplified app with no learning curve.
Key points:
– Pricing: commissions can be below €0.50 per share for liquid US/EU stocks in higher tiers.
– Market access: access to 135+ markets and multiple order types and algos.
– Margin APR: sample range roughly 1%–4% depending on size and currency.
– Account types: no hard minimum for many accounts, but professional features may require higher balances.
– Execution: smart order routing and deep liquidity for large orders.
Watch out for: Complex pricing and a steep learning curve. Test small trades first and compare IBKR Pro vs IBKR Lite pricing for your exact use.
6. Saxo Bank — Premium research and multi-asset access
Saxo Bank is a full-service bank-broker with premium research, multi-asset access, and tiered client service. Expect higher per-trade fees from roughly €8 per trade for standard accounts. Saxo targets investors who want wide product coverage: stocks, options, futures, FX, bonds, and structured products.
Open accounts with minimum deposits that can range from €0 to €10,000 depending on the tier and region. Benefit from research reports, analyst access, and multi-currency custody. Withdrawal and settlement times follow market norms, usually 1–3 business days for transfers and T+2 for equity settlement.
Best for: You who want premium research and broad multi-asset access.
Skip if: You want the cheapest per-trade fees for small, frequent trades.
Key points:
– Typical fee: trades often start around €8.00 per trade on standard plans.
– Product range: access to stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, and FX.
– Account tiers: higher tiers may require €2,000–€10,000 minimums for premium perks.
– Research: analyst reports, model portfolios, and proprietary ratings.
– Withdrawal time: usually 1–3 business days for bank transfers.
Watch out for: Fees can add up for small, frequent trades. Compare the all-in cost if you make 10+ trades per month.
Comparison table
| App | Commission on stocks | Fractional shares | Market access | Typical fees / FX | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eToro | 0% (spot equities) | Yes | 30+ markets | CFD spreads from ~0.09%; withdrawal 1–3 days | Social / copy trading |
| DEGIRO | From ~€2 per trade | Limited | 50+ exchanges | FX ~0.25%–0.50%; T+2 | Low-cost EU trading |
| Trading 212 | 0% standard | Yes (from ~€1) | Major US/EU | FX ~0.15%–0.5%; instant card deposits | Zero-fee, fractional |
| Revolut | 0% up to plan limits | Limited | Major US/EU | Free trades ~3/month; extra €1+; FX weekend 0.5%–1% | Banking + occasional trades |
| Interactive Brokers | Very low (can be <€0.50/share) | Yes | 135+ markets | Margin APR ~1%–4%; tiered pricing | Pro / high-volume |
| Saxo Bank | From ~€8 per trade | Yes (varies) | Global multi-asset | Account tiers €0–€10k; premium research | Premium multi-asset |
Short decision tree
- Want zero commissions and micro-investing? → Choose Trading 212 if you need fractional trades from around €1.
- Want to copy experienced investors? → Choose eToro if you can start copying from about €50.
- Make 10–50 trades per month and want low per-trade cost? → Choose DEGIRO with fees from ~€2.
- Want banking + occasional trades in one app? → Choose Revolut for ~3 free trades per month and extra trades from ~€1.
- Trade large volumes or use margin and algos? → Choose Interactive Brokers for low per-share costs and margin APRs roughly 1%–4%.
- Need research, multi-asset access, or a bank-broker? → Choose Saxo Bank with fees from ~€8 and higher-tier services.
Test each app with a small deposit first. Compare two concrete numbers: commission per trade and FX conversion cost. If commission is 0% but FX is 0.5%, compute the net cost before deciding.
Closing
Compare fees, market access, and daily limits before you move significant capital. Check these concrete items for each app:
– Commission per trade (0% vs €2 vs €8).
– FX conversion spread (0.09%–1% typical).
– Fractional minimum (from €1 to €50).
– Account opening time (24 hours to 5 business days).
– Withdrawal time (1–3 business days) and any minimum withdrawal (often €30).
Open one or two accounts to split use: one cheap execution broker for frequent trades and one feature-rich platform for research or margin. Start small, track all fees for 3 months, and then consolidate.