Opening — Who this article is for and what it solves
You are an expat, Dutch resident, or retail investor in the Netherlands who wants a simple, fit-for-purpose trading app. You want something that works with Dutch bank transfers, supports English, and doesn’t bury fees in small print.
This article cuts through confusing fee schedules, product limits, and platform jargon to show the apps that give the best value for common goals: low-cost trading, easy ETF investing, social/copy trading, international markets, or occasional crypto exposure. You’ll get clear comparisons, the trade-offs to expect (fees, product depth, execution), and a short decision tree at the end so you can pick the right app for your situation.
Expect concrete numbers. Expect quick calls-to-action. Compare costs, markets, and features in plain terms. Open an account only after you check at least two metrics we highlight: total fee per trade and available market count.
Quick answer / TL;DR — Fast picks before the deep dive
- If you want the lowest per-trade fee and a minimalist app → Trade Republic (trades from €1; good ETF selection).
- If you want the widest market access and professional tools → Interactive Brokers (access to 150+ markets; advanced order types).
- If you want commission-free stock and ETF trading plus fractional shares → Trading 212 (0% commission; fractional shares from about €1).
- If you want social trading and crypto in one app → eToro (0% stock commission; crypto spreads apply).
- If you want a banking app with basic investing alongside daily banking → Revolut (1 free trade on standard plan; easy FX).
What we looked for — evaluation criteria used to rank apps
Check each app against these five criteria before you choose. Use the numbers to compare apples to apples.
- Fees and pricing transparency — Look for per-trade costs, custody fees (%), FX spreads (bps), and inactivity fees. We compared explicit fees from €0 to €10 and implicit FX spreads from 0.05% to 1.5%.
- Product range — Count exchanges and asset classes. We tracked access to 1–150+ markets, stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, and CFDs.
- Usability and language — Test onboarding time (minutes), app language (English available?), and trade execution in under 60 seconds.
- Regulation and safety — Confirm local/regional licences and client fund segregation. Many providers show authorization by EU regulators or equivalent; verify at signup.
- Advanced features & limits — Fractional shares (from €1), DCA/recurring orders frequency weekly/monthly, API access, advanced order types (stop, limit, OCO), and minimum trade sizes.
Also check customer support speed (target under 48 hours), deposit/withdrawal times (same-day to 3 business days), and payment methods (SEPA, card, instant transfers). Use at least two apps concurrently if you trade more than 10 trades per month.
1. Trade Republic — Ultra-low headline fees (from €1 per trade)
Trade Republic is a mobile-first broker with a very simple fee model. The app focuses on stocks, ETFs, and a selected list of cryptocurrencies. Expect a single flat execution fee often shown at around €1 per trade. Account opening typically takes under 15 minutes.
The interface targets buy-and-hold investors. Set up recurring investments (DCA) in as many as 2–5 ETFs per plan. Many users set monthly contributions of €50–€500 to build a core ETF portfolio. Execution windows are fast; most trades complete within seconds during market hours.
Best for:
– Cost‑conscious retail investors building ETF or ETF+stock portfolios.
Skip if:
– You need advanced order types, access to 100+ international exchanges, or active day‑trading tools.
Key points:
– Fee: execution from about €1 per trade (flat execution fee).
– Asset mix: stocks, ETFs, selected cryptocurrencies — 3 main asset types.
– Minimum deposit: typically €0 to open; trades possible from small amounts (fractional/rounding features vary).
– Recurring investing: set monthly or weekly DCA from €1 per investment or from €10 depending on the product.
– Trade execution: most market orders execute within 0–2 seconds during open sessions.
Watch out for: limited advanced order types (few conditional orders). If you need stop-limit OCO (one-cancels-other), check alternatives.
2. DEGIRO — Low-cost, broad European market access (fees starting from low euros)
DEGIRO positions itself as a low-fee broker with wide access to European exchanges and some global venues. Expect per-trade fees often starting from €2–€5 on Euronext trades. The web and mobile interface are straightforward. Account setup can take 10–30 minutes depending on verification.
Use DEGIRO if you trade Euronext Amsterdam, London, or other European markets multiple times per month. Many active retail traders report savings of 30–70% versus legacy banks on similar orders. DEGIRO does not focus on crypto or margin-heavy US derivatives.
Best for:
– Retail investors who trade European equities and ETFs regularly and want low per-trade costs.
Skip if:
– You require US margin products, full banking features, or a social trading layer.
Key points:
– Fee: trade fees often start from a few euros; typical Euronext trades from around €2–€5 depending on market and order size.
– Markets: access to dozens of European exchanges and some global markets.
– Account: no minimum deposit to open; custody and execution models may differ by country.
– Order types: basic limit and market orders; professional-level algos are limited.
– Withdrawal times: SEPA withdrawals commonly 1–3 business days.
Watch out for: service fees for market data or certain order routing. Check per-exchange price lists for small print.
3. Trading 212 — Commission-free stocks & ETFs with fractional shares (0% commission)
Trading 212 offers 0% commission on many stocks and ETFs and supports fractional shares. Buy a fraction from as little as €1. The platform also offers an automated “pie” or portfolio builder for periodic investments. Account approval tends to take 10–20 minutes.
Trading 212 can be a cost-effective starting point. Many beginners invest monthly sums between €25 and €200 using fractional buys. The platform may recoup revenue via FX spreads and interest on cash balances. Withdrawals usually process within 1–3 business days.
Best for:
– New investors seeking commission-free trades and fractional ownership from tiny amounts.
Skip if:
– You need institutional-level execution, complex margin products, or a local banking connection.
Key points:
– Fee: 0% commission on many stocks and ETFs; platform may still earn from FX spreads of 0.10%–1.00% depending on currency pair.
– Fractional: buy fractional shares from very small amounts (often from €1).
– Automated investing: set weekly or monthly DCA with minimum contributions from €1–€10.
– Cash handling: cash can sit in your account with varying interest; check platform for current rates and any negative balance rules.
– Withdrawal speed: typically 1–3 business days for SEPA.
Watch out for: FX conversion fees on non-euro markets. When you buy a US stock, expect a currency conversion step with spread.
4. eToro — Social & copy trading plus crypto in one app (0% stock commission; spreads apply)
eToro blends brokerage services with social features and crypto markets. Use the CopyTrader tool to mirror verified traders. Stocks have 0% commission on many trades, though spreads and overnight fees apply on leveraged products. Crypto trading is available with spreads that vary by token (commonly 0.75%–2% or higher per trade).
You can start copying traders with allocations as low as €200, and open single stock or crypto positions from small amounts like €10. eToro also supports leveraged CFDs; check margin rates before using them. Withdrawals typically cost a fixed fee (e.g., €5) and process in 1–5 business days.
Best for:
– Investors who want social/copy trading, and casual crypto exposure alongside stocks.
Skip if:
– You want the absolute lowest FX or execution costs, or require pro-grade order types.
Key points:
– Fee: 0% commission on stock orders; spreads apply on crypto and CFDs (crypto spreads often from 0.75% to 2%).
– Copy trading: copy traders from €200 minimum allocation; copy up to 100+ traders per portfolio.
– Trade minimums: single trades often start from €10.
– Withdrawal: fixed withdrawal fee commonly around €5; process time 1–5 business days.
– Markets: dozens of stocks, ETFs, and 20+ crypto tokens available.
Watch out for: overnight and weekend spreads on crypto and leveraged positions. Read margin and rollover rates carefully.
5. Interactive Brokers — Professional-grade access (150+ markets; advanced order types)
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) offers the widest market access on this list. Expect access to 150+ markets, including Euronext Amsterdam, NYSE, Nasdaq, XETRA, and many Asian venues. Professional tools include advanced order types, algo trading, and API access. Pricing can be per-share from €0.0005 or per-order at low flat fees; review the tiered vs fixed schedule that suits your activity.
Use IBKR if you trade more than 20–50 times per month, need margin across multiple currencies, or require advanced trade automation. Account opening for European clients may require identity verification and proof of address; allow 1–5 business days for verification cycles.
Best for:
– Active traders and investors who need broad market access and professional tools.
Skip if:
– You only want occasional ETF buys, want a purely mobile-first minimalist app, or dislike tiered fee complexity.
Key points:
– Markets: access to 150+ global markets and 30+ currencies for funding.
– Fees: per-share pricing can be as low as €0.0005 per share or very low flat fees; tiered rates may apply based on monthly volume.
– Order types: stop, limit, trailing stop, OCO, iceberg, and programmable algos.
– Margin: margin rates commonly from 1.5% to 4.5% depending on currency and size.
– API & automation: full API for algo trading and data; latency and execution quality rated high in industry tests.
Watch out for: complexity. Expect to spend 1–5 hours learning the platform to use advanced features safely.
6. Revolut — Banking app with investing (1 free trade on standard plan; easy FX)
Revolut combines banking and investing. On the standard plan you often get 1 free commission-free trade per month. Paid plans add more free trades (for example, 3–10 per month depending on tier). Revolut makes FX easy, with interbank FX windows and card use in 30+ currencies. Investing within Revolut supports stocks, ETFs, and some crypto.
Use Revolut for convenience if you already hold a daily banking account there. Typical trade minimums are €1–€10. Deposits via instant card or SEPA happen quickly; SEPA takes 1–2 business days in many cases.
Best for:
– People who want a combined banking-plus-investing app with simple FX for travel and trading.
Skip if:
– You trade frequently (more than your plan’s free trades) or need professional market access.
Key points:
– Free trades: standard plan often includes 1 free trade per month; paid plans include more (commonly 3–10).
– Trade minimums: start often from €1–€10 per trade depending on the instrument.
– FX: interbank rates during weekdays; markups on weekends or outside market hours.
– Crypto: available in-app; spreads and trading fees apply and vary by token (commonly 1%–2%+).
– Banking: instant card transfers and 24/7 card use in 30+ currencies.
Watch out for: weekend FX markups and lower liquidity on certain crypto tokens. Count your free trades before you act.
7. Saxo Bank — Full-service broker with deep execution and research
Saxo Bank targets investors seeking research, execution, and product depth. Expect access to 30+ exchanges and a wide selection of ETFs, bonds, and structured products. Pricing often includes custody or platform fees in some markets — check the percentage custody fee that may apply on large accounts. Trade minimums and tiered pricing depend on account class and activity.
Use Saxo if you value research, fixed income access, and a desktop-level trading experience. Typical clients trade 10–100 times per year and hold larger balances, often €10,000+. Verification may take 1–3 business days during onboarding.
Best for:
– Investors who want a robust research suite, bonds and structured products, and institutional-grade execution.
Skip if:
– You want a purely mobile, low-cost app for small monthly contributions.
Key points:
– Markets: access to 30+ exchanges and fixed income markets.
– Account sizes: many clients start at €2,000–€10,000 for full-feature tiers; custody fees may apply for some countries.
– Fees: platform and custody fees vary; per-trade fees often higher than ultra-low brokers, but include deeper product access.
– Research: in-app analyst reports, Bloomberg-like data and screeners.
– Withdrawal and funding: SEPA bank transfers commonly 1–2 business days.
Watch out for: custody fees on some accounts and minimum activity clauses that move you into higher fee tiers.
Comparison table — quick side-by-side
| App | Best for | Typical headline fee | Markets / Exchanges | Fractional shares | Crypto |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Republic | Low per-trade cost | From €1 per trade | 20–50 venues (EU-centric) | Limited/rounding features | Selected crypto |
| DEGIRO | Low-cost European trading | €2–€5 typical Euronext trade | Dozens of European + some global | Limited | No/very limited |
| Trading 212 | Commission-free + fractional | 0% commission (FX spreads apply) | 20–40 markets | Yes, from ~€1 | Limited |
| eToro | Social & crypto | 0% stock commission; spreads on crypto | Dozens of stocks & ETFs; crypto | No fractional for some products | Yes, 20+ tokens |
| Interactive Brokers | Pro access & low-cost volume trading | From €0.0005 per share or low flat | 150+ markets | Yes (varies) | Yes, via brokers or exchanges |
| Revolut | Banking + investing | 1 free trade on standard plan; paid tiers | Limited global selection | Yes (small minimums) | Yes |
| Saxo Bank | Research & fixed income | Higher per-trade; platform/custody fees may apply | 30+ exchanges | Varies by product | Limited to listed tokens |
Closing — Decision tree
Use this quick decision tree to pick one app. Answer the prompts and follow the action.
1) Do you trade fewer than 10 times per month and care most about fees?
– Yes → Choose Trade Republic or Trading 212. Trade Republic if you prefer a strict €1 execution model. Choose Trading 212 if you need fractional shares from €1 and 0% commission on many ETFs.
2) Do you trade European stocks frequently or want low explicit Euronext fees?
– Yes → Choose DEGIRO to save on per-trade costs (expect €2–€5 typical for Euronext).
3) Do you need broad international access, advanced order types, or programmatic trading?
– Yes → Choose Interactive Brokers (150+ markets, programmable API, low per-share pricing).
4) Do you want social trading or built-in crypto alongside stocks with copy features?
– Yes → Choose eToro (0% stock commission, copy trader minimums from €200 allocations).
5) Do you want an all-in-one banking app with occasional investing and easy FX?
– Yes → Choose Revolut (1 free monthly trade on standard, paid tiers give 3–10 free trades).
6) Do you want research, bond markets, and structured products with a full-service experience?
– Yes → Choose Saxo Bank (research suite, 30+ exchanges, custody options).
Final checklist before you sign up:
– Compare total cost per trade including FX spreads (0.05%–1.5% typical).
– Check withdrawal time: SEPA 1–3 business days is common.
– Confirm minimum trade or recurring DCA amounts (from €1–€200).
– Verify regulation and client segregation for your chosen app.
Pick two apps if you need both ultra-low fees and wide market access. For example, use Trade Republic for ETF DCA and Interactive Brokers for international stocks. Fund the first app with €50–€200 monthly for DCA. Keep an emergency cash buffer of at least €500 outside your trading account.
Now act. Open accounts, verify ID (10–30 minutes), and test a small trade (€10–€100) to confirm execution and withdrawal times. Compare your first three trades’ total costs and pick the app you use most.