DEGIRO Review (2026)
Low-cost ETFs for Europe — and when to pick IBKR instead
DEGIRO is one of the most-used brokers in Europe for a reason: simple interface, low explicit commissions, and broad UCITS ETF access. The real question isn’t whether it’s cheap — it’s whether it fits your total-drag picture: execution costs, FX friction, account structure, and how much you’ll outgrow it.
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TL;DR — DEGIRO in 60 seconds
Europe-based, buy-and-hold investors buying UCITS ETFs on a simple, low-friction plan — 1 to 4 funds, monthly investing, minimal currency conversion.
FX costs on non-EUR assets, the annual connectivity fee stacking up across exchanges, and the Basic account’s securities-lending exposure. Total drag matters more than the headline commission.
Multi-currency accounts, tighter FX spreads at scale, broader global market access, and a broker you genuinely won’t outgrow. If your portfolio is growing past €50k–100k, model the FX difference.
Basic vs Custody: which account is right for you?
This is the first decision DEGIRO asks you to make — and most new investors choose without understanding the actual trade-off.
Default account type
DEGIRO can lend your securities to third parties (short sellers, institutions). You retain legal ownership, but you are exposed to counterparty risk if the borrower defaults. In practice, DEGIRO provides a collateral guarantee — but it is not a risk-free arrangement.
Recommended for most
Securities are held separately and never lent. You pay small fees for dividend processing and corporate action handling — but for most long-term ETF investors in accumulating funds, these costs rarely trigger at all.
Full breakdown: DEGIRO Basic vs Custody — what actually changes
The actual cost of investing at DEGIRO
The headline commission is rarely your biggest cost. Here’s the full picture.
| Cost item | What it is | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ETF commission | Per-trade fee on standard ETF orders | €2–4 typical, exchange-dependent |
| Core Selection ETFs | Free once per calendar day on qualifying funds | €0 (1× per day) |
| Connectivity fee | Annual charge per exchange you trade on | €2.50 / exchange / year |
| FX conversion | Applied when buying assets in a different currency | 0.25% per conversion |
| Account fee | No monthly/annual account fee | €0 |
| Dividend processing (Custody) | Only applies if you hold distributing ETFs or stocks | Small flat fee per event |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity charge | €0 |
Core Selection: the free-ETF shortcut
DEGIRO’s Core Selection is a list of ETFs you can trade once per calendar day with no transaction fee. If your fund (VWCE, CSPX, IWDA, etc.) is on this list and you buy it at your preferred exchange listing, your ongoing per-trade cost is zero.
FX: the quiet cost that compounds
DEGIRO charges 0.25% on currency conversions. If you deposit EUR and buy a USD-listed ETF, that’s 0.25% on every single purchase. On a €500/month DCA plan, that’s ~€15/year just in FX — before spreads.
EUR-listed UCITS ETFs (traded on Euronext Amsterdam, Xetra) eliminate the FX conversion entirely. Most broad-market UCITS ETFs have EUR-denominated share classes.
Full fee walkthrough: DEGIRO fees explained · Study: how fees compound over time
UCITS ETFs, US ETFs, and what EU investors can actually buy
This is not a preference question. It’s a regulation question — and it determines your entire fund universe.
Available to EU retail investors
UCITS ETFs domiciled in Ireland or Luxembourg cover virtually every major index — S&P 500, MSCI World, FTSE All-World, EM, bonds. The product range is not a limitation for most long-term investors.
DEGIRO lists UCITS ETFs on Euronext Amsterdam, Xetra, London Stock Exchange, and more — multiple exchange listings for most major funds.
Blocked for most EU retail
PRIIPs/KID regulation blocks most EU retail investors from buying US-listed ETFs. DEGIRO enforces this restriction. This is not a DEGIRO-specific limitation — it applies site-wide across regulated EU brokers.
What else DEGIRO offers
Broad access to US, EU, and Asian exchanges. Good for simple buy-and-hold individual positions.
Bond ETFs via UCITS are the clean route. Direct bond and warrant access also available but rarely used by ETF investors.
No fractional shares. No savings plan / auto-invest feature. No multi-currency wallet. These are genuine gaps vs Trade Republic or IBKR.
Step-by-step buying guide: How to buy ETFs on DEGIRO · Background: UCITS vs US ETFs
Web, app, and the tools that actually matter
Clean, functional, not overloaded with noise. Search for your ETF, pick the exchange, set a limit order, confirm. That’s the entire workflow for most long-term investors. No features trying to make you trade more.
Functional for order placement and portfolio monitoring. Not as polished as Trade Republic or Trading 212 for mobile-first investing — but for quarterly ETF purchases, it’s more than adequate.
No built-in savings plan or recurring buy automation. No interest on uninvested cash. No multi-currency wallet. If you want to research charts, use TradingView alongside DEGIRO — don’t try to force the broker into a research tool.
Who DEGIRO is for — and who should look elsewhere
DEGIRO is a strong fit if…
- You’re based in Europe and invest in UCITS ETFs exclusively.
- You buy quarterly or monthly and hold long-term.
- You want a simple, low-noise interface — not a social/trading platform.
- Your target ETF is on the Core Selection list (free trades once/day).
- You invest in EUR-denominated share classes and minimise FX conversion.
- You understand the Basic/Custody trade-off and choose intentionally.
Consider IBKR instead if…
- You want multi-currency accounts and need to convert EUR→USD regularly at tight rates.
- Your portfolio is growing past €50–100k and FX drag is starting to matter at scale.
- You want broader global market access beyond European exchanges.
- You need fractional shares, advanced order types, or a richer API/reporting setup.
- You want one broker you genuinely won’t outgrow in the next decade.
DEGIRO vs IBKR: the key numbers
| Factor | DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| ETF commission (UCITS) | €2–4 (€0 Core Selection) | €1.25–3 typical (Lite/Pro) |
| FX conversion | 0.25% per trade | ~0.002% via Ideal Pro at scale |
| Multi-currency wallet | No | Yes — hold multiple currencies |
| Savings plans / auto-invest | No | No (manual only) |
| Fractional shares | No | Yes (US stocks/ETFs) |
| Account fee (small portfolios) | €0 | €0 (IBKR Lite) / variable IBKR Pro |
| Interface complexity | Simple | Steep learning curve |
Full comparison: DEGIRO vs Interactive Brokers
What DEGIRO handles — and what you’re responsible for
Tax reporting
DEGIRO provides annual account statements and transaction history. In some countries (Germany, Netherlands), it may also produce documents relevant to your tax filing. But it does not “solve taxes” for you.
You are responsible for understanding your country’s rules on capital gains, dividends, wealth tax (Box 3 in NL, Vorabpauschale in DE), and for using DEGIRO’s statements correctly. Guide: Taxes basics for investors.
Investor protection
DEGIRO is regulated by AFM and DNB in the Netherlands and operates under MiFID II across the EU. Securities are held via a separate legal entity (SPV), providing a structural separation from DEGIRO’s own balance sheet in the event of broker failure.
Cash balances are not covered by standard deposit protection in the Basic account. Always verify current terms and limits directly with DEGIRO. More: Investor protection in Europe.
Build your DEGIRO workflow
Frequently asked questions
Is DEGIRO good for long-term ETF investing?
DEGIRO works well for Europe-based investors buying UCITS ETFs on a long-term buy-and-hold strategy. The key is total drag: ETF costs plus broker commissions plus FX friction. The Core Selection list removes transaction fees on qualifying ETFs, which helps if your chosen funds are on it.
What are DEGIRO’s actual fees for ETF investing?
DEGIRO charges a flat fee plus a small percentage per trade, depending on the exchange. There is also a €2.50 annual connectivity fee per exchange you trade on. ETFs on the Core Selection list trade free once per calendar day. FX conversion adds 0.25% on top when you buy assets in a foreign currency.
What is the difference between DEGIRO Basic and Custody?
Basic allows DEGIRO to lend your securities — you keep ownership but lend out shares, which has counterparty risk. Custody holds securities separately and does not lend them, but you pay fees on dividends and corporate actions processed by DEGIRO. For most long-term ETF investors in accumulating ETFs, Custody removes the lending risk at little practical cost.
Can EU investors buy US-domiciled ETFs on DEGIRO?
Most EU retail investors cannot buy US-domiciled ETFs (like Vanguard VTI or SPY) due to PRIIP/KID regulations. DEGIRO typically blocks US ETF purchases for EU retail clients. The correct approach is to use UCITS equivalents — funds domiciled in Ireland or Luxembourg that track the same indexes.
Should I pick DEGIRO or Interactive Brokers?
Pick DEGIRO if you want a straightforward EU-focused ETF workflow with a simple interface. Pick Interactive Brokers if you need multi-currency accounts, tighter FX spreads, broader global market access, or a broker you will not outgrow as your portfolio grows. IBKR’s FX conversion via Ideal Pro is significantly cheaper at larger amounts.
Is DEGIRO safe? How is investor protection structured?
DEGIRO is regulated by AFM and DNB in the Netherlands, and falls under the EU’s MiFID II framework. Securities are held via a separate legal entity (SPV), which provides some protection if DEGIRO were to fail. Cash is not covered by DEGIRO’s investor protection in the Basic account — only securities. Always verify current protection limits at DEGIRO’s official site.
Ready to open a DEGIRO account?
Check the fees page first, confirm your target ETF is on the Core Selection, and open a Custody account to avoid securities-lending exposure.
QuantRoutine provides educational content only. Nothing on this page is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security or to open an account with any specific broker. Investments can lose value, and past performance does not guarantee future results. You are responsible for your own investment, tax, and legal decisions. Always review DEGIRO’s current terms, fees, and eligibility on their official website before opening or funding an account.