BROKER COMPARISON

DEGIRO vs Interactive Brokers (IBKR): simple EU ETF investing vs “forever broker” flexibility

Q: Can I buy US-domiciled ETFs on DEGIRO or IBKR as an EU investor?

It depends on your profile and eligibility. Many EU or UK retail investors are effectively UCITS-only for common US ETF tickers. If US ETFs are blocked, use UCITS equivalents.

Q: What’s the simplest setup that works with either broker?

Use 1–3 broad index ETFs (UCITS or US, depending on access), fixed monthly or quarterly contributions, minimal currency conversion churn, and a simple annual rebalance rule.

Q: When is IBKR the clear winner?

When you want one broker for the long run: broader markets and products, multi-currency workflow, and fewer constraints as your investing setup grows.

The decision is not brand hype. It’s: (1) product access (UCITS vs US ETFs), (2) FX + funding friction, (3) how far you’ll outgrow the platform. DEGIRO can be a clean Europe-first ETF workflow. IBKR is usually the default if you want one broker you won’t outgrow.

Educational content only. Not personalized investment advice.

Pricing, product access, and country availability can change. Always verify current terms on the broker’s official site before opening or funding an account.

Quick paths: choose the broker that matches your workflow (simple EU UCITS ETF buying vs long-term multi-currency “core broker”).

Fast Decision

Mostly UCITS ETFs + simplicity: DEGIRO can be enough.
Multi-currency / scaling / FX control: IBKR is usually the safer long-run core.
EU/UK retail reality: use UCITS ETFs; don’t chase blocked US tickers.

Open DEGIRO → Open IBKR → UCITS vs US ETFs → Cheapest FX brokers (Europe) →

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you open an account using our links. You do not pay extra.

Educational content only. Not personalized investment advice.

TL;DR

Pick DEGIRO if you want a simple Europe-first UCITS ETF workflow and you don’t need a deep product menu.
Pick IBKR if you want a core broker you won’t outgrow: multi-currency handling, broader markets, and more “edge-case” coverage.
The real cost trap is FX + friction: repeated conversions and small deposits can cost more than visible commissions.
Start with eligibility: if US ETFs are blocked for your profile, stop chasing US tickers and use UCITS equivalents.

Fast decision rule (most people can stop here)

DEGIRO WINS IF…

You’re EU-based and mostly buying UCITS ETFs.
You want a straightforward interface with fewer knobs.
You don’t need deep global product coverage.

IBKR WINS IF…

You want one broker for the long term (more markets, more products).
You care about multi-currency workflow and minimizing conversion churn.
You expect your investing setup to grow in complexity over time.

Head-to-head comparison (what actually matters)

Ignore marketing labels (commission-free, “best broker”, etc.). Compare the structural drivers: access, FX, funding reliability, product breadth, and how likely you are to outgrow the platform.

Category	DEGIRO	IBKR
Best fit	Simple EU-focused UCITS ETF buy-and-hold	“Core broker” for long-term growth + global flexibility
Product access	Strong for EU exchanges/UCITS; US ETF access often constrained for EU retail profiles	Broad market access; still subject to your eligibility/profile rules
FX workflow	Can be fine for single-currency investing; watch conversion friction if you buy in multiple currencies	Typically strong multi-currency handling; better suited if FX is a core focus
Funding from Europe	Often straightforward for EU users (depends on country/entity)	Strong global funding options; good if you want predictable multi-currency deposits
Platform complexity	Lower complexity; easier for “boring ETF autopilot”	Higher complexity; more powerful but more settings/menus
Outgrowing risk	Higher if you later want more markets/products/workflows	Lower (built to scale with you)

Cost intuition: Fees compound · Cash drag

Step 1: Product access (US ETFs vs UCITS)

For many EU/UK retail investors, the “US ETF” question is solved by regulation and broker policy. If you can’t buy US-domiciled ETFs, stop optimizing for “US ETFs” and buy UCITS equivalents.

IF US ETFs ARE BLOCKED

Use UCITS equivalents (same index exposure, compliant wrapper).
Optimize for FX + execution + consistent contributions.
Don’t waste time switching brokers hoping for loopholes.

IF US ETFs ARE ALLOWED

Prioritize low-friction funding + FX workflow.
Then pick the platform you can keep long-term.
Keep the plan simple (broad index ETFs beat tinkering).

Read: UCITS vs US ETFs · Best broker for US ETFs (non-US)

Step 2: FX + funding friction (the real drag)

The expensive behavior is not “one bad trade.” It’s repeated small conversions and messy funding that breaks your consistency. If you invest monthly, you want the cheapest and simplest default workflow.

Single-currency UCITS investing: DEGIRO can be perfectly fine if your buys match your deposit currency.
Multi-currency or global investing: IBKR tends to win because it’s built around multi-currency reality.
Rule: optimize the workflow you’ll repeat 120+ times (10 years of monthly deposits), not the “feature list”.

Cheapest FX brokers (Europe) → Why fees compound →

Step 3: Workflow (the platform should feel boring)

If your plan is long-term ETF investing, the best platform is the one that reduces decision points. Complexity is only useful if it solves a real constraint (multi-currency, more markets, better order control).

DEGIRO WORKFLOW

Good “set-and-repeat” feel for UCITS ETF investors.
Lower temptation to over-optimize.
Best when your needs stay simple.

IBKR WORKFLOW

More menus, more control, more moving parts.
Worth it when you need the flexibility.
Better “one broker for everything” logic.

Learn path: How to Pick Your First US Broker · How to Open a Broker Account

CLUSTER

Next steps: pick the broker for your workflow

DEGIRO review Brokers

DEGIRO’s strengths and frictions, and who it fits in Europe.

Interactive Brokers review Brokers

The “scales forever” broker: multi-currency, broad markets, deeper tools.

Best broker for long-term ETFs (non-US) Brokers

If this is a long-run account, prioritize total drag, access, and repeatability.

Best broker for UCITS ETFs (Europe) Brokers

Choose the platform that matches your ETF workflow, exchanges, and costs.

CLUSTER

Next steps: costs that actually move the needle

Cheapest FX workflow (Europe) Brokers

FX is a recurring cost. Reduce conversion leakage and make it explicit.

Study: FX drag Study

Why “small %” FX costs compound into meaningful long-run underperformance.

Fees really matter Learn

The real total cost is TER + spread + FX + friction, not just commissions.

Broker fees glossary Learn

Decode the fee schedule so you can compare DEGIRO vs IBKR correctly.

FAQ: DEGIRO vs IBKR

Which is better for long-term UCITS ETF investing in Europe? +

DEGIRO can be enough if you want a simple Europe-first UCITS ETF workflow. IBKR is usually better if you want one broker you won’t outgrow or you care about multi-currency workflow.

Is FX really more important than commissions? +

Often yes for non-US investors. Repeated small conversions and wide FX spreads can compound into a larger drag than visible trading fees, especially with monthly contributions.

Can I buy US-domiciled ETFs on DEGIRO or IBKR as an EU investor? +

It depends on your profile and eligibility. Many EU/UK retail investors are effectively UCITS-only for common US ETF tickers. If US ETFs are blocked, use UCITS equivalents.

What’s the simplest setup that works with either broker? +

1–3 broad index ETFs (UCITS or US, depending on access), fixed monthly or quarterly contributions, minimal currency conversion churn, and a simple annual rebalance rule.

When is IBKR the clear winner? +

When you want one broker for the long run: broader markets/products, multi-currency workflow, and fewer constraints as your investing setup grows.

Bottom line DEGIRO is a clean EU UCITS ETF workflow. IBKR is the default if you want one broker you won’t outgrow and you care about multi-currency reality.

Open IBKR → Open DEGIRO → Read IBKR review → Read DEGIRO review →

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you open an account using our links. You do not pay extra.

Educational content only. Not personalized investment advice.

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Educational content only. Not personalized investment advice.

Investments can lose value and past performance does not guarantee future results. You are responsible for your own decisions and for confirming tax and legal rules in your country. Always review each broker’s current terms, fees, and eligibility on their official website before opening or funding an account.