Scalable Capital vs Trade Republic (2026):
fees, ETF range, and who each broker fits
Both brokers are marketed as free. The real comparison is about what you actually pay, what you actually get access to, and whether Scalable Capital’s PRIME+ subscription is worth it over Trade Republic’s flat €1 model.
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TL;DR
- You execute 5+ trades a month and PRIME+ pays for itself.
- You want a robo-advisor managed portfolio alongside self-directed investing.
- You hold meaningful uninvested cash and want the higher PRIME+ interest rate.
- You prefer flexible savings plan scheduling (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly).
- You run one or two savings plans and rarely trade manually.
- You want the widest ETF and stock catalogue available in a European neobroker.
- You want banking features: IBAN, debit card, and €100k deposit protection.
- You prefer no monthly subscription — just €1 per order.
Full feature comparison
Scalable Capital has two plans (FREE and PRIME+) — both are shown separately where they differ.
| Feature | Scalable FREE | Scalable PRIME+ | Trade Republic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0 | €4.99 / month | €0 |
| Trade fee | €0.99 / order | €0 (unlimited) | €1 / order |
| ETF savings plans | Free | Free | Free |
| Savings plan frequency | Weekly / bi-weekly / monthly | Weekly / bi-weekly / monthly | Weekly / bi-weekly / monthly |
| ETF universe | 2,000+ | 2,000+ | 8,000+ |
| Stocks | 7,000+ | 7,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Fractional shares | Via savings plans only | Via savings plans only | Yes (from €1) |
| Interest on cash | ~2.6%* | ~4%* | ~3%* (up to €50k) |
| Deposit protection | €20,000 investor comp. | €20,000 investor comp. | €100,000 banking licence |
| Robo-advisor | Yes | Yes | No |
| Debit card / IBAN | No | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | Yes (50+ assets) |
| Minimum deposit | €0 | €0 | €1 |
| Regulation | BaFin (DE) / FCA (UK) | BaFin (DE) — banking licence | |
* Interest rates are variable and linked to ECB rate decisions. Verify current rates on each broker’s website before deciding.
FREE vs PRIME+ vs €1 flat: which model wins?
Scalable FREE and Trade Republic charge almost the same per-trade amount. The real question is whether PRIME+’s subscription justifies the monthly cost.
At €1/trade (Trade Republic) vs €0 (PRIME+), the €4.99/month subscription breaks even at 5 trades per month. Active traders and anyone running multiple savings plans while rebalancing periodically will cross that threshold quickly.
Add the higher cash interest rate on PRIME+ and the break-even point drops further for anyone holding a meaningful cash buffer.
For purely passive investors — one or two savings plans, rarely touching the portfolio — the FREE plan and Trade Republic are essentially cost-equivalent. Savings plans are free on all three options, so execution cost is not a differentiator for this group.
The subscription cost also makes Trade Republic cheaper on an annual basis for anyone executing 1–4 trades per month.
| Usage pattern | Scalable FREE (annual) | Scalable PRIME+ (annual) | Trade Republic (annual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passive — 2 trades/mo | ~€24 | €60 (subscription only) | ~€24 |
| Moderate — 6 trades/mo | ~€71 | €60 | ~€72 |
| Active — 15 trades/mo | ~€178 | €60 | ~€180 |
Savings plans excluded — free on all three options.
ETF range and savings plans
Trade Republic’s 8,000+ ETF catalogue is one of the broadest in European retail. Scalable Capital’s 2,000+ is curated but covers every major index a European passive investor needs.
For a standard two- or three-fund portfolio (e.g. MSCI World + S&P 500 UCITS ETF + bond allocation), both brokers have you fully covered. The 6,000-ETF gap only matters for niche thematic ETFs, factor tilts, or very specific bond exposures.
Fractional shares are available from €1 on Trade Republic. On Scalable Capital, fractional exposure is only possible through savings plans — not for one-off purchases.
- Both waive the execution fee on savings plans entirely.
- Both support weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly intervals.
- Minimum: €1 on both platforms.
- Savings plans on savings plans on 2,000+ (Scalable) vs 8,000+ (Trade Republic) ETFs and stocks.
Interest on uninvested cash
Both brokers pay interest on cash — a meaningful differentiator since the ECB rate cycle. But the structure, rate, and protection level differ significantly.
- FREE plan: ~2–2.6% (ECB-linked, variable)
- PRIME+: ~3.5–4% (ECB-linked, variable)
- No cap on the balance earning interest
- Interest accrues daily, paid monthly
- Not a bank deposit — covered by investor compensation up to €20,000
- ~2.5–3% variable (closely tracks ECB deposit rate)
- Interest paid on balances up to €50,000
- Interest accrues daily, paid monthly
- Genuine bank deposit — protected up to €100,000
- Debit card lets you spend your cash balance directly
Robo-advisor: Scalable Capital’s unique advantage
Scalable Capital launched as a robo-advisor in 2016 — the managed portfolio feature is mature, not a bolt-on. Trade Republic has no equivalent.
You complete a risk questionnaire, select a maximum drawdown tolerance, and Scalable Capital builds and automatically rebalances a diversified UCITS ETF portfolio. Underlying ETFs are typically iShares and Xtrackers — low-cost, established funds.
This makes Scalable attractive for a hybrid approach: a robo-managed core for long-term wealth building, plus a self-directed satellite for individual ETF picks — all on one platform.
Trade Republic is a self-directed broker — no automation beyond savings plans. You choose your ETFs, execute your own rebalancing, and manage your own allocation. There is no managed portfolio option.
For investors comfortable selecting their own index funds and sticking to a plan, this is fine. For investors who want the allocation managed for them, Trade Republic is not the right tool.
Banking features and account scope
Trade Republic’s banking licence means it can offer features Scalable Capital structurally cannot — most notably a debit card and personal IBAN.
- Web platform + iOS/Android app
- No debit card or personal IBAN
- Crypto trading available
- Derivatives and warrants (for advanced traders)
- Partner custodian: Baader Bank (DE)
- Available in: DE, AT, GB, FR, IT, NL, ES
- Mobile-first (iOS/Android); web available
- Trade Republic card + personal IBAN — spend your balance directly
- Crypto trading (50+ assets)
- Derivatives available
- Full German banking licence (BaFin)
- Available in 17+ European countries
Who each broker actually fits
- Active traders executing 5+ trades/month — PRIME+ saves money immediately.
- Investors who want a managed robo-advisor core portfolio.
- Hybrid investors combining managed + self-directed in one account.
- Cash-heavy investors who benefit from PRIME+’s higher interest rate.
- Passive investors running 1–2 savings plans with minimal manual trading.
- ETF explorers who want the widest possible catalogue.
- Investors who want banking features: card, IBAN, €100k deposit protection.
- Beginners wanting simplicity and no monthly subscription commitment.
Both are neobrokers optimised for simplicity and European retail investors. As portfolios grow beyond ~€50,000 and multi-currency needs emerge, Interactive Brokers becomes worth considering — institutional FX rates, multi-currency accounts, and broader market access are difficult to replicate in either neobroker.
For most European investors in the accumulation phase with a simple ETF strategy, either broker here is a solid, cost-effective choice.
Ready to open an account?
Both brokers are available across most of Europe with no minimum deposit. Pick the one that matches your trading frequency and whether you want a managed option.
Go deeper
Frequently asked questions
Is Scalable Capital FREE actually free?
The FREE plan has no monthly fee, but charges €0.99 per trade for most orders. ETF savings plans are completely free on all plans. Upgrading to PRIME+ (€4.99/month) removes the per-trade fee entirely and increases the interest rate on uninvested cash.
Which broker is better for ETF savings plans?
Both brokers offer free savings plans with no execution fee. Scalable Capital covers 2,000+ ETFs in its savings plan offering; Trade Republic covers 8,000+ ETFs and stocks. Trade Republic has a slight edge in sheer breadth. For most passive investors building a standard index portfolio, both catalogues are more than sufficient.
Does Trade Republic have a robo-advisor?
No. Trade Republic is a self-directed broker — it does not offer a managed portfolio or robo-advisor service. Scalable Capital launched as a robo-advisor in 2016 and still offers managed portfolios alongside its self-directed brokerage. If you want an automated, managed allocation, Scalable Capital is the only option between the two.
Which broker pays more interest on uninvested cash?
Scalable Capital PRIME+ typically offers the highest nominal rate. Trade Republic tracks the ECB deposit rate closely and covers balances up to €50,000 — with the added security of banking-licence deposit protection up to €100,000. Both rates fluctuate with ECB decisions. Always verify the current published rate on each broker’s website before making decisions based on cash interest.
Are Scalable Capital and Trade Republic safe for European investors?
Both are EU-regulated. Trade Republic holds a full German banking licence (BaFin) and cash is deposit-protected up to €100,000 under the German deposit guarantee scheme. Scalable Capital is regulated by BaFin and the FCA; securities are held by partner custodians (Baader Bank) and covered by investor compensation up to €20,000. Securities at both brokers are segregated client assets and would not be affected by broker insolvency.
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 each broker’s current terms, fees, and eligibility on their official website before opening or funding an account.