Scalable Capital Review (2026):
FREE vs PRIME+, ETF plans, and who it fits
Scalable Capital is a BaFin-regulated full bank with the largest ETF savings plan catalogue in Germany (2,700+), 2% cash interest, and a flat-rate trading plan that unlocks unlimited free trades for €4.99/month. The core question for most readers: are you actually based in Germany or Austria? That determines everything.
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TL;DR
- German and Austrian investors building ETF portfolios.
- Monthly savings plan investors who want depth (2,700+ ETFs).
- Investors who want 2% cash interest on a full-bank account.
- More active traders who benefit from the PRIME+ flat rate.
- Primarily available in Germany and Austria only.
- EUR-only account — no multi-currency support.
- Xetra trades cost €3.99 + 0.01% on every plan.
- Fractional shares only via savings plans, not direct trades.
Scalable Capital at a glance
What is Scalable Capital?
Founded in Munich in 2014, Scalable Capital started as a robo-advisor and has since grown into a full-bank broker regulated by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank — the same supervisory framework that governs Germany’s major banks.
Stocks, ETFs, derivatives, crypto ETPs, bonds, and funds. Securities are held in custody at Baader Bank. Two plans: FREE (no monthly fee) and PRIME+ (€4.99/month).
Scalable Wealth manages fully automated ETF portfolios on your behalf. Available alongside the self-directed broker from a single account. Restricted to Germany and Austria.
Client cash is distributed across Scalable Capital Bank and up to four partner banks. Each individual bank relationship is covered by the €100,000 German statutory deposit guarantee — meaning larger cash balances can be protected across multiple institutions simultaneously.
FREE vs PRIME+: the central decision
Both plans include free ETF savings plans. The difference is what happens when you make one-off trades outside the PRIME ETF range.
- All ETF savings plans free.
- PRIME ETFs (Amundi, iShares, Xtrackers) ≥€250 free.
- All other trades: €0.99.
- 2% interest on cash up to €100,000.
Best if: you invest exclusively via savings plans, or only buy PRIME ETFs in lump sums ≥€250.
- All ETF savings plans free.
- All trades ≥€250 free (any ETF or stock).
- 2% interest on cash with no balance cap.
- Advanced analytics, unlimited price alerts.
Best if: you make 5+ non-PRIME ETF trades per month, or hold a large cash balance above €100,000.
Full fee schedule
All fees verified against Scalable Capital’s pricing page as of March 2026. Verify current rates before investing.
| Fee type | FREE | PRIME+ |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | None | €4.99/month |
| ETF savings plans | Free | Free |
| PRIME ETFs ≥€250 (EIX/gettex) | Free | Free |
| All other trades ≥€250 (EIX/gettex) | €0.99 | Free |
| Trades below €250 (EIX/gettex) | €0.99 | €0.99 |
| Xetra trades | €3.99 + 0.01% venue fee | €3.99 + 0.01% venue fee |
| Cash interest p.a. | 2% (up to €100k) | 2% (unlimited) |
| Crypto spread surcharge | 0.99% | 0.69% |
| Instant deposit fee | 0.99% | 0.69% |
| Custody fee | None | None |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal | Free | Free |
The deepest savings plan catalogue in Germany
Over 2,700 ETFs eligible for savings plans — more than any other German broker. All executions free on both plans.
- From €1 minimum per plan execution.
- Monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual.
- Nine execution date options per month.
- Dynamic inflation adjustment rate available.
- 2,700+ ETFs — vs ~1,500 at Trade Republic.
- All major UCITS index trackers included.
- Funded from cash balance or direct debit.
- Fractional shares available via savings plans.
2% on cash — with multi-bank deposit protection
The structural advantage here isn’t just the rate — it’s how the cash is protected.
- 2% p.a. (variable) paid on broker cash balance.
- No separate product or transfer needed.
- Rate benchmarked against ECB policy — may change.
- FREE: up to €100k. PRIME+: unlimited.
- Distributed across Scalable Bank + up to 4 partner banks.
- Each bank carries a separate €100k deposit guarantee.
- €400k+ effective coverage possible for large balances.
- More robust than single-bank neobrokers.
| Broker | Cash rate | Structure | Max coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalable Capital | 2% p.a. | Deposit (multi-bank) | €100k × multiple banks |
| Trade Republic | 1% p.a. | Deposit (single bank) | €100k |
| Lightyear | ~1.92% EUR | Money market fund | Not deposit-guaranteed |
| DEGIRO | None | — | €20k investor protection |
Availability: primarily Germany and Austria
Unlike Trade Republic (17+ countries), Trading 212, or Lightyear (22+ countries), Scalable Capital has not expanded its broker aggressively across the EU. The broker and the robo-advisor (Scalable Wealth) remain primarily restricted to Germany and Austria.
If you are based in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Belgium, or most other EU countries, verify availability directly on Scalable Capital’s website before proceeding. For non-German investors, Trade Republic or IBKR are better starting points.
Scalable Capital belongs firmly in your shortlist. It is one of the strongest broker choices in the German market for passive ETF investors.
Check availability first. If unavailable, see our Trade Republic review or IBKR review instead.
Scalable Capital vs Trade Republic vs DEGIRO
| Feature | Scalable Capital | Trade Republic | DEGIRO |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETF trade fee | Free (PRIME ETFs ≥€250) / €0.99 | €1 flat | €1 + handling fee |
| ETF savings plans | Free — 2,700+ ETFs | Free | Not available |
| Flat-rate option | €4.99/month (all trades free) | None | None |
| Cash interest | 2% p.a. | 1% p.a. | None |
| Banking licence | Yes (BaFin / CRR) | Yes (BaFin) | No |
| Deposit protection | €100k per bank (multi-bank) | €100k | €20k |
| Fractional shares | Via savings plans only | Yes (from €1) | No |
| Debit card | No | Yes (Visa) | No |
| Multi-currency | No (EUR only) | No (EUR only) | No |
| Exchange access | EIX, gettex, Xetra | LS Exchange | 15+ European exchanges |
| Countries available | Germany, Austria | 17+ European | 18+ European |
| Robo-advisor | Yes (Scalable Wealth) | No | No |
For German investors, Scalable outperforms Trade Republic on cash interest, savings plan catalogue depth, and the PRIME+ flat-rate model. Trade Republic wins on debit card, fractional shares, and pan-European reach. DEGIRO suits investors who need multi-exchange access across European markets but lacks savings plans entirely. See the full Scalable Capital vs Trade Republic comparison.
Who Scalable Capital fits — and who it doesn’t
- German or Austrian investors building passive ETF portfolios.
- Monthly savings plan investors who value catalogue depth.
- Investors who want a robo-advisor + self-directed broker in one account.
- More active traders making 5+ non-PRIME ETF trades per month.
- Investors outside Germany and Austria.
- Anyone needing multi-currency or international exchange access.
- Investors who want fractional share purchases in direct lump-sum trades.
- Portfolios that have outgrown a single-exchange EUR-only platform.
Interactive Brokers wins when you need multi-currency accounts (deposit EUR, convert once, hold USD), access to international exchanges and instruments, and a platform you won’t outgrow as your portfolio scales.
The trade-off: more setup complexity. If you’re willing to spend two hours on account setup, IBKR saves real money at scale and is available across all of Europe without geographic restriction.
Ready to open an account?
Set up a savings plan, leave it on autopilot, and let compounding do the work. If you need broader access or multi-currency support, IBKR is the natural next step.
Go deeper
Frequently asked questions
Is Scalable Capital available outside Germany?
Scalable Capital’s broker is primarily available in Germany and Austria. Its robo-advisor (Scalable Wealth) is also restricted to those two markets. Investors based elsewhere in Europe should verify current availability on Scalable Capital’s website — and may find Trade Republic or IBKR better fits regardless of the outcome.
What is the difference between FREE and PRIME+ at Scalable Capital?
The FREE plan has no monthly fee. ETF savings plans are always free. PRIME ETFs (Amundi, iShares, Xtrackers) bought in trades of €250 or more are also free; all other trades cost €0.99. The PRIME+ plan costs €4.99/month and makes all trades from €250 free — not just PRIME ETFs. Both plans pay 2% p.a. interest on cash, but PRIME+ has no cap on the balance earning interest while FREE caps it at €100,000.
Are ETF savings plans free on Scalable Capital?
Yes. All ETF savings plan executions are free on both plans. Scalable Capital offers savings plans on over 2,700 ETFs from as little as €1, with flexible execution frequencies (monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual) and nine execution date options per month to choose from.
How does Scalable Capital pay interest on cash?
Scalable Capital pays 2% p.a. (variable) directly on your broker cash balance — no separate product or transfer required. FREE plan clients earn interest on up to €100,000. PRIME+ clients earn on unlimited balances. Cash is distributed across Scalable Capital Bank and up to four partner banks, each covered by the €100,000 German statutory deposit guarantee.
Does Scalable Capital have a banking licence?
Yes. Scalable Capital is a CRR credit institution — a full bank under EU regulation — supervised by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank. Securities are held in custody at Baader Bank. Client cash is covered by statutory deposit protection of up to €100,000 per bank, distributed across multiple partner banks for additional protection.
What exchanges does Scalable Capital trade on?
Scalable Capital executes orders on the European Investor Exchange (EIX, Hanover), gettex (Munich), and Xetra (Frankfurt). EIX and gettex trades are free from €250 on PRIME+, or free for PRIME ETFs on the FREE plan. Xetra carries a €3.99 order fee plus 0.01% venue fee on all orders regardless of plan.
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.