Trade Republic Review (2026):
Fees, savings plans, and who it fits
Trade Republic is one of Europe’s most-used neobrokers — built around a clean mobile app, a €1 flat fee per trade, and free automated savings plans. The real question for long-term investors isn’t the interface — it’s whether the savings plan workflow fits your strategy, and where the fee and product limits start to matter.
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TL;DR
- European investors who want automated savings plans into UCITS ETFs.
- Beginners who need a clean, low-friction mobile experience.
- Investors who contribute small amounts regularly — free savings plans make the €1 fee irrelevant.
- Those who want cash interest on their uninvested balance.
- FX conversion costs on non-EUR assets — a real drag for large or frequent trades.
- Limited product range: no options, limited bonds, no US-domiciled ETFs.
- Mobile-only — no proper desktop trading platform.
- When IBKR is better: multi-currency scale, lower FX costs, broader access.
What Trade Republic actually is
Trade Republic is a Berlin-based neobroker with a German banking licence, operating across most of the EU. It is not a traditional broker — it is built around one workflow: set up a savings plan, automate it, leave it alone.
- Securities account (stocks, ETFs, bonds, crypto).
- Automated savings plans — free, starting from €1/month.
- Cash interest on uninvested balances (up to a threshold).
- Mobile-first: iOS and Android apps, no desktop platform.
- Not a full-service broker — limited market and product depth.
- No CFDs, no options, no futures.
- No desktop platform for active analysis.
- Not designed for multi-currency or large-scale portfolio management.
What Trade Republic actually costs
The headline is simple: €1 per manual trade, savings plans free. But the real cost picture for long-term investors includes FX and the structure of how trades are executed.
| Fee type | How it appears | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Manual trades | €1 flat per trade (stocks, ETFs, bonds) | Low — irrelevant for buy-and-hold investors |
| Savings plans | Free — no per-execution charge | Zero cost for the core automation workflow |
| FX conversion | Applied on non-EUR assets at execution | Real drag — especially at larger portfolio sizes |
| Cash interest | Paid on uninvested cash up to a threshold (ECB-linked rate) | Positive — better than most neobrokers on idle cash |
| Account fee | €0 — no custody or account maintenance fee | Not an issue |
| Withdrawal / deposit | Free via SEPA | Not an issue |
Savings plans: the reason most people should consider Trade Republic
Automated savings plans (Sparplan) are Trade Republic’s defining feature. Free, flexible in amount and frequency, and available on a wide range of UCITS ETFs — they turn monthly investing into a zero-friction habit.
- 1–2 broad UCITS ETFs (e.g. MSCI World or FTSE All-World).
- Fixed monthly contribution, automated — set and forget.
- No manual intervention between contributions.
- Rebalance once a year at most, by adjusting plan amounts.
- Setting up 10+ savings plans across thematic ETFs.
- Switching plans frequently based on market news.
- Using the app daily to monitor positions.
- Combining savings plans with active manual trading in the same account.
Interest on uninvested cash
Trade Republic pays interest on uninvested cash balances — a feature most traditional brokers don’t offer. This matters if you hold cash while deciding when to invest, or if contributions sit idle between plan execution dates.
The interest rate is linked to ECB policy rates and applies up to a set threshold per account. It is not guaranteed to remain at any specific level — rate changes follow ECB decisions. Always verify the current rate on Trade Republic’s official pricing page before treating it as a fixed return.
For investors with larger cash positions, cash drag is still a real cost. Interest helps offset it — but the correct solution to cash drag is to invest the cash, not to park it indefinitely for the yield. See: Cash drag study.
UCITS ETFs for European investors
EU retail investors must use UCITS-compliant ETFs instead of US-domiciled tickers due to PRIIPs/KID regulations. Trade Republic’s catalogue covers the main indices — that’s all most long-term investors need.
- MSCI World, MSCI Emerging Markets, S&P 500, FTSE All-World trackers.
- Major accumulating and distributing UCITS ETFs from iShares, Vanguard, Amundi, SPDR.
- Sector and thematic ETFs.
- A selection of bond ETFs and individual bonds.
- Niche factor or smart-beta ETFs may not be listed.
- Smaller or less-liquid UCITS ETFs are often absent.
- No US-domiciled ETFs (regulatory restriction for EU retail investors).
- Less depth than IBKR or DEGIRO for active bond or fixed-income strategies.
Who Trade Republic fits — and who it doesn’t
- European beginners starting with a simple, automated ETF strategy.
- Investors who want to set up monthly savings plans and not think about it.
- Anyone who values cash interest on their idle balance.
- Investors with smaller portfolios where the €1 flat fee is proportionally low.
- Investors who need a desktop platform for analysis or larger orders.
- Anyone dealing in multi-currency assets at scale — FX costs add up.
- Portfolios requiring niche ETFs, options, or fixed-income depth.
- Investors who will outgrow the platform and face switching costs later.
Interactive Brokers wins on: multi-currency funding (deposit EUR, convert once at institutional rates, hold USD), broader market and product access, a platform that scales with a growing portfolio, and significantly lower FX drag for non-EUR investors.
The trade-off is a steeper setup process and a less polished mobile experience. If you’re starting out with small monthly contributions, Trade Republic is the easier on-ramp. As the portfolio grows, IBKR becomes the more cost-efficient long-term home.
Ready to open an account?
Set up a savings plan into 1–2 broad UCITS ETFs, automate it, and leave it running. That’s the workflow Trade Republic is built for.
Go deeper
Frequently asked questions
Is Trade Republic good for long-term investing?
Yes, if used correctly. Set up automated savings plans into broad UCITS ETFs, leave them running, and ignore the app’s other features. The €1 flat fee per manual trade becomes irrelevant when you automate — savings plans are free.
How much does Trade Republic charge per trade?
€1 flat per manual trade. Automated savings plans (Sparplan) are free — no per-execution charge. There is also a foreign exchange fee on non-EUR assets. Check the Trade Republic fees explained guide for the full breakdown.
Does Trade Republic pay interest on cash?
Yes. Trade Republic pays interest on uninvested cash up to a set threshold. The rate is linked to ECB policy and can change. Confirm the current rate on their official pricing page before relying on it as a fixed return.
Can EU investors buy UCITS ETFs on Trade Republic?
Yes. Trade Republic offers a broad UCITS ETF catalogue covering major indices (MSCI World, S&P 500, FTSE All-World). US-domiciled ETFs are not accessible to EU retail investors due to PRIIPs/KID regulations — UCITS equivalents cover the same indices without the regulatory restriction.
When does Interactive Brokers make more sense than Trade Republic?
IBKR is better when you need multi-currency accounts (deposit EUR, convert once at institutional FX rates, hold USD), broader market access, a desktop platform for analysis, or a broker you can scale into without switching later. Trade Republic is simpler and better for smaller, automated portfolios — IBKR scales further with lower FX drag at higher portfolio sizes.
Is Trade Republic available across Europe?
Trade Republic is available in most EU countries and a number of other European markets. Availability and specific features (such as the savings plan catalogue and cash interest terms) can vary by country — confirm eligibility on their official website before opening an account.
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.