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Best Brokers for ETFs
Exchange-traded funds are the simplest way to build a diversified portfolio: one purchase can give you exposure to hundreds or thousands of companies at a very low annual cost. Because ETF investors tend to buy regularly and hold for years, the broker’s own costs — order commissions, currency conversion and account fees — add up over time, and so does the convenience of features such as automatic savings plans.
This ranking compares brokers regulated by at least one Tier-1 authority that offer real ETFs to most of their clients, focusing on costs and on how easy they make regular investing.
How this ranking is ordered. Brokers are ranked by an ETF-investing theme score: the average of their Costs & Pricing and User Experience & Support ratings. Only brokers offering real ETFs, not only CFDs, are included. Our regulation rules still apply — a broker rated below 4.0 for Regulation & Security cannot rank in the top three, and ties are broken by the stronger regulatory rating. The stars on each card show the broker’s overall CT Advisory24 score, which is the same on every page. See our methodology →
XTB
Commission-free ETFs and automatic investment plans
- 0% commission on ETFs up to €100,000 monthly turnover
- Recurring investment plans and fractional ETFs
- Regulated by the FCA, CySEC and KNF; listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
About XTB
XTB makes ETF investing close to free for the vast majority of private investors. ETF orders carry no commission up to €100,000 of monthly turnover, and its investment plans let you set up a portfolio of ETFs that is topped up automatically every month, with fractional units so every euro is invested. The app is one of the easiest in this ranking, with clear portfolio views and a large education library for newcomers. XTB is a listed broker supervised by several European regulators. Accounts come in euros, dollars or sterling, so ETFs quoted in other currencies are converted, and an inactivity fee applies after a year without activity.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No commission on ETFs for almost every private investor
- Automatic monthly investment plans with fractional ETFs
Cons
- Only three account currencies
- €10 monthly inactivity fee after 12 months without activity
Fees & Funding
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- EUR/USD Pricing
- Spread-only on CFDs (0% commission)
- US Stock Commission
- 0% up to €100,000 monthly turnover, then 0.2% (min €10)
- Inactivity Fee
- €10/month after 12 months without trading and 90 days without deposits
- Withdrawal Fee
- Free above $50; $30 below (international entity)
- Funding Methods
- Bank transfer, cards, Skrill (2%), Neteller (1%)
Technical Sheet
- Founded
- 2002
- Headquarters
- Warsaw, Poland (XTB S.A., Prosta 67)
- Regulators
- FCA, CySEC, KNF, CNMV (branch), FSC Belize
- Markets
- Real stocks & ETFs, CFDs on 50+ FX pairs, indices, shares, ETFs, commodities and crypto; spot crypto (CySEC clients)
- Platforms
- xStation 5 (web, desktop), XTB mobile app
- Max Retail Leverage
- 1:30 retail (EU/UK); up to 1:500 via international entity
- Account Currencies
- EUR, USD, GBP
- Demo Account
- Yes — free, no expiry (web and app)
- Customer Support
- Live chat, phone and email — 24/5
Data last checked: . Conditions vary by country and entity — always confirm with the broker.
Trading 212
Zero-commission ETFs with Pies and AutoInvest
- $0 commission on real ETFs and stocks
- Pies and AutoInvest for automated portfolios
- Accounts in 12 currencies, from GBP and EUR to PLN and SEK
About Trading 212
Trading 212 is built around the kind of investor who buys ETFs every month. There is no commission, accounts can be opened with almost nothing, and its Pies feature lets you combine several ETFs into a portfolio with target weights that AutoInvest tops up on a schedule. Twelve account currencies help investors outside the eurozone avoid unnecessary conversions, and when one is needed the fee is 0.15%. Support is available by chat around the clock. The range is limited to stocks and ETFs: there are no bonds, funds or options, and the only platform is Trading 212's own app and web version.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No commission and a very low 0.15% currency conversion fee
- Pies and AutoInvest make regular ETF investing effortless
Cons
- No bonds, mutual funds or options
- No phone support and no desktop platform
Fees & Funding
- Minimum Deposit
- $1 (Invest/ISA); $10 on CFD account
- EUR/USD Pricing
- Commission-free CFDs, variable spread (shown per instrument)
- US Stock Commission
- $0 on real stocks & ETFs; 0.15% FX conversion fee on non-base-currency assets
- Inactivity Fee
- No
- Withdrawal Fee
- Free
- Funding Methods
- Bank transfer, cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, other e-wallets (0.7% on card/e-wallet deposits above €2,000 total)
Technical Sheet
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- UK (London) – Trading 212 UK Ltd; founded in Sofia, Bulgaria
- Regulators
- FCA, CySEC, BaFin (via FXFlat), ASIC, FSC (Bulgaria)
- Markets
- ~11,000 real stocks & ETFs on 16 exchanges, spot crypto; CFDs on separate account; no bonds, funds, options or futures
- Platforms
- Trading 212 web and mobile app (no MetaTrader, no desktop app)
- Max Retail Leverage
- 1:30 (CFD account only)
- Account Currencies
- 12: GBP, USD, EUR, CAD, CHF, DKK, NOK, PLN, SEK, CZK, RON, HUF
- Demo Account
- Yes
- Customer Support
- 24/7 live chat and email; no phone support
Data last checked: . Conditions vary by country and entity — always confirm with the broker.
Interactive Brokers
Every major ETF exchange in one account
- ETFs on exchanges in 175+ market centres
- Hold cash in many currencies to avoid conversions
- No account minimum and no inactivity fee
About Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers suits ETF investors who want maximum choice and are comfortable with a more technical platform. You can buy ETFs listed in London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, New York and many other markets, choose between accumulating and distributing share classes, and hold cash in several currencies so you convert only when it makes sense. Commissions are low, though not zero, and recurring investments can be set up for regular saving. For many beginners the main drawback is the learning curve: the range of tools and order types is designed for professionals, so a simpler app will often feel more welcoming.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Unmatched choice of ETFs and listing exchanges
- Multi-currency account keeps conversion costs under control
Cons
- Commission charged on each ETF order
- Platforms are complex for first-time investors
Fees & Funding
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- EUR/USD Pricing
- Commission-based: 0.20 bps of trade value (min $2), no spread mark-up
- US Stock Commission
- $0.005/share, min $1 (IBKR Pro Fixed); $0 on IBKR Lite (US residents)
- Inactivity Fee
- None (no maintenance fee)
- Withdrawal Fee
- One free withdrawal per month; then e.g. USD 10 / EUR 8 by wire, 1 by ACH/SEPA
- Funding Methods
- Bank wire and electronic transfers (ACH, SEPA, BACS); checks in the US
Technical Sheet
- Founded
- 1977 (brokerage since 1993)
- Headquarters
- Greenwich, Connecticut, USA
- Regulators
- SEC, CFTC, FINRA (US); FCA; Central Bank of Ireland; ASIC; CIRO; SFC; SEBI; MAS; Kanto LFB (Japan)
- Markets
- Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, forex, bonds, funds — 175+ market centres
- Platforms
- IBKR Desktop, Trader Workstation (TWS), Client Portal, IBKR Mobile, GlobalTrader, IMPACT, APIs
- Max Retail Leverage
- 1:30 on major FX for retail clients (EU/UK/AU entities)
- Account Currencies
- 29 trading currencies (varies by entity)
- Demo Account
- Yes — free paper trading account
- Customer Support
- Phone, email and live chat — 24/5, plus limited Saturday hours
Data last checked: . Conditions vary by country and entity — always confirm with the broker.
Trade Republic
Free ETF savings plans from a German bank
- ETF savings plans with no order fee
- €1 per one-off trade
- Full German bank licence (BaFin and Bundesbank)
About Trade Republic
Trade Republic popularised the free ETF savings plan in Europe, and it remains one of the simplest ways to invest a fixed amount every month. Savings plans carry no order fee, one-off trades cost €1, and the app is straightforward enough for someone opening their first investment account. Since Trade Republic holds a full German banking licence, uninvested cash sits with a supervised bank. The offer is focused: everything happens in euros, there is no desktop platform, and customer support runs mainly through in-app chat. Investors who want options, funds or accounts in other currencies will need to look elsewhere.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free savings plans and €1 one-off trades
- Full banking licence under German supervision
Cons
- Euro accounts only
- Support mostly by chat; no desktop platform
Fees & Funding
- Minimum Deposit
- €0
- EUR/USD Pricing
- Not available (no forex/CFDs)
- US Stock Commission
- €1 per trade (external cost), zero commission; savings plans free
- Inactivity Fee
- No
- Withdrawal Fee
- Free
- Funding Methods
- Bank transfer (SEPA), cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay (first card/e-wallet deposit free, then 0.7%)
Technical Sheet
- Founded
- 2015
- Headquarters
- Germany (Berlin)
- Regulators
- BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank (full German bank)
- Markets
- ~10,000 stocks & ETFs (US, UK, EU), bonds, crypto, derivatives (warrants); no options/funds
- Platforms
- Trade Republic mobile app and web app (no desktop)
- Max Retail Leverage
- No leverage (cash account)
- Account Currencies
- EUR only
- Demo Account
- No
- Customer Support
- In-app chat and email; phone limited; not 24/7
Data last checked: . Conditions vary by country and entity — always confirm with the broker.
Admirals
ETFs and stocks for MetaTrader users
- Real ETFs and stocks on 15 exchanges (Invest.MT5)
- EU-listed ETFs from 0.10% per order (min €1)
- Accounts in 8 currencies
About Admirals
Admirals is a practical option for traders who already use MetaTrader and want to hold a long-term ETF portfolio with the same provider. Its Invest.MT5 account gives access to real ETFs and stocks on 15 exchanges, with a percentage commission on European listings and per-share pricing on US ones, and eight account currencies reduce conversions for investors across Europe. Non-trading costs are low, with one free withdrawal a month. Its Auto-Invest feature can schedule weekly or monthly purchases, so regular saving is possible, but MetaTrader remains a trading tool first, which makes managing a buy-and-hold portfolio less intuitive than in app-based brokers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ETFs and trading accounts with one regulated provider
- Eight account currencies, including PLN, CZK, HUF and RON
Cons
- Smaller ETF range than dedicated investment brokers
- MetaTrader is not designed for long-term portfolios
Fees & Funding
- Minimum Deposit
- $100 (or EUR/GBP/CHF 100)
- EUR/USD Pricing
- From 0.1 pips + $3 per lot per side (Zero account); commission-free accounts with wider spreads
- US Stock Commission
- Invest.MT5: $0.02/share per side (min $1) on US stocks; 0.10% (min €1) on EU stocks
- Inactivity Fee
- €10/month after 2 years of inactivity (only if balance > 0)
- Withdrawal Fee
- First withdrawal each month free; then e.g. €1 by bank transfer
- Funding Methods
- Bank transfer, cards, e-wallets (not all e-wallets for all clients)
Technical Sheet
- Founded
- 2001
- Headquarters
- Estonia (Tallinn) – Admirals Group AS
- Regulators
- FCA, CySEC, ASIC, JSC (Jordan), plus Seychelles and South Africa entities (Estonian licence relinquished 2026)
- Markets
- CFDs on forex, indices, commodities, stocks, crypto; 4,000+ real stocks and ETFs on 15 exchanges (Invest.MT5)
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, MetaTrader WebTrader, Admirals Platform (web), Admirals mobile app
- Max Retail Leverage
- 1:30 on major FX for retail clients (EU/UK/AU entities)
- Account Currencies
- EUR, GBP, USD, CHF, CZK, HUF, PLN, RON
- Demo Account
- Yes
- Customer Support
- Live chat, phone, email — 24/5, many languages
Data last checked: . Conditions vary by country and entity — always confirm with the broker.
ETF Costs and Savings Plans Compared
| Broker | ETF order cost | Automatic savings plans | Account currencies |
|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | 0% up to €100,000 monthly turnover | Yes (investment plans) | EUR, USD, GBP |
| Trading 212 | $0 (0.15% FX fee if converting) | Yes (Pies & AutoInvest) | 12 currencies |
| Interactive Brokers | Low commission, varies by exchange | Yes (recurring investments) | Many currencies |
| Trade Republic | €1 per trade; savings plans free | Yes (free) | EUR only |
| Admirals | EU-listed: 0.10% (min €1) | Yes (Auto-Invest) | 8 currencies |
Broker costs only; the ETF’s own annual fee (TER), exchange spreads and taxes are additional. Pricing can vary by entity and country of residence. Data checked November 2026.
How to Choose a Broker for ETFs
Make sure the ETFs you want are available. European investors buy UCITS ETFs listed on European exchanges; check that the broker offers the specific funds and share classes — accumulating or distributing — that you are interested in.
Think in years, not trades. If you invest every month, a €1 order fee is twelve fees a year, and a currency conversion fee applies every time you buy a fund in another currency. Free savings plans, multi-currency accounts and the absence of custody or inactivity fees matter more for ETF investors than headline commissions.
Choose an app you will keep using. Regular investing works best when it is effortless. Automatic plans, clear portfolio reporting and responsive support are worth a lot over a decade of investing.
The value of ETFs can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest. Diversification reduces but does not remove market risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why can’t I buy US-listed ETFs such as SPY or QQQ in Europe?
EU and UK rules require a key information document (KID) for packaged investment products sold to retail investors, and most US ETF issuers do not publish one. As a result, European retail investors normally buy UCITS ETFs listed in Europe, which often track the same indices — for example S&P 500 or Nasdaq-100 UCITS ETFs.
Accumulating or distributing ETF: which should I choose?
A distributing ETF pays dividends out to you in cash; an accumulating ETF reinvests them automatically. Accumulating share classes suit investors building wealth over time, while distributing ones suit those who want regular income. Tax treatment differs between countries, so check the rules where you live.
What is an ETF’s TER, and is it the only cost?
The total expense ratio (TER) is the annual fee charged by the fund, deducted from its value — often 0.05% to 0.30% for broad index ETFs. On top of that you pay the broker’s order commission, if any, the bid-ask spread on the exchange and, when relevant, currency conversion. Over many years, low ongoing costs make a measurable difference.
Are ETF savings plans worth it?
A savings plan invests a fixed amount at regular intervals, which builds the habit of investing and smooths out the price you pay over time. Several brokers in this ranking run them with no order fee, which makes small monthly amounts practical.
What happens to my ETFs if the broker goes bust?
ETF units are held in custody separately from the broker’s own assets, and the fund’s assets are held separately from the ETF issuer’s. If a regulated broker fails, holdings are transferred or returned, and investor compensation schemes cover shortfalls up to set limits, depending on the entity that holds your account.
About the Author – Claudio Tuteri
Economist and Founder of CT Advisory24, an independent project focused on broker analysis, financial education, and transparent comparison of regulated brokers.
Claudio defines the evaluation methodology, reviews broker rankings, and ensures consistency across analyses based on regulation, costs, platform quality, and investor protection.