Trade on IBKR
To help you to find the best online broker for buy and hold strategies in Europe, we went ahead and did the research for you. First, we selected more than 67 quality online brokers, then we checked and compared their fees, products, trading platform, deposit and withdrawal and more. We went deep, so you won't have to.
5 made it to the top in Europe. We highly recommend all 5 to you. And now, without further ado...
Our top 5 picks for the best online brokers for buy and hold investors in Europe:
- TradeStation Global is the winner. Low trading fees. Wide range of products. Fast and relevant customer service.
- Firstrade in the second place. Free stock, ETF, fund, and options trading. Solid research tools. Quality educational tools.
- LYNX rounded out the top three. Wide range of markets and products. Low stock and ETF trading fees. Great mobile platform.
- Swissquote, numero quatro. Access to many markets and products. No inactivity fee. Rock-solid background.
- Revolut. Free stock trading. Fast and easy account opening. Great mobile trading platform. Just made it to the list with being number five.
| Broker | Info | Overall score | Best in | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | TradeStation Global | UK-based global broker | 4.6 | Best broker for buy and hold |
| #2 | Firstrade | US discount broker | 4.5 | Best broker for funds |
| #3 | LYNX | Netherlands-based stockbroker | 4.2 | |
| #4 | Swissquote | Swiss investment bank | 4.7 | |
| #5 | Revolut | UK discount broker | 4.3 | Best broker for millennials |
All 5 brokers are considered safe. They are regulated by top-tier financial regulators.
What makes a good online broker for long term investing? First, they need to offer fair stocks and ETF trading fees. Second, the inactivity fee shouldn't be high. It must also be easy to use its trading platform. Finally, we appreciated if the broker offers an okay amount of markets to trade on Easy to list, but hard to figure it out. We are testing brokers along ~100 criteria with real accounts and real money. We know what's up.
Not sure which broker? For a tailored recommendation, check out our broker finder tool. You can enter your country and it will show only the relevant brokers. Want more details? Compare brokers with this detailed comparison table.
Boring, but important stuff: Some of the broker's portfolio contains CFD products. They are complex and very risky, thus not suitable for everyone. You can easily lose all of your invested money. If you don't have clue what a CFD is, start with these CFD trading tips.
For buy and hold investors, we recommend buying stocks directly and not via cfd.
And now, let's see the best stock brokers in Europe one by one, starting with the winner, TradeStation Global.
#1 Best online broker for investors
TradeStation Global
TradeStation Global is the brand of TradeStation International, which is based in the UK and regulated by the top-tier FCA. TradeStation International is the subsidiary of TradeStation, and an introducing broker of Interactive Brokers (IB).
Therefore, TradeStation Global is a combined product of TradeStation and IB. You can reach IB's markets almost at IB's fees. You can trade on both IB's and TradeStation's desktop platform. The customer service is by TradeStation.
Both Interactive Brokers and TradeStation are reputable brokers, regulated by top-tier financial authorities. While Interactive Brokers is listed on NASDAQ, TradeStation itself is not: only TradeStation's parent company Monex is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Recommended for traders and investors looking for low fees and a wide selection of products
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Not user-friendly deposit and withdrawal |
| • Wide range of products | • Complicated account opening |
| • Fast and relevant customer service | • Limited education materials |
#1 TradeStation Global
Fees
TradeStation Global has low trading fees, especially for stock and ETF. It's also great that there is no inactivity fee and the first withdrawal in each month is free of charge. On the other hand, mutual fund fees are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • High fund fees |
| • Low non-trading fees | |
| • Low stock and ETF fees |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock fee class | Low | Low | Low | High | Low |
| USA* | $1.5 | $0.0 | $5.0 | $25.0 | $0.0 |
| Germany* | $2.4 | - | $6.6 | $27.5 | - |
| UK* | $2.4 | - | $10.8 | $30.0 | - |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | $100 inactivity fee applicable only after several years inactivity | It is called platform fee and it is €5 per month. | No inactivity fee charged | No inactivity fee |
*Commissions for opening/closing a $2,000 stock/ETF position
#1 TradeStation Global
Account opening
TradeStation Global's account opening is fully digital and fast. On the negative side, the process is complicated and there is a high, $1,000 minimum required deposit.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Minimum deposit is higher than $500 |
| • Fully digital | • Not user-friendly |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1,000 | $0 | $3,300 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days | >3 days | 1 day | 1 day |
#1 TradeStation Global
Deposit and withdrawal
TradeStation Global offers many account base currency options and one free withdrawal per month. The main drawbacks are that you can only use bank transfer and the process is not user-friendly.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • Several account base currencies | • Not user-friendly |
| • No charge for the first withdrawal every month. |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10 | $0 |
#1 TradeStation Global
Markets and products
With TradeStation Global, you can access the same range of product types and exchanges as at Interactive Brokers. This selection is one of the widest among online brokers.
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock markets (#) | 78 | 5 | 78 | 60 | 2 |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
#1 TradeStation Global
Web trading platform
You can use Interactive Brokers' web trading platforms. Client Portal is simple and easy to use even for beginners. On the negative side, it is not customizable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | • Difficult to set the alerts |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.3 stars | 4.3 stars | - |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 3.3 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | - | 2.8 stars | - | - |
#1 TradeStation Global
Verdict
TradeStation Global has low trading fees, has access to a lot of products and markets, and has great customer support. The TradeStation Global desktop platform has great charting tools, and plenty of indicators highly customizable watchlists (Radar Screen), and visualized order placing (Matrix).
On the other hand, the deposit and withdrawal process is not user-friendly and you can use only a bank transfer. The account opening is complicated and for full account verification, a minimum deposit of $1,000 is needed. Lastly, the education section could be extended with more materials, as of now, it is limited.
If you prefer low fees with IB's product range, feel free to try TradeStation Global.
| TradeStation Global | |
|---|---|
| Summary | TradeStation Global is an introducing broker of Interactive Brokers. It practically means that assets and cash are held with Interactive Brokers, but services, like the fees or customer support are provided by TradeStation Global. TradeStation Global is regulated by the top-tier UK FCA. |
| Overall score | 4.6 |
| Recommended for | Traders and investors looking for low fees and a wide selection of products |
#2 Best online broker for investors
Firstrade
Firstrade is a US discount stockbroker regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The company was founded in 1985 under the name of First Flushing Securities.
Firstrade is considered safe because it has a long track record and is regulated by top-tier regulators.
Recommended for beginners and investors looking for zero-commission trading, focusing on the us market
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free stock, ETF, fund, and options trading | • No credit/debit cards and electronic wallets for money transfer |
| • Solid research tools | • You can trade only on US markets |
| • Quality educational tools | • No live chat and 24/7 availability |
#2 Firstrade
Fees
Firstrade has low fees. It offers free stock, ETF, funds, and options trading. The non-trading fees are low too. However, the margin rates are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • High margin rates |
| • Low non-trading fees | |
| • Free stock, ETF, fund and options trading |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock fee class | Low | Low | Low | High | Low |
| USA* | $1.5 | $0.0 | $5.0 | $25.0 | $0.0 |
| Germany* | $2.4 | - | $6.6 | $27.5 | - |
| UK* | $2.4 | - | $10.8 | $30.0 | - |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | $100 inactivity fee applicable only after several years inactivity | It is called platform fee and it is €5 per month. | No inactivity fee charged | No inactivity fee |
*Commissions for opening/closing a $2,000 stock/ETF position
#2 Firstrade
Account opening
The account opening is fully digital and user-friendly. Firstrade is available for US and some non-US customers. On the flip side during the test we experienced a slower account opening, that took almost 3 business days.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Slow account verification |
| • No minimum deposit | |
| • Low minimum deposit |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1,000 | $0 | $3,300 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days | >3 days | 1 day | 1 day |
#2 Firstrade
Deposit and withdrawal
We liked a lot Firstrade's user-friendly deposit and withdrawal process. There is no deposit fee and transferring money is easy. At the same time, there is still room for improvement. You can use only bank transfer and a high fee is charged for wire transfer withdrawals.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • User-friendly | • High outgoing wire transfer fee |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10 | $0 |
#2 Firstrade
Markets and products
Firstrade offers a good variety of asset classes, from stocks to options. However, the offered products cover only the US market and you cannot trade with futures or forex.
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock markets (#) | 78 | 5 | 78 | 60 | 2 |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
#2 Firstrade
Web trading platform
During our testing, we found Firstrade's web platform is simple and easy to use. If you are a beginner, then you can easily navigate it. On the negative side, it lacks a two-step login and the customizability is limited.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Good search function |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.3 stars | 4.3 stars | - |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 3.3 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | - | 2.8 stars | - | - |
#2 Firstrade
Verdict
Firstrade is one of the biggest discount US stockbrokers regulated by top-tier regulators.
It offers free stock, ETF, mutual funds, and options trading. It doesn't charge inactivity and account fees and there are a lot of quality research and educational tools you can use.
To provide an unbiased picture we have to mention some drawbacks though. Firstrade doesn't provide credit/debit cards and electronic wallets for transferring money. Are you interested only in U.S. market products? If yes, then you will be delighted. Otherwise, you might find insufficient that the product portfolio covers only the US market. The customer service is only 24/5 and you can't contact them via live chat.
As there are low fees and no inactivity fee is charged, feel free to try Firstrade.
| Firstrade | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Firstrade is a US discount broker regulated by the top-tier SEC and FINRA. |
| Overall score | 4.5 |
| Recommended for | Beginners and investors looking for zero-commission trading, focusing on the US market |
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#3 Best online broker for investors
LYNX
LYNX is a Netherlands-based stockbroker founded in 2006.
LYNX is also an introducing broker of Interactive Brokers. This practically means that your deposited funds will be held at Interactive Brokers' accounts but the fees are charged by LYNX. You can also use IB's trading platforms.
LYNX is considered safe because both LYNX and Interactive Brokers are regulated by top-tier regulators.
Recommended for european traders looking for low stock and etf fees and a good mobile trading platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Wide range of markets and products | • Deposit and withdrawal are not user-friendly |
| • Low stock and ETF trading fees | • €3,000 minimum deposit |
| • Great mobile platform | • Not user-friendly desktop platform |
#3 LYNX
Fees
LYNX has low trading fees for stocks, ETFs and funds. On the other hand, its forex fees are high and it charges an inactivity fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low stock and ETF fees | • High forex fees |
| • Low fund fees | • Inactivity fee |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock fee class | Low | Low | Low | High | Low |
| USA* | $1.5 | $0.0 | $5.0 | $25.0 | $0.0 |
| Germany* | $2.4 | - | $6.6 | $27.5 | - |
| UK* | $2.4 | - | $10.8 | $30.0 | - |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | $100 inactivity fee applicable only after several years inactivity | It is called platform fee and it is €5 per month. | No inactivity fee charged | No inactivity fee |
*Commissions for opening/closing a $2,000 stock/ETF position
#3 LYNX
Account opening
LYNX's account opening is fully digital and user-friendly. However, there is a €3,000 minimum deposit and the account opening took us over three days.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Slow |
| • User-friendly | • Minimum deposit is higher than $500 |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1,000 | $0 | $3,300 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days | >3 days | 1 day | 1 day |
#3 LYNX
Deposit and withdrawal
You can fund your account in many base currencies and there is also one free withdrawal per month. However, you can only use bank transfer and the process is not user-friendly.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free withdrawal | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • No deposit fee | • Not user-friendly |
| • Several account base currencies | |
| • One free withdrawal per month |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10 | $0 |
#3 LYNX
Markets and products
At LYNX you can trade with all the asset classes and reach many markets.
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock markets (#) | 78 | 5 | 78 | 60 | 2 |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
#3 LYNX
Web trading platform
The LYNX web trading platform is simple and easy to use. You can execute your order via several order types and access a clear fee report. On the negative side, it lacks the two-step login, customizability, and price alerts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Good variety of order types | • No price alerts |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.3 stars | 4.3 stars | - |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 3.3 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | - | 2.8 stars | - | - |
#3 LYNX
Verdict
LYNX has low stock and ETF trading fees, a great mobile trading platform, and offers a wide range of markets and products.
On the other hand, the deposit and withdrawal options are limited. There is also a €3,000 minimum deposit and its desktop platform is quite complicated.
Feel free to try LYNX if you are a European client and prefer low stock and ETF trading fees and a good mobile trading platform.
| LYNX | |
|---|---|
| Summary | LYNX is a Dutch stockbroker established in 2006. It is regulated by the Dutch FMA. |
| Overall score | 4.2 |
| Recommended for | European traders looking for low stock and ETF fees and a good mobile trading platform |
#4 Best online broker for investors
Swissquote
Swissquote is a Swiss investment bank established in 1996. It has two main trading arms: a Swiss unit for trading stocks, funds, options and futures and a company in the UK for CFDs and forex.
Formally, Swissquote Bank Ltd is based in Switzerland and is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), the country's financial regulator.
The other entity, Swissquote Ltd, is UK-based and offers CFDs and forex. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK's financial authority.
Swissquote is considered safe because Swissquote Bank Ltd has a banking license, it is listed on the Swiss stock exchange, discloses detailed financials regularly and it has a long track record.
For clarity, in this review we focus on the Swiss entity, but also discuss services of the UK arm, especially in the case of CFD and forex trading. To make it clear which company we are talking about, we will refer to the Swiss entity as "Swissquote (CH)" and to the UK-based entity as "Swissquote Forex (UK)".
Recommended for affluent investors who value safety and are ok with higher fees
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Access to many markets and products | • High trading fees |
| • No inactivity fee | • Confusing trading platform selection |
| • Rock-solid background | • Some research tools are not free |
#4 Swissquote
Fees
Swissquote doesn't charge an inactivity fee and you can trade an impressive selection of funds for favorable fees. On the other hand, trading fees are generally high, including for stocks and ETFs, and there is a fee for withdrawing your money.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex fees | • High trading fees |
| • Low fund fees | • High stock and ETF fees |
| • No inactivity fee | • High bond fees |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock fee class | Low | Low | Low | High | Low |
| USA* | $1.5 | $0.0 | $5.0 | $25.0 | $0.0 |
| Germany* | $2.4 | - | $6.6 | $27.5 | - |
| UK* | $2.4 | - | $10.8 | $30.0 | - |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | $100 inactivity fee applicable only after several years inactivity | It is called platform fee and it is €5 per month. | No inactivity fee charged | No inactivity fee |
*Commissions for opening/closing a $2,000 stock/ETF position
#4 Swissquote
Account opening
Swissquote offers a fully digital account opening, although we encountered some technical difficulties during the identification process. There is no minimum deposit for trading accounts, but a high minimum for forex and robo-advisory accounts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Technical difficulties |
| • No minimum deposit for trading account | • Forex and robo-advisor accounts have high minimum |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1,000 | $0 | $3,300 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days | >3 days | 1 day | 1 day |
#4 Swissquote
Deposit and withdrawal
Depositing at Swissquote is quick with credit/debit card and can be done in several base currencies. On the negative side, you can only withdraw money via bank transfer.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Quick deposit and withdrawal - within 3 days | • Credit/Debit card withdrawal not available |
| • Several account base currencies for forex account |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10 | $0 |
#4 Swissquote
Markets and products
At Swissquote (CH) you have access to many markets and trade with a lot of different product types. At Swissquote Forex (UK) you can trade only forex and some CFDs.
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock markets (#) | 78 | 5 | 78 | 60 | 2 |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
#4 Swissquote
Web trading platform
The Swissquote (CH) eTrading platform has a lot of functions, so many that sometimes it can get complicated. Customizability is good and a there is a clear overview of trading fees, but you may run into some bugs.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Clear fee report | • Account login and search function bugs |
| • Good customizability (for charts, workspace) | • Easy to get lost among functions |
| • Available in several languages |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.3 stars | 4.3 stars | - |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 3.3 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | - | 2.8 stars | - | - |
#4 Swissquote
Verdict
Swissquote is an investment bank with a rock-solid background:
- It is Swiss,
- it is listed on an exchange
- and it is a bank.
It has two main entities, one in the UK and one in Switzerland. If you open an account at the London-based entity you can trade forex and CFDs, while the Swiss entity gives you access to asset classes ranging from stocks to options.
Swissquote offers a broad range of products across many markets. There are many stocks, mutual funds, and a lot of different other types of products, from bonds to cryptos.
However, nothing comes for free: Swissquote's trading fees are relatively high.
All in all, Swissquote is a great stockbroker. As you can trade many products and no inactivity fee is charged, feel free to give it a try.
| Swissquote | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Swissquote is a Swiss online broker with a banking license. It is listed on the Swiss stock exchange and regulated by several authorities globally, including the top-tier UK FCA. |
| Overall score | 4.7 |
| Recommended for | Affluent investors who value safety and are OK with higher fees |
#5 Best online broker for investors
Revolut
Revolut is a fast-growing fintech startup founded in 2015 and mainly known for its banking and payment services. In 2019, the company also launched its commission-free stock trading, which is provided by Revolut Trading Ltd.
Revolut is regulated by multiple top-tier regulators, including the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Clients' assets are protected up to $500,000 ($250,000 cash) under the Securities Investment Protection Corporation's (SIPC) insurance. Revolut is also regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Recommended for beginners looking for free trading and a great mobile-only trading platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free stock trading | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Fast and easy account opening | • Basic research and missing educational tools |
| • Great mobile trading platform | • Poor customer service |
#5 Revolut
Fees
Besides trading stocks for free with Revolut, you also don't have to pay any inactivity or withdrawal fees. It only charges a 0.01% annual custody fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | None |
| • Low non-trading fees | |
| • Free stock trading |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock fee class | Low | Low | Low | High | Low |
| USA* | $1.5 | $0.0 | $5.0 | $25.0 | $0.0 |
| Germany* | $2.4 | - | $6.6 | $27.5 | - |
| UK* | $2.4 | - | $10.8 | $30.0 | - |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | $100 inactivity fee applicable only after several years inactivity | It is called platform fee and it is €5 per month. | No inactivity fee charged | No inactivity fee |
*Commissions for opening/closing a $2,000 stock/ETF position
#5 Revolut
Account opening
Revolut has an easy, fast, and fully digital account opening, requiring no minimum account balance.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1,000 | $0 | $3,300 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days | >3 days | 1 day | 1 day |
#5 Revolut
Deposit and withdrawal
Revolut offers several deposit options, and both deposits and withdrawals are free even when using wire transfers. On the negative side, you can only use a USD-based account for trading.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Only one account base currency |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10 | $0 |
#5 Revolut
Markets and products
Revolut has a limited product portfolio, as you can only trade certain US stocks, cryptos and gold. It lacks other popular asset classes like mutual funds, bonds or options.
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock markets (#) | 78 | 5 | 78 | 60 | 2 |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
#5 Revolut
Web trading platform
Revolut does not offer a web trading platform, as it's available only on mobile. This is a drawback, as web-based applications are convenient to use and accessible from all devices.
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.3 stars | 4.3 stars | - |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 3.3 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | - | 2.8 stars | - | - |
#5 Revolut
Verdict
Revolut's fees are great. With all three types of accounts, you can trade US stocks for free (though monthly limits may apply). Account opening is easy, fully digital, and fast. You can use an awesome and user-friendly mobile trading platform.
Revolut has some drawbacks though. The product portfolio covers only US stocks and some crypto currencies. There are only a few research tools, while it offers no educational material at all. Customer service could also be improved.
If you want to trade US stocks for free and are looking for an easy-to-use mobile platform, Revolut is a great choice.
| Revolut | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Revolut is a UK-based fintech startup that offers commission-free stock trading. Revolut Trading Ltd is regulated by the FCA. |
| Overall score | 4.3 |
| Recommended for | Beginners looking for free trading and a great mobile-only trading platform |
Best online brokers for buy and hold investors in Europe
What makes a good online broker
Now you know the top 5. You are probably curious about how we came up with this list. Let's go through a few points quickly. What is an online broker? Why do we think these brokers are safe? What are the most important factors when selecting the best online brokers?
What is an online broker?
Thirty years ago if you wanted to buy a stock, you had to pick up the phone and call your broker, who executed the transaction in return for a commission. Brokers were like in the Wolf of Wall Street movie. They were checking the stocks' prices while holding a telephone and shouting. Everything changed after the internet appeared. Nowadays if you want to buy Apple shares, you open online an account, deposit money, and make the order through the brokers' online platform. These brokers are the online brokers. Online brokers help you buying and selling securities, like stocks. After making your order, the online broker executes it immediately. Everything is online.
Are these brokers safe?
Yes, they are considered safe. You can be sure none of them is a scam. They are regulated by top-tier regulators. Some of them are also listed on an exchange, and some have a banking background.
However, also brokerage companies can go down. Remember Lehman Brothers? In these cases, it is important to know what happens with your securities and cash. These are usually held in segregated accounts, so even in case of a broker bankruptcy, you are safe.
If everything goes very bad and for example, the broker steals your assets, then you have a last resort, the compensation fund of the country where the broker is regulated.
How did BrokerChooser pick the best international online brokers for a citizen in Europe?
At BrokerChooser we test online brokers along ~100 criteria, with a real account and real money. Not to overwhelm you we list the five most important criteria.
The 5 most important criteria for online brokers are:
| 1. Fees | The trading fee of a typical US equity trade can be 50 times higher at one online broker compared to another. Worth to check the fees. |
| 2. Account opening | Some online brokers require a minimum to invest, others don't set a minimal first-time deposit. Check out what the best online brokers require. |
| 3. Deposit and withdrawal | Transferring money to your account can be 5 times longer and more expensive at one online broker compared to another. |
| 4. Products and markets | You want to invest in Amazon and Bitcoin? They might not be available. Check the product coverage before opening an account. |
| 5. Trading platform | A user-friendly and well-equipped trading platform can significantly increase your trading comfort. |
Best online brokers for buy and hold investors in Europe
Bottom line
You saw the details, now let's zoom out. Here are the best online brokers for buy and hold investors in Europe:
| TradeStation Global | Firstrade | LYNX | Swissquote | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| Award | Best broker for buy and hold | Best broker for funds | Best broker for millennials | ||
| Stock fee class | Low | Low | Low | High | Low |
| Account opening score | 2.8 stars | 4.4 stars | 2.5 stars | 4.0 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 2.5 stars | 1.8 stars | 2.5 stars | 4.1 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Markets and products score | 5.0 stars | 2.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 2.0 stars |
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.3 stars | 4.3 stars | - |
| Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker |
TradeStation Global is our winner, the best online broker for long term investing in Europe. Low trading fees. Wide range of products. Fast and relevant customer service.
All are considered safe, and a great choice. Pick the winner, or any runner-up and take the next step in your investment journey. Let us know what you think in the comment section.
Still unsure? Use the broker finder and find the best online broker for you or learn more about investing your money.
