To help you to find the best online brokers for long-term investing in Europe in 2022, we went ahead and did the research for you. First, we looked at the 101 quality online brokers we cover, then we checked and compared their fees, products, trading platforms, deposit and withdrawal conditions and more. We dug deep, so you won't have to.
And now, let's see the winners!
Our top 5 picks for the best online brokers for long-term investing in Europe in 2022:
- Interactive Brokers is the winner. Low trading fees. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
- DEGIRO takes second place. One of the lowest fees on the market. Regulated by top-tier authorities. Easy-to-use web and mobile platform.
- Firstrade rounds out the top three. Free stock, ETF, fund and options trading. Solid research tools. Quality educational tools.
- ARMO Broker came in fourth. Wide range of products. Many great research tools. Easy-to-use web trading platform.
- LYNX just made it to the list, in fifth place. Wide range of markets and products. Low stock and ETF trading fees. Great research tool.
| Broker | Description | Overall score | Minimum deposit | Other awards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Interactive Brokers | International broker providing all asset classes | 4.9 | $0 | Best online broker |
| #2 | DEGIRO | German-Dutch discount broker | 4.8 | $0 | Best discount broker |
| #3 | Firstrade | US discount broker | 4.3 | $0 | |
| #4 | ARMO Broker | Global stockbroker | 4.1 | $2,400 | |
| #5 | LYNX | Netherlands-based stockbroker | 4.3 | $3,600 |
All of these brokers are considered safe, as they are all regulated by top-tier financial authorities.
What makes a good online broker for long-term investing? First, they need to offer fair fees for stock and ETF trading, while mutual fund and bond fees are also relevant. Second, the inactivity fee shouldn't be high. Finally, we rated it as a positive if the broker provides a wide range of products to trade.
All that is easy to list, but hard to figure out. That's why we are testing brokers along close to 500 criteria, using real accounts and real money.
Not sure which broker is best for you? For a tailored recommendation, check out our broker finder tool. Just select your country and it will narrow down the list of brokers to those that are available where you live. Want more details? Compare brokers with our in-depth comparison tool.
Important note: some of the brokers offer CFD products. These are complex and very risky, thus not suitable for everyone. You can easily lose all of your invested money. If you have no idea what a CFD is, start with these CFD trading tips.
For long-term investors, it is probably a better option to buy stocks directly rather than via CFDs.
And now, let's see the best brokers for long-term investing in Europe one by one, starting with the winner, Interactive Brokers.
#1 Best online broker for investors
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers, one of the biggest US-based discount brokers, was founded in 1977. The broker is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including top-tier ones like the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Given that the broker has licenses from multiple top-tier regulators, Interactive Brokers is considered safe. The fact that it has a long track record and publicly disclosed financials while being listed on a stock exchange all point to IB being a safe service provider.
Interactive Brokers recently launched a new app for global stock trading: read our review of IBKR GlobalTrader.
In addition, Interactive Brokers also has an app you can use for ESG investing: read our review of IMPACT by Interactive Brokers.
Recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Complicated account opening process |
| • Wide range of products | • Complex desktop trading platform |
| • Many great research tools | • Understaffed customer service |
#1 Interactive Brokers
Fees
Interactive Brokers has low trading fees and the best margin rates in the industry. For US clients, stock and ETF trading is free if they choose the Lite plan.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | None |
| • Free stock and ETF trading for US clients | |
| • Low margin rates |
| Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | Firstrade | ARMO Broker | LYNX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF fee scores | 4.8 stars | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.1 stars |
| Mutual fund fee scores | 2.9 stars | 4.3 stars | 5.0 stars | 0.0 stars | 4.0 stars |
| Bond fee scores | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.5 stars |
| US stock fee* | $1.0 | $0.6 | $0.0 | $3.0 | $5.0 |
| German stock fee* | $3.6 | $5.3 | - | $4.7 | $7.2 |
| UK stock fee* | $4.2 | $3.2 | - | $9.8 | $12.6 |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | Called 'platform fee'; €5 per month. |
*Commissions for opening/closing a $2,000 stock/ETF position
#1 Interactive Brokers
Markets and products
At Interactive Brokers, you have access to an extremely wide range of markets and all product types are available.
| Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | Firstrade | ARMO Broker | LYNX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock markets (#) | 83 | 31 | 5 | 78 | 78 |
| ETFs (#) | 13,000 | 5,400 | 2,300 | 13,000 | 13,000 |
| Fund providers (#) | 400 | 64 | 450 | 260 | 260 |
| Bonds (#) | 1,065,000 | 649 | 38,500 | 60,000 | 60,000 |
#1 Interactive Brokers
Verdict
Interactive Brokers is one of the biggest US-based discount brokers, regulated by several top-tier regulators globally. We recommend this broker both for advanced traders and for everyday investors who want to have access to many stock markets.
On the plus side, IB offers very low fees, a vast range of markets and products, and diverse research tools.
There are some drawbacks, though. We weren't satisfied with the quaity of the customer service and the account opening process is complicated. Unlike the web and mobile platforms, the desktop platform is complex and hard to get a handle on, especially for beginners.
If you have experience navigating complex platforms and enjoy transparent, low-cost trading, Interactive Brokers is a great fit for you.
| Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Interactive Brokers is a US discount broker. It is listed on a stock exchange and regulated by several authorities, including top-tier ones like the FCA and the SEC. |
| Overall score | 4.9 |
| Recommended for | Traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment |
#2 Best online broker for investors
DEGIRO
DEGIRO is a German-Dutch online discount broker. It was established in 2008 by former employees of another brokerage company in the Netherlands. DEGIRO merged with flatexDEGIRO Bank AG in early 2021, creating the biggest online execution-only broker in Europe with its own banking license.
Check out our DEGIRO review tailored to the needs of beginner investors and traders.
DEGIRO is regulated by top-tier financial authorities such as the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, or BaFin) in Germany.
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.
Disclaimer for UK clients: Deemed authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The nature and extent of consumer protections may differ from those applicable to firms based in the UK. Details of the Temporary Permissions Regime, which allows EEA-based firms to operate in the UK for a limited period while seeking full authorisation, are available on the FCA's website.
Recommended for traders and investors looking for execution only
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • One of the lowest fees on the market | • Forex not available |
| • Regulated by top-tier authorities | • Limited research tools |
| • Easy-to-use web and mobile platform | • No credit/debit card deposit |
#2 DEGIRO
Fees
DEGIRO has low trading fees for all asset classes. Non-trading fees are also low, as there are no inactivity or withdrawal fees. On the negative side, trading US options or futures will come with a €5 monthly fee. If you need currency conversion, a 0.25% fee will apply.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fund fees | • €5 monthly fee for trading US derivatives (options and futures) |
| • No inactivity fee | • 0.25% FX conversion fee |
| • Low stock and ETF fees |
| Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | Firstrade | ARMO Broker | LYNX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF fee scores | 4.8 stars | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.1 stars |
| Mutual fund fee scores | 2.9 stars | 4.3 stars | 5.0 stars | 0.0 stars | 4.0 stars |
| Bond fee scores | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.5 stars |
| US stock fee* | $1.0 | $0.6 | $0.0 | $3.0 | $5.0 |
| German stock fee* | $3.6 | $5.3 | - | $4.7 | $7.2 |
| UK stock fee* | $4.2 | $3.2 | - | $9.8 | $12.6 |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | Called 'platform fee'; €5 per month. |
*Commissions for opening/closing a $2,000 stock/ETF position
#2 DEGIRO
Markets and products
At DEGIRO, you can access many markets and trade a lot of different products. CFDs and forex are not available, though.
| Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | Firstrade | ARMO Broker | LYNX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock markets (#) | 83 | 31 | 5 | 78 | 78 |
| ETFs (#) | 13,000 | 5,400 | 2,300 | 13,000 | 13,000 |
| Fund providers (#) | 400 | 64 | 450 | 260 | 260 |
| Bonds (#) | 1,065,000 | 649 | 38,500 | 60,000 | 60,000 |
#2 DEGIRO
Verdict
DEGIRO is a good choice if you want a simple platform and don’t want to spend too much on fees.
Transaction costs are generally very low. In addition, the account opening process is fast.
On the other hand, as DEGIRO is an execution-only broker, its research tools are limited. We should also mention that it offers no forex trading, and most clients can only deposit and withdraw by bank transfer.
All in all, DEGIRO is a great online broker. There is no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee, so feel free to go ahead and give it a try.
| DEGIRO | |
|---|---|
| Summary | DEGIRO is a discount broker that merged with flatexDEGIRO Bank AG and is supervised by the German financial regulator. |
| Overall score | 4.8 |
| Recommended for | Traders and investors looking for execution only |
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#3 Best online broker for investors
Firstrade
Firstrade is a US discount stockbroker regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The company was founded in 1985 under the name First Flushing Securities.
Firstrade is considered safe because it has a long track record and is overseen 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 or 24/7 availability |
#3 Firstrade
Fees
Firstrade has low fees. It offers free stock, ETF, funds, and options trading with low non-trading fees. However, margin rates are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • High margin rates |
| • Low non-trading fees | |
| • Free stock, ETF, fund and options trading |
| Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | Firstrade | ARMO Broker | LYNX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF fee scores | 4.8 stars | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.1 stars |
| Mutual fund fee scores | 2.9 stars | 4.3 stars | 5.0 stars | 0.0 stars | 4.0 stars |
| Bond fee scores | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.5 stars |
| US stock fee* | $1.0 | $0.6 | $0.0 | $3.0 | $5.0 |
| German stock fee* | $3.6 | $5.3 | - | $4.7 | $7.2 |
| UK stock fee* | $4.2 | $3.2 | - | $9.8 | $12.6 |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | Called 'platform fee'; €5 per month. |
*Commissions for opening/closing a $2,000 stock/ETF position
#3 Firstrade
Markets and products
Firstrade offers a good variety of asset classes, from stocks to options. However, the products cover only the US market and you cannot trade futures or forex.
| Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | Firstrade | ARMO Broker | LYNX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock markets (#) | 83 | 31 | 5 | 78 | 78 |
| ETFs (#) | 13,000 | 5,400 | 2,300 | 13,000 | 13,000 |
| Fund providers (#) | 400 | 64 | 450 | 260 | 260 |
| Bonds (#) | 1,065,000 | 649 | 38,500 | 60,000 | 60,000 |
#3 Firstrade
Verdict
Firstrade is one of the biggest discount US stockbrokers and is regulated by top-tier regulators.
Firstrade offers free stock, ETF, mutual funds and options trading. It doesn't charge inactivity and account fees, and there are lots of quality research and educational tools you can use.
Their services have some drawbacks, though. Firstrade doesn't accept credit/debit cards and electronic wallets for money transfer. The product portfolio covers only the US market. Customer service is only available 24/5 and you can't contact them via live chat.
As it has 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 | 4.3 |
| Recommended for | Beginners and investors looking for zero-commission trading, focusing on the US market |
#4 Best online broker for investors
ARMO Broker
ARMO Broker is a Germany-based stockbroker that was founded in 2019. It is an introducing broker to IBIE, the Irish entity of Interactive Brokers, one of the largest brokers in the world. IBIE is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
If you're familiar with the services of Interactive Brokers, you will notice that many of ARMO Broker's services are the same or similar. In summary:
- The account opening and deposit/withdrawal options are very similar to Interactive Brokers
- The trading platforms and available products are exactly the same as at Interactive Brokers
- Fees, however, are charged by ARMO Broker, not by Interactive Brokers
- ARMO Broker offers its own customer support and some educational tools in German
ARMO Broker is regulated by a top-tier financial authority. However, it doesn't have a long track record of operation.
Recommended for investors and traders from europe interested in global markets
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Wide range of products | • Complicated account opening process |
| • Many great research tools | • Complex desktop trading platform |
| • Easy-to-use web trading platform | • High forex, options and futures fees |
#4 ARMO Broker
Fees
ARMO Broker has low stock and ETF fees and charges no inactivity fee. On the other hand, the fees for trading forex, options and futures are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low stock and ETF fees | • High forex, options and futures fees |
| • No inactivity fee |
| Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | Firstrade | ARMO Broker | LYNX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF fee scores | 4.8 stars | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.1 stars |
| Mutual fund fee scores | 2.9 stars | 4.3 stars | 5.0 stars | 0.0 stars | 4.0 stars |
| Bond fee scores | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.5 stars |
| US stock fee* | $1.0 | $0.6 | $0.0 | $3.0 | $5.0 |
| German stock fee* | $3.6 | $5.3 | - | $4.7 | $7.2 |
| UK stock fee* | $4.2 | $3.2 | - | $9.8 | $12.6 |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | Called 'platform fee'; €5 per month. |
*Commissions for opening/closing a $2,000 stock/ETF position
#4 ARMO Broker
Markets and products
Through ARMO Broker, you can access a wide range of markets, and all product types are available to trade.
| Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | Firstrade | ARMO Broker | LYNX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock markets (#) | 83 | 31 | 5 | 78 | 78 |
| ETFs (#) | 13,000 | 5,400 | 2,300 | 13,000 | 13,000 |
| Fund providers (#) | 400 | 64 | 450 | 260 | 260 |
| Bonds (#) | 1,065,000 | 649 | 38,500 | 60,000 | 60,000 |
#4 ARMO Broker
Verdict
We recommend ARMO Broker for advanced investors and traders from Europe who are interested in trading on global markets.
On the plus side, ARMO Broker has low stock and ETF fees, a vast range of available markets and products, and diverse research tools.
There are some drawbacks, though. It charges high forex, futures and options fees. The account opening process is complicated and the desktop platform is complex.
If you have experience navigating complex platforms and would like to enjoy low-cost stock/ETF trading, ARMO Broker could be a great fit for you.
| ARMO Broker | |
|---|---|
| Summary | ARMO Broker is a Germany-based global stockbroker for investors and traders. It is an introducing broker of Interactive Brokers IE, which is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. |
| Overall score | 4.1 |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders from Europe interested in global markets |
#5 Best online broker for investors
LYNX
LYNX is a Netherlands-based stockbroker founded in 2006.
LYNX is an introducing broker of Interactive Brokers (IB). In practice, this means that your deposited funds will be held by IB but 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 financial authorities.
Recommended for any 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 options limited |
| • Low stock and ETF trading fees | • €3,000 minimum deposit |
| • Great research tool | • Complex desktop platform |
#5 LYNX
Fees
LYNX has low trading fees for stocks, ETFs and funds, but its forex&options fees are high and it also charges an inactivity fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fund fees | • High forex fees |
| • Low stock and ETF trading fees | • Inactivity fee |
| • High options fees |
| Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | Firstrade | ARMO Broker | LYNX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF fee scores | 4.8 stars | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.1 stars |
| Mutual fund fee scores | 2.9 stars | 4.3 stars | 5.0 stars | 0.0 stars | 4.0 stars |
| Bond fee scores | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.5 stars |
| US stock fee* | $1.0 | $0.6 | $0.0 | $3.0 | $5.0 |
| German stock fee* | $3.6 | $5.3 | - | $4.7 | $7.2 |
| UK stock fee* | $4.2 | $3.2 | - | $9.8 | $12.6 |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | No inactivity fee | Called 'platform fee'; €5 per month. |
*Commissions for opening/closing a $2,000 stock/ETF position
#5 LYNX
Markets and products
At LYNX, you can trade the full spectrum of asset classes and gain access to many markets.
| Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | Firstrade | ARMO Broker | LYNX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock markets (#) | 83 | 31 | 5 | 78 | 78 |
| ETFs (#) | 13,000 | 5,400 | 2,300 | 13,000 | 13,000 |
| Fund providers (#) | 400 | 64 | 450 | 260 | 260 |
| Bonds (#) | 1,065,000 | 649 | 38,500 | 60,000 | 60,000 |
#5 LYNX
Verdict
LYNX has low stock and ETF trading fees, great research tools, and offers an extremely wide range of markets and products.
On the other hand, deposit and withdrawal options are limited to bank transfers. There is also a steep €3,000 minimum deposit and the desktop platform can be overwhelming for beginners.
Feel free to try LYNX if you are a European client seeking access to a wide range of markets and want access to the research tools Interactive Brokers offers in its trading platforms.
| LYNX | |
|---|---|
| Summary | LYNX is a Dutch stockbroker established in 2006. It is regulated by the Dutch FMA. |
| Overall score | 4.3 |
| Recommended for | Any European traders looking for low stock and ETF fees and a good mobile trading platform |
Best online brokers for long-term investing in Europe in 2022
Bottom line
You've seen the details, now let's zoom out. Here are once again the best online brokers for long-term investing in Europe:
| Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | Firstrade | ARMO Broker | LYNX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.3 |
| Award | Best online broker | Best discount broker | |||
| Stock fee class | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| Fund fee class | Average | Low | Low | - | Low |
| Bond fee class | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| Markets and products score | 5.0 stars | 3.6 stars | 2.5 stars | 4.9 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Account opening score | 3.2 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.2 stars | 1.7 stars | 2.0 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 3.0 stars | 3.3 stars | 2.0 stars | 3.0 stars | 3.0 stars |
| Web platform score | 4.0 stars | 4.0 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker |
Interactive Brokers is our winner, the best online broker for long-term investing in Europe. Low trading fees. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
All the other brokers in the top five are considered great choices as well. Pick any of them and take the next step in your investment journey. Let us know what you think in the comment section.
Still unsure? Use our broker finder tool to find the best online broker for you or learn more about investing your money.
