To help you to find the best stock broker in Europe, we went ahead and did the research for you. First, we selected more than 58 quality stock brokers, then we checked and compared their fees, market and product coverage, trading platform 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 stock brokers of 2020 for citizens in Europe:
- DEGIRO is the winner. One of the lowest fees on the market. Fast and seamless account opening. Easy to use web and mobile trading platform.
- Interactive Brokers in the second place. Wide range of products. Many great research tools. Regulated by several authorities.
- TradeStation Global rounded out the top three. Low trading fees. Wide range of products. Fast and relevant customer service.
- LYNX, numero quatro. Wide range of markets and products. Low stock and ETF trading fees. Great mobile platform.
- 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 | Score | Best in | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | DEGIRO | Dutch discount broker | 4.7 | Best discount broker |
| #2 | Interactive Brokers | US discount broker | 4.9 | Best online broker |
| #3 | TradeStation Global | UK-based global broker | 4.6 | Best broker for buy and hold |
| #4 | LYNX | Netherlands-based stockbroker | 4.2 | |
| #5 | Revolut | UK discount broker | 4.2 | Best broker for millennials |
What makes a good stock broker? First, they need to offer fair fees. They should also offer access to a lot of markets and need to have a great platform. 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 the 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 brokers' 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.
And now, let's see the best stock brokers in Europe one by one, starting with the winner, DEGIRO.
#1 Best stock broker
DEGIRO
Disclaimer: As of March 25, 2020, DEGIRO has introduced a temporary waiting list for new client registrations, until further notice. This is due to the surge of new registrations amid the ongoing heavy market volatility. Because of this situation, the account creation process may take much longer, although it is uncertain how long exactly. We will update the review as we find out more details.
Be also aware that investing involves a risk of loss.
DEGIRO is a Dutch online discount broker. It is privately owned and was established in 2008 by former employees of another brokerage company.
DEGIRO is regulated by top-tier financial authorities, the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and the Dutch Central Bank (DNB). It is registered with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Amsterdam.
Recommended for price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • One of the lowest fees on the market | • Limited research and education |
| • Fast and seamless account opening | • No forex trading |
| • Easy to use web and mobile trading platform | • No credit/debit card deposit and withdrawal |
#1 DEGIRO
Stock trading fees
DEGIRO stock trading fees are low.
It is not so easy to compare trading fees for stock trading. What did we do at BrokerChooser? Instead of quoting long fee tables, we compare brokers by calculating all fees of a typical trade for two popular markets, the US and the UK.
A typical trade means that you buy and sell the shares for $2,000.
This super catch-all benchmark fee includes spreads, financing costs (if applies) and commission for all brokers.
Here is the verdict:
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.6 | $1.0 | $1.5 | $5.0 | $0.0 |
| UK stock | $2.4 | $7.2 | $2.4 | $10.8 | - |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Want to check the pricing by yourself? Here you go:
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.004 per share + €0.5 | $0.005 per share, min. $1, max. 1% of trade value. Free for US clients choosing IBKR Lite plan. | $0.007 per share, min $1.5 | Up to 2,000 shares $0.01 per share, from 2,000 shares $0.005 per share. Minimum $5; maximum 2% of the transaction | Unlimited free stock trades for Metal accounts, while 8 and 3 monthly free stock trades for Premium and Standard accounts respectively |
| UK stock | 0.014% + £1.75 with £5 max | £6 + 0.05% of trade value for trade value more than £50,000; fixed £6 for trade value less than £50,000 | 0.12%, min £1.5 | 0.10%, min £9 | Not available |
Non-trading fees
DEGIRO has low non-trading fees.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Feel free to check out more about brokerage fees if your want to learn more.
#1 DEGIRO
Account opening
As of March 25, 2020, DEGIRO has introduced a waiting list for new accounts. Expect longer waiting times for an otherwise easy and fast account opening process. No minimum deposit is required.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Waiting list and longer account opening time |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 | $1,000 | $3,300 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | >3 days | 1 day |
#1 DEGIRO
Deposit and withdrawal
DEGIRO deposits and withdrawals are free of charge via bank transfer. On the other hand, you cannot deposit with credit or debit card.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free withdrawal | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • No deposit fee | |
| • Several account base currencies |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | 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 | $0 | $0 |
#1 DEGIRO
Markets and products
At DEGIRO you can access many markets and trade with a lot of different products. CFD and forex are not available.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| CFD | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
#1 DEGIRO
Web trading platform
DEGIRO's web platform is simple and easy to use. Even beginners can easily navigate it and buy stocks. On the negative side, you cannot set price alerts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | • No price alerts |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.3 | - |
| Mobile platform score | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.0 |
| Desktop platform score | - | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.8 | - |
#1 DEGIRO
Verdict
DEGIRO is a good choice if you want a simple platform and don’t want to spend too much on fees.
It is far cheaper than its big European competitors and only TradeStation Global comes close to competing with DEGIRO's fees. The account opening process is also fast, you will usually have your account ready to use within a day. It is also one of the best trading platforms for Europeans.
However, its low prices come with some shortfalls. Education and research tools are limited, there is no forex trading, and you can only deposit and withdraw money 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 Dutch discount broker established in 2008. It is regulated by the Dutch FMA. As of March 25, 2020, DEGIRO introduced a waiting list for new customers. Longer than usual account opening times are expected. |
| Fees score | 5.0 |
| Recommended for | Price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions |
#2 Best stock broker
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers was founded in 1978 and is one of the biggest US-based discount brokers. 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).
As it has licenses from multiple top-tier regulators, the broker is considered safe. Also, having a long track record and publicly disclosed financials while being listed on a stock exchange are also great signs for its safety.
Recommended for traders looking for low fees and a professional trading environment
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Wide range of products | • Extremely complex desktop trading platform |
| • Many great research tools | • Complicated account opening process |
| • Regulated by several authorities | • High inactivity fee |
#2 Interactive Brokers
Stock trading fees
Interactive Brokers stock trading fees are low.
It is not so easy to compare trading fees for stock trading. What did we do at BrokerChooser? Instead of quoting long fee tables, we compare brokers by calculating all fees of a typical trade for two popular markets, the US and the UK.
A typical trade means that you buy and sell the shares for $2,000.
This super catch-all benchmark fee includes spreads, financing costs (if applies) and commission for all brokers.
Here is the verdict:
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.6 | $1.0 | $1.5 | $5.0 | $0.0 |
| UK stock | $2.4 | $7.2 | $2.4 | $10.8 | - |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Want to check the pricing by yourself? Here you go:
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.004 per share + €0.5 | $0.005 per share, min. $1, max. 1% of trade value. Free for US clients choosing IBKR Lite plan. | $0.007 per share, min $1.5 | Up to 2,000 shares $0.01 per share, from 2,000 shares $0.005 per share. Minimum $5; maximum 2% of the transaction | Unlimited free stock trades for Metal accounts, while 8 and 3 monthly free stock trades for Premium and Standard accounts respectively |
| UK stock | 0.014% + £1.75 with £5 max | £6 + 0.05% of trade value for trade value more than £50,000; fixed £6 for trade value less than £50,000 | 0.12%, min £1.5 | 0.10%, min £9 | Not available |
Non-trading fees
Interactive Brokers has average non-trading fees.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Feel free to check out more about brokerage fees if your want to learn more.
#2 Interactive Brokers
Account opening
IB's account opening process is fully digital and the required minimum deposit is low. On the negative side, the online registration is complicated and account verification takes around 2 business days.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Not user-friendly |
| • No minimum deposit for most accounts types | • Confusing messages throughout the process |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 | $1,000 | $3,300 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | >3 days | 1 day |
#2 Interactive Brokers
Deposit and withdrawal
Interactive Brokers 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 |
| • First withdrawal each month free |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | 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 | $0 | $0 |
#2 Interactive Brokers
Markets and products
Through Interactive Brokers you can access an extremely wide range of markets, with every product type available.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| CFD | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
#2 Interactive Brokers
Web trading platform
Interactive Brokers's web platform 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 | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.3 | - |
| Mobile platform score | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.0 |
| Desktop platform score | - | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.8 | - |
#2 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 for advanced traders.
On the plus side, IB has a vast range of markets and products available, with diverse research tools and low costs.
There are some drawbacks though: there is a high inactivity fee and the account opening process is complicated. The desktop platform is complex and hard-to-understand, especially for beginners.
If you have experience navigating complex platforms and you like transparent low-cost trading, Interactive Brokers could be 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. |
| Fees score | 4.3 |
| Recommended for | Traders looking for low fees and a professional trading environment |
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#3 Best stock broker
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, while 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 |
#3 TradeStation Global
Stock trading fees
TradeStation Global stock trading fees are low.
It is not so easy to compare trading fees for stock trading. What did we do at BrokerChooser? Instead of quoting long fee tables, we compare brokers by calculating all fees of a typical trade for two popular markets, the US and the UK.
A typical trade means that you buy and sell the shares for $2,000.
This super catch-all benchmark fee includes spreads, financing costs (if applies) and commission for all brokers.
Here is the verdict:
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.6 | $1.0 | $1.5 | $5.0 | $0.0 |
| UK stock | $2.4 | $7.2 | $2.4 | $10.8 | - |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Want to check the pricing by yourself? Here you go:
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.004 per share + €0.5 | $0.005 per share, min. $1, max. 1% of trade value. Free for US clients choosing IBKR Lite plan. | $0.007 per share, min $1.5 | Up to 2,000 shares $0.01 per share, from 2,000 shares $0.005 per share. Minimum $5; maximum 2% of the transaction | Unlimited free stock trades for Metal accounts, while 8 and 3 monthly free stock trades for Premium and Standard accounts respectively |
| UK stock | 0.014% + £1.75 with £5 max | £6 + 0.05% of trade value for trade value more than £50,000; fixed £6 for trade value less than £50,000 | 0.12%, min £1.5 | 0.10%, min £9 | Not available |
Non-trading fees
TradeStation Global has low non-trading fees.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Feel free to check out more about brokerage fees if your want to learn more.
#3 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 |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 | $1,000 | $3,300 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | >3 days | 1 day |
#3 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. |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | 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 | $0 | $0 |
#3 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.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| CFD | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
#3 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 |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.3 | - |
| Mobile platform score | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.0 |
| Desktop platform score | - | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.8 | - |
#3 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 for EU clients. It is regulated by the top-tier UK FCA. |
| Fees score | 4.1 |
| Recommended for | Traders and investors looking for low fees and a wide selection of products |
#4 Best stock broker
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 |
#4 LYNX
Stock trading fees
LYNX stock trading fees are low.
It is not so easy to compare trading fees for stock trading. What did we do at BrokerChooser? Instead of quoting long fee tables, we compare brokers by calculating all fees of a typical trade for two popular markets, the US and the UK.
A typical trade means that you buy and sell the shares for $2,000.
This super catch-all benchmark fee includes spreads, financing costs (if applies) and commission for all brokers.
Here is the verdict:
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.6 | $1.0 | $1.5 | $5.0 | $0.0 |
| UK stock | $2.4 | $7.2 | $2.4 | $10.8 | - |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Want to check the pricing by yourself? Here you go:
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.004 per share + €0.5 | $0.005 per share, min. $1, max. 1% of trade value. Free for US clients choosing IBKR Lite plan. | $0.007 per share, min $1.5 | Up to 2,000 shares $0.01 per share, from 2,000 shares $0.005 per share. Minimum $5; maximum 2% of the transaction | Unlimited free stock trades for Metal accounts, while 8 and 3 monthly free stock trades for Premium and Standard accounts respectively |
| UK stock | 0.014% + £1.75 with £5 max | £6 + 0.05% of trade value for trade value more than £50,000; fixed £6 for trade value less than £50,000 | 0.12%, min £1.5 | 0.10%, min £9 | Not available |
Non-trading fees
LYNX has average non-trading fees.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Feel free to check out more about brokerage fees if your want to learn more.
#4 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 |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 | $1,000 | $3,300 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | >3 days | 1 day |
#4 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 |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | 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 | $0 | $0 |
#4 LYNX
Markets and products
At LYNX you can trade with all the asset classes and reach many markets.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| CFD | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
#4 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 |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.3 | - |
| Mobile platform score | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.0 |
| Desktop platform score | - | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.8 | - |
#4 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. |
| Fees score | 3.0 |
| Recommended for | European traders looking for low stock and ETF fees and a good mobile trading platform |
#5 Best stock broker
Revolut
Revolut is a fast-growing fintech startup founded in 2015 and it's 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 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
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
Stock trading fees
Revolut stock trading fees are low.
It is not so easy to compare trading fees for stock trading. What did we do at BrokerChooser? Instead of quoting long fee tables, we compare brokers by calculating all fees of a typical trade for two popular markets, the US and the UK.
A typical trade means that you buy and sell the shares for $2,000.
This super catch-all benchmark fee includes spreads, financing costs (if applies) and commission for all brokers.
Here is the verdict:
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.6 | $1.0 | $1.5 | $5.0 | $0.0 |
| UK stock | $2.4 | $7.2 | $2.4 | $10.8 | - |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Want to check the pricing by yourself? Here you go:
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.004 per share + €0.5 | $0.005 per share, min. $1, max. 1% of trade value. Free for US clients choosing IBKR Lite plan. | $0.007 per share, min $1.5 | Up to 2,000 shares $0.01 per share, from 2,000 shares $0.005 per share. Minimum $5; maximum 2% of the transaction | Unlimited free stock trades for Metal accounts, while 8 and 3 monthly free stock trades for Premium and Standard accounts respectively |
| UK stock | 0.014% + £1.75 with £5 max | £6 + 0.05% of trade value for trade value more than £50,000; fixed £6 for trade value less than £50,000 | 0.12%, min £1.5 | 0.10%, min £9 | Not available |
Non-trading fees
Revolut has low non-trading fees.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Feel free to check out more about brokerage fees if your want to learn more.
#5 Revolut
Account opening
Revolut has an easy, fast, and fully digital account opening and there's no minimum account balance.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 | $1,000 | $3,300 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | >3 days | 1 day |
#5 Revolut
Deposit and withdrawal
Revolut offers several deposit options and both deposits and withdrawals are free even with wire transfers. On the negative side, you can only use USD-based accounts for trading.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Only USD-accounts for trading |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | 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 | $0 | $0 |
#5 Revolut
Markets and products
Revolut has a limited product portfolio as you can only trade with certain US stocks and cryptos. It lacks other popular asset classes, like mutual funds, bonds, options, etc.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| CFD | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
#5 Revolut
Web trading platform
Revolut doesn't offer a trading platform on the web, it's available only on mobile. Offering a web-based application is very common today as it is convenient to use and accessible from all devices. This is a drawback.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.3 | - |
| Mobile platform score | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.0 |
| Desktop platform score | - | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.8 | - |
#5 Revolut
Verdict
Revolut's fees are great. With all three types of accounts, you can trade US stocks for free. The 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 stocks from the US market. There are only a few research, while educational tools are totally missing. The customer service could be improved.
If you want to trade with US stocks for free and prefer an easy-to-use mobile platform, Revolut is a great choice.
| Revolut | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Revolut is UK-based fintech startup that offers commission-free stock trading. Revolut Trading Ltd is regulated by the FCA. |
| Fees score | 5.0 |
| Recommended for | Beginners looking for free trading and a great mobile-only trading platform |
Best stock brokers
What makes a good stock 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 a stock broker? Why do we think these brokers are safe? What are the most important factors when selecting the best stock brokers?
What is a stock 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 stock 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 stock brokers are:
| 1. Fees | The trading fee of a typical US equity trade can be 50 times higher at one stock broker compared to another. Worth to check the fees. |
| 2. Account opening | Some stock brokers require a minimum to invest, others don't set a minimal first-time deposit. Check out what the best stock brokers require. |
| 3. Deposit and withdrawal | Transferring money to your account can be 5 times longer and more expensive at one stock 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-friendlyAand well-equipped trading platform can significantly increase your trading comfort. |
Best stock brokers
Bottom line
You saw the details, now let's zoom out. Here are the best stock brokers of 2020 in Europe:
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation Global | LYNX | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Award | Best discount broker | Best online broker | Best broker for buy and hold | Best broker for millennials | |
| Fees score | 5.0 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.0 | 5.0 |
| Account opening score | 5.0 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 5.0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 3.3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| Markets and products score | 3.6 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 |
| Web platform score | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.3 | - |
|
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DEGIRO is our winner, the best stock broker in Europe for 2020. One of the lowest fees on the market. Fast and seamless account opening. Easy to use web and mobile trading platform.
All stock brokers are considered 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 broker for you or learn more about investing your money
