XTB vs Trade Republic: which is better for European investors in 2026?

Both XTB and Trade Republic have invested heavily in the European market through advertising on social media and traditional media.

So, which one is better? We are users of both, and what we've noticed is that each has its own unique features, advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we'll share our experience with both.

The goal is to help you understand which of these two platforms might be more suitable for your needs. We'll explore in detail everything XTB and Trade Republic have to offer.

Summary:

• XTB: Best for investing in stocks and ETFs without commissions, and forex. If you value support in your own language from a company with a proven track record, XTB is also strong - it has had branches and offices in several European countries for years.
• Trade Republic: Best for those who value simplicity, earning interest on uninvested cash, and access to automated savings plans in ETFs.

We feel comfortable investing with either broker.

XTB is ideal for anyone looking to invest in CFDs, Forex, or benefit from real stocks and ETFs without commissions. It's also a good option for earning interest on uninvested cash over a shorter period (we prefer Trade Republic for periods longer than 3 months). XTB has branches and offices across Europe and is a company listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

On the other hand, Trade Republic is a German fintech with a full banking licence that stands out for its extremely simple app, its 3% interest on cash balances up to €50,000 (offer for new clients - interest calculated daily), and its automated savings plans in stocks and ETFs from just €1. It's a very popular option among young European investors who prefer a simple, long-term approach. On the "less good" side, Trade Republic is a much younger company (it can be considered a "startup"), it's privately held and, historically, it received plenty of complaints about customer support - although since April 2026 it has been rolling out a 24/7 phone and chat service with human agents, in multiple European languages.

So, if you value customer support with a proven track record and an older, publicly listed company, XTB can be a good fit. Note that Trade Republic has also been opening national branches across Europe (France, Spain and Italy - and, more recently, other markets such as Portugal), bringing local IBANs to more of its customers.

If you mainly want to earn interest on uninvested cash, with deposit protection up to €100,000, and you value a simpler app, then Trade Republic may be better for you.

General comparison table

XTB - overview

Founded in 2002, XTB is one of the major names in the brokerage industry, with broad experience worldwide. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other relevant regulatory bodies, has branches in several European countries and is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

You can invest through the xStation 5 and xStation Mobile platforms in different investment products, such as stocks, ETFs and CFDs on stocks, ETFs, Forex, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies.

It offers 0% commission on stocks and ETFs up to €100,000 in monthly volume (a 0.20% commission applies above that volume - min. €10) and interest on uninvested cash (in EUR and USD). On top of that, there's a 0.50% currency conversion fee (this applies when you buy assets in currencies other than EUR).

Want to know more about XTB? Read our full XTB review.

XTB pros and cons

Pros

• Commission-free stock and ETF trading
• Customizable trading platform (charts and workspace)
• Low Forex spreads
• Demo account available
• Only €1 minimum deposit to open an account
• Educational materials
• Reputable regulatory bodies
• Branches and offices in several European countries

Cons

• Trading platform can be complex for beginners
• High spreads on CFDs for stocks, bonds and other products
• Inactivity fee (€10/month after more than 1 year without activity and no deposit in the last 90 days)
• The company still relies on CFDs, riskier derivative instruments, which can be a downside for long-term "buy and hold" investors

Trade Republic - overview

Founded in 2015 in Berlin, Trade Republic is one of the fastest-growing investment fintechs in Europe. It holds a German banking licence, supervised by BaFin and the Bundesbank, and has been expanding across the continent with national branches in several countries (France, Spain and Italy since early 2025, and more recently other markets such as Portugal).

The banking licence is a significant advantage for European investors: it means your cash balance benefits from the deposit guarantee of up to €100,000, while your investment assets are protected by the investor compensation scheme.

Trade Republic also stands out for three main operational features: an extremely simple mobile app, interest of 3% per year on cash balances up to €50,000 (an offer exclusively for new clients - interest calculated daily; above that amount, and for existing clients, 2.25% applies with no limit), and the ability to create automated savings plans in stocks and ETFs from just €1 per month - with no additional commissions on savings plans.

Want to know more about Trade Republic? Read our full Trade Republic review. If you'd like more detail on the broker's safety, read our article "Is Trade Republic safe?".

Trade Republic pros and cons

Pros

• Simple, intuitive app - ideal for beginners
• 3% interest on cash balances up to €50,000 (offer for new clients - interest calculated daily)
• Automated savings plans in stocks and ETFs from €1
• German banking licence (deposit protection up to €100,000)
• National branches opening across Europe, with local IBANs in a growing number of countries
• Access to stocks, ETFs, bonds and cryptocurrencies
• No commissions on savings plans
• Integrated bank account with a debit card and 1% SaveBack

Cons

• €1 fee per transaction (outside savings plans)
• Historically mobile-first, although it has launched the Web Terminal, a web platform for more active investors
• No CFDs, Forex or leverage
• Historically limited customer support - although since April 2026 it has been rolling out 24/7 phone and live chat with human agents, in multiple European languages
• No demo account
• More limited ETF selection

Regulation and safety

XTB stands out for being publicly listed, which guarantees greater scrutiny of its financial reports.

Trade Republic, in turn, benefits from a German banking licence, offering deposit protection up to €100,000 - a significant advantage for anyone keeping large cash balances in the account.

Trade Republic is a younger, privately held company.

Financial instruments

Trade Republic offers a solid range of products for long-term investors, with automated savings plans and the ability to buy cryptocurrencies in spot mode (not CFDs) as highlights.

XTB stands out for access to Forex, indices and commodities via CFDs, and for the absence of commissions on stocks and ETFs.

_{Since July 2026, with the end of Payment for Order Flow in the EU, Trade Republic executes at Best Price (an aggregation of reference exchanges, with itself as counterparty) or via Direct Price on an exchange of your choice (€2 per order). For most long-term investors, the impact on price tends to be small.}

Investment platforms

XTB's xStation 5 platform offers more advanced trading tools and charts, while Trade Republic's app was designed to be as simple as possible - ideal for anyone who wants to invest regularly without distractions.

Fees

^{*Up to €100,000 in monthly trading volume. For investments above this limit, there's a 0.20% commission (min. €10).}

For one-off purchases of stocks and ETFs, XTB has a clear advantage with its zero-commission policy. However, for anyone using recurring savings plans, Trade Republic is also very competitive with €0 commission on those plans.

Customer support

XTB

XTB's customer support in Europe is often highlighted as one of its strong points. It's available in multiple European languages and offers several contact channels, including:

• Live chat: Fast and effective for simple questions.
• Telephone: Available during extended hours, useful for more complex issues.
• Email: Ideal for less urgent matters.

XTB also stands out for offering dedicated account managers and focused technical support, especially useful for traders using the xStation 5 platform. In general, user feedback tends to be positive, highlighting quick responses and the team's technical knowledge.

Trade Republic

Historically, Trade Republic's customer support was one of its main limitations - no phone, no dedicated account managers, and recurring complaints about response times. In April 2026, the company announced a complete overhaul of this service:

• 24/7 phone and live chat inside the app, with more than 1,000 human agents (no chatbots), including support in multiple European languages.
• Real-time request tracking in the app, for cases that aren't resolved on first contact.

Trade Republic indicated the service would be rolled out gradually in the weeks following the announcement. If you value a proven track record of support in your language, XTB remains a solid choice - Trade Republic is in transition, and the real quality of the new service will be easier to judge over the coming months.

So, which one should you choose?

The choice between XTB and Trade Republic depends, above all, on your investor profile and your specific needs.

XTB stands out for its commission-free stocks and ETFs, advanced analysis tools through the xStation 5 platform, and the ability to earn interest on uninvested cash (after 90 days, the rate drops well below Trade Republic's). It's also the natural choice for anyone who wants access to CFDs, Forex and more active trading.

On the other hand, Trade Republic is the ideal option for anyone who prefers a simpler, more automated approach to investing. The commission-free savings plans, the interest on cash (3% up to €50,000 for new clients, 2.25% with no limit for existing ones), the banking licence and its growing network of national branches across Europe make it particularly appealing for long-term investors and for anyone just getting started.

If you're looking for a platform with stronger customer support, advanced trading features and zero commissions on stocks and ETFs, XTB may be the better choice. However, if you prefer to automate your monthly investing and benefit from interest on your cash balance, Trade Republic will be an excellent option.

Whichever you choose, both brokers are regulated and offer a good level of security. The most important thing is to consider your financial goals and investment style, and to explore both platforms' features before making a decision.

If you have the chance, trying both platforms can be a useful strategy to see which one fits your needs best!

_{This article is for information and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice, nor an investment recommendation. Investing involves risk of capital loss. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage: 76-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. Fees and conditions can change and may vary by country - always confirm the current information on each platform. This article may contain affiliate links: if you open an account through them, we may receive a commission, at no additional cost to you.}