In this guide, we will go over top-rated trading platforms in Europe. The EU has one of the greatest and most accessible digital trading markets in the world. It’s a strictly regulated market with many reliable trading platforms and brokers.
There’s a plethora of securities, instruments, and derivatives that can be traded. Before you dive into the trading market, you should inform yourself about the most reliable trading platforms, apps, and brokers in Europe. In this guide, we will help you do that with extensive information and stats.
Our Top Picks for the Best Stock Trading Platform Europe
The investment platforms Europe for ETFs, cryptocurrencies, stocks, and options include Interactive Brokers, eToro, DEGIRO, XTB, and AvaTrade. Let’s review each of these five platforms in detail.
- eToro – Best Trading Platform in Europe
- AvaTrade – Best Forex Trading Platform Europe
- Interactive Brokers – Best Stock Broker in Europe
- DEGIRO – Best ETF Trading Platform Europe
- XTB – Best Trading Platform for Forex in Europe
- Firstrade – Best Options Trading Platform in Europe
Our Top 3 Picks
Best Forex Broker
PFI Rating 4.9
76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Best Overall
PFI Rating 4.9
68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Best Market Access
PFI Rating 4.9
69.0% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with IBKR.
Table of contents
- Our Top Picks for the Best Stock Trading Platform Europe
- eToro – Best Online Trading Platform in Europe Overall
- AvaTrade – Best European Forex Broker
- Interactive Brokers – Best Market Access Broker in Europe
- DEGIRO – Best ETF Trading Platform in Europe
- XTB – Best CFD Broker Europe
- Firstrade – Good Trading Platform for Options in Europe
- Compare Trading Platforms in Europe
- How To Choose an Investment Platform in Europe?
- Final Tips
Some online brokers are a better option for shares and CFDs, while others are better suited for forex and cryptocurrency trading. That being said, let’s learn more about the best trading platforms for European Investors.
| Trading Platform | Info | Our Score | Accepts Clients | Minimum | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | eToro | Best Copy Trading Platform Europe | 4.9 | Globally | €100 | Zero-commission Stocks and Copy Trading in Europe |
| #2 | AvaTrade | Best Forex Trading Platform Europe | 4.9 | Globally | €100 | Forex and CFD Trading |
| #3 | Interactive Brokers | International Broker with all Assets Classes | 4.9 | Globally | €0 | Global Markets and all Asset Classes |
| #4 | XTB | Best CFD Broker Europe | 4.8 | Globally | €0 | CFD Trading Europe |
| #5 | DEGIRO | Discount Broker in Europe | 4.7 | Europe | €0 | Low Cost Trading in Europe |
| #6 | Firstrade | Great For Options Trading in Europe | 4.7 | Globally | €0 | Options Trading |
PFI Rating: 4.9/5
eToro – Best Online Trading Platform in Europe Overall
eToro has over 15 million users worldwide because it’s an excellent option for commission-free stocks and cryptocurrency trading. Launched in 2007, the eToro platform has grown dramatically over the years.
It is the best in the industry for copy trading. eToro has a community of traders whose strategies you can copy.
In Addition, eToro is regulated by several top-tier authorities, including the CySEC in Cyprus, the FCA in the UK, the ASIC in Australia, etc. Let’s summarize the main pros and cons of eToro.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments that come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. Make sure you understand how CFDs work and if you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
PFI Rating: 4.9/5
AvaTrade – Best European Forex Broker
AvaTrade is our top pick as the best forex broker in Europe. It has one of the best trading apps. Founded in 2006, this platform has a wide variety of market selections and good customer service. It is a great platform, both for beginner and advanced traders.
Seven regulatory bodies across six continents accredited AvaTrade, including JSA, FCA, ASIC, and others.
One of the unique features of this trading platform includes AvaProtect, which is a risk management tool that allows clients to keep their trades safe from losses. Yes, clients pay a small fee, but this app will reimburse every client for losing trades up to 1 million in exchange
71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
PFI Rating: 4.9/5
Interactive Brokers – Best Market Access Broker in Europe
Interactive Brokers sits at the top of the list as the best trading platform for Europeans because it suits users of all levels. It’s the best overall choice for active traders and investors thanks to the four decades of experience, low commissions and fees, strong capital position, a wide range of markets, research, and trading tools.
They offer Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Options, Spot Currencies, Cryptocurrencies, Spot Gold, Bonds, Mutual Funds, and Hedge Funds.
Interactive Brokers was established in 1987 and has developed into the largest US-based brokerage with over 790,000 orders executed daily. Further, IBKR is one of the best-regulated brokers worldwide, with licenses from 11 financial authorities, including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority and US Securities and Exchange Commission.
On Interactive Brokers' Official Website
PFI Rating: 4.7/5
DEGIRO – Best ETF Trading Platform in Europe
If you want to decrease the costs for stock trading to a minimum, then opt for DEGIRO. It’s a German-Dutch trading platform that provides €0 ETF and US stock trades, no maintenance charges, no deposit or withdrawal fees, no inactivity fees, low-cost share trading, and over 30 exchanges worldwide.
Thus, it’s the perfect choice for investors with simple needs who don’t want to spend too much money. However, keep in mind that investing includes the risk of loss.
The platform was established in 2008 and has over 1 million European clients. It’s one of the award-winning trading platforms.
It has received 80 international broker awards, including “Top Rated Overall Investment Platform” by the Financial Times.
In 2021, DEGIRO connected with Flatex, the German giant, to make the flatexDEGIRO Bank AG, making it the largest online execution-only broker with a German banking license.
On DEGIRO Official Website
PFI Rating: 4.7/5
XTB – Best CFD Broker Europe
XTB represents one of the biggest and most reputable stock exchange-listed brokers worldwide, with a wide selection of instruments, including CFDs on about 1,700 stocks as well as 110 ETFs, crypto, popular commodities, indices, and 48 forex pairs, with leverage of 1:30 (as restricted by EU regulation).
I also want to state that about 73% of retail investor accounts lose funds when trading CDFs with XTB, so keep that in mind. XTB is also known as a transparent business, which is registered with several financial authorities in Europe, including the Polish Financial Supervision Authority, FCA in the UK, and CySEC.
I also want to mention that XTB doesn’t allow cryptocurrency trading for UK clients because of the FCA restrictions. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the most important pros and cons of XTB.
PFI Rating: 4.7/5
Firstrade – Good Trading Platform for Options in Europe
Although Firstrade is based in the US, it’s still one of the best multi-asset brokers in Europe. Thus the platform accepts clients within the European Union from eligible countries.
It provides free stock trades from the American market. However, what makes this platform so unique is the ability for foreign customers to trade US-style options without fees and commissions.
The company was established in 1985. And it’s regulated by FINRA and SEC. Furthermore, regardless of where customers reside, they’re protected via the SIPC (Security Investor Protection Corporation), which provides protection of up to $500,000 for registered assets or $250,000 for cash.
On Firstrade Official Website
Compare Trading Platforms in Europe
You can compare trading platforms below to see how they stack up.
| eToro | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | XTB | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Score: | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Founded: | 2007 | 2006 | 1978 | 2008 | 2002 | 1985 |
| Regulation: | FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSAS | CySEC, ASIC,FSCA, FFAJ, ADGM,ISA,Central Bank of Ireland | SEC, CFTC, FCA, NFA, MAS, CBI, IIROC, ASIC, CSSF | Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), BaFin | FCA, CySEC, IFSC | SEC |
| Headquarters: | Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel | Dublin, Ireland | Greenwich, Connecticut, United States | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Poland | New York, New York, United States |
| EU Clients Allowed: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Available Outside EU | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum Deposit: | €50 - €10,000 (Israel Only) | €100 | €0 | €0 | €0 | €0 |
| Deposit Methods: | PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Credit Card, Debit Card, Rapid Transfer, iDEAL, Klarna / Sofort Banking, Bank Transfer, Online Banking - Trustly, POLi | Credit/Debit Cards,Neteller,WebMoney,Wire Transfer | Bank Wire, Credit Cards, ACH, Mail a check, Rollover, Online Bill Pay, Trustee-to-Trustee, SEP Contribution | Bank Transfer | Bank Transfer,Credit/Debit Cards,Skrill | ACH, Check, Wire Transfer |
| Min. Trade: | €10 (Stocks, ETFs, Crypto) €1000 on Leverage (Currencies, Commodities, Indices) | Varies | €1 | €0 | 0.01 lots | €0 |
Features Compared
| eToro | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers | DEGIRO | XTB | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo Account: | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Islamic Account: | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Margin: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Leverage: | up to 1:30 | up to 1:30 | up to 1:30 | up to 1:30 | up to 1:30 | up to 1:30 |
| Copy Trading: | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Trading Signals: | No (Copy Trading) | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Platforms Compared
| eToro | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers | XTB | DEGIRO | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile App: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (xStation Mobile) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform: | Yes | Yes | Trader Workstation, Client Portal | xStation 5 | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop: | No | Yes | Yes (Trader Workstation) | Yes (xStation 5) | No | Yes |
| cTrader: | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| DupliTrade: | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| MetaTrader4: | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| MetaTrader5: | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Customer Service Compared
| eToro | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers | XTB | DEGIRO | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Email: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support: | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live Chat: | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Markets Available
Compare the tradeable assets available at each platform below:
| eToro | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers | XTB | DEGIRO | Firstade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stocks: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Forex: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Commodities: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Indices: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrencies: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ADR: | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Options: | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds: | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Binary Options: | No | No | No | No | No | No |
How To Choose an Investment Platform in Europe?
A trading platform includes financial software and financial research tools that brokerages produce and control to help different types of clients place orders on global markets.
However, keep in mind that platforms differ depending on the provider, so you will want to focus on the brokers which come with the greatest and most reliable trading platform.
The trading platform plays a vital part in linking traders with world markets, which is why you will want to utilize the trading platform, which offers versatility and advanced features.
When choosing the right platform, pay attention to usability. A trading platform should be user-friendly and loaded with intuitive features so that traders of all levels of expertise can be able to use them. Some trading platforms in the European Union are made with beginners in mind.
Some brokers in Europe provide more complex trading platforms with features suitable for professional and advanced traders and beginners. Other brokers use multiple trading platforms to meet the needs of different users. So, if you’re a newbie, don’t fret as you have many options!
Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the factors you need to consider when choosing the right trading platform in the European Union and all around the world, for that matter.
Regulations
Every broker says they’re the best in their field of expertise. However, you won’t know if they’re honest until you utilize their services.
Thus, always look for brokers regulated by a local regulatory agency. Stick to reliable and safe trading platforms that hold regulations from large nations like Germany, the UK, etc. The easiest way to determine if a broker is reliable is by checking their licenses.
That way, you will know if they lead a proper operation. Furthermore, stick with companies with a good reputation and track record in offering high-quality trading services in Europe.
If you’re a newbie, opt for brokers who provide tutorials and good customer support. However, if you’re a professional, choose a trading platform in Europe that serves only advanced traders. These platforms have lower fees and don’t provide educational resources.
The quality of the trading service
The best trading platforms in Europe must have access to excellent trading resources like trading tools, a wide range of educational resources, audio, video, pdf tutorials, etc. So, pay attention to the trading research tools when choosing a trading platform.
Your needs and requirements
Most European brokers provide a similar selection of services, such as ETFs, bonds, derivatives, individual stocks, leveraged products, and instruments.
Newbies often pick stocks and ETFs combined. Additionally, keep in mind that hand-picked stocks make a better choice because you can manage the portfolio more precisely.
Furthermore, the S&P 500 index and other similar ETFs and indexes offer great exposure to a basket of best companies at a low price. They also require fewer trading choices. So, they’re easier to manage, which is why some beginners prefer gold ETFs to be able to invest in the market. For Example, the S&P 500 tracks approximately 500 large companies in the US.
Commissions and fees
When choosing the best trading platform in Europe, it’s essential to consider the commissions and fees. Some can be relatively low, while others can be extremely high.
Therefore, if you’re a beginner, it’s better to choose a low-fee broker to prevent decreasing your profits. It’s also crucial to check if any commission is charged upon withdrawing money.
Overall, you should understand the dynamic of commissions and fees despite what provider you choose. You can also find commission-free providers such as eToro in Europe.
Compare the trading fees below:
| eToro | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inactivity Fee: | €10/month | €50/quarter | €0 | €10/month (after 1 year of no login activity) |
| Stocks ($1000 APPL Buy and Sell in 1 Week) | 0% for selected real stocks and Spread for Stock CFDs | 0.13% Spread | €0 Commission | 0.03 (CFD) |
| Forex: | Varied Spread | Spread (0.9 - 700) | min. €2/order | 0.5 pip |
| Bonds: | N/A | 0.03 - 0.06 Over Market | €0 per trade (remove liquidity)$0.10 per trade (add liquidity) | N/A |
| ETFs: | Varied Spread | 0.13% - 0.15% | €0 Commission | from 0.08% |
| Crypto: | Varied Spread | 0.2% - 2% Over Market | 0.18% | from 0.22% |
| CDFs: | Varied Spread | Spread | Spread | Spread |
| Withdrawal Fee: | €5 | €0 | €0 | €0 |
| Deposit Fee: | €0 | €0 | €0 | |
| Monthly Fee: | No | No | No | No |
User-friendly design
The trading platform provided by brokers should be loaded with different features. However, they need to have a user-friendly design as well. Meaning they should be easy to use.
The trading platforms often come in two options, including mobile-based and web-based. You can access web-based platforms through a computer or laptop, while mobile-based platforms can be accessed from a mobile device. If you have a busy lifestyle, opt for a mobile-based platform.
Reputation
I highly suggest that you read online reviews of brokers from trusted sources like Reddit, Trustpilot, and so on before you open an account.
Moreover, stay away from low-profile brokers and pick a broker with a well-respected image. That way, you will avoid getting scammed.
European brokers safety
Some brokers can provide the best trading platform with many services and great prices. However, that doesn’t matter if the providers can't guarantee the safety of their clients.
Therefore, safety should be at top of your priority list when choosing trading platforms or brokers. And the only way you can ensure your safety is to check the regulatory licenses and the online reviews. I also recommend that you opt for older brokerages instead of younger ones.
Furthermore, if you’re a new trader, you need to stick with brokers who deliver simple pricing structures and educational resources. Excellent and fast online support matters as well.
Minimum deposits for trading
When picking the right brokerage for your trades, the minimum deposits play an important part as well. This is because these requirements can be relevant to your initial budget.
Some European trading platforms have minimum deposit requirements, whereas others have very low minimum deposit requirements. I suggest you don’t focus on cheap European brokers but consider only those with the trading options you need to increase your chances of your future trades being fruitful.
Last but not least, I want to mention that you can open a demo account that includes a virtual fund and offers a real trading experience. That way, you can get familiar with the trading process before you start trading with your real capital.
Best Forex Broker
PFI Rating 4.9
76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Best Overall
PFI Rating 4.9
68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Best Market Access
PFI Rating 4.9
69.0% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with IBKR.
Final Tips
Every investment comes with a risk. However, if you choose the right trading platform in Europe, you will be on the right path. So, compare the Best Stock Brokers in Europe we’ve listed above and pick the one that meets your needs.
