DEGIRO Review
Best Low-Cost Broker — Europe
Best for: Cost-conscious European investors who want low fees, access to 50+ global exchanges, and a clean interface for stocks, ETFs, bonds and options — not active day traders.
DEGIRO at a Glance
| Minimum Deposit | €0 |
| Account Types | Individual, Joint, Custody (region-dependent) |
| Platform & Software Fees | €0 platform; low per-trade fees; some ETFs free |
| Level 2 Data Costs | Real-time data add-ons per exchange |
| Order Routing | Smart routing across European & global venues |
| Short Locate Availability | Limited — long-focused; leveraged/short via products |
| Supported Countries | Europe (multiple countries) |
Overview & Ideal Trader Profile
DEGIRO is one of Europe’s largest and lowest-cost online brokers, offering access to 50+ global exchanges for stocks, ETFs, bonds, and options through a clean, straightforward interface.
The ideal user is a cost-conscious European investor building a long-term portfolio who wants broad market access at rock-bottom fees. It’s not a day-trading or short-selling platform — the tooling is oriented toward investing rather than fast execution.
Commissions, Platform & Level 2 Data Fees
DEGIRO is known for its low fee structure — €0 platform fee, low per-trade commissions, and a selection of free ETFs. Real-time market data and Level 2 depth are available as per-exchange add-ons.
Watch for connectivity/exchange fees on certain markets and currency handling costs, which are the main things that vary the true cost of ownership.
Order Execution, Routing & Latency
DEGIRO uses smart routing across European and global venues, delivering reliable execution for the investing audience it serves. The interface is simple and efficient.
There is no professional DMA scalping suite, hotkey trading, or advanced order-flow tooling — the platform is built for placing considered investment orders, not millisecond execution.
Short Selling & Locate Availability
DEGIRO is primarily long-focused; short or leveraged exposure is generally accessed through specific products and is subject to European regulation and account eligibility rather than a US-style stock-borrow locate desk.
Dedicated short sellers of individual small caps are not the target audience and should use a specialist broker.
Third-Party Trust, Safety & Reputation
DEGIRO operates under European regulation (part of the flatexDEGIRO Bank group, supervised by BaFin, with AFM/DNB oversight), giving it solid safety credentials within the EU framework and investor-protection schemes.
Reputation (~3.8 Trustpilot) is good on cost and market access; criticism centers on customer support and the interface’s limited active-trading features rather than safety.
The Honest Breakdown
Pros
- Among the lowest fees in Europe
- Access to 50+ global exchanges
- Selection of free ETFs
- Clean, simple investing interface
- EU bank-group regulation & investor protection
Cons
- Not a day-trading or scalping platform
- Limited/product-based short exposure
- Support responsiveness draws complaints
- Data & connectivity add-ons vary by exchange
Sub-Score Breakdown
Best Low-Cost Broker — Europe
The Bottom Line
DEGIRO is one of Europe’s cheapest ways to invest across 50+ global exchanges, with a clean interface, free-ETF selection, and EU bank-group regulation. Ratings vary a lot by country domain, and it’s investing-first — no US-style short-locate desk and limited active-trading tooling — so it’s ideal for cost-conscious European long-term investors rather than day traders.
Cost-conscious European investors building long-term portfolios across global markets.
Day traders, short sellers, or anyone needing professional DMA/scalping tools.
