Trade Republic Review

Trade Republic stands out as a top choice for long-term investors and ETF buyers, not high-frequency day traders. With ultra-low fees, a solid mobile app, and interest on idle cash, it’s ideal for cost-conscious users focused on stocks, bonds, and ETFs.

Key Strengths

• €1 flat fee on trades (or 0% for some ETFs)
• 2.5% interest on uninvested EUR balances
• No inactivity or withdrawal fees
• Fractional shares and over 10,000 instruments
• Regulated German bank license (BaFin)
• Excellent mobile app (4.8/5)

Weaknesses

• Limited product range: no forex, options, futures, or mutual funds
• Basic charting tools and no web-based alerts
• Only EUR account currency
• Currency conversion fees on non-EUR trades
• Educational content is minimal

Trading Costs

Trade Republic is known for its transparent and minimal fee structure. There are no commissions on most products, and all trades settle with a €1 third-party fee—making it one of the lowest-cost brokers in Germany for stock and ETF trading.

Key Pricing Highlights

• Stocks & ETFs: €1 settlement fee per trade
• Bonds: Also €1 per transaction
• Crypto: No commission, but spreads apply
• No withdrawal or inactivity fees
• No account maintenance charges

However, there are a few things to consider:

• All accounts are in EUR, so trading USD-denominated assets involves currency conversion fees, which are embedded in the exchange rate.
• First card deposit is free, but further card payments come with a 0.7% fee.
• No additional fees for using fractional shares or dividend payouts.

Trade Republic Fees Overview

Asset Type	Fee Structure
Stocks & ETFs	€1 external fee per order
Bonds	€1 per transaction
Crypto	0% commission, spreads apply
Withdrawal	Free
Inactivity	None
Account Fee	None
Currency Conversion	Included in FX rate (not transparent)
Card Deposits	First free, then 0.7% per transaction

Trade Republic is a clear winner for low-cost investing in stocks, ETFs, and bonds. For active day traders, the lack of real-time FX transparency and detailed cost breakdowns can be a downside—but for passive strategies, it’s among the cheapest options in Germany.

Available Assets

Trade Republic offers a focused but well-curated range of investable assets. While not designed for advanced traders needing exotic derivatives or global currency pairs, it covers the essentials for most European retail investors—and does so with a streamlined user experience.

Stocks

Users can trade over 10,000 global stocks, including all major German and European blue chips, as well as U.S. tech giants like Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. Fractional shares are supported, allowing users to invest with as little as €1, which lowers the entry barrier significantly for beginners.

All stock trades are routed through LS Exchange and executed during German market hours. This limits access to pre-market or extended-hours trading but increases transparency and regulatory protection under German rules.

ETFs

Trade Republic supports several commission-free ETF savings plans and spot purchases from top providers like iShares, Xtrackers, and Lyxor. Over 1,500 ETFs are available, including those tracking the MSCI World, S&P 500, and sector-specific indices. These are ideal for long-term passive investors.

ETF purchases outside the savings plan model still incur the standard €1 settlement fee, but are free of ongoing management costs on the broker side.

Bonds

With access to 500+ bonds, Trade Republic offers better fixed-income coverage than most neo-brokers. Available instruments include German government bonds, corporate bonds, and green bonds. This is a notable strength for conservative investors seeking yield.

Bonds are traded via LS Exchange with the same €1 flat fee per transaction.

Cryptocurrencies

Crypto access is limited to a select list of major tokens like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, offered in collaboration with crypto custody provider BitGo. Trades are commission-free, but spreads are embedded in the price. No crypto wallets or transfers are supported—positions remain within the platform.

Not Available

Trade Republic does not offer:

• Forex
• Mutual funds
• Options or futures
• CFDs

This limited product range makes it unsuitable for traders looking for leverage or hedging instruments.

Platform & Usability

Trade Republic is built around a mobile-first experience, with the entire trading workflow—from registration to execution—optimized for smartphone use. It’s designed for simplicity, not for professional-level customization.

Mobile App

The mobile app (rated 4.8/5) is where Trade Republic shines. Navigation is smooth, the interface is minimal, and all major functions are easy to access. You can search for assets, place trades, manage ETF savings plans, and view your portfolio with just a few taps.

Key mobile features:

• Two-factor authentication via SMS or biometric login
• Search filters by region, sector, asset type
• Fraktionelle aktier (fractional shares) buy/sell
• Real-time portfolio updates
• Savings plan setup with monthly auto-investments

The downside: advanced traders may miss order book depth, multiple chart windows, and technical overlays beyond basic indicators.

Web Platform

Trade Republic offers a basic web interface, primarily for account overviews and documentation. It’s clean and functional but lacks the core trading flexibility found in the app. Most users will find the mobile platform more usable.

Limitations include:

• No real-time alerts or price notifications
• Basic charting (no drawing tools or indicators)
• No support for desktop terminals or external APIs

Order Types

Trade Republic keeps it simple:

• Market orders
• Limit orders
• Stop orders
  Only GTC (Good Till Cancelled) is available as a duration setting—no fill-or-kill or time-weighted options.

Usability Summary

• Outstanding for long-term investing and beginners
• Very fast onboarding and deposit flow
• Minimal friction for mobile use
• Not ideal for high-speed day trading or scalping

Regulation & Safety

Trade Republic is one of the few brokers in Germany with a full banking license, which adds an extra layer of security and oversight. This makes it one of the most trustworthy options for retail investors in the country.

Regulated by BaFin

Trade Republic is supervised by BaFin, Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. This ensures compliance with German and EU financial regulation, including MiFID II. It also means that customer data, asset custody, and operational processes are subject to strict audit and reporting requirements.

Deposit Protection

Because Trade Republic holds a full German banking license, users benefit from dual protection:

• €100,000 deposit protection for uninvested EUR balances under the German deposit guarantee scheme
• €20,000 investor protection for securities held in custody

Funds and assets are held in segregated accounts at major custodians such as HSBC, Deutsche Bank, and J.P. Morgan SE, reducing counterparty risk.

Data and Platform Security

• All logins are secured with two-factor authentication (2FA)
• The app uses TLS encryption and secure API communication
• Withdrawals and account changes require confirmation through linked mobile devices

No Public Reporting

Unlike publicly listed brokers like eToro, Trade Republic does not publish financial statements or quarterly results. This limits investor insight into the company’s internal health, but its status as a regulated financial institution mitigates this for most retail users.

Who Should Use Trade Republic

Trade Republic is a strong match for long-term investors, ETF buyers, and cost-conscious users who prefer to manage their portfolio via smartphone. Its ultra-low fees, clean mobile interface, and high interest on cash balances make it especially attractive for passive investors and beginners in Germany.

You’ll benefit most from Trade Republic if you:

• Want to invest in stocks, ETFs, bonds, or crypto with minimal fees
• Prefer a simple, mobile-first platform without technical complexity
• Plan to build wealth gradually through ETF savings plans
• Want the security of a BaFin-regulated broker with bank protection
• Don’t need advanced charting, leveraged products, or active trading tools

However, if you’re a day trader, need forex, or rely on technical analysis and flexible order routing, Trade Republic will feel too limited. In that case, alternatives like eToro or XTB are better suited.