DEGIRO is an excellent investment platform for cost-conscious investors and beginners looking for a wide range of investment options and a user-friendly interface. While it may not be ideal for advanced traders or those seeking extensive derivative products, it offers competitive fees and valuable educational resources for new investors.
Furthermore, due to its low fees and no minimum deposit requirements, people can start investing even with a modest budget.
Who Is It Best For?
DEGIRO is perfect for beginner investors who are starting with a modest budget, as well as those who are interested in European markets.
| Name | Score | Visit | Disclaimer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 8.4 | Visitdegiro.com |
Investment Products – 8/10
DEGIRO offers a diverse range of investment options with some limitations. They do not support direct commodity trading, forex, or CFDs, but provide various assets for trading across more than 50 stock exchanges and multiple countries.
Compared to some other online brokers, DEGIRO's investment product selection is wide-ranging, across many different markets. This makes it a favourable choice for investors seeking a diverse array of assets.
However, investors interested in extensive derivative trading might find DEGIRO less attractive due to its limited options for options and futures.
- Broad Asset Selection
- Global Market Reach
- Secondary Market Bonds
- Limited Derivative Products
- No Forex or CFD Trading
Assets Available
DEGIRO offers a range of investment options, but there are some smaller flaws. Notably, they don’t support forex, spread betting, or CFDs. However, investors can choose from government and corporate bonds in the secondary market across multiple countries.
That being said, while CFD and Forex are blindspots, DEGIRO still offers an excellent breadth and width of assets to trade – most notably, it’s particularly strong in stock trading with access to diverse international markets.
With DEGIRO, you can invest in the following assets:
Stocks - more than 50 stock exchanges and 9 product categories
ETFs - 200 core selections + hundreds regular ones
Bonds - 640+
Commodities - Invest through futures, ETFs, commodity-related stocks, warrants
Funds - 400 +
REITs - Investors are indirectly investing in the real estate
Derivative Products
DEGIRO does not really shine when it comes to its derivative product offerings. It doesn't offer that many options for the below-provided asset classes:
Options
Futures
As far as fees for these products are concerned, there are transaction costs, which amount to £0.65 per transaction. However, the bid-ask spread cost is estimated to be around £4.35 for futures and £2.6 for options.
Market Reach
DEGIRO prides itself on being a pan-global broker. It offers access to 18 different European markets beyond the London Stock Exchange, working across 50 exchanges and through 30 countries.
Most, but not all, products are offered globally. For example, you get access to worldwide investing with Future and Options, but only European exchanges are on offer for bonds.
Note that while DEGIRO does offer ETFs and other funds from emerging markets, it only offers smaller penetration for emerging markets when it comes to accounts and exchanges.
You should also note that your funds will be automatically converted when you trade in another currency if you're using the AutoFX feature.
The fee associated with these conversions amounts to 0.25% of the total converted funds. If you do so manually, it's the same percentage, with an additional 10 EUR.
Degiro Account Types
DEGIRO offers five main account types:
Custody Account
Basic Account
Active Account
Trader Account
Day Trader Account
Upon registration, users are automatically assigned a Basic Account, which provides access to a wide range of financial instruments with a shallow fee structure. However, trading options, futures, short selling, and margin lending are not available in the Basic Account.
Upgrading to Active, Trader, or Day Trader accounts grants access to previously restricted assets in the Basic Account. The main difference between Active and Trader accounts lies in the level of margin lending (up to 50% and 100% of portfolio value, respectively).
The Day Trader account allows for more active trading during market hours, but specific conditions apply.
Custody Account
An entry-level account that allows trading of shares, investment funds, bonds, and ETFs. Provides free real-time prices on Euronext exchanges.
Basic Account
The DEGIRO Basic Account is well-suited for standard clients. It provides access to a variety of markets, including stocks, bonds, ETFs, and investment funds across more than 50 exchanges. Commissions start from £0.86 on US stocks.
Traders can use the DEGIRO platform for trading with a minimum trade size of 1 contract. However, leverage is not available with this account.
Active Account
The DEGIRO Active Account is ideal for margin trading. It provides access to a wide range of markets, letting you trade stocks, bonds, ETFs, investment funds, futures, options, and leveraged products like warrants across more than 50 exchanges.
Commissions still start from £0.86 on US stocks, but leverage trading also carries an overnight fee. Traders can use the DEGIRO platform and the minimum trade size is 1 contract.
Furthermore, with the Active Account, traders can utilise the leverage of up to 33% of the value of their position. The account also includes the special feature of the Core-ETF selection. To open an Active Account, there is no demo version available.
Degiro Trading Account
This account is pretty similar to the active account. With the Trader Account, traders can utilise the leverage of up to 80% of the value of their position. Similar to the Custody and Basic accounts, there are no fees on certain ETFs within the Core-ETF selection.
This account allows buying up to 50% of the available margin and provides the option for short selling.
Day Trader Account
The DEGIRO Day Trader Account is a preferred choice for experienced traders. It grants access to all the investment options you would get with previous accounts.
Traders can utilise the leverage of up to 80% of the value of their position, with margins potentially lower during open market hours. This account also includes the special feature of the Core-ETF selection.
Similar to the above accounts, the Day Trader Account offers leverage, but specific ratios are not specified. It allows buying up to 100% of the available margin and provides the added benefit of free dividend and coupon processing.
Features – 9/10
DEGIRO's investment platform offers a range of trading tools and features that cater to beginners and mid-level investors. The platform provides customisable graphs, colour-coded price trends, and access to various technical indicators, enhancing the trading experience.
While some advanced investors might seek more depth and variety in the tools available, DEGIRO remains a solid choice for DIY traders and those interested in managed portfolios.
Their extensive resources with numerous articles and a beginner-friendly Academy section, featuring video articles, contribute to comprehensive educational content for investors looking to build a strong foundation in investing.
However, in terms of market research capabilities, DEGIRO primarily focuses on providing essential market data and information. For advanced investors seeking more in-depth research, they may need to look beyond DEGIRO's platform.
- Customisable graphs
- Excellent educational resources for beginners
- Market research somewhat lacking
Trading Tools
DEGIRO's investment platform offers numerous trading tools and features to assist you in your trading experience. However, some basic features like stock alerts and a demo facility are not available.
The trading platform provides customisable graphs for your investments, allowing you to adjust the date range, interval, and chart type.
Price trends are colour-coded, with green representing positive price runs and red for negative price runs, making it easier to distinguish trends. You can also overlay an index, such as EURO STOXX 50 or S&P 500, to compare how a stock performs against the relevant benchmark.
Moreover, the platform offers access to different indicators to enhance your technical analysis. Moving averages, a commonly used indicator, help estimate the current trend direction by smoothing out day-to-day fluctuations.
You can customise the moving average with a set period length (n) to suit your trading strategy.
Interactive graphs are available on the product detail page, allowing further customisation, including period, interval, chart type, and comparison to indices.
Additional indicators can be added to the graph, such as averages, momentum oscillators, trend indicators, and volume indicators, providing traders with valuable insights.
DEGIRO also offers multiple order types, including stop loss and others, to cater to your specific trading needs.
Despite the absence of certain basic features and a demo account, DEGIRO's trading platform offers a wide array of tools to assist both DIY traders and those interested in managing their portfolios.
Social trading is not available, but traders can rely on their judgment to build and manage their portfolios effectively.
Lastly, veteran and advanced investors might prefer something with a bit more variety and depth.
Market Research
DEGIRO offers basic market data, including real-time stock quotes, historical price charts, financial news, and company profiles. Additionally, they provide some educational resources and analysis to help investors understand market trends and investment strategies.
Note that DEGIRO does not have an extensive proprietary research department like some traditional investment banks or full-service brokers. Therefore, they rely on external sources for additional market research.
The information available on DEGIRO's platform is more basic compared to other platforms with dedicated research teams. They likely prioritise providing key data and analysis rather than in-depth expert-curated articles.
It also provides information on stock performance and market indices to help users identify top-performing and underperforming assets, albeit in a somewhat limited capacity when compared to other companies.
Educational Materials
DEGIRO offers a solid array of educational materials inclusive of an excellent blog section and a fantastic beginner-friendly “Academy”, completely free.
The blog section hosts hundreds of articles, catering to beginners and intermediate-level traders. The content covers various topics, ranging from the basics of investing to more in-depth discussions on specific investment strategies and market trends.
DEGIRO’s Academy section is where its educational content stands out. This section is comprised of articles and in-depth video articles specifically designed for beginners to develop a strong foundation in investing.
The platform focuses on simplicity and clarity, allowing users to grasp complex concepts without feeling overwhelmed.
DEGIRO's extensive collection of educational materials offers a natural progression for learners, gradually building their knowledge from beginner to intermediate levels.
However, it's worth noting that the platform might have limited resources for advanced users.
Fees – 9/10
If there is one place where DEGIRO stands out, it's with its low trading fees. In fact, it has some of the lowest fees of any regulated online trading platform out there, with some charges (like withdrawal fees, for example) not even being an option.
US stock | £1.72 |
|---|---|
UK stock | £2.75 |
Mutual fund | £4.2 |
EU mutual fund | £10.3 |
EU government bond | £3.2 |
US Stock Index Options | £0.75 |
Withdrawal fee | £0 |
Deposit fee | £0 |
Inactivity fee | £0 |
Account fee | £0 |
DEGIRO Fees
Trading fees include all fees (whether flat or percentage based) applied to an investment or trade you might have made using DEGIRO.
All of the below fees, where relevant, are calculated based on 2,000-pound investments and trades.
DEGIRO | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
US stock | £1.72 | £3.99 to £5.99, depending on plan | £5.95 to £11.95 per trade |
UK stock | £2.75 | £3.99 to £5.99, depending on plan | £5.95 to £11.95 per trade |
Mutual fund | £3.27 | £3.99 to £5.99 | Free to 0.45% |
EU mutual fund | £8.01 | £7.99 to £3.99 | Free to 0.45% |
EU government bond | £3.2 | £3.99 to £5.99 | £5.95 to £11.95 per trade |
US Stock Index Options | £0.75 | N/A | N/A |
Currency conversion fee | 0.25% ( AutoFX10 EUR + 0.25%, if manual) | +/- 1.50% | 0.25% to 1.00% |
DEGIRO Spreads
It is difficult to find direct information on DEGIRO’s spreads. However, the estimated bid-ask spread on its futures amounts to £4.35, and £2.6 for options.
DEGIRO Non-Trading Fees
Non-trading fees are fees that are not directly tied to any spreads, investments, or trades made while using DEGIRO – mostly regarding deposits and withdrawals made via a debit or credit card as well as a bank transfer.
In DEGIRO’s case, they are non-existent. Here’s a comparison of how the online broker stacks up against its competitors.
Degiro | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
Withdrawal fee | £0 | £0 | £0 |
Deposit fee | £0 | £0 | £0 |
Inactivity fee | £0 | £0 | £0 |
Account fee | £0 | £4.99 to £19.99 per month | £0 |
Usability 8/10
DEGIRO's web platform is highly user-friendly, catering to investors of all experience levels. It's well-organised design and intuitive interface make key features easily accessible from the main dashboard.
The platform offers customisable graphs and interactive charts, allowing users to monitor investment performance with flexibility in date ranges and chart types.
The search function is effective, providing a comprehensive list of matching products along with their asset classes and currencies. Users can utilise strong filtering options to tailor their searches and investments.
However, one drawback is the absence of a price alert function, which may be a valuable tool for monitoring asset prices and making timely decisions.
Still, DEGIRO's portfolio management tools are solid, enabling users to track and analyse their holdings, asset allocation, and growth.
The platform's reports, including account statements, transaction statements, and more, are clear and straightforward to access, facilitating effective fund tracking and fee breakdowns.
- User-friendly and straightforward navigation
- key features easily accessible
- Enhanced account protection
- Lack of a price alert function
- Lack of depth for advanced users
DEGIRO Web Trading Platform Review
DEGIRO's web platform is well-organised, with key features and functions easily accessible from the main dashboard. The customisable graphs and interactive charts are designed to provide a comprehensive view of investment performance, and users can adjust date ranges and chart types to suit their preferences.
The DEGIRO platform is user-friendly and straightforward to navigate, which is why it is recommended for beginners.
DEGIRO Design and Navigation
The platform boasts a clean and intuitive interface, making it user-friendly for investors of all experience levels. Navigating through the platform is also straightforward, allowing users to access the necessary information and trading tools efficiently.
Login and Security Features
DEGIRO offers two levels of login security for enhanced account protection. Users can choose between one-step and two-step login options, utilising Google Authenticator. Additionally, both web and mobile platforms support Face ID and Touch ID login for added convenience and security.
Search Functionality
The search function of DEGIRO is simple and effective. While using it, you will be presented with a list of matching products along with their respective asset classes and currencies. Simply enter the product name in the search bar and you will receive a comprehensive list of similar products, categorised by their asset classes.
You also get strong filtering options to adapt your search and investing.
Alerts and Notifications
DEGIRO sends order confirmations via email to users, but surprisingly, it does not include a price alert function. Price alerts are valuable tools that enable investors to monitor unusual swings in asset prices and make timely decisions accordingly.
Portfolio Management
Degiro offers solid portfolio management and lets users clearly track and analyse the performance of their holdings, allocation of assets, and track growth.
It has a variety of optional trackers, graphs, indicators, and whatever visual enhancement you require to keep an eye on your funds.
Earning Reports & Fees Breakdowns
DEGIRO is pretty straightforward and clear when it comes to reports. It offers a couple of reports that help you keep track of your funds and accounts, such as:
Account statements
Transaction statements
Portfolio overviews
Annual statements
Cash account statements
All of them are easy to find on your account, in the inbox or document sections on the platform.
DEGIRO App Review
DEGIRO's mobile app offers robust security features, including biometric authentication and 2-step authentication through Google Authenticator, ensuring customer data remains safe and secure. Additionally, funds held in separate entities safeguard against any potential bankruptcy risk.
The mobile app provides multiple order types to help you buy shares, such as Stop Loss, Trailing Stop, Market, and Limit, granting users flexibility in their trading strategies. While DEGIRO supports over 15 languages, the app's charts and tools could benefit from more detailed information to aid traders in making well-informed decisions.
Nevertheless, the platform's multilingual support caters to a wide range of users worldwide, making it accessible and convenient for international traders.
However, some users have complained of bugs, and from time to time, there is one localisation issue that hasn't been fixed. The issue here is that there seems to be a problem changing the language of the app.
Customer Satisfaction & Reputation – 7.5/10
DEGIRO is a safe and strongly regulated online brokerage firm, that provides a secure environment for investors. It operates under the supervision of significant European Union institutions, such as BaFin in Germany and DNB and AFM in the Netherlands.
DEGIRO uses a separate legal entity (SPV) to safeguard client assets, protecting them in the event of bankruptcy or claims. Client data is also protected under GDPR regulations, granting individuals certain rights regarding their personal information.
However, the platform does not offer negative balance protection. Furthermore, online reports have been complaining of bugs, from time to time, even though the majority of the reviews from multiple sources are positive.
App Store and Google Play reviews, however, have been unified in complaining about language setting issues on both apps.
Safety & Regulations
In general, DEGRIO is a safe and strongly regulated brand that will keep your funds, account, and identity safe.
Is DEGIRO Regulated?
DEGIRO, while not directly regulated by the UK, is under the jurisdiction and supervision of significant European Union institutions.
It is regulated by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) in Germany, as well as by the Netherlands' DNB and AFM. These strict regulations ensure that DEGIRO operates with high standards and adheres to the necessary financial regulations.
Is DEGIRO Safe?
DEGIRO is definitely safe. First of all, it uses a separate legal entity (Special Purpose Vehicle - SPV) to hold and safeguard client assets. These assets are kept separate from DEGIRO's own assets.
If DEGIRO goes bankrupt, your investment will not be treated as recoverable assets for DEGIRO’s creditors. Essentially with the SPV, your funds are legally segregated from the DEGIRO, which protects them in cases of bankruptcy or other potential claims.
Furthermore, DEGIRO does not hold client money on its own balance sheet; instead, it invests the received funds in Money Market Funds. Money Market Funds are low-risk investment funds aimed at achieving returns similar to the regular market rate.
These funds are separate from DEGIRO and do not pose a risk in the event of DEGIRO's or the issuer's bankruptcy, giving you another layer of protection.
The platform also keeps your information and data safe.
DEGIRO adheres to the GDPR, which grants individuals certain rights regarding their personal data. Clients have the right to access, allowing them to request information about the data DEGIRO holds about them.
DEGIRO Background
DEGIRO is a European online brokerage firm that provides investment services to retail investors. It was founded to offer a cost-effective and user-friendly platform for individuals to access global financial markets.
The brand was founded in 2009, by a group of former employees of Binck Bank, another Dutch online brokerage firm. The founders include Gijs Nagel, Egbert Pronk, and Kalo Bagijn. Its base was, and still is, in Amsterdam.
However, we need to mention that in 2021, DEGIRO merged with Flatex AG, a German-based fintech company. FlatexAG owns 100% of DEGIRO shares but kept the brand name.
Currently, DEGIRO is a private limited company, with Muhamad Said Chahrour as its CEO.
DEGIRO takes significant measures to safeguard its clients' assets. The assets are held in separate entities, ensuring protection against DEGIRO's insolvency.
In the unlikely event that the segregated assets cannot be returned to clients, DEGIRO is covered by the German Investor Compensation Scheme, which provides compensation for losses up to 90% (with a maximum of €20,000).
Additionally, funds deposited in a DEGIRO Cash Account with flatexDEGIRO Bank AG are guaranteed up to €100,000 under the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme, offering further security for clients' money.
However, it's essential to note that DEGIRO does not provide negative balance protection. If a deficit occurs, resulting in a Margin Call from DEGIRO, their Risk department will reach out to the client and set a deadline for clearing the deficit.
Customer Reviews
Trustpilot | 4.3 / 601 total ratings |
|---|---|
Google Play | 4.2 / 13,909 votes |
App Store | 4.3 / 312 reviews |
Overall, DEGIRO receives positive feedback from Trustpilot, Google Play, and App Store reviews. Users appreciate its ease of use, reasonable trading prices, and helpful customer support.
The platform's informative approach and user-friendly interface enable both experienced and novice traders to navigate it effectively.
However, some common concerns among reviewers include the speed of portfolio updates, the mandatory use of the Euro, and the automatic conversion of USD transactions to Euro.
Additionally, users have reported issues with the mobile app, such as portfolio information not being visible for months and difficulties in changing the language.
Despite these minor drawbacks, DEGIRO is generally considered a trustworthy and useful platform for trading and investment needs.
DEGIRO Reviews from Trustpilot
According to Trustpilot reviewers, the site works excellently. One user mentioned their positive experience with finding news related to their interests by using the filtering options for their portfolio and favourites.
The site's ease of use and reasonable trading prices were praised, and reviewers appreciated the helpful customer support available through email or phone. Even for individuals without prior trading experience, DEGIRO was straightforward to navigate.
However, some reviewers were unhappy with the speed of DEGIRO’s portfolio updates. There was also some annoyance in regard to the mandatory use of the Euro and automatic conversion of USD transactions to Euro.
In general, however, Trustpilot marks DEGIRO as a trustworthy and useful brand.
DEGIRO Google Play Reviews
According to Google Play reviews, DEGIRO's interface and charts might not be the best, but it offers consistency and ensures users understand financial instruments before engaging with them.
The platform's informative approach has enabled me to make well-informed decisions. While there are transaction fees, DEGIRO does not compromise user data privacy.
However, it lacks a dark mode, which can be inconvenient for night-time use. Additionally, some users are very frustrated by the inability to change language on the app.
DEGIRO App Store Reviews
The chief complaints and reviews on the app are pretty much the same for the App Store and Google Play.
Customer Service
Security email: | |
|---|---|
Phone: | +31 20 261 3072 |
DEGIRO offers customer support through various channels, including phone and email. While there is no live chat option, you can reach them at +31 20 261 3072 during weekdays from 9 am to 11 pm. However, please be aware that trades made through the trading desk may incur an additional surcharge.
For urgent matters regarding the security of your DEGIRO account, it is recommended to contact them via email at [email protected].
When reaching out via phone, DEGIRO's response time is generally quick, with representatives available to assist within a minute.
However, the responsiveness of their email support can be somewhat unpredictable. In some cases, you may receive a prompt reply, while in others, it might take up to 2 days. Additionally, they aim to address any negative online reviews within a week or two.
Overall, while DEGIRO's customer support is generally efficient, some variations in response times may occur depending on the nature of the inquiry.
DEGIRO is a European online brokerage firm that allows individuals to trade a variety of financial instruments. Like any company of its type, it has a set number of revenue streams. These boil down to:
Trading Commissions and Fund Fees - We went into detail on all the fees that DEGIRO charges. Like any other platform, DEGIRO charges fees on executed trades, on funds, etc.
Currency Exchange Fees - When clients trade assets denominated in currencies different from their account's base currency, DEGIRO applies currency exchange fees.
Lending Securities - DEGIRO can lend out securities held by its clients to other market participants, such as short sellers or institutions, for a fee. This process is known as securities lending, and it allows DEGIRO to generate additional income from clients' idle assets.
Interest on Debit Money- DEGIRO allows you to invest more than what is actually on your initial deposited funds. When you do so, you are essentially borrowing money from them. The average debit rate is 4.9%, where interest is charged on a monthly basis.
DEGIRO Alternatives to Consider
While DEGIRO is a great platform, it has some flaws. Therefore, to overcome these flaws, there are alternative options to choose from.
Below we have provided a quick overview of the best trading platforms that can serve as alternatives for DEGIRO and noted their primary benefits.
For example, if you go with Hargreaves Lansdown, compared to DEGIRO at least, you get:
Access to SIPP and ISA accounts
Advanced educational material
Comparing Interactive Investor with DEGIRO, you can expect:
Access to a demo account, to practice your trading skills
A slightly better mobile app
Saxo Bank offers:
A complete set of Corellian Academy materials for risk management
Access to Forex trading
Should You Invest with DEGIRO?
DEGIRO is the perfect app for beginner investors. With some of the lowest fees on the market, excellent regulation, fantastic educational material for novice investors, and a straightforward and easy-to-use platform, it is definitely the best place to start.
Of course, this can also be a poor option for advanced investors. Its assets, while widespread, are soft when it comes to derivatives, and there its mobile apps have some issues that do need to be solved.
