Discover the pros, cons and fees with this DEGIRO review

They claim to have a transparent platform with the best commissions in the market. It’s a broker registered and regulated in Germany and the Netherlands and supervised by public bodies such as the Bristish FCA (Financial Conduct Authority).

But of course, you may still be asking yourself; What securities do they offer?, Are their fees as low as they say they are?, Is their system easy to use? Will it adapt to your investor profile? And Will it work for you?

Shall I use DEGIRO?

What kind of broker is DEGIRO?

DEGIRO is a platform where you can trade all types of securities such as stocks, funds, ETFs, options, warrants, bonds and futures.

Its main feature is that they offer an easy-to-use platform, and you can invest in many securities from different global markets.

Some DEGIRO ETFs have no commission once a month

As we will see below, not all DEGIRO account types allow you to trade all instruments. For example, some advanced financial products are not available in the Custody or Basic profiles.

Pros and Cons of DEGIRO

Of course DEGIRO has many advantages, but it may not be an ideal broker for everyone, so let’s take a look at the Pros and Cons:

But it also has some weaknesses that you should know about:

Type of accounts with DEGIRO

DEGIRO offers several account types, let me clarify what each account offers and help you decide which one suits you best. You can choose between Custody, Basic, Active, Trader and Day Trader accounts.

With the Custody profile your investments will not be lent to third parties. With this type of account some commissions are a little higher, and you will not be able to trade some assets like options and futures.

If you don’t mind DEGIRO lending your securities to others, and you don’t need to trade with leverage, I would suggest you start by opening a Basic account – you can always upgrade your profile later on.

If you want to be able to borrow money from DEGIRO, trade with leverage and be able to trade futures, options and short trades, consider the Active, Trader and Day Trader profiles. Choose the one that best suits your leverage needs, as this is the only difference between these account types.

Requirements

Apart from completing the registration properly, linking an account in your name and sending DEGIRO the necessary information to verify your identity and residence, there are not many other requirements.

Just keep in mind that not all countries are accepted. But DEGIRO can be used in most European countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, Germany, France or Italy. Sadly, it cannot be used in non-European countries such as the United States or Australia.

Opening an account

Opening an account with DEGIRO is straightforward. All you have to do is follow these steps:

1. On their website, click on ‘Open an account.’
2. Add your email address, pick a username and password.
3. Verify your email account
4. Fill in the requested information: personal details, address, place of birth, etc.
5. Add the number of the bank account you want to link.
6. Verify that your information is correct
7. Upload a photo of your ID card or passport.

Once you have completed all of this information and uploaded the required documents, they will review your application and inform you of the next steps. You will usually be asked to make a transfer from your account (this can be as low as €/£0.01) to activate DEGIRO.

DEGIRO in detail

DEGIRO commissions in detail

As I mentioned before, DEGIRO is transparent with their fees. However, they can’t claim to have the lowest cost when trading shares, ETFs or any other asset.

DEGIRO does not charge fees for: account inactivity, deposits or withdrawals, account opening or closing.

In addition, you have a promotion of around 200 ETFs in which you can invest once a month for free (min. €/£1,000, conditions apply). This can be a suitable option for those who see investing as a method of saving, for example by adding money each month to a Vanguard or iShares ETF.

Below is a summary of the fees that DEGIRO charges for based on their different operations:

* Handeling fee. ** The handeling fee needs to be added.

On the other hand, it is worth noting that you will be charged for the following:

Market connectivity: For each market besides your home one (e.g. German market if you live in the UK), you will be charged an annual fee of €2.5. If you operate in 3 or 4 markets this will not be a big problem, but keep in mind that if you are going to operate in many markets at the same time this can cost you a lot of money. However, it will never be more than 0.25% of the maximum value of your DEGIRO account.

Financing fees: If you will trade with leverage, similar to borrowing money from your broker, this has a daily cost (in interest) that the broker will pass on to you. This will depend on the amount you borrow and the currency. Rate from 1% to 2%.

Foreign exchange fees: Similarly, if you trade securities in currencies apart from your DEGIRO account currency (e.g. Swiss francs), you will be charged a 0.25% exchange rate fee.

With DEGIRO there are other non-standard service fees that you can request such as portfolio transfers, stock exchange changes, attendance at shareholder meetings, payments with Sofort and Trustly, etc.

Markets and products with DEGIRO

DEGIRO is one of the brokers that gives you access to the largest number of assets; 50 markets from around 30 different countries. In addition, the variety of investment products are diverse and exciting, you can invest in the following:

• Stocks
• ETFs
• Investment funds
• Bonds
• Foreign exchange
• Futures
• Options

I also want to let you know about the most popular assets they offer (stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds).

Shares with DEGIRO

As outlined in the screenshot above, the DEGIRO makes it possible to invest in shares of many European and international stock exchanges. For example, you can find shares from the Madrid Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, NYSE, NYSE MKT, Australian Securities Exchange, Singapore Exchange, London Stock Exchange or European exchanges such as Euronext Paris, Xetra (Germany) or SIX Swiss Exchange.

In short, DEGIRO gives you access to company shares on 4 continents: (North) America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

ETFs available in DEGIRO

Undoubtedly, one of the most popular products among retail (and non-retail) investors are ETFs. They are similar to mutual funds, but are easier to buy and sell, and their trading fees are usually lower.

The DEGIRO gives you access to thousands of ETFs from many markets (almost 4,700 ETFs). It is possible to invest in ETFs from exchanges such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Brussels, Paris, Madrid, German, Italian and Madrid and more. You will be able to find ETFs from fund managers such as Amundi, Vanguard, BBVA, iShares, Lyxor or HSBC.

Investment funds in DEGIRO

But if you aren’t convinced by ETFs, it is also possible to buy and sell mutual fund shares. DEGIRO offers more than 400 investment funds from fund managers such as BlackRock, Amundi, Allianz, Vanguard, BNP Paribas, ING and JPMorgan.

Investing in bonds with DEGIRO

DEGIRO is one of the few brokers I have tried that allows you to invest in bonds, the truth is that there is not much variety of markets, but there are almost 700 different bonds between government and corporate debt.

At the time of writing this review you can find bonds from European markets such as the Amsterdam, Lisbon, Paris, Brussels and Frankfurt stock exchanges.

Other products with DEGIRO

Some account types will also allow you to trade derivatives (and more complex products) than stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and bonds.

• Currencies: Some users (depending on your account) may be able to invest in currencies through Currenex.
• Derivatives: With DEGIRO it is also possible to trade some derivatives, basically options and futures from derivatives markets such as Brussels, Amsterdam, Madrid, NYMEX or Eurex.

Is DEGIRO a scam?

DEGIRO is a broker that is duly registered with the UK Financial Conduct Authority, so you can be rest assured that it is a serious entity and not a financial scam. Furthermore, this platform is supervised by the German BaFin.

As both bodies (the FCA and the BaFin) belong to countries with serious financial supervision laws, you can be sure that DEGIRO is closely monitored by these bodies. In addition, it has to comply with numerous laws and respect your rights as an investor.

On the other hand, as an investment firm licensed by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets, you will be entitled to compensation (up to €20,000) if something bad happens to DEGIRO and affects your investment – although it seems that you will not have this protection if you are trading from the UK, saying that I am not a lawyer 😉

Safety and DEGIRO

With DEGIRO your investments are in a separate legal entity. If DEGIRO should have problems with creditors, as your investments are in a separate entity, they cannot be claimed by (DEGIRO’s) creditors, although these rules are different in each country, and I reiterate, I am not a lawyer 😉

2-step authentication

If you want the highest security for your account and need to add an extra layer of security, you can activate the 2-step authentication (see the video below).

2-step authentication with DEGIRO

The idea is simple: before you can access the DEGIRO platform and once you have entered your username and password. You will be asked to confirm a code that will appear in your phone (via the Google Authenticator app).

So, even if someone guessed your username and password with DEGIRO, they would need access to your phone to “hack” your account and gain access. Personally, I use this system on all the platforms where it is available and am a big fan of it.

DEGIRO's Regulations and Licences

All investors should use a broker they trust in, at the end of the day it’s your money at stake. Having a look at what countries a brokers is regulated by, is an easy first check. Generally speaking, you want an investment platform that’s regulated (or registered) within your country or a nearby one you trust in. For instance, you are located in France and a broker is regulated by another EU country.

DEGIRO is regulated by several entities and has some protections for investors. More details follow:

• DEGIRO is part of the German banking group flatexDEGIRO Bank AG, which ensures that the (not invested) cash you have with them is guaranteed by the German Investor Protection Scheme (up to €100,000).
• DEGIRO’s group is supervised and regulated by Germany’s authorities (BaFin). Registration number 119766.
• In addition, DEGIRO has a branch of its business that remains headquartered in the Netherlands, regulated by the Dutch Financial Authority AFM (#12048408).
• DEGIRO keeps its assets (such as stocks or ETFs) separated from yours. If something were to happen to DEGIRO, on paper it should be possible for you to get your assets back as they are in an account under your name.
• If there were any problems with the assets, and they could not be returned to you, there is a (German) compensation scheme of up to €20,000.

Withholding and taxes with DEGIRO

Keep in mind that DEGIRO will not issue a tax report, but at the end of the year you will find a report with your account activity so that you can complete your tax return with the necessary information.

Please note: The above tax information is for guidance only and as I am not a tax advisor, this is just a guide and an insight into my personal experience. If you do need further information on this I would advise you to consult an accountant or tax expert.

Frequently asked questions about DEGIRO

What is DEGIRO?

DEGIRO is an online broker founded in The Netherlands in 2013, later on, it was merged with Flatex – one of the largest brokers in Germany. DEGIRO’s platform is available for investors within the EU (plus UK and Switzerland).

This online broker enables its users to trade stocks, ETF, bonds, investments funds and a couple of other financial products like options and futures. DEGIRO offers a rounded platform, easy to use but also packed with features, allowing investors to trade in many markets. DEGIRO, however, it’s not the best match for traders.

Who owns DEGIRO?

DEGIRO is a broker originally founded in the Netherlands in 2008, expanding its brokerage services to other European countries. German broker Flatex AG acquired 100% of DEGIRO’s shares in 2019.

Where is DEGIRO located?

DEGIRO is a European broker, since it’s located in Amsterdam and owned by a German company (Flatex AG). DEGIRO was founded in 2008 in The Netherlands, and it still has its headquarters in Amsterdam. But in 2019, DEGIRO was acquired by a German company, so I guess it has a German influence.

Is DEGIRO legit?

DEGIRO is a reliable and well-established company, regulated and registered with several regulatory agencies such as BaFin (Germany) and DNB (Netherlands) for the operations carried out by the Dutch subsidiary. It has millions of clients and has been operating for many years. That being said, whether DEGIRO is trustworthy or not, is something you will have to decide for yourself, as this is a personal decision and it is your money at risk not mine 🙂

How can I contact DEGIRO?

It is possible to contact DEGIRO by telephone, from 8 AM to 10 PM (UK time). In addition, it is also possible to contact DEGIRO by email at clients@degiro.co.uk for questions in English. Unfortunately, they don’t have a live chat feature.

In which countries does DEGIRO operate?

DEGIRO operates in several European countries: Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, France, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, Hungary and the United Kingdom.

Unfortunately, if you operate from Latin America, the United States or any other country you will not be able to open an account with DEGIRO.

How can I cancel an account with DEGIRO?

To close an account with DEGIRO all you need to do is send an email to DEGIRO customer services, and then once the account is closed they will transfer the remaining funds to your bank account.

Am I the asset’s owner with DEGIRO?

When you buy stocks or ETFs with DEGIRO, the broker assigns you the ownerships of those. In fact, DEGIRO has separate accounts for holding its own assets and its clients’; thus if DEGIRO goes bankrupt, you will still have your investments under your name.

Please be aware that DEGIRO has different account types, if you don’t pick the Custody one, you allow them to rent your stocks (and other assets you purchase with them) to other investors, in exchange you’ll be offered reduced fees from DEGIRO.

Can I trade before the market opens with DEGIRO?

Sure, with DEGIRO you can trade over 10,000 securities using Tradegate Exchange (TDG) between 8 am and 10 pm. Please be aware, that these trades have higher fees – 3,90 € per transaction.

Can I trade on leverage with DEGIRO?

Sure you can, with DEGIRO it’s possible to trade on leverage. However, not all the accounts allow this. You will need to have an Active or Trade account to be able to use leverage when trading with DEGIRO.

Keep in mind that the Trade account is the one that offers more margin when trading with leverage.

What are the different order types at DEGIRO?

DEGIRO will allow you to negotiate using the following order types:

• Market order: Your order will be executed at the (best available) current price. If you happen to carry out your order at a time with high volatility, there could be significant differences in prices.
• Limit: Besides adding the number of shares (or other assets) to buy, you will also have to set a maximum price (called limit) you are willing to accept. If the asset’s price matches this (limit) price, the order will be executed at the next available price.

Additionally, you have also a couple of options to automate your trades by adding:

• Stop loss: You will add a price at which DEGIRO will sell your positions – as the name says, this is a great way to ‘stop losses’. Imagine Company A stocks’ have a current price of $100, if you add a $90 stop loss, DEGIRO will automatically sell your Company A shares if their price gets to $90.
• Stop limit: In this case, besides adding the ‘stop loss’ price at which you’d like DEGIRO to sell your shares, you will also add a minimum sell price you’d like to get for them.

Be aware that these orders can be set up to have a duration of 1 day (e.g. the same day you add them and then they expire), or unlimited (good until you cancel).

Is DEGIRO a good choice for trading?

Technically, it’s possible to trade derivatives with DEGIRO. Please note that derivatives are not available on all profiles, you may have to request to DEGIRO to enable this option. That said, many investors use CFDs to engage in trading, DEGIRO doesn’t allow CFD trading – only options and futures at your disposal.

Please, please please, consider the higher risks of trading derivatives like CFD, options or futures. If you aren’t 100% sure of what you are doing, maybe reconsider your investing strategy.

Alternatives to DEGIRO

To reiterate, the DEGIRO is a solid broker that integrates dozens of markets and will give you access to hundreds (if not thousands) of products such as stocks, ETFs and mutual funds.

But you may still want to invest in derivatives?

Well, DEGIRO it’s not the right option as you won’t be able to trade CFDs, which is probably the most popular asset among traders. So with that in mind I have suggested some alternatives which may interest you:

XTB

We will start things of with XTB who give you access to many derivative products (mainly CFDs) to trade. Their interface is well-designed and their spreads (commissions) are very competitive. In some European countries (such as Spain, France or Germany) it is possible to buy real shares and ETFs as well as derivative products, sadly this is not the case in the UK.

eToro

Then we have eToro, the main difference between eToro and other brokers is that they allow you to ‘copy’ other users, so eToro will replicate all the trades they make for you without you having to do anything. I should note here, to be careful who you follow and do some research beforehand. As usually, they invest in high-risk assets such as CFDs. With eToro it is possible to invest with or without leverage, and in both derivatives and real products (stocks and ETFs): US investors do not have access to buying real assets. Spreads are somewhat higher than with other platforms.

Plus500

Lastly we have Plus500 who are one of the most widely used CFD brokers in Europe. This Israeli company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK and CySEC in Cyprus.

Last thoughts and opinions on DEGIRO

Admittedly, DEGIRO offers access to a wide variety of instruments, markets and exchanges that you can trade. A couple of things you may miss out on is cryptocurrencies and forex trading, as these are not available with this broker.

I want to point out here some of my personal highlights of the DEGIRO, it has a straightforward platform, but do bear in mind that their fees aren’t the lowest. Another perk for me is that the registration process is simple. What has to be the absolute highlight is that the DEGIRO is a regulated broker that is properly registered and supervised in Europe and the UK.

They have a news feed, but it is rather basic, I wouldn’t mind them putting a bit more effort here. The assets price that you see on its broker are 15-min delayed, more updated data comes at an extra cost.

Remember that you can create an account completely free of charge to try out DEGIRO for yourself.

DEGIRO review updates:

28 Jul. 2023 – General update
12 Jul. 2023 – Trading with DEGIRO
15 Jun. 2023 – DEGIRO’s fees updated
16 May. 2023 – General update
14 Mar. 2023 – DEGIRO’s regulation
25 Jan. 2023 – Is DEGIRO really legit?
20 Jan. 2023 – Added a quizz to find out if DEGIRO is for you.
13 Jan. 2023 – Promotion ended
27 Dec. 2022 – DEGIRO’s origins
09 Dec. 2022 – General DEGIRO review update
08 Nov. 2022 – Updated the pros and cons
16 Oct. 2022 – DEGIRO’s fees updated and mistakes corrected
26 Sep. 2022 – Information about order types added
22 Sep. 2022 – General update
18 Sep. 2022 – DEGIRO and leverage trading
31 Aug. 2022 – Pre-market and after-hour trading information
24 Aug. 2022 – Asset ownership at DEGIRO
30 Aug. 2021 – News feed & Economic Calendar + video added
30 Jul. 2021 – Summer promotion
05 Jun. 2021 – Regulator change
26 Apr. 2021 – Affiliate disclosure added
15 Mar. 2021 – Initial Review
10 Jul. 2021 – Review moved to upskillwise.com

Review sources:

www.degiro.com
www.upskillwise.com
www.bafin.de
www.uk.finance.yahoo.com
www.irishtimes.com
www.forbes.com
www.crunchbase.com
www.marketscreener.com
www.investing.com
www.bloomberg.com
www.simplywall.st
www.markets.businessinsider.com