DEGIRO Stock Broker Review

The cost argument

DEGIRO's proposition is straightforward: access to 50+ exchanges worldwide at among the lowest commissions in Europe. US stock trades cost €3 per transaction. UK shares on the London Stock Exchange start at £1.75 per trade. European equities are similarly priced. For investors who trade regularly across global markets and do not need an ISA or SIPP wrapper, these rates are difficult to beat.

The pricing transparency is genuine - DEGIRO publishes a full fee schedule with rates by exchange and instrument type, without hidden conversion fees buried in the spread structure. Before every trade, the platform shows you the estimated commission. That level of disclosure is less common than it should be.

50+ exchanges, genuinely accessible

DEGIRO provides access to US, UK, European, Asian, and Latin American exchanges from a single account - covering NYSE, NASDAQ, LSE, Euronext, Deutsche Börse, Borsa Italiana, and dozens of others. For investors who want meaningful emerging-market exposure or need to trade on a specific European exchange, DEGIRO's coverage is broader than almost every retail competitor in its price range. Interactive Brokers covers more markets; no one else at DEGIRO's commission level does.

flatexDEGIRO and the custody structure

DEGIRO is now part of flatexDEGIRO AG, a publicly listed German bank holding company regulated by BaFin. Client assets are held by a separate custodian entity (a Dutch SPV - Special Purpose Vehicle) structured under Dutch law to provide additional protection in the event of DEGIRO's insolvency. This structure is meaningfully different from, and generally more protective than, a standard nominee account. It is one of the reasons DEGIRO scores well on the Trust & Regulation axis despite not offering a compensation scheme equivalent to the UK's FSCS.

What's missing

DEGIRO does not offer a Stocks & Shares ISA or SIPP. UK investors who want tax-efficient wrappers need a separate provider for those accounts. There are no fractional shares - you must buy whole units, which prices high-value stocks like Berkshire Hathaway out of reach for small investors without accumulation strategies. Research tools are functional but sparse: no integrated stock screener, minimal analyst content, no earnings calendar within the platform.

The platform and mobile app are less polished than competitors like Trading 212 or eToro - they are clearly built by engineers for function over form. This is not a deal-breaker, but it does reflect DEGIRO's cost-over-UX philosophy.

Regulation and safety

Regulated by BaFin (Germany) and the AFM (Netherlands), operating under MiFID II across the EU. DEGIRO is part of a publicly listed banking group (flatexDEGIRO AG) and publishes audited group accounts. The SPV custodian structure provides additional structural protection. The only notable concern is that BaFin's investor compensation scheme (EdW) covers substantially less than the UK's FSCS - a relevant consideration for UK investors comparing safety profiles.

Bottom line

DEGIRO is the strongest choice for cost-conscious investors who want broad global exchange access without paying a premium. If you need an ISA or SIPP, you need a different broker. If you need fractional shares, look at eToro or Trading 212. If you want the lowest commissions on the widest range of real shares across 50+ exchanges, DEGIRO is the answer.