Best Brokers in the EU

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Tested with a live trading account Accept traders from United States

Our Top Pick in USA 1 Interactive Brokers 4.6/5 Visit

2 NinjaTrader 4.5/5 Visit

3 Plus500US 4.0/5 Visit

4 eToro USA 3.4/5 Visit

Compare Interactive Brokers and NinjaTrader Details

Showing 5 of 12 matching brokers

Filters Order By ... Overall Rating Latest Trust & Regulation Banking & Accounts Assets & Markets Fees & Costs Platforms & Tools Research Education Customer Support iOS App Android App Most Clients Trustpilot Score

1. 1

   Interactive Brokers

   4.6/5 our rating
   Available in United States Not available in United States
   Rating breakdown

   Regulation & Trust 4.7

   Assets & Markets 4.7

   Fees & Costs 4.3

   Platforms & Tools 3.9

   Customer Support 3.0

   Education 4.3

   Research 4.7

   Accounts & Banking 3.9
   Visit Interactive Brokers Read Review

   Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a leading brokerage offering access to over 170 markets in 40 countries and a range of investment services. With 40+ years in the industry, this Nasdaq-listed company follows strict regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, SFC, Europe and beyond, making it a trusted global trading broker.

   Demo Account

   ✓

   Minimum Deposit

   $0

   Minimum Trade

   $1

   Leverage

   1:50 (major forex pairs), 1:2-1:4 (equities)

   Copy Trading

   ✗

   Regulator

   SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS

   Instruments

   Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies

   Platforms

   Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower

   Account Currencies

   USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

   Automated Trading

   TWS API

   AI

   ✓

   Guaranteed Stop Loss

   ✗

2. 2

   NinjaTrader

   4.5/5 our rating
   Available in United States Not available in United States
   Rating breakdown

   Regulation & Trust 4.1

   Assets & Markets 3.5

   Fees & Costs 4.3

   Platforms & Tools 4.5

   Customer Support 4.0

   Education 4.0

   Research 4.0

   Accounts & Banking 3.3
   Visit NinjaTrader Read Review

   NinjaTrader is a trusted brokerage for trading futures. It offers three different pricing plans for varied needs and budgets, along with extremely low margins on popular contracts. The company's renowned charting software and trading platform provides extensive customization options and excellent technical analysis features.

   Demo Account

   ✓

   Minimum Deposit

   $0 (live trades must meet intraday margin minimums, e.g., $50 to trade micro contracts)

   Minimum Trade

   1 contract

   Leverage

   $50 intraday margins for Micro contracts and $500 for popular E-mini contracts

   Copy Trading

   ✗

   Regulator

   NFA, CFTC, CySEC

   Instruments

   Futures and options on futures, covering indices, commodities, currencies, interest rates, crypto and single stocks

   Platforms

   NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal

   Account Currencies

   USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD

   Automated Trading

   NinjaScript or via Automated Trading Interface

   AI

   ✗

   Guaranteed Stop Loss

   ✗

3. 3

   Plus500US

   4.0/5 our rating
   Available in United States Not available in United States
   Rating breakdown

   Regulation & Trust 3.5

   Assets & Markets 3.8

   Fees & Costs 3.3

   Platforms & Tools 3.3

   Customer Support 3.5

   Education 3.5

   Research 2.8

   Accounts & Banking 3.7
   Visit Plus500US Read Review

   Trading in futures and options involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

   Plus500US, a broker since 2021, is CFTC and NFA authorized. It offers futures trading on forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and interest rates. With a 10-minute sign-up, a $10 minimum deposit ($200 for wire transfers), and a simple web platform, Plus500 enhances its services for US traders.

   Demo Account

   ✓

   Minimum Deposit

   $10

   Minimum Trade

   Variable

   Leverage

   Variable

   Copy Trading

   ✗

   Regulator

   CFTC, NFA

   Instruments

   Futures on Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Agriculture, Forex, Interest rates, Energy, Equity Index Future Contracts, Prediction Markets

   Platforms

   WebTrader, App

   Account Currencies

   USD

   Automated Trading

   ✗

   AI

   ✗

   Guaranteed Stop Loss

   ✗

4. 4

   eToro USA

   3.4/5 our rating
   Available in United States Not available in United States
   Rating breakdown

   Regulation & Trust 4.0

   Assets & Markets 2.9

   Fees & Costs 3.4

   Platforms & Tools 3.5

   Customer Support 3.0

   Education 3.0

   Research 3.5

   Accounts & Banking 3.0
   Visit eToro USA Read Review

   Securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (“the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Cryptocurrency offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk. This site is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the MSB and/or the BD.

   eToro is a platform for social investing that provides options for both short and long-term trading on stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto. The platform is recognized for its easy-to-use, community-oriented interface and reasonable fees. Used by millions globally with a string of awards, eToro is a reputed name in the industry. Trading on eToro is facilitated by eToro USA Securities, Inc.

   Demo Account

   ✓

   Minimum Deposit

   $50

   Minimum Trade

   $10

   Leverage

   ✗

   Copy Trading

   ✓

   Regulator

   SEC, FINRA

   Instruments

   Stocks, Options, ETFs, Crypto

   Platforms

   eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader

   Account Currencies

   USD

   Automated Trading

   ✗

   AI

   ✓

   Guaranteed Stop Loss

   ✗

5. 5

   OKX

   4.1/5 our rating
   Available in United States Not available in United States
   Rating breakdown

   Regulation & Trust 2.8

   Assets & Markets 4.5

   Fees & Costs 4.0

   Platforms & Tools 3.8

   Customer Support 2.5

   Education 3.5

   Research 3.0

   Accounts & Banking 3.5
   Visit OKX Read Review

   OKX, established in 2017, is a respected cryptocurrency firm offering a wide range of products, including trading and NFTs. Traders have access to over 400 crypto tokens through OTC trading and derivatives. With a strong web platform, developer tools, and advanced charts, OKX is a popular choice for technical traders.

   Demo Account

   ✓

   Minimum Deposit

   10 USDT

   Minimum Trade

   Variable

   Leverage

   ✗

   Copy Trading

   ✓

   Regulator

   FinCEN, VARA

   Instruments

   Spot Crypto, Convert, On-Chain Staking, Web3 Wallet

   Platforms

   AlgoTrader, Quantower

   Account Currencies

   USD, EUR, GBP, INR, JPY, SGD, RUB, AED, SAR

   Automated Trading

   ✓

   AI

   ✓

   Guaranteed Stop Loss

   ✗

EU Suitability Comparison

See how the top brokers cater to EU traders with local accounts and regulatory oversight:

Broker		USD Account	Regulated in the EU	EUR Account	DKK Account	SEK Account	PLN Account	CZK Account	HUF Account
		✓	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓
		✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
		✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
		✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
		✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
Broker		USD Account	Regulated in the EU	EUR Account	DKK Account	SEK Account	PLN Account	CZK Account	HUF Account

Broker Details Comparison

Broker	Demo Account	Minimum Deposit	Minimum Trade	Leverage	Assets	Platforms
	✓	$0	$1	1:50 (major forex pairs), 1:2-1:4 (equities)	Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies	Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower
	✓	$0 (live trades must meet intraday margin minimums, e.g., $50 to trade micro contracts)	1 contract	$50 intraday margins for Micro contracts and $500 for popular E-mini contracts	Futures and options on futures, covering indices, commodities, currencies, interest rates, crypto and single stocks	NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal
	✓	$10	Variable	Variable	Futures on Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Agriculture, Forex, Interest rates, Energy, Equity Index Future Contracts, Prediction Markets	WebTrader, App
	✓	$50	$10	✗	Stocks, Options, ETFs, Crypto	eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader
	✓	10 USDT	Variable	✗	Spot Crypto, Convert, On-Chain Staking, Web3 Wallet	AlgoTrader, Quantower
Broker	Demo Account	Minimum Deposit	Minimum Trade	Leverage	Assets	Platforms

How Safe Are The Best EU Brokers?

EU regulation is an important starting point, but we also looked at the practical safeguards and retail client protections available to traders in Europe:

Broker	Trust Rating	Guaranteed Stop Loss	Negative Balance Protection	Segregated Accounts
	4.7	✗	✗	✓
	4.1	✗	✗	✓
	3.5	✗	✗	✓
	4.0	✗	✗	✓
	2.8	✗	✗	✗
Broker	Trust Rating	Guaranteed Stop Loss	Negative Balance Protection	Segregated Accounts

Mobile Trading Comparison

Mobile investing and trading are now standard across Europe - here’s how our top EU brokers performed on smartphones and tablets:

Broker	Mobile Apps	iOS Rating	Android Rating	Smart Watch App
	iOS & Android	4.3	4.5	✓
	iOS & Android	3.0	3.2	✗
	iOS & Android	4.1	4.3	✗
	iOS & Android	4.3	4.0	✗
	Android & iOS	4.6	4.3	✗
Broker	Mobile Apps	iOS Rating	Android Rating	Smart Watch App

Comparison for Beginners

Compare how suitable the Best Brokers in the EU are for beginners.

Broker	Demo Account	Minimum Deposit	Minimum Trade	Education Rating	Support Rating	Fractional Shares	Demo Competitions
	✓	$0	$1	4.3	3.0	✓	✗
	✓	$0 (live trades must meet intraday margin minimums, e.g., $50 to trade micro contracts)	1 contract	4.0	4.0	✗	✗
	✓	$10	Variable	3.5	3.5	✗	✗
	✓	$50	$10	3.0	3.0	✓	✗
	✓	10 USDT	Variable	3.5	2.5	✓	✗
Broker	Demo Account	Minimum Deposit	Minimum Trade	Education Rating	Support Rating	Fractional Shares	Demo Competitions

Comparison for Advanced Traders

Compare how suitable the Best Brokers in the EU are for advanced or professional traders.

Broker	Automated Trading	VPS	API	AI	Pro Account	Leverage	Low Latency	Extended Hours
	TWS API	✗	✓	✓	✗	1:50 (major forex pairs), 1:2-1:4 (equities)	✓	✓
	NinjaScript or via Automated Trading Interface	✗	✓	✗	✗	$50 intraday margins for Micro contracts and $500 for popular E-mini contracts	✓	✗
	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	Variable	✓	✗
	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓
	✓	✗	✓	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓
Broker	Automated Trading	VPS	API	AI	Pro Account	Leverage	Low Latency	Extended Hours

Accounts Comparison

Compare the trading accounts offered by Best Brokers in the EU.

Broker	Demo Account	Interest on Cash	Islamic Account	Joint Account	Managed Account	PAMM	MAM	LAMM	Pro Account
	✓	USD: 3.38%, GBP: 3.24%	✗	✓	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗
	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
	✓	USD: 3.25%	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗
	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
Broker	Demo Account	Interest on Cash	Islamic Account	Joint Account	Managed Account	PAMM	MAM	LAMM	Pro Account

Compare The Ratings Of Our Top EU Trading Brokers

See how our recommended brokers for EU traders scored across the core categories in our hands-on testing:

Broker	Trust	Platforms	Assets	Mobile	Fees	Accounts	Research	Education	Support
	4.7	3.9	4.7	4.4	4.3	3.9	4.7	4.3	3.0
	4.1	4.5	3.5	3.1	4.3	3.3	4.0	4.0	4.0
	3.5	3.3	3.8	4.2	3.3	3.7	2.8	3.5	3.5
	4.0	3.5	2.9	4.2	3.4	3.0	3.5	3.0	3.0
	2.8	3.8	4.5	4.5	4.0	3.5	3.0	3.5	2.5
Broker	Trust	Platforms	Assets	Mobile	Fees	Accounts	Research	Education	Support

Fee and Cost Comparison

Compare the cost of trading with the Best Brokers in the EU.

Broker	Cost Rating	Fixed Spreads	Inactivity Fee	EUR/USD Spread	Crypto Spread
	4.3	✗	$0	0.1	0.12%-0.18%
	4.3	✗	$35	✗	Floating
	3.3	✗	$0	✗	✗
	3.4	✓	$10	✗	BTC 0.75%
	4.0	✗	$0	✗	Variable
Broker	Cost Rating	Fixed Spreads	Inactivity Fee	EUR/USD Spread	Crypto Spread

Customer Ratings

Compare how customers of these brokers feel about them, with real user ratings from Trustpilot, the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Broker	Customers	Trustpilot Score	Trustpilot Reviews	Android App Rating	iOS App Rating
	4,300,000	3.0	5,573	4.5	4.3
	1,800,000	3.8	1,261	3.2	3.0
	33,000,000	4.2	20,276	4.3	4.1
	3,200,000	4.0	32,433	4.0	4.3
	50,000,000	2.5	1,779	4.3	4.6
Broker	Customers	Trustpilot Score	Trustpilot Reviews	Android App Rating	iOS App Rating

Broker Popularity

Many traders in the EU gravitate toward brokers with a broad regional footprint and established client base. Here’s how our leading providers compare:

Broker	Popularity
OKX	50,000,000
Plus500US	33,000,000
Interactive Brokers	4,300,000
eToro USA	3,200,000
NinjaTrader	1,800,000

Why Trade With Interactive Brokers?

4.6/5

Interactive Brokers is ideal for seasoned traders due to its robust charting platforms, updated data, and adaptability, especially with the IBKR Desktop application. Its exceptional pricing and advanced order features appeal to traders, and its variety of stocks remains unmatched in the market.

Pros

• Interactive Brokers was awarded 'Best US Broker' for 2025 by DayTrading.com for its dedication to US traders, ultra-low margin rates, and affordable global market access.
• The TWS platform is designed for intermediate to advanced traders. It includes over 100 order types and a dependable real-time market data feed that rarely experiences downtime.
• IBKR is a highly regarded brokerage, regulated by multiple respected authorities. This speaks to its legitimacy and standing within the online trading industry, providing peace of mind.

Cons

• Only one active session per account is allowed, which means you can't run the desktop version and mobile app at the same time. This can sometimes lead to a frustrating trading experience.
• IBKR offers many research tools, but access varies across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page, creating a confusing user experience.
• In 2025, IBKR was fined $11.8 million by the US OFAC for offering services in restricted areas. It also faced a $125,000 fine from FINRA in 2025 for failing to disclose municipal bond information.

Visit Interactive Brokers Read Review

Why Trade With NinjaTrader?

4.5/5

NinjaTrader consistently satisfies active futures traders with its low-cost service and high-quality analysis tools. It offers superior charting features, including hundreds of indicators and over 10 chart types.

Pros

• The market replay feature lets you download tick-by-tick historical data, go back to any date, and interact with it as if trading live. It's useful for strategy testing and real-world practice.
• In July 2026, NinjaTrader introduced CME Group Single Stock futures. This allows traders to take directional positions in major U.S. companies such as Nvidia and Amazon without using options.
• NinjaTrader's ecosystem offers traders access to thousands of add-ons and applications from developers in over 150 countries. These include indicators, strategies, and custom tools that extend the platform's native features.

Cons

• Intraday margin requirements can rise up to four times in the 15 minutes before major economic news and remain high for several minutes after volatility decreases.
• NinjaTrader was fined $250,000 in 2025 for not implementing a sufficient anti-money laundering program and for supervisory failures.
• NinjaTrader was bought by Kraken in May 2025. Although it still operates independently, traders concerned about long-term stability may worry about changes in the platform's direction and pricing under new ownership.

Visit NinjaTrader Read Review

Why Trade With Plus500US?

4.0/5

Plus500US is a strong choice for beginners, with an easy-to-use platform and Futures Academy training. Its tools and reliable service earned second place in DayTrading.com's annual “Best US Broker” award.

Pros

• The account setup, pricing structure, and web platform make futures trading simpler than competitors like NinjaTrader.
• Plus500 included prediction markets in its 'Plus500 Futures' platform in February 2026. This addition offers event-based trades in 10 categories, such as financials and politics, and includes short-term intraday contracts expiring in 15 minutes.
• Plus500 is a well-respected, publicly traded company with over 33 million traders and is a sponsor of the Chicago Bulls.

Cons

• Plus500US offers competitive pricing but does not have a discount program for high-volume traders, unlike brokers like Interactive Brokers.
• The proprietary platform is easy to use but lacks advanced analysis tools available in third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4.
• Testing showed fast response times for support, but phone aid is not available.

Visit Plus500US Read Review

Trading in futures and options involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

Why Trade With eToro USA?

3.4/5

eToro is a strong choice for traders seeking social investing and copy trading. Its low deposit, zero commissions, and easy-to-use platform suit new traders.

Pros

• eToro USA Securities is a reliable broker that's regulated by the SEC, part of FINRA, and a member of SIPC.
• The eToro App Store launched in 2026, offering algorithmic trading tools and social analytics. In July, it introduced an AI-powered app for autonomous trading.
• The low minimum deposit and simple account setup allow beginners to start trading quickly.

Cons

• The range of trading instruments is limited compared to some competitors, offering mainly stocks, ETFs, a large selection of options, and cryptocurrencies.
• Traders used to third-party charting tools won't find MetaTrader 4 platform integration.
• eToro USA was fined $1.5 million by the SEC in 2024 for unregistered crypto offerings.

Visit eToro USA Read Review

Securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (“the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Cryptocurrency offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk. This site is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the MSB and/or the BD.

Why Trade With OKX?

4.1/5

OKX is a preferred choice for traders seeking new cryptocurrencies and projects for investment. Traders can benefit from its copy trading feature and automated bots.

Pros

• OKX has 50 million global customers and a license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
• Active traders will experience competitive maker and taker fees, at 0.02% and 0.05% respectively.
• X-Perps, introduced in 2026, offers opportunities in traditional financial assets like US stocks and commodities.

Cons

• The broker's platform and features might be hard to understand for new traders.
• Customer support quality varied during testing.
• The firm has limited regulatory oversight, which is common for crypto exchanges.

Visit OKX Read Review

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How We Chose The Best Brokers For Traders In The EU

To make our shortlist of the best brokers for EU traders, every provider had to clear several important hurdles:

• Brokers had to be authorised to serve clients in the EU. This was the starting point. We focused on firms operating through recognised European regulatory frameworks because that is one of the clearest trust signals for traders based in the EU. We checked regulatory status through the relevant official registers rather than relying on sales copy on a broker’s website. For many of the firms considered, this meant verifying licensing through CySEC or another EEA regulator, and confirming they were set up to lawfully onboard clients from EU member states.
• Brokers had to offer a EUR trading account. For EU-based traders, being able to fund and manage an account in euros can make a practical difference. It simplifies transfers, makes balances easier to track, and can reduce unnecessary conversion charges on day-to-day account activity. We verified EUR account availability either during the signup process or directly with the broker. Currency conversion costs can still arise when trading assets priced in another denomination, such as US equities.
• Brokers had to provide access to markets relevant to EU traders. We prioritised firms offering products commonly traded by investors and short-term traders in Europe, including major European shares, euro-denominated instruments, DAX and Euro Stoxx-linked indices, EUR forex pairs, ETFs with European exposure, and broader global markets. We checked the platforms ourselves to confirm what EU clients can actually trade rather than taking product lists at face value.
• We then applied our full hands-on testing process. Once a broker met the EU-specific filters above, it went through our standard review framework. Our team assessed each provider across eight core categories, collected more than 200 individual data points per broker, and documented the user experience in detail. Those results fed into the broker’s overall rating and final position in the rankings.
• We also examined retail client safeguards for EU residents. Where relevant, we looked at the protections available to clients under the broker’s European entity, including negative balance protection, complaint routes, compensation arrangements where applicable, and the wider consumer safeguards built into the EU regulatory framework. Not every European entity offers the same level of protection, so we considered the practical difference between them.

How To Choose A Broker In The EU

Citizens in the European Union (EU) are becoming increasingly active when it comes to investing in financial markets. Roughly 1 in 3 adults in the region regularly invest, and participation is rising sharply as the number of online trading platforms grows.

In late 2025, the European Parliament and the 27 EU member states signed off on the Retail Investment Strategy. The European Commission (EC) has also announced plans to improve financial literacy in the economic bloc. Both measures aim to improve financial market participation still further by boosting retail investors’ protections and knowledge.

EU investors have more choice than ever when choosing a brokerage to use. So what are the key things to consider? We’ve narrowed it down to the following factors:

Trustworthiness

The first step is to ensure the company you’re looking at is reputable and will offer you an excellent level of service. To this end, traders should only consider brokers that are authorized to trade by a respected global regulator.

Brokers aren’t regulated in the EU by a single authority, as each member state has its own dedicated regulator. However, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) co-ordinates regulation among national regulators across the bloc.

ESMA’s regulatory framework follows rules laid down in the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II). This was introduced in 2018 to engender “a safer, sounder, more transparent and more responsible financial system.”

Some of the protections established under ESMA include ensuring brokers provide negative balance protection; limiting leverage up to 1:30 for retail investors on contracts for difference (CFDs); and banning the marketing, distribution and sale of binary options.

National regulators combine MiFID II regulations with their own, and only authorize financial services companies that pledge to follow these rules. Those that fail to adhere can be subject to sanctions, along with companies that operate without a license.

Pro tip: ESMA is ranked as a Category A regulator by BrokerListings.com’s Regulator Ranking System. Due to their compliance with MiFID II, EU national regulators like Germany’s Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) also share this high rating.

To find a broker authorized by a specific EU regulator:

• Cyprus – CySEC-regulated trading brokers
• Ireland – CBI-regulated trading brokers
• Germany – BaFin-regulated brokers
• France – AMF-regulated brokers
• Poland – KNF-regulated brokers
• Italy – CONSOB-regulated brokers
• Spain – CNMV-regulated brokers
• Netherlands – AMF-regulated brokers

Regulators maintain online databases investors can use to check the broker they’re considering is authorized to deal. Many also publish a warning list of service providers that have been operating without a license.

Top broker for trustworthiness: XTB is a Polish brokerage licensed by the local regulator, the Komisja Nadzoru Finansowego (KNF). It has also been given the green light by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) (registration number 296794), another Category A regulator under BrokerListings.com’s rating system.

Source: CySEC

Pro tip: Under the Investor Compensation Schemes Directive (ICSD), investors can claim compensation of up to €20,000 if a brokerage that’s licensed with an EU regulator goes bust.

Trading Costs

MiFID II rules state that “appropriate information shall be provided in good time to clients or potential clients with regard to the investment firm and its services, the financial instruments and proposed investment strategies, execution venues and all costs and related charges.”

Under EU regulations, information on costs and fees must be aggregated so investors can more clearly understand what they are paying and the impact this can have on returns. This is critical, as high trading charges can eat into profits, and particularly for high-frequency traders and investors.

Key things to consider include:

• Transaction charges.
• Account management fees.
• Deposit charges.
• Withdrawal fees.
• Account inactivity charges.
• Additional costs for extra services (such as advanced market data and sophisticated charting tools).

It’s important, though, not to just consider the headline costs. Trading with one particular broker may incur higher transaction charges and account management fees, for instance. But if the service it offers boosts your profitability – for instance, by providing access to higher-quality research – this extra expense may well be worth it.

Top broker for trading costs: Interactive Brokers offers rock-bottom commissions regardless of whether you’re trading shares, forex, bonds, or derivatives like futures contracts. Inactivity fees aren’t present here, either, meaning customers aren’t penalized if they don’t see attractive investing opportunities.

Pro tip: If you’re worried about currency conversion fees, consider using a broker that offers trading accounts that are denominated in euros.

Trading Platform

Some things will be non-negotiables when you’re considering a broker. You’ll want a trading platform that offers rapid execution speeds, timely pricing, easy navigation and strong security features, to name a few important factors.

A platform’s other qualities and characteristics may differ significantly in terms of importance, depending on how you plan to trade. If you’re not looking to buy and sell securities over a short-term horizon, will advanced charting tools really be that important to you? A broker might offer a ‘best in class’ mobile app, but if you’re not planning to trade on the go, does it really matter?

Think about your trading style and objectives when deciding which trading platform to use, then. It can be a good idea to try a demo account first of all to get a flavour of whether it’s a good fit for you.

Pro tip: Many brokerages offer their own proprietary trading systems, but also allow customers to place trades with an external platform like TradingView or MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Some service providers only let investors trade financial markets with third-party software like this.

Best broker for trading platform: IG’s trading platform is one of the best in the business, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced investor. It also offers a demo account with a generous $10,000 worth of virtual money for clients to try out the software and get up to speed with the markets.

Though its software is excellent, IG also lets investors trade using a range of third-party platforms instead like TradingView, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and Trading Central if they prefer.

Range of Markets

According to our tests, investors can buy and sell shares across all of the EU’s major stock exchanges. Stocks listed on the Euronext Paris and Borsa de Madrid are all widely available.

However, the range of equities on offer on both major and minor stock exchanges across the EU can differ substantially among brokerages. Want to trade shares in electricity producer ČEZ Group on the Prague Stock Exchange? You may have to hunt around.

We’ve also found that major currency pairings like the EUR/USD are widely available among brokers. But again, not all EUR pairs will be offered by every broker. The same divergences can occur across other asset classes including indices, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), cryptocurrencies and financial derivatives.

Top broker for markets: eToro has one of the largest asset class catalogues out there. For equity investors, it offers trading on more than 4,000 global shares, while fractional shares are also available. The latter group makes trading more expensive companies, like Rheinmetall, available even to those with less capital to invest. Other securities like forex, cryptocurrencies, commodities and ETFs are also well served by eToro.

Bottom Line

Traders in the EU can expect an excellent level of protection from bad business practices and scammers. Whatever country you’re based in, your national regulator will offer safeguards that are in line with regulations laid down by ESMA. Check that the brokerage you’re considering is licensed to trade by one of these watchdogs before you hand over any money or personal data.

Remember, though, that whether you use a reputable broker or not, trading and investing on financial markets is a high risk pursuit. Consider using a demo account before you put any of your actual hard-earned cash on the line.

FAQs

Who Regulates Brokerages In The EU?

Each of the 27 EU member states has their own national regulator. However, each must comply with overarching rules and directives laid down by supranational watchdog the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). National regulators are responsible for issuing broker licenses, for supervising their conduct, and for imposing sanctions where rule breaking occurs.

Can I Open An Account In The EU With EUR As My Base Currency?

Yes, many brokers offer EUR-denominated accounts to their clients. The advantage? They can save investors a packet on currency conversion fees when they’re funding their accounts or making withdrawals. It also reduces traders’ exposure to exchange rate fluctuations.

Are Non-EU Brokerages Safe For EU Investors To Use?

Potentially, although it depends on the regulator that’s licensed the broker to trade. If it’s a top-tier watchdog like ESMA – say the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which also holds Category A status with BrokerListings.com – investors can expect a high level of protection.

That said, remember that the rules safeguarding individuals can differ in important ways between EU and non-EU regulators. For instance, Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) does not offer negative balance protection on CFDs, which means investors can lose more than they deposit.

This is different to EU watchdogs, which require brokers to offer this protection under MiFID II regulations.