Compare Broker Fees in Europe Before You Switch or Fund Another Account
Use this broker fee comparison tool when the real question is not just "which broker has lower headline fees?" but which setup is cheaper once FX charges, ETF costs, custody fees, and recurring contributions are included.
Pick any two brokers, enter your portfolio details, and compare the cost stack side by side. If you are choosing a broker, start here. If you already know your broker and want to quantify the drag of staying put, use the hidden-fees calculator next.
Who this is for
European investors comparing brokers for ETF investing, cross-currency buying, and long-term portfolio growth.
What gets compared
Custody fees, FX charges, ETF costs, and estimated trading costs, not just the marketing headline.
What to do next
Use compare-broker-fees first for broker choice, then use the calculator to estimate annual drag for the setup you keep.
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Broker A
Broker B
Choosing Interactive Brokers saves you an estimated
€650
over 10 years on a €50,000 portfolio
Metric
DEGIRO
Interactive Brokers✦ cheaper
Annual fee rate
0.45%
0.20%
Annual fees (today)
€150
€120
Total fees over 10yr
€2,749
€2,099
Projected value
€95,609
€96,259
Return after fees
91.22%
92.52%
Fee breakdown (annual)
Custody/platform
€0
€0
Fund/ETF cost
€100
€100
FX conversion
€0
€0
Transaction costs
€50
€20
Want to see your real fees?
These are estimates based on public pricing. Connect your broker and we'll show you exactly what you're paying — across all your accounts, in one place.
Fee estimates are approximate and based on publicly available pricing as of March 2026. Actual fees vary by account type, trading volume, currency pairs, and specific products. Fund/ETF cost assumes a typical broad-market ETF TER of 0.20%. FX fees are modeled as a one-time conversion cost on new money, not an annual portfolio drag. Always verify with your broker's current fee schedule.
Worked broker comparison scenarios
EUR ETF investor
If you buy EUR-denominated ETFs and trade rarely, custody fees and minimum commissions matter more than FX. This is where app-first brokers can look cheap, but older fee schedules can still lose on recurring platform costs.
EUR investor buying USD assets
If you fund in EUR and buy USD ETFs or stocks monthly, FX fees often become the deciding line item. A low-commission broker can still be expensive if currency conversion quietly compounds on every contribution.
Larger multi-market portfolio
Once portfolio size rises, small differences in custody, FX, and repeated trade costs can outweigh the headline commission story. Compare the full stack before moving assets or adding another broker.
How broker fees really compare
Broker fees come in four main categories, and every broker bundles them differently. Understanding each one is the difference between a real brokerage fee comparison and a misleading headline-fee comparison.
Custody & platform fees
Some brokers charge an annual percentage of your portfolio value just to hold your assets. Saxo Bank charges 0.25% per year on a standard Danish account, while Revolut charges 0.12%. Most newer platforms, including DEGIRO, Interactive Brokers, Trading 212, Nordnet, and Avanza, charge 0% custody. That still does not make them free. It just means the real cost often moves elsewhere.
FX conversion fees
If you're a European investor buying US-listed ETFs or stocks, you pay a currency conversion fee. This ranges from 0.002% at Interactive Brokers to 0.50% at eToro. On a €50,000 portfolio, that's the difference between about €1 and €250 on conversion alone. For recurring investors, this is often the fee that decides the comparison.
Fund & ETF costs (TER)
The total expense ratio is charged by the fund itself, not the broker. A typical broad-market index ETF charges around 0.20% per year. This applies regardless of which broker you use, so it remains a constant in the tool, but it still belongs in the total-cost view serious investors care about.
Transaction costs
Per-trade commissions vary widely. Trading 212 charges zero commission. DEGIRO offers a core selection of free ETFs with low fees elsewhere. Nordnet and Avanza have higher minimums on Nordic exchanges. Interactive Brokers charges very small per-share commissions. For a passive investor making around 12 trades a year, annual transaction costs can range from near-zero to roughly €200.
When to use the calculator next
Use this page first when you are choosing between brokers. Once you have a likely winner, or if you decide to keep your current broker, move to the hidden investment fees calculator to estimate what that setup will cost your own portfolio over time.
Frequently asked questions
Which European broker has the lowest fees?
For most passive investors, Interactive Brokers and Trading 212 tend to have the lowest total cost of ownership. Interactive Brokers charges near-zero FX fees (0.002%) and very low commissions, while Trading 212 offers zero-commission trades with a 0.15% FX fee. The best choice depends on your portfolio size, trading frequency, and currency needs.
What hidden fees do brokers charge?
Beyond headline commissions, brokers may charge custody/platform fees (annual % of portfolio value), FX conversion spreads (when buying assets in foreign currencies), fund expense ratios (TER), inactivity fees, and withdrawal fees. These 'hidden' costs can add up to 0.5–1.5% annually.
How much do FX fees really cost?
FX fees vary dramatically between brokers — from 0.002% at Interactive Brokers to 0.50% at eToro. On a €50,000 portfolio with annual contributions, even a 0.25% FX fee can cost hundreds of euros over a decade in lost compounding.
Is DEGIRO cheaper than Interactive Brokers?
It depends on your usage. DEGIRO has low commissions (especially on its core selection) but charges 0.25% FX fees. Interactive Brokers has near-zero FX fees (0.002%) and very low commissions. For investors who trade international stocks or ETFs frequently, Interactive Brokers is typically cheaper overall.
How are broker fee comparisons calculated?
This tool uses real fee data from each broker — custody fees, FX conversion spreads, estimated annual transaction costs, and a typical ETF expense ratio (0.20%). It projects total cost over your chosen time horizon using yearly compounding, including contributions. The difference shows how much you'd save by choosing the cheaper broker.
Related tools & resources
ETF broker fee scenarios →
See five real European ETF investor scenarios before you run the live comparison.
Hidden Investment Fees Calculator →
Estimate the total cost of your current broker setup over time.
How Broker Fees Affect Returns →
Benchmark how small fee differences compound over 10, 20, and 30 years.