DEGIRO vs Trading 212: Which Broker Suits You?
DEGIRO scores 3.4 and Trading 212 3.2 out of 5 on our published methodology. DEGIRO leads on Asset Range, and they tie on Costs & Fees, Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust and Account Access & Support. Both accept clients in the EU.
Overall score
Trading 212
3.2/5
Best for: Beginner-friendly UK investing
Read the full Trading 212 review →Score by score
Each category is scored 1–5 using our published methodology. The overall score is the plain average of the first five; ease of use is shown separately.
Key facts side by side
| DEGIRO | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds across many European and global exchanges | Shares, ETFs and investment trusts |
| Regulated by | BaFin (flatexDEGIRO Bank SE), with DNB and AFM overseeing the Dutch branch | FCA in the UK; CySEC or BaFin for EU clients |
| Stands out for | Among the lowest per-trade costs available in Europe | Pies and AutoInvest, with a £1 minimum to start |
| Watch out for | Basic platform, no forex, and not open to US residents | No mutual funds, bonds, desktop platform or phone support |
| Accepts clients in | The EU | The UK and the EU |
Is DEGIRO cheaper than Trading 212?
Both score 4/5 on Costs & Fees, so neither has a clear overall cost advantage on our measures; which is cheaper for you depends on what you trade, how often, and in which currency. Fees differ by country and account type and change often, so check both brokers’ current price lists before you choose.
Which is safer, DEGIRO or Trading 212?
DEGIRO is regulated by BaFin (flatexDEGIRO Bank SE), with DNB and AFM overseeing the Dutch branch; Trading 212 by FCA in the UK; CySEC or BaFin for EU clients. Both score 4/5 on our Regulation & Trust measure. Which company holds your account, and which investor compensation scheme covers it, depends on where you live. Compensation schemes cover a broker failing, never investment losses.
Which is better for beginners?
On ease of use for a beginner, which sits outside the overall score, DEGIRO scores 3/5 and Trading 212 5/5. Trading 212 is the gentler place to start.
Who each one tends to suit
DEGIRO
- Tends to suit
- Low-cost European investing
- Stands out for
- Among the lowest per-trade costs available in Europe
- Watch out for
- Basic platform, no forex, and not open to US residents
Trading 212
- Tends to suit
- Beginner-friendly UK investing
- Stands out for
- Pies and AutoInvest, with a £1 minimum to start
- Watch out for
- No mutual funds, bonds, desktop platform or phone support
More head-to-heads
Scores and facts come from our own reviews as of September 2026 and follow one published methodology. Plain Investor has no commercial relationship with either broker. This is general education, not personal financial advice. Fees, features and regulation change, so confirm current terms with each broker before opening an account.