Trade Republic vs Trading 212: Which Broker Suits You?
Trade Republic scores 3.4 and Trading 212 3.2 out of 5 on our published methodology. Trade Republic leads on Asset Range, and they tie on Costs & Fees, Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust and Account Access & Support. Both accept clients in the EU.
Higher overall score
Trade Republic
3.4/5
Best for: Low-cost EU investing & savings plans
Read the full Trade Republic review →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
| Trade Republic | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, bonds and crypto, plus warrants and private-market funds | Shares, ETFs and investment trusts |
| Regulated by | German bank licence, supervised by BaFin and the Bundesbank, with branches in several EU countries | FCA in the UK; CySEC or BaFin for EU clients |
| Stands out for | A flat €1 order fee, free savings plans and interest on uninvested cash | Pies and AutoInvest, with a £1 minimum to start |
| Watch out for | EU only, an app-first service whose support has struggled with rapid growth, and tax reporting that varies by country | No mutual funds, bonds, desktop platform or phone support |
| Accepts clients in | The EU | The UK and the EU |
Is Trade Republic 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, Trade Republic or Trading 212?
Trade Republic is regulated by German bank licence, supervised by BaFin and the Bundesbank, with branches in several EU countries; 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, Trade Republic scores 5/5 and Trading 212 5/5. Neither has a clear edge for a first account.
Who each one tends to suit
Trade Republic
- Tends to suit
- Low-cost EU investing & savings plans
- Stands out for
- A flat €1 order fee, free savings plans and interest on uninvested cash
- Watch out for
- EU only, an app-first service whose support has struggled with rapid growth, and tax reporting that varies by country
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.