An ETF savings plan buys the same ETF for you automatically, every month, for a fixed amount. It is the closest thing to a perfect habit for a long-term investor: you decide once, and the plan keeps investing whatever the news says. Several European brokers now offer free ETF savings plans.
In short
- A savings plan invests a fixed amount in your chosen ETFs on a set date, usually from €1.
- Scalable Capital, Trade Republic and Trading 212 offer free plans on thousands of ETFs.
- Pick a broker that is available in your country, offers your ETF in your currency and handles tax in a way that suits you.
How free ETF savings plans work
- You choose one or more ETFs and an amount, for example €150 a month.
- You choose a frequency (monthly, every two weeks, weekly) and a date.
- You send the money by standing order, or the broker collects it by direct debit.
- On the execution day, the broker buys the ETF for you, including fractions of a share.
Because the amount is fixed, you automatically buy more shares when prices are low and fewer when they are high. More importantly, you never have to decide whether “now is a good time”.
Brokers with free ETF savings plans
| Broker | Cost per execution | Minimum per plan | ETFs available in free plans | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scalable Capital | Free | €1 | About 3,650 | Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands |
| Trade Republic | Free | €1 | About 3,000 | Many EU countries |
| Trading 212 (Pies) | Free | €1 | About 2,600 | 30+ countries, including the UK |
| XTB (Investment Plans) | Free up to its monthly commission-free limit | €15 | Selected ETFs | EU countries and the UK |
| Interactive Brokers (Recurring Investments) | Normal commission applies | Commission minimum about €1.25 | Wide | Almost worldwide |
Plan numbers from the justETF savings plan comparison, updated 2 November 2026. Some banks also offer savings plans, but many charge a percentage of each purchase, which is expensive for small amounts.
The details that matter
- Currency: buy the ETF line quoted in your own currency. Converting €150 every month at a 0.15-0.5% fee adds up.
- Fractional shares: essential for small amounts, so your full €100 is invested even if one share costs more.
- Execution timing: plans usually execute once on set days. You cannot choose the exact price, which is fine for long-term investing.
- Number of ETFs: one or two ETFs are enough. More plans mean more complexity, not more diversification.
- Tax reporting: foreign brokers may not report to your tax authority, so you may need to declare gains and dividends yourself.
- Protection: check who holds your securities and cash. See what happens if your broker goes bust.
Which plan suits you?
- Widest choice of free ETFs: Scalable Capital, if it is available in your country.
- Simplest app and broad EU availability: Trade Republic.
- UK resident, or you want to combine several ETFs in one plan: Trading 212 Pies, which also works inside a UK Stocks and Shares ISA.
- Larger, international portfolio: Interactive Brokers, accepting a small commission per execution.
Compare all-round costs in the best brokers for ETF investors in Europe.
How much should you invest each month?
Whatever you can keep up for years without touching your emergency fund. €50 a month started at 25 is worth more than €500 a month started at 45 that stops after two years. See what your plan could grow to with the compound interest calculator.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Fees and availability change often; check the broker before opening an account.