Trade Republic vs Scalable Capital is the most common broker question among new European ETF investors. Both are German, both are regulated banks, both offer free ETF savings plans from €1, and both pay interest on cash. The differences are in the details: trading fees, how interest works, which countries they serve and what extras you get.
In short
- Both offer free ETF savings plans from €1 and no custody fees.
- Trade Republic: €1 per trade, interest paid on your cash balance, a debit card with Saveback, available in 18 countries.
- Scalable Capital: free trades on major ETF brands from €250 or with PRIME+, more ETFs, available in 6 countries.
- For a simple monthly ETF plan, either is fine; pick the one available in your country with the features you value.
Prices and rates below were checked in October 2026 and change regularly. Always confirm on the broker’s own site before opening an account.
Fees side by side
| Trade Republic | Scalable Capital | |
|---|---|---|
| Single trade | €1 | FREE plan: €0.99; €0 for Amundi, iShares, Vanguard and Xtrackers ETFs from €250 |
| Subscription | None | FREE (€0) or PRIME+ (€4.99 a month): €0 trades from €250 |
| ETF savings plans | Free, from €1 | Free, from €1 |
| Custody and account fees | None | None |
| Number of ETFs | 2,000+ | 2,300+ |
For a monthly savings plan both brokers cost nothing. The difference shows up when you place one-off trades. If you buy large ETFs from the major brands in amounts of €250 or more, Scalable’s free plan can be cheaper. If you trade small amounts, Trade Republic’s flat €1 is easy to predict.
Interest on cash
Both brokers pay interest on uninvested cash, but in different ways:
- Trade Republic pays interest directly on the cash in your account, 2.50% a year at the time of writing, paid monthly. New clients have received a higher promotional rate.
- Scalable Capital pays interest through a separate Overnight account, 2.60% at the time of writing. Cash left in the normal broker account earns nothing until you move it.
These rates follow ECB interest rates and can change at any time. Interest is a nice extra, but it should not be the main reason to choose a broker for long-term investing.
Countries and features
| Trade Republic | Scalable Capital | |
|---|---|---|
| Countries | 18 | 6 (Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands) |
| Debit card | Yes, with 1% Saveback (up to €15 a month) | No |
| Crypto | Real crypto, 50 coins | Crypto ETPs |
Trade Republic’s Saveback invests 1% of your card spending into a savings plan, up to €15 a month, as long as you invest at least €50 a month. It is a small but genuine bonus if you use the card anyway.
How your money is protected
Both brokers hold your ETFs separately from their own assets. If either company failed, your securities would not be part of its bankruptcy. Cash is covered by deposit insurance of up to €100,000 per bank, and both spread client cash across partner banks. On top of that, investor compensation covers 90% of certain losses, up to €20,000.
To understand how this works in practice, read what happens if your broker goes bust.
Tax
For residents of Germany, both brokers withhold German tax automatically and accept a Freistellungsauftrag for your €1,000 allowance. See investing in ETFs in Germany. In other countries, check whether the broker handles local tax for you or whether you must declare everything yourself.
Trade Republic vs Scalable Capital: which to choose?
Choose Trade Republic if:
- you live in a country Scalable does not serve;
- you want the simplest app and a card with Saveback;
- you prefer a flat, predictable fee for occasional trades.
Choose Scalable Capital if:
- you place one-off ETF purchases of €250 or more from the big ETF brands;
- you want the widest ETF choice;
- you are an active saver who would use PRIME+.
For most people building a monthly plan in one global ETF, both are good choices. For more options, including Interactive Brokers, XTB and DEGIRO, see the best brokers for ETF investors.
Sources
- EU Personal Finance: Trade Republic vs Scalable Capital (October 2026)
- EUR-Lex: Investor Compensation Schemes Directive 97/9/EC
This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial or tax advice. Rules and prices change; check official sources or a qualified adviser before making decisions.