Trade Republic has rapidly become one of the most talked-about financial apps in Europe. Originally launched in Germany, it has expanded across the continent and gained significant traction in the Netherlands. With its combination of commission-free ETF savings plans, competitive savings interest, and a slick mobile app, it positions itself as a one-stop shop for saving and investing.
But is it the right choice for expats in the Netherlands? This review covers everything you need to know.
What Is Trade Republic?
Trade Republic is a licensed investment firm and bank based in Germany, regulated by BaFin (the German financial regulator) and the Bundesbank. It holds a full banking license, which means your cash deposits are protected up to €100,000 under the German deposit guarantee scheme.
The platform combines two main features:
- Brokerage: buy and sell stocks, ETFs, bonds, and derivatives
- Cash account: earn interest on uninvested cash
Savings Interest
One of Trade Republic's biggest draws is its competitive interest rate on uninvested cash. The rate adjusts with ECB policy rates and has been among the best available to Dutch residents.
Key details:
- Interest is paid monthly on your entire cash balance
- No minimum or maximum balance restrictions for the interest rate
- Cash is held in trust accounts at partner banks or in secure money market funds
- Deposit protection up to €100,000 applies
For current rates, check the Trade Republic app or website. Compare with our savings account comparison to see how it stacks up against dedicated savings accounts.
Investing Features
ETF Savings Plans
This is where Trade Republic truly shines. You can set up recurring ETF purchases (savings plans) completely free of charge:
- Over 2,000 ETFs available for savings plans
- Minimum investment of just €1 per savings plan
- Fractional shares — you always invest the exact amount, regardless of share price
- Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly frequency
- No commission on savings plan executions
Popular ETFs like Vanguard FTSE All-World (VWCE), iShares Core MSCI World (IWDA), and various Amundi funds are all available.
Individual Trades
For one-time purchases outside of savings plans:
- €1 flat fee per trade for stocks and ETFs
- Over 9,000 stocks and 2,000+ ETFs available
- Bonds and derivatives also available
- Orders execute on the Lang & Schwarz Exchange (LS Exchange / gettex)
Limitations
- Single exchange: trades execute on LS Exchange, not on major exchanges like Euronext or Xetra directly. Pricing is generally competitive during market hours but spreads may widen outside peak times
- Mobile only: there is no desktop trading platform. The web version has improved but the full experience is designed for mobile
- Limited order types: market and limit orders are available, but more advanced order types (stop-limit, trailing stop) are limited
Dutch Tax Reporting
For Box 3 wealth tax purposes, you need the total value of your Trade Republic account on January 1 of each tax year. Trade Republic provides an annual tax report that includes:
- Total portfolio value as of January 1
- Cash balance
- Dividend income received
- Transaction history
The report is not specifically formatted for the Dutch tax return (unlike DeGiro's), so you may need to map the figures to the correct fields yourself. This is straightforward but requires a bit more effort.
Since the Netherlands uses a deemed return system rather than taxing actual gains, the key figure is simply your total account value on January 1 — which is clearly stated in the annual report.
Trade Republic vs DeGiro
This is the comparison most expats want to see. Here is how they compare:
Fees
- ETF savings plans: Trade Republic wins (€0 vs €1+ at DeGiro for non-core ETFs)
- Core ETFs: DeGiro wins (free core selection without the €1 Trade Republic fee on one-time purchases)
- Stocks: Trade Republic wins (€1 flat vs €3.90+ at DeGiro for European stocks)
Features
- Fractional shares: Trade Republic wins (not available at DeGiro)
- Savings interest: Trade Republic wins (DeGiro does not offer cash interest)
- Platform variety: DeGiro wins (web platform + app vs mobile-first at Trade Republic)
- Tax reporting: DeGiro wins (Dutch-specific tax report vs generic report)
Who Should Choose What?
Choose Trade Republic if: you want a simple savings plan approach, value fractional shares, and like earning interest on cash. Ideal for set-and-forget monthly investing.
Choose DeGiro if: you prefer a traditional brokerage experience with a web platform, want Dutch-optimized tax reporting, and primarily invest in core ETFs. Better for lump-sum investing and active trading.
For a broader comparison including Interactive Brokers and Saxo, see our best ETF brokers guide.
Is Trade Republic Worth It?
For expats in the Netherlands, Trade Republic is a strong option — particularly if you want to combine saving and investing in one app. The free ETF savings plans are genuinely excellent, the savings interest is competitive, and the app experience is polished.
The main drawbacks are the mobile-only interface and single-exchange trading. If you are an active trader or want advanced tools, Interactive Brokers is a better fit. If you want the simplest Dutch-integrated experience, DeGiro remains hard to beat.
But for the growing number of expats who want to set up monthly ETF investments and park their emergency fund in one convenient app, Trade Republic delivers real value.