DEGIRO review

DEGIRO is best known as a broker for shares and ETFs. The old statement that it does not offer crypto is no longer universally correct. Eligible customers in supported countries can now trade around twenty cryptocurrencies directly.

That addition broadens the platform, but does not turn DEGIRO into a complete crypto exchange. Assets cannot be transferred to a personal wallet, staking is unavailable and crypto is excluded from the German investor compensation scheme.

DEGIRO review summary

DEGIRO is the trading name of the Dutch branch of flatexDEGIRO Bank SE. It provides access to shares, ETFs, bonds, investment funds, options, futures, leveraged products and a limited crypto range in eligible countries.

Base fees for shares and ETFs are often competitive. US shares, for example, cost €1 commission plus €1 handling on the current international schedule. An ETF in the Tradegate Core Selection costs €1 per transaction.

Look beyond the advertised commission. AutoFX costs 0.25%, foreign exchanges can create annual connectivity charges and funds or ETFs carry their own product costs. These additions can have a large effect on small transactions.

What is DEGIRO?

DEGIRO started as a Dutch broker and is now part of Germany’s flatexDEGIRO Bank SE. One account provides access to more than 45 exchanges across roughly 30 countries.

The platform provides execution only services. You choose the investments and DEGIRO does not provide personal investment advice. This works for independent investors, but beginners must understand product risks and costs themselves.

Opening a DEGIRO account

1. Create an account through the website or app.
2. Enter your personal and tax information.
3. Complete identity verification.
4. Connect a bank account in your own name.
5. Select an appropriate account profile.
6. Complete knowledge tests for complex products.
7. Review the cost estimate before each order.

Crypto may require an additional activation and verification process. Availability depends on the customer’s country and account.

Products and trading platform

The website and app are sufficiently clear for ordinary buy and sell orders. Available order types include limit, market and stop orders, although not every type is supported on every exchange or product.

DEGIRO provides a broad securities range but no fractional shares. You therefore need enough capital to buy at least one full share. Fractional crypto purchases are possible where the crypto service is available.

Its analysis tools are adequate for long term investors but less extensive than those of specialised professional platforms. DEGIRO’s main strength is broad market access at relatively low fixed rates.

DEGIRO fees

US shares cost €1 commission plus €1 handling in the international fee example. European shares commonly cost €3.90 plus €1 handling. Global ETFs cost €2 plus €1 handling, while the Tradegate Core Selection carries only the €1 handling fee.

Important additional costs include:

• 0.25% for automatic currency conversion;
• annual connectivity fees for foreign exchanges;
• possible transaction taxes or stamp duty;
• spread and issuer costs, including an ETF’s total expense ratio;
• interest and conditions when using margin.

Deposits, withdrawals, custody and inactivity are free under the standard schedule. Always check the local fee document and order preview because prices vary by country, exchange and account type.

DEGIRO or Bitvavo for crypto?

Bitvavo is not an alternative for shares and ETFs. For crypto, Bitvavo is considerably more complete, with many more assets, wallet withdrawals, staking for supported coins and a trading platform built specifically for crypto.

DEGIRO is convenient when you want to display a small crypto position next to shares and ETFs. Bitvavo is the stronger choice for active crypto trading, a broader range or self custody.

Buying crypto through DEGIRO

DEGIRO charges 0.29% for every crypto purchase and sale, excluding the spread. A complete purchase and later sale therefore costs at least 0.58% in commission.

Around twenty coins are available and fractional purchases are supported. Trading runs almost around the clock, with exceptions for maintenance and daily refresh windows.

Crypto is held by Tangany GmbH, a licensed German crypto custodian. Customers cannot deposit from an external wallet or withdraw purchased coins to one. Staking and crypto margin trading are also unavailable.

You buy crypto that Tangany holds on your behalf, but the position remains within the closed system operated by DEGIRO and its custody partner.

Regulation and protection

flatexDEGIRO Bank SE is primarily supervised by Germany’s BaFin. The Dutch branch is registered with DNB and supervised in the Netherlands by AFM and DNB.

Uninvested money in the linked cash account is protected up to €100,000 under the German deposit guarantee scheme. Securities are segregated through a separate legal entity. If segregated investments cannot be returned, German investor compensation covers 90% up to €20,000.

This protection does not cover market losses and does not apply to crypto in the same way. DEGIRO explicitly states that crypto is excluded from the German investor compensation scheme.

DEGIRO experiences

The broad market range, relatively low fixed fees and lack of monthly service charges are clear advantages. The interface works well for a straightforward portfolio of shares and ETFs.

Disadvantages include currency and connectivity costs, the absence of fractional shares and the limitations around crypto. As an execution only investor, you also have to research complex products, derivatives and margin risks yourself.

Conclusion of our DEGIRO review

DEGIRO is a serious, regulated broker with broad market access and reasonable fees. It can work well for shares and ETFs as long as you include handling, currency, connectivity and product costs in the comparison.

Its crypto service is convenient and the 0.29% commission is not extreme, but the product remains limited. For a wider selection, staking or personal wallet withdrawals, a specialised European exchange is the better option.