Investing Platforms for Irish Investors
A simple comparison of five platforms: DEGIRO, Trading 212, Trade Republic, Revolut and Interactive Brokers. Last checked 26 August 2026.
There is no single best platform. The right one depends on how much you plan to invest, how often, whether you want to buy part of a share or set things to run automatically, and what it costs in total, including currency conversion.
Interest on cash is a nice extra. It should not be the reason you pick a platform if you plan to stay invested.
Which sounds most like you?
- I want to invest a small amount automatically each month. Consider Trading 212 or Trade Republic.
- I want to start inside an app I already use. Consider Revolut.
- I want greater choice and expect to invest larger amounts. Consider DEGIRO.
- I want the widest access and very low currency costs, and I don't mind a more complex platform. Consider Interactive Brokers.
You do not need to find the perfect platform. You need one that is regulated, gives you access to what you want to buy, and is simple enough that you will actually use it.
If one of these already feels right, you can stop here. The comparison below is only there if you want to look more closely.
Want to compare the detail?
| DEGIRO | Trading 212 | Trade Republic | Revolut | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May suit you if… | You invest larger amounts less often and want a very wide choice. | You invest small amounts regularly and want it to run automatically. | You want somewhere to park cash and set up automatic ETF plans. | You already use Revolut and want to start small and simple. | You want the widest choice and low currency costs, and are comfortable with a more complex platform. |
| Automatic investing | No. You place each order yourself. | Yes. Set up a recurring plan and it runs. | Yes. Savings plans, with no trading fee. | Yes. Recurring buys. | Yes. Recurring investments, though setup is fiddlier. |
| Cost per trade | €1 for Core Selection ETFs, €2 for US shares, €3 or more for most other shares and ETFs. Currency and exchange fees can also apply. | No trading commission. Other costs, such as currency conversion, can apply. | Free on savings plans. €1 for other trades. | A few free trades a month depending on your plan, then about 0.25% (minimum €1). | Low and varies by market, usually with a small minimum charge. |
| Currency conversion (e.g. buying US shares in euro) | 0.25% | 0.15% | No separate fee shown. Foreign shares are converted to euro, so the exchange rate and spread are part of the cost. | Depends on your plan. Monthly limits and weekend fees can apply. | About 0.03% with automatic conversion. Converting manually is cheaper as a percentage but has a $2 minimum. |
| Can you buy part of a share? | No. Whole shares only, so some cash can be left over. | Yes, from €1. | Yes, from €1. | Yes, on most shares. | Yes, on eligible shares and ETFs. |
| Investment choice | Wide: 45+ exchanges and a large ETF range. | Wide: around 13,000 shares and ETFs. | Broad ETF range, with automatic savings plans. | Thousands of US and EU shares. Smaller ETF range. | The widest of the five. Some products depend on eligibility. |
Fees, rates and protection limits change often. Check the platform's own site before you open an account.
Cash and protection
| DEGIRO | Trading 212 | Trade Republic | Revolut | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interest on cash you haven't invested yet | None. | 3.5% if you switch it on. Cash may be held in money-market funds, making the Irish tax treatment more complex. | 3.04% for new customers, on up to €50,000. Variable. | Not on brokerage cash. Separate savings products in the app pay interest. | Yes, with conditions. Nothing on roughly the first €10,000, and the full rate needs a €100,000+ account. |
| Cash protection | Cash protected up to €100,000. | Cash held in a bank is protected up to €100,000. If you switch on interest, some of your cash may be invested in money-market funds instead. These are not covered by a bank guarantee. | Cash held with partner banks is protected up to €100,000. | Cash in your investment account is protected up to €22,000. Its separate savings account is protected up to €100,000. | If Interactive Brokers cannot return your cash, compensation covers 90%, up to €20,000. |
Planning to earn interest on cash? Trade Republic is simpler for Irish tax. Trading 212 may hold your cash in money-market funds, which are taxed differently from bank interest.
Four things that are true whichever platform you choose
- Tax depends on what you buy, not where you buy it. Gains on individual shares are generally taxed at 33% (capital gains tax), and dividends are taxed as income. Many Irish and EU-domiciled funds and ETFs are taxed differently: 38% on gains, and every eight years you are taxed as if you had sold, even if you haven't. Check the treatment of the specific product before you buy.
- No platform does your Irish tax for you. They give you statements. The calculation and the filing are yours, or your accountant's.
- Most US-domiciled ETFs can't be bought by Irish retail investors. Their providers don't publish the EU document needed to sell them here. European (UCITS) versions of the same indices, like the S&P 500, are widely available instead.
- Your investments are kept separate from the platform's own money. If the platform fails, they should still belong to you. Compensation schemes are a back-up if they cannot be returned. They do not cover investments falling in value.
Last checked 26 August 2026. This is financial education, not financial or tax advice. It isn't a complete comparison of the market and including a platform isn't a recommendation. OwnIt has no commercial relationship with, and receives no referral fee from, any platform listed. When you invest, your capital is at risk. For guidance on your own situation, talk to a financial adviser or accountant.