Trade Republic vs Scalable Capital: Which German Broker Wins? (2026)
Germany's two biggest neo-brokers compared. How Trade Republic and Scalable Capital differ on savings plans, trading costs, product range and the robo option, and which suits you.
Written by an 11-year retail-brokerage insider. · Updated 11/6/2026
Trade Republic and Scalable Capital are the two heavyweights of German neo-broking, and both are excellent low-cost homes for a long-term ETF investor. Both offer free ETF savings plans, so the choice comes down to how much else you want from the platform. Here’s how they differ.
The short version
- Choose Trade Republic if you want the simplest possible free savings plan in a clean, mobile-first app.
- Choose Scalable Capital if you want a broader product range, an optional robo-advisor, or a flat-rate plan for more active trading.
How they compare
| Trade Republic | Scalable Capital | |
|---|---|---|
| ETF savings plans | €0.00, from €1 | €0.00, from €1 |
| Manual trades | €1 flat per trade | €0.99 (free plan); €0 on €250+ PRIME ETFs |
| Subscription option | None | PRIME+ €4.99/mo flat-rate trading |
| Execution venues | Single (LS Exchange) | Multiple (gettex, Xetra) |
| Robo-advisor | No | Yes |
| Regulation | BaFin (Germany) | BaFin (Germany) |
| Best suited to | Simplicity-first savers | Broader range and active investors |
Illustrative summary. Check current terms with each broker.
Savings plans
This is a draw, and it’s the main event for most long-term investors. Both run free ETF savings plans from €1, with large fund selections. If a simple automated monthly investment is all you need, either does it perfectly.
Trading costs and plans
For one-off trades, Trade Republic charges a flat €1, while Scalable’s free plan charges €0.99 (and nothing on PRIME ETFs over €250). Where they diverge is Scalable’s optional PRIME+ subscription (around €4.99/mo) with flat-rate trading, which suits more active investors. Trade Republic keeps it simple with no subscription tier.
Product range and the robo option
Scalable Capital offers a broader product range and, notably, a built-in robo-advisor if you’d rather have a managed portfolio than pick funds yourself. Trade Republic is more focused on self-directed investing in a streamlined app. If you want a managed option under the same roof, that points to Scalable.
Execution and simplicity
Trade Republic routes orders through a single venue, which keeps things simple but gives you no choice of execution. Scalable uses multiple venues. For liquid ETFs in normal hours the difference is small, but it’s worth knowing. On simplicity, Trade Republic’s pared-back app is the easier first experience; Scalable does more, at the cost of a little more complexity. See what best execution means.
Which should you pick?
- Simplest free savings plan, cleanest app: Trade Republic.
- Broader range, a robo option, or active trading: Scalable Capital.
For a plain monthly ETF habit, honestly either is excellent and you’re choosing on app feel and whether you want the extras. Both are regulated in Germany and free to run a savings plan.
The bottom line
Two strong, low-cost German neo-brokers with the same core strength (free savings plans) and different extras. Trade Republic wins on simplicity; Scalable wins on range and the robo option. Read our full reviews of Trade Republic and Scalable Capital, or compare them with the rest on Brokerlens.
Educational information, not personal advice. Broker terms change, so always check current details. We may earn a commission if you open an account through our links, which never affects which brokers we recommend.