DEGIRO vs Freedom Finance
The difference is geography: DEGIRO serves the EU and UK, Freedom Finance (Freedom24 in the EU) serves Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan but not Turkey, the UK or the US. For an EU investor DEGIRO is the sounder setup — BaFin, €100,000 deposit and €20,000 securities cover, real assets only, €2 per US stock trade and €4.90 on most EU exchanges. Freedom's cover depends on whether you sign with its Cyprus or its Kazakh AIFC entity. Our pick for EU residents: DEGIRO. In the CIS: Freedom Finance.
Editor: Kyrylo Vasyliev
DEGIRO (BaFin, minimum deposit €0.01) and Freedom Finance (AIFC/CySEC, minimum deposit N/A) are two regulated brokers competing for retail investors in the CIS and EU markets. This comparison is built from verified data on fees, available instruments, trading platforms and country access — so you can see exactly where each broker wins before you open an account.
Across 3 fee categories we track, DEGIRO comes out cheaper in 1, while Freedom Finance wins only 0. For active traders this gap compounds over time — commission, FX markup and custody fees are the three that hurt portfolio returns the most. Both brokers offer access to 5 instrument categories, so asset coverage is not a differentiator here.
Both brokers have similar entry requirements, so the decision comes down to fees and instruments. DEGIRO supports 2 trading platforms, Freedom Finance supports 2.
Trust dimensions side by side
Where it's safer
Five trust dimensions per our methodology. The further from the centre — the stronger. The dashed line is our fixed reference level, the same on every axis.
DEGIRO and Freedom Finance are tied — both score 75/100; our fixed reference line is 72.
Overview
DEGIRO leads with 3 out of 9 objective metrics. On fees specifically, DEGIRO wins 1 of 3 categories.
Fees & Commissions
Fee scenario
Approximate — based on verified fees only. Per-share commissions assume a $50 share price. Real costs depend on instrument, currency conversion and individual trade size.
Instruments & Markets
800k+ instruments · 1.0M+ instrumentsRegulators & investor protection
- BaFin—Germany
- Additional licences on file: AFM/DNB.
- AIFC—Kazakhstan (AIFC)
- CySEC—Cyprus (EU)
DEGIRO carries a stronger top-tier licence than Freedom Finance — relevant if regulator strength is a deciding factor for you.
Account & Support
DEGIRO
Freedom Finance
Pros & Cons
DEGIRO
- Publicly-listed parent — full annual report transparency
- €2 per US stock trade, €4.90 on most European exchanges
- Real assets only — no CFDs in the account
- Strong Trustpilot rating (4.4★)
- Wide instrument selection (800k+)
- Not available in CIS countries — EU/UK residents only
- No fractional shares — each position requires the full share price
- Platform UI has not kept pace with newer entrants
- Compensation caps at €20,000 — below FCA (£85k) / SIPC ($500k)
- No negative balance protection
Freedom Finance
- Retail IPO allocation — rare feature for accounts under $100k
- AIFC (Kazakhstan) local regulation for KZ residents
- Multi-product account: brokerage + savings + IPO + EU equities
- Wide instrument selection (1.0M+)
- Negative balance protection
- Regulatory scrutiny over alleged sanctions-compliance — but not sanctioned
- AIFC regulatory protection weaker than EU/UK/US schemes
- FX at 0.5% per leg and €7 per withdrawal
- Mobile app rating 3.8 (Google Play, 5,354 reviews) — below industry norm
- Compensation caps at €20,000 — below FCA (£85k) / SIPC ($500k)
Who each broker is for
Verdict
Both DEGIRO and Freedom Finance are regulated brokers offering access to global financial markets. However, they differ significantly in fees, available instruments, and minimum deposit requirements. Below is our expert assessment to help you make an informed decision.
Choose DEGIRO if you want lower fees, faster withdrawals.
Choose Freedom Finance if you want negative balance protection, an unlimited demo, fractional shares.
- Just starting outFreedom Finance· an unlimited demo
- Active tradingDEGIRO· lower fees, faster withdrawals
- Advanced / professionalDEGIRO· more exchanges
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your trading style, budget, and preferred instruments. We recommend using our Broker Quiz for a personalized recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this comparison and how to use it.