The Smart Broker Trade Republic enjoys enormous popularity, especially among younger people. Founded in Berlin in 2015, the broker convinces with enormously favourable feesNo custody account fee, no negative interest rates, hundreds of free ETFs and hardly any other fees. In Germany, the number of clients is exploding, but what is the situation in Switzerland? Does Trade Republic Switzerland already exist and what are the possible alternatives?
If you have any more questions on the topic, we look forward to an exchange in the comments!
📢 IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SWISS INVESTORS
Trade Republic is currently NOT available in Switzerland.
Despite its expansion into many European countries (Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland), Trade Republic still does not offer any services to Swiss residents.
The best alternatives for the Swiss:
As Trade Republic is still not available in Switzerland, several excellent alternatives have emerged that offer similar benefits such as low fees and user-friendly apps:
Yuh (developed by Swissquote and PostFinance) offers an intuitive trading app with free trades for selected ETFs, shares from CHF 1 and cryptocurrencies. The all-in-one solution combines banking, trading and payments in one app.
The popular Neo bench NEON has launched NEON Invest, a trading function that offers fee-free ETF savings plans and share trading at favourable conditions. Particularly attractive: no currency fees when trading foreign shares.
Swissquote offers higher fees than Trade Republic, but scores with reliability, a comprehensive offering and the advantage of a Swiss bank account. Ideal for more experienced investors.
SAXO Bank offers many ETFs without transaction costs and an automatic ETF savings plan with the AutoInvest feature. The fee structure is transparent and the platform is solid.
If independent trading is too time-consuming for you, the True Wealth Fully automated management of your ETF portfolio at very favourable fees.
Trade Republic has revolutionised the brokerage business with its zero-fee model. While traditional brokers often charge high order fees, Trade Republic offers securities trading for a maximum third-party fee of €1 - and without monthly custody account fees or negative interest.
How can this be profitable? The broker relies on consistent digitalisation, low operating costs and a large customer base. In addition, Trade Republic, like almost all brokers, receives refunds from product providers such as BlackRock for brokering ETFs. This model has made Trade Republic one of the fastest growing brokers in Germany within just a few years.
One of the main reasons for Trade Republic's success is its consistent focus on mobile trading. The minimalist app enables trading directly from a smartphone - a concept that particularly appeals to younger investors. In Switzerland, Trade Republic now offers Yuh a similar solution with the combination of banking and trading within one app.
An important aspect in the assessment of brokers is their reliability in times of crisis. In January 2021, Trade Republic suspended the purchase of GameStop shares (GME) during the peak of the short squeeze, incurring a reprimand from the regulator and the displeasure of many customers.
This episode shows how important the consistency of a broker is. Swiss brokers like Swissquote have proven to be particularly reliable during this critical period - a factor that should not be underestimated when choosing a broker.
As long as Trade Republic is not available in Switzerland, we recommend the alternatives listed above, some of which offer similar advantages, but with the security and reliability of Swiss financial institutions.
Trade Republic will remain unavailable to Swiss residents for the time being. Fortunately, however, there are now excellent alternatives on the domestic market that offer similar advantages.
Depending on your personal requirements:
For beginners and small amounts: Yuh or NEON Invest with their user-friendly apps and low entry barriers
For experienced traders: Swissquote with its comprehensive range and proven reliability
For ETF savings plans and cost-conscious investing: SAXO Bank with numerous free ETFs and automated savings plans
For passive investors: True Wealth with fully automated portfolio management
Bear in mind: You should answer the question of whether a trading app on your smartphone leads to more impulsive investment decisions for yourself. While apps such as Yuh and NEON Invest make it easier to get started, a well thought-out strategy is crucial for long-term investment success - regardless of which platform you use to invest.
We will of course keep you up to date if Trade Republic expands into Switzerland in the future. Until then, the alternatives mentioned are not just stopgap solutions, but fully-fledged and in some cases even better options for Swiss investors.
We are interested in your experiences: Which broker do you use in Switzerland? And which Trade Republic functions do you miss the most? Leave us a comment!
swissquote's customer ratings are abysmal... how can you seriously recommend something like this?
John, are you from Trade Republic? I've been with Swissquote for years and am very satisfied. There's a reason why it's the most popular Swiss online broker.
Dear Swiss Franc Team
Have you already made up your mind about Smartbroker? What do you think of their fee model?