DEGIRO review Switzerland 2026: fees, taxes, safety
DEGIRO was my broker for ETFs and shares for a long time. Here is my DEGIRO review from a Swiss point of view: what it costs, what to watch out for with taxes and why I switched anyway.
My DEGIRO experience in Switzerland is good overall. DEGIRO is cheap, the platform is tidy and easy to understand for beginners. Recently I still switched to Interactive Brokers, because the fees there are a little lower. In this article I explain who DEGIRO is still the better choice for, and what you should check as a Swiss investor before you open an account.
As of October 2026, based on the degiro.ch pricing page (last update 01.10.2025). Fees may change; check current terms before trading.
What is DEGIRO?
DEGIRO is an online broker from the Netherlands and today belongs to flatexDEGIRO Bank AG, based in Germany. According to the company, more than three million investors use the platform. Swiss clients have their own website with prices in francs for the Swiss exchange SIX.
At DEGIRO you trade shares, ETFs, options, futures and leveraged products on many exchanges worldwide. For most private investors, two things matter: ETFs for long-term wealth building, and individual shares, for example from the SMI or the US.
DEGIRO fees in Switzerland: what does a trade cost?
Fees are the main reason many people in Switzerland end up at DEGIRO. Each trade has a commission plus a handling fee:
| Product | Commission | Handling | Total per trade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shares SIX Swiss Exchange | CHF 5 | CHF 1 | CHF 6 |
| US shares | EUR 1 | EUR 1 | EUR 2 |
| ETFs from the core selection | EUR 0 | EUR 1 | EUR 1 |
| ETFs worldwide | EUR 2 | EUR 1 | EUR 3 |
On top come a few extra costs you should know about:
- Custody fee: none
- Inactivity fee: none
- Deposits and withdrawals: free
- Currency conversion (AutoFX): 0.25% of the amount
- Manual currency conversion: EUR 10 plus 0.25%
- Connectivity fee: up to EUR 2.50 per year per foreign exchange, capped at 0.25% of the account value. It does not apply to SIX.
The connectivity fee is due as soon as you make at least one trade on a foreign exchange in a calendar year or hold a position there. If you hold ETFs on Euronext Amsterdam and shares on NASDAQ, you pay EUR 5 a year.
DEGIRO costs in a worked example
What does that mean in practice? Three typical scenarios for Swiss investors:
| Scenario | DEGIRO fees |
|---|---|
| One core selection ETF a month, 12 trades a year | 12 x EUR 1 = EUR 12, plus EUR 2.50 connectivity |
| Buying an SMI share for CHF 3,000 | CHF 6 |
| Buying a US share for USD 2,000 from a CHF account | EUR 2 plus 0.25% AutoFX, about USD 5 conversion cost |
With US shares in particular, it pays to look closely. The order fee itself is low at EUR 2, but the automatic currency conversion of 0.25% applies when you buy and when you sell. For larger amounts, that is the biggest cost item.
DEGIRO taxes in Switzerland: what do you need to know?
This is where DEGIRO differs clearly from a Swiss bank. Because DEGIRO is a foreign broker, you do not get a Swiss tax statement that you can import straight into your tax return. You enter your positions, dividends and interest yourself in the securities list. The basis for this is the annual report you can download on the DEGIRO platform.
- Wealth tax: all positions as of 31 December belong in the securities list.
- Swiss dividends: 35% withholding tax is deducted from dividends of Swiss companies. You reclaim it via your tax return.
- Foreign dividends: US dividends usually have withholding tax deducted. You can reclaim part of it with form DA-1.
- Capital gains: for private individuals in Switzerland, private capital gains are generally tax-free, as long as you are not classified as a professional trader.
- Securities transfer tax: since DEGIRO is not a Swiss securities dealer, no Swiss federal transfer stamp duty applies.
My practical tip: keep a simple spreadsheet for your tax return in which you record positions, dividends and withholding taxes from the DEGIRO annual report each year. It takes half an hour once a year and saves you a lot of searching.
DEGIRO ETF core selection: what is behind it?
The ETF core selection is a list of popular ETFs on which DEGIRO waives the commission. You only pay the EUR 1 handling fee per trade. The list can change and is subject to a fair use policy, so if you buy and sell daily, expect fees. For a monthly savings plan, though, it is ideal.
Two costs do not appear in any fee table: the spread and product costs. The spread is the difference between the buy and sell price and applies at every broker. Product costs, for ETFs the TER, are paid to the fund provider, not to DEGIRO, so they are the same at every broker. Always compare ETFs by TER too, not only by order fee.
How I invest with DEGIRO: my approach
- Few, broad ETFs: one or two globally diversified ETFs from the core selection are enough for most of your wealth.
- Buy once a month: a fixed buying day takes emotion out of it and keeps handling fees predictable.
- Bundle exchanges: the fewer foreign exchanges you use, the fewer connectivity fees you pay.
- Watch the currency: where possible, buy ETFs traded on an exchange in your account currency so no AutoFX applies.
Is DEGIRO safe for Swiss investors?
DEGIRO belongs to flatexDEGIRO Bank AG, which is supervised as a German bank by the financial regulator BaFin. Your securities are held separately from the broker’s own assets. If the broker goes bust, the shares and ETFs still belong to you and do not become part of the bankruptcy estate.
Worth knowing: German and European law applies, not the Swiss deposit protection. For me that is no reason to avoid DEGIRO, but it is a reason not to hold all your wealth with a single broker.
Opening a DEGIRO account in Switzerland
- Start via the referral link on the DEGIRO page.
- Enter your personal details and choose an account type. Basic or Active suits most people.
- Verify your identity with an ID.
- Make a first deposit by bank transfer in CHF or EUR.
- Place your first trade. With the coupon, your first CHF 100 in trading commissions is refunded.
DEGIRO vs Interactive Brokers: what is the difference?
I have used both brokers. In short: Interactive Brokers is cheaper and far more comprehensive, DEGIRO is much easier to use.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss share, CHF 3,000 | CHF 6 | from CHF 1.50 plus exchange fees (tiered) |
| US share, 20 shares at USD 100 | EUR 2 plus 0.25% conversion | USD 1 minimum (fixed) |
| Ease of use | tidy, beginner-friendly | powerful but cryptic |
| New client bonus | CHF 100 trading credit | up to USD 1,000 in IBKR shares |
If you mainly buy core selection ETFs every month, the difference is small. If you regularly buy larger amounts in US dollars, you save mainly on currency conversion at Interactive Brokers. All the details on IBKR costs are in my article on Interactive Brokers fees in Switzerland.
My DEGIRO experience: pros and cons
DEGIRO served me well for a long time. The platform is clear, orders are quick to place, and I never had to search for long. I only switched because Interactive Brokers is a little cheaper for my trades.
- Pro: low, transparent fees
- Pro: core selection ETFs without commission
- Pro: no custody or inactivity fees
- Pro: tidy, simple app and web platform
- Con: 0.25% AutoFX on foreign currencies
- Con: no Swiss tax statement, you enter everything yourself
- Con: Interactive Brokers is slightly cheaper on pure cost
Who is DEGIRO in Switzerland for?
DEGIRO suits you if you want to invest cheaply in ETFs and shares but do not want an overloaded professional platform. For monthly ETF purchases, DEGIRO is a solid choice. If you would rather not trade yourself at all, a robo-advisor such as Selma or True Wealth is more convenient. And for tax-advantaged retirement saving, look at my pillar 3a fees comparison first.
DEGIRO coupon code for Switzerland
Open your DEGIRO account via my referral link and, as a new Swiss client, you get CHF 100 credit for trading fees. Your first CHF 100 in commissions is refunded automatically after your first deposit.
You can find all bonuses side by side in the Swiss finance app referral bonus comparison. If you use my code or link, you get a goodie, and in most cases I receive a referral fee.
Frequently asked questions about DEGIRO in Switzerland
How much does DEGIRO charge for Swiss shares?
CHF 5 commission plus CHF 1 handling, so CHF 6 per trade on the SIX Swiss Exchange.
Does DEGIRO charge a custody fee?
No. There are no custody or inactivity fees. For foreign exchanges there is a connectivity fee of up to EUR 2.50 per year per exchange.
Does DEGIRO provide a Swiss tax statement?
No. You enter your positions and dividends in the securities list yourself, based on the DEGIRO annual report.
Is DEGIRO safe in Switzerland?
DEGIRO belongs to flatexDEGIRO Bank AG, supervised by the German regulator BaFin. Your securities are held separately from the broker’s assets.
DEGIRO or Interactive Brokers?
DEGIRO is easier to use; Interactive Brokers is slightly cheaper and offers more markets and features.
Verdict: my DEGIRO review from Switzerland
DEGIRO is a cheap, simple broker you can hardly go wrong with in Switzerland. Fees are low and transparent, the platform is pleasant. The catches are the 0.25% currency conversion and the missing Swiss tax statement. If you want the lowest costs and accept a steeper learning curve, Interactive Brokers is the better fit. If you like it simple, stay with DEGIRO.
Not investment advice. This article reflects my personal experience and publicly available terms. Tax notes do not replace tax advice.