Compare online stock trading platforms in Ireland

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eToro

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Index Funds

DEGIRO

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Global Stocks

Saxo Markets

Online stock trading platforms make it cheaper and easier to buy and sell shares through the Irish Stock Exchange (or ISE, trading as Euronext Dublin) and other markets overseas. You can use our stock broker comparison table below to compare fees and features and find the best deal for you.

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Name	Product	Brokerage Fee	Markets	What you can trade?
eToro		IE stocks: No US stocks: $0	Global	Stocks, ETFs, Currencies, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies	Investing carries a risk of loss Trade more than 1,000 stocks globally with eToro's social trading and investment platform	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
DEGIRO		IE stocks: €2 US stocks: $0	Global	Stocks, ETFs, Funds, Options, Futures, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies	Investing carries a risk of loss. Degiro lets you invest in a variety of financial instruments in different markets around the world. Until 30 June 2022, pay no transaction fees up to €100 when you make your first transfers as a new Degiro customer. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Saxo Markets		IE stocks: €12 US stocks: US$7	Global	Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Currencies, CFDs, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies	Investing carries a risk of loss Saxo Markets provides an online platform for trading stocks, shares, CFDs, and forex around the world	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Zacks Trade		IE stocks: No US stocks: US$1	Global	Stocks, ETFs, Funds, Options, Bonds	Investing carries a risk of loss The Zachs Trade platform offers stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, and more with access to more than 90 exchanges worldwide	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Freedom Finance		IE stocks: €2 US stocks: US$2	Global	Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds	Investing carries a risk of loss	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Capital.com		IE stocks: No US stocks: €0	Global	Stocks, ETFs, Currencies	Investing carries a risk of loss Access thousands of the world's leading indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies and shares on a single platform.	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...

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Looking to trade stocks online? There are a number of online platforms available but it’s important to compare them before you sign up.

This guide will teach you how online stock trading platforms work, how you can make money from trading, what fees you’ll pay and what all the investment terms mean.

How does online stock trading work in Ireland?

Online stock trading is exactly what it sounds like: you use an online platform to buy, sell and trade stocks online. These platforms can be available on a website or as an app and let you set up an account and trade shares from the ISE or other stock exchanges globally.

Many platforms also let you trade other types of investments, such as index funds, ETFs and more. You can also make use of online tools such as copying high-profile investors, in-depth research on stocks and easy access to data to inform your trades.

Another huge benefit of trading shares online is that it’s cheaper than a full-service stockbroker.

What features should I look for with online stock trading platforms?

• Advice and research options. Online brokers sometimes offer market news and updates as well as other research tools that will let you investigate the trading history of individual stocks.
• Bank account integrations. Some services let you transfer money easily from your trading account to a current account or savings account. Others offer linked debit cards to use with your accounts.
• Access to Irish stocks and global markets. Not all online platforms offer shares from every market. Check the platform lets you invest where you want.
• Investment options. Other products offered by some online brokers include forex, CFDs and options trading.
• Strong customer support. Check what level of customer support is available, what hours it’s available and if there’s a support team based in Europe or closer to home in Ireland. This is particularly important for new traders.

How do fees work with online stock trading platforms?

• Broker fees. This is the fee that is charged every time you buy and sell shares. Brokers charge different fees depending on the product you’re trading (for example, global stocks, local stocks and options), how often you trade in a month and the size of the trade.
• Monthly fees. Some brokers charge ongoing subscription fees or additional inactivity fees if you don’t make any trades within a certain period of time. This may or may not suit you depending on your trading requirements.
• Foreign exchange fees. If you’re interested in trading global stocks, you’ll want to check what the foreign exchange (FX) fee is for converting your euros to the foreign currency of choice.

Is trading stocks online safe? What are the risks?

As with any type of investment, there are risks to trading stocks online. Some of the risks remain whether you trade online or not, for example, you can lose some or all of your investment. Other risks are with the online platform you choose to use.

Before you start using a platform, check whether the online broker has a good reputation and is a trusted provider in the community. There are several key details to look out for:

• Reviews. Find out other users’ experiences with the platform by reading customer reviews.
• Experience. Find out how long it has been offering online stock trading services. Is it backed by a large bank or financial institution?
• Encryption. Reputable online trading platforms rely on encryption technology to protect your sensitive information. This means that when you log in to a broker’s website, no one will be able to see any of the information transmitted between you and the broker.
• Login information. Check out what information you will need to provide in order to log in to your account. While many providers only ask for a username and password, others may ask you to enter an additional security code.
• Online checks. Does the provider offer online checks and restrictions to reduce the risk of fraud? For example, do you receive an SMS code that you will need to enter before trading or do you need to answer an online security question?
• Previewing trades. When talking about online stock trading security, it’s also important to check that there are measures in place to prevent you from placing the wrong trade. For example, does the trading platform show you a preview screen outlining the full details of a transaction, such as the total cost and the total shares purchased, before placing a trade?
• Processes for dealing with fraud. Next, check to see what will happen if you’re a victim of fraud via your trading account. Does the provider have processes in place to reimburse you for any losses you suffer through no fault of your own if you are the victim of fraud? Are there any exclusions to when this cover applies?
• Customer support. It’s vital that if something ever goes wrong with a trade or you have a problem with your account, you can quickly access assistance from a company representative. Check to see when and how you can get in touch with the customer support team.

How to protect yourself when you trade online

• Watch out for scams. Just as online stock trading technology has grown more sophisticated, so too have the methods used by scammers to trick people into giving up their account details.
• Keep your login details safe. This is an obvious tip, but one you should always remember. Never give your account login details to a third party, and don’t leave your computer unattended while you’re logged in to your account.
• Keep a copy of your records. Keep a record of all your online stock trading transactions. Your records could be in a digital or hard-copy format, but should always be stored in a safe place. This will ensure that you have evidence to refer to if something goes wrong with your account or if you suspect you may have been a victim of fraud.
• Look after your computer. Make sure that you always keep your antivirus software up to date to protect your computer against malware and other viruses. In addition, check that you only ever log in to the trading platform via a secure Internet connection.

How can I make money from shares?

Investors in shares are fractional owners of a business, meaning they will profit based on the future outlook of the business or by getting part of the company paid to them.

There are 2 main ways to make money from stock trading:

• Capital growth. If you can sell your shares for a higher price than what you paid for them, you’ll make a profit. This is known as capital growth, given that your initial capital (your shares) has increased in value. This is possible both with short-term investments (where you sell the shares after a brief period of time) and over longer periods.
• Dividends. Some (but not all) companies pay regular dividends to their shareholders based on the amount of profit they make, which can provide an ongoing income stream plus tax advantages for certain investors. Dividend payments are a great form of passive income and it means investors may never need to sell their shares in order to make a profit. Some companies offer dividend reinvestment strategies allowing you to increase your holdings by giving you more shares.
• Tax benefits. In Ireland, you’ll typically be charged a Capital Gains Tax (CGT) of 33% and a Dividend Withholding Tax (DWT) of 25% for Irish companies. However, the first €1,270 of capital gains are exempted from any taxation and any gains from investing in government securities are tax-exempt as well.

Tips for online share trading

Here are some tips to help get you started:

• Read the news. It’s important to stay up to date with the broader economy and learn how major events such as national elections impact the share price of various companies.
• Research companies before buying. If you want to buy shares in a company, research as much as you can about the company before making your final decision. It’s a good idea to read the company’s annual reports and meeting minutes to learn what’s in the pipeline and what changes will be made that could affect their share price.
• Upskill. It can be easy to lose a lot of money by making a poor investment decision or by simply clicking on the wrong button if you don’t know what you’re doing. Practise trading on a demo account first and consider taking an online investment course.
• Consider blue chip companies. This is a good strategy for people new to the share market, as blue chip companies often have more stable returns, are less volatile and often pay dividends.
• Diversify. Say you had €5,000 to invest in the stock market. Rather than invest it all in 1 company, consider spreading it out across a few companies from different industries. Diversification will help lower your risk, and ensure you don’t have all your eggs in one basket.

Compare online stock trading platforms

Ask an expert: How do you pick the right stocks?



Michael McCarthy
Chief market strategist, CMC

Many investors spend hours reading reports and studying charts to select the “right” share, only to disregard the most important factor – themselves. Every individual’s circumstances are unique. We all have different investment goals, amounts to invest, time frames, existing investments and risk appetites. All of these should be taken into account when selecting a stock.

An exciting new technology startup or a promising medical research group might suit an investor with a higher risk appetite and many years of investing ahead of them. On the other hand, an investor in or near retirement might prefer a more stable, well-known business that pays a reliable dividend. It’s up to you.

Stock trading glossary – learn the key stock trading terms and what they mean

• Bear market: This term refers to when prices on the market are falling and further falls are expected to occur
• Blue chip stock: A blue chip stock is a large company with a steady history of turning a profit
• Brokerage fee: This is the fee you must pay to a stock trading platform when you use the platform to buy or sell stocks
• Bull market: This is the opposite to a bear market. This term applies when stock market prices are rising and expected to continue to rise
• Contract note: This confirms a buy or sell transaction and includes details such as the type of stock, the price paid and the quantity traded
• Dividend: A company can distribute its profits or earnings to shareholders in the form of dividends. A dividend is calculated as a number of cents for each share you own
• Float: The initial raising of capital through public subscription to a security
• Fundamental analysis: This involves analysing the financial statements of a business to determine its overall financial standing
• Futures: Futures are contracts to buy or sell an asset at a specified future date
• ISE: The abbreviation for the Irish Stock Exchange, which trades as Euronext Dublin
• Limit order: A limit order specifies the maximum (when buying) or minimum (when selling) price you are willing to accept for a stock transaction
• Listed company: Listed companies have shares that are purchased and sold through the ISE
• Live price: This is the price of a stock at a precise moment in time
• Market order: A market order is an order to buy or sell a stock at its current market price
• Short selling: This is when you borrow a security and subsequently sell it, with the obligation to buy it back in future at a much lower price
• Volatility: This reflects the amount of fluctuation in stock prices
• Warrant: This gives its holder the right to purchase a security within a certain timeframe and at a specific price
• Yield: This is your return on an investment and is expressed as a percentage

Want to learn more about stock trading?

• Compare international stock trading accounts
• Step-by-step guide to buying shares online

• What is a contract for difference (CFD)?
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading CFDs and forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades.