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If you’re looking to get involved in the financial markets, the first thing you’ll have to do is choose which trading platform to partner with. These days there are plenty of platforms to choose from, each with its advantages and disadvantages. However, it can be tricky to decide which one is best for you due to the abundance of options.
Not to worry – this guide will cover the Best Trading Platforms Ireland in detail, highlighting which ones are most suitable for Irish traders. We’ll also show you how to get started with one of the best Irish trading platforms right away – all without paying any commissions!
Best Trading Platforms Ireland – Compare Top Share Trading Platforms
When you buy stocks, there is an abundance of options in the market when it comes to trading platforms. We’ve done the research and testing, which has allowed us to narrow down the brokerages to our top five. In the following section, we’ll review each of these platforms in detail, ensuring you have all the information you need to make the best broker choice.
2. Capital.com – Best Trading Platform Ireland with Low Fees
3. AvaTrade – Best Trading Platform Ireland with Leverage
4. Libertex – Best Trading Platform Ireland with ZERO Spreads
5. Plus500 – Best Trading Platform Ireland for User-Friendliness
Best Trading Platforms in Ireland – Full Reviews
When choosing between the best trading platforms, there is a variety of criteria to consider. Elements such as fee structure, asset selection, and user-friendliness are all critical for trading, as these can really make the difference if you trade actively. Furthermore, the platform’s safety is also crucial to consider for obvious reasons.
This section will dive into our top five brokers and review each of them in detail. We’ll touch on the elements mentioned above, amongst others, ensuring you have a comprehensive overview of the best trading platforms in Ireland.
1. eToro – Overall Best Trading Platform Ireland
eToro is our number one pick when it comes to the best trading platforms Ireland, offering traders a high amount of safety along with some exceptional features. eToro was founded back in 2007 and is headquartered in Israel. According to eToro’s most recent update, the platform is available in 140 countries and has over 23 million registered accounts.
One of the main reasons we recommend eToro so highly is their fee structure. Firstly, eToro offers both real stocks and stock CFDs, which is excellent news for traders as it allows even more flexibility when trading. If you purchase real stocks with eToro, you will not have to pay any commission whatsoever. On the other hand, if you are buying a stock CFD, you also will not have to pay any commission, – but you will have to consider the spread. Luckily, the spreads that eToro charges are very tight, making them one of the cheapest CFD brokers to trade with.
eToro doesn’t charge any deposit fees or monthly account fees, although they do charge a $5 withdrawal fee. In terms of deposits, eToro recently lowered the minimum deposit threshold to only $50 (€43), which is ideal for beginner traders. eToro accepts a wide range of credit/debit cards and e-wallets (including PayPal), along with Bank Transfers and Rapid Transfers. Notably, if you don’t fund your account in USD, there will be a 0.5% currency conversion fee.
Finally, eToro offers a wide variety of valuable features, most notably their CopyPortfolio feature. This allows traders to invest in a professionally managed portfolio without having to pay any management fees. There are plenty of portfolios to choose from, making it easy to gain exposure to various sectors.
Pros
Commission-free broker
Regulated by the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC
Innovative CopyPortfolio feature
Low minimum deposit
Offers real stocks and CFDs
Competitive spreads
Cons
Small currency conversion fee if depositing in EUR
67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
2. Capital.com – Best Trading Platform Ireland with Low Fees
If you are looking for an alternative to eToro, we also highly recommend Capital.com. Capital.com was founded in 2016 and is regulated by numerous entities, including the FCA, ASIC, CySEC, and NBRB. Much like eToro, Capital.com offers real stock trading and CFDs, which ensures a high level of flexibility for traders.
Trading at Capital.com is commission-free, with the spread only applying to CFD trading. The spread is variable but tends to range around 0.1% for the most-traded equities, which is pretty low for an online broker. Capital.com also offers leverage of up to 30:1 when trading CFDs, although this amount will vary depending on the country you trade in.
Capital.com’s account opening experience is smooth, and they allow you to choose between different account types depending on how much you expect to trade. The whole process can be accomplished online and requires a minimum deposit of only $20 (€17). Deposits are free to make and can be completed via credit/debit card, bank transfer, or various e-wallets.
Finally, Capital.com allows users to trade on the web or their smartphones – and even offers MT4 support for people interested in forex trading. The trading platform that Capital.com offers is sleek and user-friendly, offering many different order types and portfolio analysis tools. You can even review Capital.com’s massive library of educational resources, which is great news for beginner traders!
67% of all retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
3. AvaTrade – Best Trading Platform Ireland with Leverage
Another excellent option for Irish traders is AvaTrade. AvaTrade has an exceptional reputation in the trading space and is regulated by numerous respected entities – including the Central Bank of Ireland. The great thing about AvaTrade is that it offers services for traders interested in various asset classes, including stocks, ETFs, currencies, cryptocurrencies, and more.
Much like other brokers, AvaTrade doesn’t charge any commissions and instead charges a spread. This spread will typically be around 0.13% above the market price, although it can vary depending on the asset and market conditions. Due to EU regulation, AvaTrade’s leverage is capped at 30:1 – although if you are outside of the EU, this rises to 400:1 for certain assets.
AvaTrade doesn’t charge any monthly account fees, deposit fees, or withdrawal fees, although the broker does charge an inactivity fee after three months of no trading. When opening your AvaTrade account, you’ll have to make a minimum deposit of $100 (€86), which can be completed via credit/debit card, bank transfer, and e-wallet. Notably, AvaTrade allows you to fund your account in EUR, meaning that Irish traders avoid currency conversion fees.
Finally, AvaTrade offers a variety of trading options and even provides support for MT4 and MT5. Users can even benefit from AvaTrade’s ‘ AvaOption’s feature, designed exclusively for options trading. Finally, AvaTrade’s trading platforms also feature insightful research tools, including trading ideas, fundamental data, and customisable charting tools.
67% of all retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
4. Libertex – Best Trading Platform Ireland with ZERO Spreads
If you are looking for one of the best low spread brokers, then Libertex may be a good option for you. Libertex is a Cyprus-based trading platform and has over 2.2 million users worldwide. The platform has been in operation since 1997 and is regulated by CySEC to ensure investor safety.
Libertex offers a unique approach to fees, as they do not charge a spread like other CFD brokers. Instead, Libertex will charge a small commission whenever you place a trade. The exact commission you will have to pay will differ depending on the asset, so you will have to review this beforehand on the CFD’s page. However, many liquid assets have low commissions of around 0.1%, ensuring Libertex is still a cost-effective broker.
Users can benefit from up to 30:1 leverage if they are based in the EU, which provides an avenue for potential profits to be multiplied by 30x! In terms of deposits, Libertex requires an initial deposit of €100 before you can begin trading, which can be made via credit/debit card, bank transfer, and various e-wallets (including PayPal and Neteller). All deposit methods (other than wire transfers) will ensure that your funds arrive in your Libertex account immediately – and do not incur any fees whatsoever.
Finally, Libertex offers a handy mobile app for traders, which is available on iOS and Android. This app enables users to trade on the go and possesses many of the same features you’d find on web-based apps. Notably, Libertex also supports MT4 and MT5 trading, which is ideal for forex traders. By using these platforms, you’ll be able to set price alerts that notify you when an asset’s price reaches a certain level – thereby optimising your trading.
67% of all retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
5. Plus500 – Best Trading Platform Ireland for User-Friendliness
Rounding off our list of the best online brokers in Ireland is Plus500. Plus500 was founded in Israel in 2008 and has grown exponentially since then – even being listed on the London Stock Exchange! Plus500 has hundreds of thousands of users worldwide and is regulated by the FCA and ASIC, ensuring they offer high levels of protection to investors.
Much like other CFD brokers, Plus500 only charges a spread. These spreads are competitive with other brokers but are particularly low when forex trading. Aside from the spread, Plus500 doesn’t charge any monthly account fees, deposit fees, or withdrawal fees – although there is an inactivity fee of $10 per month after three months of no trading.
When funding your Plus500 account via credit/debit card, the minimum deposit is $100 (€86), although this rises to $300 (€258) if you opt to use a bank transfer. The account opening process is speedy and can be completed online, with no need to send any paper documentation. Fortunately, Plus500 accepts EUR as a base currency, meaning you avoid having to pay any currency conversion fees.
Finally, deposits and withdrawals to your bank account are entirely free to make – although there is a charge if you make more than five withdrawals in a monthly period. Plus500’s trading platform is exceptionally user-friendly and features a two-step login that boosts the overall security. Notably, Plus500 allow you to set up price alerts that can be delivered via email or text – and they even offer a multi-chart feature that enables you to view several price charts at once!
Pros
Listed on the LSE
Regulated by the FCA and ASIC
Free deposits and withdrawals
0% commissions on CFDs
User-friendly platform
Cons
Inactivity fee after three months
Fee if you make more than five withdrawals per month
67% of all retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
How to Find the Best Trading Platforms Ireland
When researching the best stock brokers in Ireland, there is a multitude of factors to consider. Ensuring you look into the essential elements can guarantee you trade the stock market optimally and cost-effectively. With that in mind, let’s discuss some of the main things to keep in mind when reviewing Ireland’s best trading platforms.
Regulation
One of the most important things to consider is regulation. This refers to the oversight given to the platform by reputable entities such as the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC. Ideally, you’ll want to partner with a broker regulated by a top organisation, as that’ll ensure you receive the highest levels of investor protection.
On the other hand, you’ll likely want to steer clear of unlicensed or unregulated brokers. As these are not offered any regulatory oversight, you’re essentially putting your capital and personal details at risk. Overall, it’s always best to look for regulated platforms to ensure you can trade safely.
Tradeable Assets
If you’re looking to invest in stocks, then you’ll ideally want to partner with a trading platform that has a vast range of financial instruments. These days, most of the top trading platforms will allow you to trade stocks listed on many major exchanges around the world. As such, most platforms have hundreds of companies to choose from, ensuring you’re never stuck for investment opportunities.
Furthermore, you may wish to use a broker that offers other asset classes so that you can create a diversified portfolio. Most trading platforms will offer a selection of currencies, ETFs, bonds, commodities, and cryptocurrencies to trade. By choosing a broker with a wide variety of assets, you’ll give yourself the best opportunity to make positive returns.
Payment Methods
Many people wish to buy stocks with PayPal, as this provider is considered highly safe and easy to use. As such, many trading platforms (such as eToro) accept PayPal as a payment method, with funding usually arriving in your trading account instantly. Most brokers will also accept major credit/debit cards, along with bank transfers and other e-wallets.
Another thing to consider is the base currencies accepted by the platform. If a share dealing platform doesn’t support the currency you wish to deposit (e.g. EUR), then you’ll likely have to pay a currency conversion fee to convert it to one of the platform’s base currencies. This is something to keep in mind as the costs can creep higher the more you deposit.
Leverage
Leverage is when brokers ‘lend’ you money to bolster your position size, enabling you to generate higher profits without depositing more money. However, leverage can also magnify losses, so trading using leverage is much riskier. Many brokers will allow the functionality to trade CFDs with leverage; for example, eToro offers 5:1 leverage on stock CFDs. So, if you’re risk-seeking and wish to boost potential returns, it might be a good idea to seek out a broker that offers leverage to Irish traders.
Fees and Commissions
One of the most important things to consider is the trading fees charged by the trading platform. As you can imagine, there’s no point using a platform that charges excessive fees, as this will inevitably eat into your profits. The two main fee types to look out for are commissions (charged when you place a trade) and the spread (the difference between the bid and ask prices on an asset). Most brokers will typically charge one or the other, so be sure to review this beforehand.
Spread-based structures can employ variable spreads, meaning that the difference between the bid and ask prices can fluctuate during the day. Alternatively, some platforms use a fixed spread, which may suit specific traders. Aside from commissions and the spread, be sure to look out for deposit fees, withdrawal fees, and inactivity fees, as these can also impact your overall profitability.
Research Tools
When you research the best investments UK, you’ll likely wish to employ charting and analysis tools to ensure you are investing effectively. Thus, it is nice to do this using your broker’s platform rather than a third party’s. This will allow you to trade in the same place that you do your research in real-time, reducing time and friction when opening a position.
Some online trading platforms will offer more advanced tools than others, so this will all depend on what you’re looking for. Ideally, you’ll want to use a platform that allows you to customise price charts, set price alerts, and review company data. If you’re an advanced investor, you may want further insights than this, so it’ll all come down to personal preference.
Educational Materials
Educational materials are an essential consideration if you are a beginner investor. The nature of the financial markets means that it can be a daunting place for newcomers, especially since there’s the risk of losing money. Opting for a trading platform with a library of educational resources can ensure you are prepared when you enter the market, leading to better trading decisions.
Many platforms will offer guides, tutorials, market news, and more – all on their website. Furthermore, specific platforms (including eToro) will even provide a free demo account feature, allowing beginners to practice trading without real money.
Trading Platforms
If you’re looking to buy stocks Ireland, it’s also wise to consider the platform you’ll be trading on. These days, most brokers will offer a web-based application and a mobile app, which synchronise with one another. This means that you can place a trade on the web app and monitor it on your smartphone when you are out and about.
Certain Forex brokers UK will offer MT4 and MT5 support, which is a big plus for people who trade currencies. These platforms are the standard for forex trading and allow for fast execution and customisable charts.
Customer Service
Last but not least, it’s ideal to partner with an online brokerage that has extensive customer support options. The best brokers offer an online chat service where agents can respond to your queries, although not all platforms will have this. Other elements such as an FAQ page or a contact form can also be very beneficial to traders experiencing issues.
How to Get Started with the Best Trading Platform in Ireland
Before we round off this guide on the best trading platforms in Ireland, let’s discuss how to get started trading today. Whether you’re looking to invest $1000 or more, the first thing you’ll need to do is create an account with your chosen broker.
For the purposes of this guide, we’ll be using eToro, as they take the top spot in our list of the best trading platforms Ireland. With that in mind, the four short steps below will show you how to begin investing right away – all without paying any commissions!
Step 1 – Create an eToro Account
Head over to eToro’s homepage and click ‘Join Now’. Enter a valid email address and choose a username and a password to create your account. If you’d like, you can also complete this step using eToro’s handy stock trading app.
67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Step 2 – Verify your Account
As eToro is regulated by numerous top entities (including the Financial Conduct Authority), new users must verify themselves before trading. To do so, head to your account dashboard and click the ‘Complete Profile’ button. You’ll then be asked to complete some KYC checks and upload proof of ID (copy of passport or driver’s license) and proof of address (copy of bank statement or utility bill). Once uploaded, these documents will then be checked, which usually only takes a few minutes.
Step 3 – Make a Deposit
eToro requires new users to deposit at least $50 (€43) before being able to trade. In terms of deposit methods, eToro accepts the following for Irish traders:
Credit card
Debit card
Bank transfer
Rapid transfer
PayPal
Skrill
Neteller
Trustly
Step 4 – Buy Shares
Once you’ve funded your account, you’re ready to trade. Type the name of the asset you’d like to trade into the search bar at the top of the screen and click ‘Trade’. An order box will then appear, in which you can enter your position size (denoted in USD). Once you are happy with everything, click ‘Open Trade’.
And that’s it! You’ve just completed your first investment in Ireland with eToro – all in less than ten minutes!
Best Trading Platform Ireland – Conclusion
To summarise, this guide has covered the best trading platform Ireland in detail, discussing the best options on the market and showing you how to get started in under ten minutes. As you can see, there are many great options for Irish traders, all of which allow you to invest from the comfort of your own home. By using one of the options we’ve mentioned previously, you’ll be able to trade safely and optimally in the financial markets.
If you’re looking to begin trading in Ireland today, we’d recommend using eToro. eToro is great for Irish traders as they offer 0% commission trading on a massive range of assets. What’s more, the minimum deposit is only $50 (€43) – which can even be made via PayPal!
Through our testing and research, we’ve deemed eToro to be the best trading platform in Ireland. eToro offers 0% commission trading and allows positions to be opened from only $25 (€21) per trade.
What’s the minimum deposit to begin trading in Ireland?
Each broker will have its own minimum deposit threshold, although eToro allows deposits from only $50 (€43). You will need to deposit in USD though, to avoid incurring a currency conversion fee.
Are trading platforms in Ireland safe?
Platforms regulated by top entities such as the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC are deemed the safest, so keep an eye out for these. Steer clear of unregulated or unlicensed platforms, as these do not offer any investor protection.
How do I begin using a trading platform in Ireland?
You’ll need to create an account and make a deposit before you can begin trading. Most brokers will also require you to complete some KYC checks and verify your identity to abide by regulatory oversight.
How much does it cost to use a trading platform in Ireland?
Brokers will either charge a commission or a spread, which acts as their ‘fee’ for facilitating the trade. Each broker will have a slightly different fee structure, although most of the ones on our list are deemed low-cost brokers.
Which assets can I trade in Ireland?
Most trading platforms will offer stocks, ETFs, currencies, commodities, and cryptocurrencies to Irish traders. Additionally, brokers like eToro also offer actual stock trading and CFDs, providing even more flexibility to traders.
About Connor Brooke PRO INVESTOR
Connor is a Scottish financial expert, specialising in wealth management and equity investing. Based in Glasgow, Connor writes full-time for a wide selection of financial websites, whilst also providing startup consulting to small businesses. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, and a Master’s degree in Investment Fund Management, Connor has extensive knowledge in the investing space, and has also written two theses on mutual funds and the UK market.
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WARNING: The content on this site should not be considered investment advice and we are not authorised to provide investment advice. Nothing on this website is an endorsement or recommendation of a particular trading strategy or investment decision. The information on this website is general in nature so you must consider the information in light of your objectives, financial situation and needs.
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