Trade Republic vs Bourse Direct: Honest Comparison for French Investors 2026
Published June 20, 2026 — The fee difference between Trade Republic and Bourse Direct is almost irrelevant: €1 vs €0.99. The real differences are elsewhere — automation, mobile experience, regulation, and what each broker actually makes easy. Here's the breakdown.
The profiles in two sentences each
Trade Republic: German broker founded in 2019, built for mobile-first investors. Flat €1/order, free automated investment plans, a remunerated cash account, and an ETF catalogue that covers most PEA-eligible funds. PEA available in France since January 9, 2025.
Bourse Direct: French pure-play broker founded in 1995, regulated by the AMF. One of the lowest fee schedules on the French market. Functional web platform for experienced investors. Offers PEA, CTO and PEA-PME. No mobile app to match Trade Republic's.
Trade Republic in detail
Fees
- Manual orders: flat €1 per order, regardless of size
- Automated investment plans (DCA): €0 — the decisive advantage for regular investors
- No PEA custody or account maintenance fees
- Cash account: uninvested cash earns interest at a variable rate linked to the ECB
Strengths
- Best mobile investing app on the French market — clean, intuitive, beginner-friendly
- Free automated DCA plans: set up once, invest every month automatically
- Large catalogue: 2,000+ European stocks, 150+ PEA-eligible ETFs
- Cash earns interest while sitting in the account
- PEA available in France since January 2025
Weaknesses
- Regulated by BaFin (Germany), not the AMF — some investors prefer French regulation
- Customer service by chatbot only — no phone support
- Simple interface: limited analytical tools for active traders
- No PEA-PME offering
Bourse Direct in detail
Fees
- French market orders: from €0.99 for small amounts
- ETFs: very competitive flat fees across tiers
- PEA: no custody fees, zero or minimal account maintenance charges
- No remunerated cash account
Strengths
- AMF-regulated since 1995 — direct French supervision, established track record
- PEA, CTO, and PEA-PME all available — broadest envelope offering
- Functional web interface with analytical tools for active investors
- Access to a wider range of products: warrants, turbos, structured products
- Competitive for high-volume traders
Weaknesses
- Dated interface — not welcoming for beginners
- Mobile app significantly less polished than Trade Republic's
- No built-in automated DCA as smooth as TR's investment plans
- No interest on uninvested cash
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | Trade Republic | Bourse Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Fee per order | flat €1 | from €0.99 |
| Automated DCA plans | ✅ free (€0) | ❌ manual only |
| PEA available | ✅ (since Jan 2025) | ✅ |
| CTO | ✅ (limited) | ✅ (full) |
| PEA-PME | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cash interest | ✅ (ECB-linked rate) | ❌ |
| Mobile experience | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Regulation | BaFin (Germany) | AMF (France) |
| Customer service | Chatbot only | Phone + email |
| PEA-eligible ETF catalogue | 150+ ETFs | Wide, less modern UX |
Our verdict
The fee gap is negligible. The real split is about what each broker makes effortless.
Pick Trade Republic if: you're starting out, you want to automate your monthly investments, you live on your phone, and you appreciate earning interest on idle cash while you wait for your next order.
Pick Bourse Direct if: you want direct AMF regulation, you need a PEA-PME, you trade actively across a wider range of instruments, or you're more comfortable with a desktop web interface.
Use both if: hold your PEA at Trade Republic for auto-DCA and UX, and a CTO at Bourse Direct for markets or products Trade Republic doesn't offer. You can only hold one PEA in France — but multiple CTOs are permitted.
Whatever broker you choose, TREESTEP keeps you consistent
Trade Republic, Bourse Direct, or both — TREESTEP rewards you for every investment, tracks your progress, and turns long-term investing into something you actually want to do. Join thousands of investors who invest with method.
Join TREESTEP free →Frequently asked questions
Is Trade Republic regulated in France?
Trade Republic is regulated by BaFin (Germany). It operates in France under the European financial passport but is not directly supervised by the AMF. Client funds are protected up to €100,000 by the European deposit guarantee scheme. Bourse Direct is directly regulated by the AMF since 1995.
Can I open a PEA at Trade Republic and a CTO at Bourse Direct?
Yes — a common and sensible setup. You can only hold one PEA in France, but multiple CTOs are permitted. Opening your PEA at Trade Republic (for auto-DCA and mobile UX) while keeping a CTO at Bourse Direct (for markets or products not available on TR) is a coherent combination.
Does Bourse Direct have a mobile app?
Yes, but it's significantly less polished than Trade Republic's. For beginners who want a smooth mobile experience, Trade Republic is the clear winner. Bourse Direct remains strong in a web browser for experienced investors.
Which is cheaper for a monthly €100 DCA?
Via automated investment plans, Trade Republic wins clearly: those orders are free (€0). For manual orders, both are comparable (€1 vs €0.99). The decisive advantage for regular investors: Trade Republic's fully automated, zero-fee DCA plans.