Comparison
Trade Republic and Revolut are two of the most popular financial apps in Europe, but with different approaches. Trade Republic was born as an investment broker and added a 2% annual interest cash account; Revolut was born as a digital bank account and progressively added investing and savings features. Both have 5 stars because they are highly complementary and difficult to compare head-to-head.
Interest on balance
2% annual on all cash, credited daily. Highly transparent.
1.26% annual. Slightly lower but available in the savings account.
Access to investing
Stocks, ETFs, bonds, and crypto. It is the platform's main focus.
Stocks, ETFs, and crypto integrated as an add-on feature.
Everyday banking
Account and card available, but mostly geared towards saving and investing.
Excellent checking account with instant transfers and dedicated IBAN.
Card
Basic functional card with the Saveback program for automated investing.
Unbeatable: disposable virtual cards, full security control, and instant alerts.
Regulation and security
Regulated by BaFin. Balance protected up to €100,000 under the European guarantee fund.
EU banking licence. Deposits protected under European regulations.
Ease of use
Clean, minimalist, and very intuitive app designed for focused operations.
Modern, blazing-fast app featuring one of the best UIs in finance.
Investment fees
One euro per trade and free savings plans. Among the lowest.
Free plan limits trades; thereafter fees or paid tiers apply.
Travel and international use
Functional card abroad but lacks significant FX perks.
Zero-fee FX at real market rate. The undisputed best choice for travellers.
For beginners
Highly recommended for starting out investing with guided savings plans.
Fantastic as your first digital account for budgeting and daily checking.
Verdict
It is a technical tie between two tools that complement each other perfectly. Trade Republic wins on interest rate, investment fees, and ease of getting started with investing. Revolut wins as an everyday banking account and for frequent travellers. The most common and recommended combination is to use Trade Republic for savings and investing and Revolut for day-to-day spending.
Choose Trade Republic if…
Anyone who wants to maximise interest on their savings and start investing simply.
Choose Revolut if…
Anyone who wants a complete digital bank account for everyday use with travel benefits.