Trade Republic and MyInvestor are two of the most popular platforms among Spanish index investors. Both allow users to invest in ETFs and funds at very low costs, but they have different approaches: Trade Republic is a European broker focused on ETFs and stocks; MyInvestor is a Spanish bank that offers access to mutual funds and automated portfolios.
The choice between the two depends largely on your priorities. This comparison clarifies the differences.
Contents
Fees
Trade Republic: Buy ETFs for a flat fee of €1 per one-time transaction. Savings plans (automatic recurring purchases) are commission-free. No custody fees.
MyInvestor: Purchase of mutual funds with no buy or sell fees. No custody fees. ETFs have a €3 fee per transaction or 0% if purchased as part of a savings plan.
Fee verdict: a technical tie for those who invest regularly (free savings plans on both platforms). For large one-time purchases, MyInvestor is slightly better for funds (€0 vs. €1 on TR).
Product Catalog
Trade Republic offers over 2,000 ETFs and more than 9,000 stocks. Its savings plans cover over 2,000 ETFs. It does not offer traditional mutual funds (which can be transferred without tax consequences).
MyInvestor has access to over 1,500 index funds from Vanguard, iShares, Amundi, Fidelity, and others, plus ETFs and stocks. The big advantage: access to transferable mutual funds like the Vanguard Global Stock Index or the iShares MSCI World, which allow you to switch from one fund to another tax-free.
Catalog verdict: MyInvestor wins if you want classic index funds (ISIN IE00B3RBWM25, Vanguard-style). Trade Republic wins if you prefer ETFs or want access to more specific markets.
Interest-bearing account
This is an increasingly important factor: uninvested cash also generates returns.
- Trade Republic: 3.50% APR on the uninvested cash balance, with daily liquidity. Automatic, no setup required.
- MyInvestor: 2.55% APR on interest-bearing accounts, with no requirements or minimum term.
Account verdict: Trade Republic offers nearly 1 percentage point more in returns on idle cash. For those who save before investing, the difference is significant.
Pension Plans
MyInvestor has its own range of index-linked pension plans with very competitive TERs (~0.17–0.30%), including the popular MyInvestor Indexed S&P 500.
Trade Republic does not offer Spanish pension plans. Only ETF savings plans without the tax benefits of a pension plan.
Verdict on plans: MyInvestor is the clear winner for anyone looking for index-linked pension plans.
Taxation: the difference that matters most
This is the most significant and least known difference:
- Investment funds on MyInvestor: You can switch from one fund to another without paying taxes (tax deferral). You only pay taxes when you make the final redemption. For a portfolio that is rebalanced periodically, the tax savings are enormous in the long term.
- ETFs on Trade Republic: Each sale is taxed as a capital gain, even if you immediately reinvest in another ETF. There is no tax deferral on ETFs.
For 10- to 20-year investment horizons, the tax deferral on funds can make a difference of 1-2% per year compounded in terms of real net returns.
User Experience
Trade Republic: A very polished, fast, and intuitive native app. Designed for mobile. Most trades are completed in 3 clicks. Web interface also available.
MyInvestor: a more comprehensive but more complex app. Better on the web than on mobile. Slightly steeper learning curve, especially for funds with many filters and options.
Conclusion: Which one should you choose?
Choose Trade Republic if:
- You want the highest interest-bearing account (3.50%) for your idle cash
- You invest mainly in ETFs and don’t need transferable funds
- You value a very simple and fast app
- You want access to individual stocks in addition to ETFs
Choose MyInvestor if:
- You want to invest in Vanguard/iShares index funds with tax deferral
- You’re looking for affordable index-based pension plans
- You prefer a company with a Spanish banking license (FGD, Bank of Spain supervision)
- You want automated portfolios with passive management (Indexa, Finizens)
The optimal strategy for many: Trade Republic for a daily interest-bearing account and occasional ETF trades; MyInvestor for long-term index funds and pension plans.
Compare the current returns of all investment platforms on APYData.