XTB vs DEGIRO — Which Investment Broker to Choose in 2026?

XTB vs DEGIRO — Battle for the Polish Investor

XTB and DEGIRO are two leaders of the Polish brokerage market, who revolutionized access to foreign investments. In 2026, XTB serves 950,000 Polish clients, while DEGIRO has 420,000 active accounts in Poland. Both offer access to thousands of stocks and ETFs — but which will work better in your investment strategy?

Key 2026 Statistics:

• XTB Poland: 950,000 clients, 34.2 billion PLN AUM
• DEGIRO Poland: 420,000 clients, 18.7 billion PLN AUM
• Average portfolio: XTB - 36,000 PLN, DEGIRO - 44,500 PLN
• ETF popularity: 78% of Polish investors have at least 1 ETF

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Quick Comparison — Decision Table

VERDICT: XTB for beginners, DEGIRO for cost-conscious investors

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Detailed Commission Comparison

💰 Stocks and ETFs — Transaction Cost

DEGIRO — Price Leader

DEGIRO Commission Model:

DEGIRO Cost Examples:

• 1,000€ in VWCE ETF: 0€ (core selection)
• 1,000€ in Apple: 0.5€ + ~3.2$ = ~4.2€
• 1,000€ in Asml (Europe): 2€ + 3€ = 5€

XTB — Turnover-Based Commissions

XTB Commission Model:

XTB Cost Examples:

• 1,000€ in VWCE ETF: 12€ (1.2%)
• 1,000€ in Apple: 8$ (~7.5€)
• 1,000€ in Asml: 12€

Real Example Comparison:

Verdict: DEGIRO significantly cheaper for most strategies

📊 Hidden Costs and Spreads

DEGIRO — Transparent but Additional Costs

DEGIRO Additional Costs:

• Connectivity fee: 2.5€/month (condition: >1 transaction)
• Currency conversion: 0.25% (automatic)
• Foreign dividends: 1€ per payout
• Inactivity fee: 0€ (abolished in 2025)

XTB — All-Inclusive Model

XTB Advantages:

• No account maintenance fees: 0€
• Currency exchange: 0.5% spread (competitive)
• Dividends: no additional fees
• Real-time quotes: free
• Statements and documents: free

Annual Cost Example (50,000€ portfolio, 24 transactions):

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Financial Instrument Offering

🌍 Market Availability

DEGIRO — Global Access

Available Exchanges (50+ markets):

• USA: NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX
• Europe: Euronext, XETRA, LSE, SIX, OMX
• Asia-Pacific: TSE (Japan), ASX (Australia)
• Emerging markets: JSE (South Africa), BOVESPA (Brazil)

Instrument Types:

• Stocks: 1,000,000+ companies globally
• ETFs: 1,500+ funds (400+ in core selection)
• Bonds: Government and corporate EU/USA
• Options: European and American
• Futures: Commodities, indices, currencies

XTB — Focus on Popular Markets

Available Exchanges (25+ major markets):

• USA: NYSE, NASDAQ (6,000+ stocks)
• Europe: Largest European exchanges
• UK: Full LSE access
• Germany: XETRA, Frankfurt

Instrument Types:

• Stocks: 6,000+ most liquid companies
• ETFs: 400+ most popular funds
• CFDs: 6,000+ instruments (stocks, indices, commodities)
• Forex: 70+ currency pairs
• Cryptocurrencies: 25+ (via CFD)

Verdict: DEGIRO for global diversification, XTB for most popular instruments

📈 ETFs — Main Instrument of Polish Investors

DEGIRO Core Selection — Cost Revolution

Best ETFs for 0€ commission (once per month):

3-Fund Strategy for 0€ Commission:

• 70% VWCE (global stocks) — 0€
• 20% VGEA (EU bonds) — 0€
• 10% cash/short-term — 0€

XTB — Wide Selection but with Commission

Popular ETFs at XTB:

• All major providers: Vanguard, iShares, SPDR, Xtrackers
• Thematic ETFs: clean energy, robotics, AI
• Bond ETFs: government, corporate, emerging markets
• Commodity ETFs: gold, silver, oil, agricultural

Each transaction: 0.12% (min. 5€)

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Trading Platforms and Technology

💻 XTB xStation 5 — Professional Platform

Main Features:

• Advanced charts: 100+ technical indicators
• Backtesting: Strategy testing on historical data
• Scanner: Find stocks by criteria
• News integration: Thomson Reuters real-time
• Mobile app: Full functionality on iOS/Android
• API: For advanced users

Workflow Example:

1. Scanner: Find stocks with RSI < 30
2. Analysis: Check chart + fundamental data
3. Order: Set stop-loss and take-profit
4. Monitoring: Push notifications on changes

xStation Advanced Features:

• Price alerts: SMS/email/push notifications
• Economic calendar: Integration with macro events
• Sentiment indicator: Other XTB clients' positions
• Mini chart in orders: context when placing orders

🖥️ DEGIRO Webtrader — Simplicity and Functionality

Main Features:

• Portfolio overview: Clear view of all positions
• Order management: Basic order types
• Live quotes: Real-time for active positions
• Research integration: Morningstar reports
• Mobile app: Basic trading functionality

Workflow Example:

1. Search: Enter ticker or company name
2. Check: Basic info + last price
3. Buy: Market or limit order
4. Hold: Long-term, minimal monitoring

DEGIRO Webtrader Limitations:

• No advanced technical analysis: Basic charts only
• Limited alerts: Basic price alerts
• No backtesting: No strategy testing tools

Verdict: XTB for active traders, DEGIRO for buy-and-hold investors

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Security and Regulations

🛡️ Client Capital Protection

XTB — Polish Supervision

• License: Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF)
• Deposit guarantee: 100,000€ through KDPW
• Fund segregation: Client funds separated from XTB
• Audits: Regular KNF controls
• Insurance: Lloyd's of London (additional)

DEGIRO — Dutch Regulation

• License: AFM (Authority for Financial Markets) - Netherlands
• Guarantee: 100,000€ through Dutch DGS
• Segregation: MMF (Money Market Fund) model
• Investor compensation scheme: 20,000€ additional protection
• Parent company: Flatex DEGIRO Bank AG (DAB BNP Paribas)

Both safe, different regulatory models

🏦 Business Model and Stability

XTB — Market Maker Model

• Revenue: Mainly from CFD (spreads) + commissions
• Public company: XTB SA on WSE (transparency)
• Stability: 20+ years on market, consistent profitability
• Conflict of interest: Minimal for real stocks/ETFs

DEGIRO — Agency Model

• Revenue: Commissions + securities lending + FX spreads
• Securities lending: Securities lending (additional revenue)
• Transparency: Part of larger Flatex DEGIRO group
• Model: Pure broker (no position against client)

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Customer Service and Education

📞 Customer Support

XTB — Full Support in Polish

• Phone: 22 302 69 69 (9-21, business days)
• Live chat: 24/5 in Polish
• Email: support@xtb.pl (average 2h response)
• Meetings: Regional advisors in major cities
• Training: Webinars and in-person workshops

DEGIRO — Digital Support

• Chat: 9-22 business days (English/German)
• Email: Online help center (average 6h response)
• FAQ: Comprehensive knowledge base
• Phone: Limited (only some countries)

Verdict: XTB significantly better for those preferring Polish support

🎓 Investment Education

XTB Trading Academy — Comprehensive Education

Educational Offering:

• Online courses: From basics to advanced
• Live webinars: 3-4 times per week
• E-book library: 15+ investment books
• Trading simulator: Practice account with virtual money
• Market analysis: Daily expert analyses

Course Examples:

• How to start investing in stocks
• ETFs for beginners
• Technical analysis — basic level
• Trading psychology

DEGIRO — Basic Materials

• Investor Academy: Online courses (basic level)
• Market overview: Weekly market updates
• Product guides: ETF/bond/options explanations
• Regulatory updates: Information about changes

Verdict: XTB significantly better for learning-oriented investors

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Taxes and Settlement

💼 Polish Tax Handling

XTB — Full Service

• Automatic reporting: Documents ready for PIT-38
• Provided data: All transactions in PLN
• Tax team: Dedicated tax support team
• Integration: Partnerships with accounting firms
• Updates: Automatic regulatory change updates

Example: End of year — you get ready tax statement

DEGIRO — Self-Service Model

• Annual report: Basic transaction summary
• Manual calculation: Need to calculate tax yourself
• Currency conversion: Manual PLN conversion required
• Third-party tools: Integration with external tax software
• Limited support: Only basic tax guidance

Verdict: XTB significantly easier for Polish settlements

📊 Freenance Integration

XTB + Freenance: ✅ Auto-import all transactions ✅ Real-time portfolio tracking ✅ Tax optimization for Polish regulations ✅ Performance analysis vs benchmarks ✅ Risk management tools

DEGIRO + Freenance: ✅ Manual CSV upload (requires more work) ✅ Portfolio consolidation with other brokers ✅ Cost analysis (total costs including all fees) ✅ Currency hedging strategies ✅ Multi-broker performance tracking

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Who Should Choose XTB? 🎯

Ideal XTB User Profile:

✅ Beginning investor seeking support and education ✅ Active trader needing advanced tools ✅ Person valuing Polish-language service ✅ Investor with smaller capital (<50,000 PLN) ✅ Person avoiding tax complications

Best Use Cases for XTB:

1. Investment Learning Curve

• Courses from basics to advanced
• Practice account for learning
• Regular webinars and analyses

2. Polish Specificity

• Automatic tax settlements
• Polish-language service
• Understanding Polish regulations

3. Active Trading

• Advanced xStation 5 platform
• CFD and Forex capabilities
• Professional analysis tools

Example: Paweł, 28 years old, beginning investor

• Initial capital: 25,000 PLN
• Wants to learn + gradually build portfolio
• Prefers Polish-language support
• Perfect for XTB

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Who Should Choose DEGIRO? 🎯

Ideal DEGIRO User Profile:

✅ Cost-conscious investor prioritizing fees ✅ Experienced investor with own strategy ✅ Buy-and-hold investor with long-term horizon ✅ Person with larger capital (>100,000 PLN) ✅ Global diversification enthusiast

Best Use Cases for DEGIRO:

1. ETF Core-Satellite Strategy

• Free transactions in ETF core selection
• Building diversified global portfolio
• Long-term wealth building

2. International Stock Exposure

• Access to exotic markets
• Emerging market exposure
• Sector investing worldwide

3. Cost Optimization

• Minimizing cost impact on returns
• Large portfolio management
• Professional investment approach

Example: Marta, 45 years old, experienced investor

• Capital: 150,000 PLN
• Strategy: Buy-and-hold global ETF portfolio
• Experience: 8 years investing
• Priority: Cost minimization
• Perfect for DEGIRO

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Mixed Strategy — Why Not Both?

Two-Broker Approach

Many experienced investors use both:

DEGIRO as Core:

• ETF portfolio builder (0€ commission)
• Long-term positions
• International diversification

XTB as Satellite:

• Active trading opportunities
• CFD hedging strategies
• Polish market exposure
• Learning and education

Allocation Example:

• DEGIRO: 80% capital (ETF portfolio core)
• XTB: 20% capital (active trading + Poland)

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Practical Scenarios — Calculations

Scenario 1: Student, First Portfolio 10,000 PLN

Strategy: Simple 3-fund portfolio, 1 transaction/month

WINNER: DEGIRO (savings: 114€)

Scenario 2: Active Trader, 50,000 PLN, 4 Transactions/Month

Strategy: Stock picking + ETF core + some CFD hedging

WINNER: XTB (better value for active traders)

Scenario 3: International Portfolio, 200,000 PLN

Strategy: Global diversification, buy-and-hold, tax optimization

WINNER: DEGIRO (savings: 1,800€)

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Summary — Which Broker for You?

Choose XTB if:

🎓 You're just starting and need education + support 🇵🇱 You value Polish-language service and local expertise 📊 You're an active trader needing advanced tools 💼 Commission isn't most important — convenience and support matter 📈 You're interested in CFD/Forex as additional instruments

Choose DEGIRO if:

💰 Cost minimization is priority number 1 🌍 You seek global access to markets and instruments 📚 You're an experienced investor with your own strategy 🎯 Buy-and-hold strategy focused on ETFs ⚖️ You have larger capital and every PLN of fees matters

Consider both if:

🎯 You want core-satellite approach with different tools for different needs 📊 You diversify not just portfolio, but brokers too 🚀 Learning curve — start with XTB, move to DEGIRO

Freenance helps manage portfolios regardless of broker choice — automatic synchronization, performance analysis, and tax optimization in one place. Investment success isn't just choosing a broker, but consistent strategy and systematic action.