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Broker Comparison

Alpaca Trading vs Davy Select

Compare Alpaca Trading and Davy Select side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Alpaca Trading

Alpaca Trading

API-driven and algorithmic traders

Alpaca Trading is a US API-first broker offering commission-free stocks, ETFs, options and crypto trading wit…

VS
Davy Select

Davy Select

Irish self-directed investors

Davy Select is an Irish execution-only platform offering stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds and pension accounts, reg…

Head-to-head comparison

Alpaca Trading vs Davy Select
Feature Alpaca Trading Davy Select
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee Commission: Free for self-directed retail API accounts; SEC fee and FINRA TAF pass-through on sell transactions Irish and UK stocks: 0.5% (min EUR 14.99); International stocks: 0.06% + EUR 25 settlement per trade
Regulators FINRA, SIPC, FinCEN CBI
Best for API-driven and algorithmic traders Irish self-directed investors
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Crypto
-
Bonds
-
Options
-
Fractional Shares
-
Margin
-
Demo Account
-
Funds
-
Money Market Funds
-
Business Account
-

Pros & cons

Alpaca Trading

Alpaca Trading

Pros

  • Commission-free stocks, ETFs and options for self-directed retail API accounts
  • Paper trading environment available at no cost
  • Fractional shares supported
  • 24/5 extended trading hours on 100+ US stocks
  • Multi-leg options strategies supported
  • FINRA/SIPC member with up to $500,000 SIPC protection
  • Margin available at 4x intraday and 2x overnight
  • Securities lending program with potential income for shareholders

Cons

  • Platform is primarily API-driven; web and mobile apps are available but offer fewer features than conventional retail brokerage interfaces
  • Crypto accounts are not protected by FDIC or SIPC
  • Domestic wire withdrawals cost $25; international wires cost $50
  • Outbound ACATS transfer costs $100
  • Not suited for investors who prefer a full-featured retail brokerage app
  • Commission-free status may not apply to accounts opened through business partners
Davy Select

Davy Select

Pros

  • Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland with long track record
  • Client funds held in segregated accounts
  • Access to over 7,500 stocks across 30 international markets
  • Over 650 ETFs and 1,200 funds available
  • Pension accounts (PRSA, ARF, PRB) offered on the same platform
  • No account opening fee and no deposit fee
  • Research tools powered by Morningstar and Thomson Reuters

Cons

  • High inactivity fee of EUR 50 per quarter
  • Irish and UK trade commissions of 0.5% are above the low-cost market average
  • EUR 40 custody charge per trade for instruments outside Ireland and UK
  • No demo account available
  • Mobile app is view-only - trades cannot be executed on mobile
  • Account opening process is not fully digital and can take several weeks
  • No CFDs, leverage, crypto or forex trading
Alpaca Trading

Alpaca Trading

Alpaca Trading is a US API-first broker offering commission-free stocks, ETFs, options and crypto trading with a paper trading environment and margin accounts.

Visit Alpaca Trading Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Davy Select

Davy Select

Davy Select is an Irish execution-only platform offering stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds and pension accounts, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Visit Davy Select Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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