Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
BUX vs Smartbroker
BUX vs Smartbroker: the differences
| Compare |  BUX |  Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Account fee | €2.99 | €0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds, MetalsCovers more |
| Regulators | Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) |
| Platforms | BUX app | Web, App |
| Interest on cash | 2% | 2.25%Higher |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Stock trade fee | €3.99 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Smartbroker scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.6.
- Regulators: only BUX offers Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).
- Regulators: only Smartbroker offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- Account fee is lower at Smartbroker: €0 vs €2.99.
- Markets: only Smartbroker offers Crypto, Bonds, Funds.
- Platforms: only BUX offers BUX app.
- Platforms: only Smartbroker offers Web, App.
- Interest on cash is higher at Smartbroker: 2.25% vs 2%.
- Support channels: only BUX offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Smartbroker offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
BUX
BUX suits investors who want a Dutch broker for stocks and ETFs and accept a set fee per trade. It charges an account fee of €2.99 and a stock trade fee of €3.99, which is why the offer score sits at 2.1 and the overall score at 2.1.
Smartbroker
Smartbroker runs a European brokerage with a €0 account fee and a €0 minimum deposit, which puts it at 1 on the site for deposit levels. It suits investors who want stocks, ETFs, funds and crypto in one account and would rather not pay a monthly charge.
Score breakdown
| Area | BUX | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4 | 9.5Higher |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.2HigherLow-fees model across stocks, etfs and crypto, supervised by BaFin and Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and reachable on email, phone and help centre. |
| Trust | 8.7 | 9.5Higher |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | BUX | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | BUX | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 203 of 471 | 60 of 471 |
Where these facts come from
BUX
- bux.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxverify.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Smartbroker
- smartbrokerplus.de: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BUX | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | BUX B.V. | Smartbroker AG |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | Germany |
| Founded | 2013 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BUX | Smartbroker | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €1 |
| Stock trade fee | €3.99above the median | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Account fee | €2.99highest quarter | €0at the median | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | 2%lowest quarter | 2.25%below the median | 3% |
Median across 52 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
BUX
Pros
- Fees follow a low-fee model: a stock trade fee of €3.99 per trade, an account fee of €2.99 and a currency exchange fee of 0.75%.
- Regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), with money held under the EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Aimed at both beginners and experienced investors, with fractional shares and a mobile app listed in fractional shares and mobile app.
Cons
- The account fee of €2.99 applies on top of a stock trade fee of €3.99, so frequent trading costs add up.
- On stock trade fee it ranks 136 of 161, so cheaper share dealing sits elsewhere.
- Markets are limited to stocks and etfs, where CFI offers stocks, etfs and forex.
Smartbroker
Pros
- Account fee of €0, matching the $0 account fee at eToro and sitting at 1 among 138 brands on account fee.
- Nothing to pay to open, with a minimum deposit of €0 against a site median of €4.64.
- One account covers stocks, etfs and crypto.
Cons
- Protection is limited to what the scheme pays, listed as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so larger balances rely on your own holdings.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre only, with no live chat listed.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and crypto, with no forex, options or futures listed.
Who each suits
BUX
Who it suits
- Investors who want a regulated European broker covering stocks and etfs at a flat fee per trade.
- People who prefer mobile investing, since fractional shares and mobile app includes fractional shares and a mobile app.
- Readers who weigh protection first, since money sits under the EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 at a broker regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want forex, contracts for difference or crypto, since CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex and BUX covers stocks and etfs.
- Share dealing fans after a free stock trade fee, since eToro lists $0 against the €3.99 here.
- Anyone put off by a standing charge, given the account fee of €2.99 where Vantage lists $0.
Smartbroker
Who it suits
- European investors who want a German-regulated account holding stocks, etfs and crypto under one roof.
- Anyone with spare cash to park while they decide, with 2.25% on the daily deposit account.
- People who trade away from a desk, since access runs through Web and App.
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage, if you would rather start against a published floor of $5 than an open entry of €0.
- eToro, if your trading runs past the stocks, etfs and crypto list here and you want to weigh its range against Smartbroker's.
- Anyone holding a large cash balance, since protection is listed as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Country by country
| Country | BUX | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
Questions about each
BUX
How much does it cost to buy a share at BUX?+
A stock trade costs €3.99 per trade under a low-fee model, and a currency exchange fee of 0.75% applies on currency conversions. Because the trade fee is a flat amount rather than a percentage, the cost does not grow with the size of the order. A flat account fee of €2.99 also applies to the account.
Is there an account or inactivity fee?+
There is an account fee of €2.99, charged on the account regardless of how much it holds. That is a flat charge rather than a percentage, so it does not rise as the portfolio grows. BUX ranks 108 of 138 on this line, which places it towards the expensive end of the brands compared here.
Smartbroker
What does Smartbroker charge to hold an account?+
The account fee is €0, so there is no monthly charge for keeping the account open. Entry is also open, with a minimum deposit of €0. Trading costs still apply on individual orders, and the pricing page is where per-trade charges are set out.
Is my money protected at Smartbroker?+
Smartbroker is regulated by BaFin and Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), and the listed investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000. The German regulator supervises the firm, while the compensation scheme pays out on eligible balances up to the stated limit.
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