CapTrader Review

Active traders wanting broad market access

BaFin CBI

Founded 2009 · Germany

Why investors choose this broker

No account management or inactivity fee
Access to 1.2 million securities on 170+ exchanges in 40 countries
Low stock and ETF commissions from EUR 2 or USD 2
Options trading from EUR 2 per contract

Review summary

CapTrader is a German introducing broker for Interactive Brokers offering access to 1.2 million securities across 170+ exchanges with low per-trade commissions and no inactivity fee.

Pros

No account management or inactivity fee
Access to 1.2 million securities on 170+ exchanges in 40 countries
Low stock and ETF commissions from EUR 2 or USD 2
Options trading from EUR 2 per contract
Futures trading from EUR 1 per contract
Free unlimited demo account
Multiple platform options including Trader Workstation and TradingView
German-language support with a dedicated phone hotline

Cons

High minimum deposit of EUR 2,000 (EUR 25,000 for corporate accounts)
Trader Workstation has a steep learning curve
No direct crypto spot trading - only crypto futures and ETNs
Bank transfer is the only deposit/withdrawal method
Second and subsequent withdrawals per month carry a fee
Platform complexity may overwhelm beginners

Company background

CapTrader is a German online broker headquartered in Dusseldorf. The business originated as an asset management and consulting firm in 1997 and launched its retail brokerage brand in 2009, with online trading beginning in 2011. CapTrader GmbH operates as an independent company and functions as an introducing broker for Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, meaning client accounts are held and orders executed at Interactive Brokers while CapTrader provides onboarding support, customer service and platform guidance.

Fees and pricing

CapTrader charges no account management fee and no inactivity fee. Stock and ETF trades on European exchanges start from EUR 2 per order, while US stock and ETF trades start from USD 2. Options start from EUR 2 per contract (European) and USD 3.50 (US). Futures start from EUR 1 per contract for European products and from USD 1.25 for US Micro futures. Forex commissions start from EUR 3.75 per order. All quoted commissions include exchange fees.

Deposits and withdrawals use bank transfer only. The first SEPA deposit per month is free; additional SEPA deposits cost EUR 1 each. The first withdrawal per month is free; subsequent SEPA withdrawals cost EUR 1 and international transfers EUR 8. The minimum deposit is EUR 2,000 for individual accounts and EUR 25,000 for corporate accounts.

Regulation and safety

CapTrader GmbH is supervised by BaFin, the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, under licence number 10156708. Client accounts are held at Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI). Clients are covered by the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme up to EUR 20,000 per client. CapTrader is also a member of the German Compensation Fund of Securities Trading Companies (EdW).

Platform experience

CapTrader offers platforms suited to different experience levels. Trader Workstation (TWS) is the flagship professional desktop platform with advanced charting, order types and risk management tools. The Client Portal covers web-based account management and lighter trading. TradingView integration provides charting and social features. AgenaTrader supports strategy-based and algorithmic trading. The CapTrader Easy App is available for iOS and Android. A free demo account with virtual funds is available with no time limit.

Pros and cons

CapTrader's main advantages are broad market access through Interactive Brokers infrastructure - covering 1.2 million securities on 170+ exchanges in 40 countries - combined with low per-trade commissions, no inactivity fee and a free demo account. The main drawbacks are the EUR 2,000 minimum deposit, the complexity of Trader Workstation, the lack of direct crypto spot trading and the restriction to bank transfers for funding.

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Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Trading fees & commissions

CapTrader charges no account management or inactivity fee. Stock and ETF trades start from EUR 2 or USD 2, options from EUR 2 per contract, and futures from EUR 1 per contract; the first withdrawal per month is free.

Fees

Item	Fee
Cfds	From EUR 2 (DAX CFDs); from USD 2 (US index CFDs)
Bonds	From EUR 8 (European bonds); from USD 10 (US bonds)
Margin	Margin rates vary by currency and balance tier; set by Interactive Brokers Ireland
Account	No account management fee
Deposit	First SEPA deposit per month: Free; subsequent SEPA deposits: EUR 1 each; international bank transfer deposits (2nd+): EUR 8 each
Futures	From EUR 1 per contract (European, e.g. Mini DAX); from USD 1.25 per contract (US Micro futures)
Options	From EUR 2 per contract (European); from USD 3.50 per contract (US)
Inactivity	No inactivity fee
Withdrawal	First withdrawal per month: Free; subsequent SEPA withdrawals: EUR 1; subsequent international withdrawals: EUR 8

Trading platform & features

Platforms

Trader Workstation (TWS)
Client Portal
TradingView
AgenaTrader
CapTrader Easy App
iOS app
Android app

Regulation and investor protection

CapTrader GmbH is supervised by BaFin in Germany as an introducing broker. Client accounts are held at Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, providing access to the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme up to EUR 20,000.

Broker FAQs

Is CapTrader safe?

CapTrader GmbH is supervised by BaFin in Germany. Client accounts are held at Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, and are covered by the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme up to EUR 20,000 per client.

Is CapTrader a scam?

No. CapTrader GmbH is supervised by BaFin and operates as an introducing broker for Interactive Brokers Ireland, which is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Is CapTrader regulated and by whom?

Yes. CapTrader GmbH is supervised by BaFin (licence 10156708) in Germany. Client accounts are held at Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Does CapTrader keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Client assets are held at Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, which is required by the Central Bank of Ireland to hold client funds separately from firm funds.

What happens to my money if CapTrader goes bankrupt?

Because client accounts are held at Interactive Brokers Ireland, not at CapTrader GmbH directly, the assets remain with Interactive Brokers Ireland if CapTrader ceases operations. Clients are also covered by the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme up to EUR 20,000 and CapTrader is a member of the German EdW compensation fund.

What products does CapTrader offer?

CapTrader offers access to stocks, ETFs, bonds, investment funds, options, futures, forex, CFDs, warrants and certificates across more than 1.2 million securities on 170+ exchanges in 40 countries.

Does CapTrader offer ETFs?

Yes. CapTrader provides access to more than 20,000 ETFs on 30 exchanges across 14 countries, with commissions from EUR 2 per order on European exchanges.

Does CapTrader offer options?

Yes. CapTrader offers options trading on exchanges in more than 15 countries, with commissions from EUR 2 per contract on European exchanges and from USD 3.50 per contract on US exchanges.

Does CapTrader offer futures?

Yes. CapTrader offers futures trading on 35+ exchanges globally, with commissions from EUR 1 per contract for European products and from USD 1.25 per contract for US Micro futures.

Does CapTrader offer crypto?

CapTrader does not offer direct spot crypto trading. Clients can access crypto exposure through crypto futures traded on the CME and through crypto ETNs and ETFs listed on traditional exchanges.

What does CapTrader charge for stock trades?

Stock trades on European exchanges start from EUR 2 per order (minimum 0.1% of order volume). US stock trades start from USD 2 per order (USD 0.01 per share). All commissions include exchange fees.

What does CapTrader charge for ETF trades?

ETF trades start from EUR 2 per order on European exchanges and from USD 2 per order on US exchanges.

Is there a withdrawal fee at CapTrader?

The first withdrawal per month is free. Subsequent SEPA withdrawals cost EUR 1 each, and subsequent international bank transfer withdrawals cost EUR 8 each.

Does CapTrader charge an inactivity fee?

No. CapTrader does not charge an inactivity fee.

What is the minimum deposit at CapTrader?

The minimum deposit is EUR 2,000 for individual accounts and EUR 25,000 for corporate accounts.

Does CapTrader have a demo account?

Yes. CapTrader offers a free demo account with virtual funds and no time limit, available to all registered users.

Does CapTrader have a mobile app?

Yes. The CapTrader Easy App is available for iOS and Android devices.

Is CapTrader good for beginners?

CapTrader is not primarily aimed at beginners. The EUR 2,000 minimum deposit and the complexity of the Trader Workstation platform present barriers. CapTrader offers a free demo account and customer support, but the breadth of instruments and platform depth is better suited to intermediate and advanced traders.

Is CapTrader good for long-term investing?

CapTrader offers broad access to stocks, ETFs, bonds and investment funds, making it suitable for longer-term portfolios. There is no custody or inactivity fee, though the minimum deposit of EUR 2,000 applies.

Bottom line

CapTrader suits users who want broad market access across 1.2 million securities, low per-trade commissions and a professional multi-platform environment backed by Interactive Brokers infrastructure. It may not suit users who prefer a low minimum deposit, direct crypto spot trading or a simpler platform designed for beginners.

CapTrader

Active traders wanting broad market access

Open Account

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.