comdirect Review

German retail investors, long-term savers

BaFin

Founded 1994 · Germany · Commerzbank AG

Why investors choose this broker

Regulated by BaFin with EUR 100,000 deposit protection
Large ETF savings plan universe with over 550 free monthly plans
Options and futures trading via dedicated O&F Trader platform
CFD trading available through separate CFD Trader account

Review summary

comdirect is a German online broker and direct bank, operating as a brand of Commerzbank AG, offering stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, options, futures, CFDs, savings plans, and a robo-advisor.

Pros

Regulated by BaFin with EUR 100,000 deposit protection
Large ETF savings plan universe with over 550 free monthly plans
Options and futures trading via dedicated O&F Trader platform
CFD trading available through separate CFD Trader account
Integrated robo-advisor (cominvest) from EUR 100/month or EUR 3,000 lump sum
Depot management fee waived with minimal activity or a linked current account
Access to 11 German stock exchanges plus international markets
Mobile app available for iOS and Android

Cons

Order fees of minimum EUR 9.90 are high for small trade sizes
Maximum order fee of EUR 59.90 caps cost but overall pricing is above low-cost competitors
ETF savings plan execution costs 1.5% for the majority of the range
No direct cryptocurrency trading; only indirect crypto exposure via ETPs
Platform primarily serves residents in Germany
No multi-currency account; all trading in EUR
No demo account listed

Company background

comdirect was founded in 1994 by Commerzbank as one of Germany's first major direct banks, beginning operations in January 1995. The company went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2000 and grew into one of Germany's largest online brokers. Commerzbank completed a full acquisition in November 2020, and comdirect now operates as a brand of Commerzbank AG while retaining its own product range and digital platforms.

The broker offers retail customers in Germany a combination of banking and investment services including a depot for securities trading, ETF and stock savings plans, options and futures trading, CFD trading, and cominvest, a robo-advisor launched in 2017.

Fees and pricing

Standard stock and ETF orders cost EUR 4.90 plus 0.25% of the order volume, with a minimum of EUR 9.90 and a maximum of EUR 59.90. Depot management costs EUR 1.95 per month, waived for customers who execute at least two trades per quarter, hold one savings plan execution per quarter, or maintain a linked current account. An active trader discount of 15% applies with 125 or more trades in the prior half-year.

Over 2,000 ETF savings plans are available, with over 550 ETFs permanently free for savings plan execution; the rest cost 1.5% per execution. Options and futures are traded via the dedicated O&F Trader; fees vary by underlying type and contract - consult the current O&F Trader schedule for exact rates. CFD trading uses spread-based pricing. The cominvest robo-advisor charges 0.75% per year including VAT plus average fund costs of approximately 0.23% per year. Deposits and withdrawals by SEPA transfer are free. A 0.5% foreign exchange conversion fee applies to non-EUR trades.

Regulation and safety

comdirect operates under the Commerzbank AG banking licence, supervised by BaFin. Cash deposits are covered up to EUR 100,000 under the German statutory deposit guarantee scheme. Securities are held in segregated custody and are not part of Commerzbank's balance sheet. Commerzbank AG is also a member of the voluntary German Deposit Protection Fund, which may provide coverage beyond the statutory limit.

Platform experience

comdirect provides a web trading platform and iOS and Android mobile apps. The O&F Trader is a dedicated platform for options and futures; CFD trading uses a separate CFD Trader account. cominvest manages diversified ETF portfolios across 14 asset classes and five risk profiles with automatic rebalancing every 16 weeks. Trading covers 11 German stock exchanges including Xetra, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Tradegate, and gettex, as well as international markets. No demo account is advertised.

Pros and cons

comdirect's main advantages are BaFin regulation, EUR 100,000 deposit protection, a large free ETF savings plan selection, dedicated options/futures and CFD tools, and an integrated robo-advisor. The main drawbacks are a EUR 9.90 minimum order fee that is high for small trades, a 1.5% savings plan fee on most ETFs, no direct cryptocurrency trading, and availability limited to Germany.

Ready to open an account at comdirect?

Open an account directly with the broker. Confirm current fees and account eligibility on the broker's website before depositing.

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Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Trading fees & commissions

Order fees are EUR 4.90 plus 0.25% of order volume (minimum EUR 9.90, maximum EUR 59.90) for stocks and ETFs. Depot management costs EUR 1.95 per month but is waived for customers who trade at least twice per quarter, hold an active savings plan execution, or maintain a linked current account.

Fees

Item	Fee
Cfds	Spread-based pricing; no fixed per-trade commission on major CFD positions
Funds	EUR 4.90 + 0.25% of order volume (standard); select funds commission-free
Account	Depot management: EUR 1.95/month; waived with 2+ trades per quarter, one savings plan execution per quarter, or a linked comdirect current account
Custody	Securities held in segregated custody; a percentage-based annual custody fee may apply for larger account balances - check the current comdirect fee schedule for applicable thresholds and rates
Deposit	Free (SEPA bank transfer)
Futures	Per-contract fee plus a minimum charge per execution via O&F Trader; check the official comdirect O&F Trader schedule for current rates
Options	Per-contract fee (varies by underlying type) plus a minimum charge per execution via O&F Trader; check the official comdirect O&F Trader schedule for current rates
Inactivity	No explicit inactivity fee; depot management fee of EUR 1.95/month applies if waiver conditions are not met
Withdrawal	Free (SEPA bank transfer)
Fx Conversion	0.5% foreign exchange conversion fee
Investment Plans	ETF, stock and certificate savings plans: 1.5% per execution; over 550 ETFs permanently free for savings plans

Trading platform & features

Platforms

comdirect Web Platform
O&F Trader
CFD Trader
cominvest
iOS app
Android app

Regulation and investor protection

comdirect is a brand of Commerzbank AG, which is licensed and supervised by BaFin (German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority). Cash deposits are protected up to EUR 100,000 under the German statutory deposit guarantee scheme, and securities are held in segregated custody.

Broker FAQs

Is comdirect safe?

comdirect operates as a brand of Commerzbank AG, which is regulated by BaFin and holds a full German banking licence. Cash deposits are protected up to EUR 100,000 under the German statutory deposit guarantee scheme, and securities are held in segregated custody.

Is comdirect a scam?

No. comdirect is a brand of Commerzbank AG, one of Germany's largest banks, and is regulated by BaFin. The platform has operated since 1994.

Is comdirect regulated and by whom?

Yes. comdirect operates under the Commerzbank AG banking licence, which is supervised by BaFin (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht), the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority.

Does comdirect keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Securities are held in segregated custody accounts and do not form part of Commerzbank's balance sheet. Cash deposits are protected up to EUR 100,000 under the German statutory deposit guarantee scheme.

What happens to my money if comdirect goes bankrupt?

Securities are held in segregated custody and would be returned to clients. Cash deposits are covered up to EUR 100,000 under the statutory German deposit guarantee. Commerzbank AG is also a member of the voluntary German Deposit Protection Fund, which may provide additional coverage.

What products does comdirect offer?

comdirect offers stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, options, futures, CFDs, ETF and stock savings plans, and the cominvest robo-advisor. Direct cryptocurrency trading is not available; crypto exposure can be gained through listed ETPs.

Does comdirect offer ETFs?

Yes. comdirect offers ETF trading and ETF savings plans, with over 2,000 ETF savings plans available. Over 550 ETFs are permanently free for savings plan execution; others cost 1.5% per execution.

Does comdirect offer options and futures?

Yes. Options and futures are available through the dedicated O&F Trader platform. Fees are charged per contract and vary by underlying type; consult the current comdirect O&F Trader schedule for exact rates.

Does comdirect offer CFDs?

Yes. CFD trading is available through a separate CFD Trader account. Pricing is spread-based on major positions without a fixed per-trade commission.

Does comdirect offer a robo-advisor?

Yes. cominvest is comdirect's robo-advisor, launched in 2017. It manages diversified ETF and ETC portfolios across 14 asset classes, with five risk profiles and automatic rebalancing every 16 weeks. The minimum investment is EUR 3,000 lump sum or EUR 100 per month.

What does comdirect charge for stock and ETF trades?

Standard orders cost EUR 4.90 plus 0.25% of the order volume, with a minimum of EUR 9.90 and a maximum of EUR 59.90. Active traders who place 125 or more orders in the prior half-year receive a 15% discount.

What does comdirect charge for ETF savings plans?

Over 550 ETFs are permanently free for savings plan execution. The remaining ETF savings plans cost 1.5% per execution.

Is there a withdrawal fee at comdirect?

No. Withdrawals by SEPA bank transfer are free of charge.

Does comdirect charge a depot management fee?

Yes, EUR 1.95 per month. This fee is waived for customers who execute at least two trades per quarter, hold at least one savings plan execution per quarter, or maintain a linked comdirect current account.

Does comdirect charge an inactivity fee?

There is no separate inactivity fee, but the depot management fee of EUR 1.95 per month applies if the waiver conditions - two trades per quarter, one savings plan execution, or a linked current account - are not met.

What is comdirect's currency conversion fee?

comdirect charges a foreign exchange conversion fee of 0.5% on trades denominated in currencies other than EUR.

Does comdirect have a demo account?

comdirect does not advertise a public demo account for its standard depot or trading platforms.

Does comdirect have a mobile app?

Yes. comdirect provides apps for iOS and Android, allowing account management and trading on mobile devices.

Is comdirect good for beginners?

comdirect offers ETF savings plans, the cominvest robo-advisor, and an integrated banking-plus-investing setup that can suit beginners seeking a straightforward entry to investing. However, the minimum order fee of EUR 9.90 may be relatively high for very small individual trades.

Is comdirect good for long-term investing?

comdirect suits long-term investors through its large ETF savings plan universe, with over 550 free monthly plans, and its cominvest robo-advisor for automated portfolio management. Order fees become less significant as trade sizes increase.

Bottom line

comdirect suits users who want a regulated German broker combining everyday banking, a broad ETF savings plan selection, options and futures access, and an integrated robo-advisor under one platform. It may not suit users who prioritise low per-order fees for small trades, want direct cryptocurrency trading, or reside outside Germany.

comdirect

German retail investors, long-term savers

Open Account

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.