Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Empower Personal Dashboard vs Traders Place
What sets them apart
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0 | €0 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Account types | IRA | Joint |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Traders Place App |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Empower Personal Dashboard scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.9.
- Markets: only Traders Place offers Crypto, Bonds.
- Account types: only Empower Personal Dashboard offers IRA.
- Account types: only Traders Place offers Joint.
- Features: only Traders Place offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only Empower Personal Dashboard offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
Empower Personal Dashboard
Empower Personal Dashboard suits US savers who want a managed retirement account without a fee attached. The management fee is 0% and the minimum investment is $0, so the cost side is as light as it gets. It fits people who would rather set it and leave it than trade.
Traders Place
Traders Place is a German broker built around a commission-free model, with stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto in a joint account and an overall score of 6.6. It suits investors who want a low running cost and a regulated German setup, with crypto included rather than bolted on.
Score breakdown
| Area | Empower Personal Dashboard | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.9HigherManagement fee 0%, account fee $0 and minimum investment $0 sit at the free end of costs. | 9.3Stock trade fee €0 and account fee €0 sit at ranking position 1 and 1. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 8.9Higher |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.6 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Empower Personal Dashboard | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 5299005Y5T6LXFAXDQ78 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Empower Personal Dashboard | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 12 of 471 | 27 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Empower Personal Dashboard | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Empower Advisory Group, LLC | Traders Place GmbH & Co. KGaA |
| Headquarters | United States | Germany |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Empower Personal Dashboard | Traders Place | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Empower Personal Dashboard
Pros
- Management fee of 0% and an account fee of $0, so nothing leaves the balance each year.
- Minimum investment of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0, so a small first contribution is enough.
- Stock trades cost $0 across stocks, etfs and funds, with managed portfolios in ETF and cash styles.
Cons
- The account type is an IRA, so it is a retirement account rather than a general dealing account.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and funds, with no crypto, options or forex added on.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so there is no live chat for quick questions.
Traders Place
Pros
- Regulated by Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- A broad market list, stocks, etfs and crypto, covering equities, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto.
- Fractional shares, crypto and a mobile app sit in crypto, fractional shares and mobile app, with Traders Place App as the platform.
Cons
- Contact options are limited to email, phone and help centre, with no live chat channel listed.
- The market list covers stocks, etfs and crypto, so forex and CFD traders are not served.
- Retail accounts that lose money run at 70.15% across the brands compared here, so a commission-free model does not remove the risk.
Who each suits
Empower Personal Dashboard
Who it suits
- US savers building a retirement account who want it run for them at no annual charge.
- People who prefer ETF and cash portfolios over picking their own shares.
- Long-term investors content with a conventional asset range.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, where the managed portfolios start at $500.
- Vivid Standard, which charges a management fee of 0.5% to 1.5%.
- Axos Invest, where managed portfolios start at $100.
Traders Place
Who it suits
- Couples who want a joint account, since joint lists joint.
- Investors who want equities, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto in a single account: stocks, etfs and crypto.
- Savers who want a German regulated broker with phone and email support: email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want forex or CFDs, since CFI lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Investors who prefer to check the cost model against a rival priced in another currency, such as eToro at $0.
Current offers
Traders Place
Current offer
Bonus
Neukundenbonus
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Empower Personal Dashboard | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Empower Personal Dashboard
What does Empower Personal Dashboard charge?+
The management fee is 0% and the account fee is $0, so nothing is taken out of the balance for holding or running the account. Trading is separate, and the stock trade fee is $0, which keeps running costs thin overall.
Is there a minimum to get started?+
The minimum investment is $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so you can begin with a small amount rather than waiting for a large balance. That makes it a practical first step for anyone building a retirement pot gradually.
Traders Place
What does it cost to buy shares at Traders Place?+
Stock trades are charged at €0 and the pricing model is listed as commission-free, so no commission is added to a share purchase. The account fee is €0 as well, which keeps the cost of holding a plain brokerage account low for a buy and hold investor.
Does Traders Place charge to keep an account open?+
The account fee is €0, and the only account type listed is joint, as joint shows. That suits a couple holding securities together under a single pricing structure. Stock trades themselves are charged at €0, so the account charge is not offset by a per-trade commission.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs Merrill Edge
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs Betterment
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs Wealthsimple
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs bevestor
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs quirion
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs Ally Bank
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs AJ Bell
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs Nutmeg
- Traders Place vs ActivTrades
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank)
- Empower Personal Dashboard vs XTB
- Traders Place vs Robinhood
- Traders Place vs Kraken