Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Smartbroker vs SoFi
Where Smartbroker and SoFi differ
| Compare |  Smartbroker |  SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | €0 | $0 |
| Account fee | €0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Crypto |
| Regulators | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) | SIPC, FDIC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Platforms | Web, App | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Interest on cash | 2.25% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Smartbroker scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only Smartbroker offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- Regulators: only SoFi offers SIPC, FDIC.
- Markets: only Smartbroker offers Bonds, Funds, Metals.
- Markets: only SoFi offers Options.
- Features: only SoFi offers Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only Smartbroker offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only SoFi offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
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.
SoFi
SoFi suits retirement savers in the US, with a stock trade fee of $0, an account fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The named licences are US registrations, so readers outside the US should check the account types and terms first.
Score breakdown
| Area | Smartbroker | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5 | 9.5Ranks 1 of 161 on stock trade fee, 1 of 138 on account fee, 1 of 56 on inactivity fee. |
| Offer | 9.2Low-fees model across stocks, etfs and crypto, supervised by BaFin and Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and reachable on email, phone and help centre. | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 9.2 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Smartbroker | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 60 of 471 | 80 of 471 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Smartbroker | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | Smartbroker | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 391200N0BYCZF2F43264 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 68389 FDIC FDIC cert 26881 |
Additional countries for Smartbroker: 1. Additional countries for SoFi: 1.
Where these facts come from
Smartbroker
- smartbrokerplus.de: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
SoFi
- en.wikipedia.org: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sofi.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- banks.data.fdic.gov: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Smartbroker | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Smartbroker AG | SOFI SECURITIES LLC |
| Headquarters | Germany | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2011 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Smartbroker | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Smartbroker | SoFi | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Interest on cash | 2.25%below the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 91 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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.
SoFi
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 on a commission free model, so cost does not decide which shares you can hold.
- The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so extra accounts and balances left untouched are not billed.
- The minimum deposit is $0 where Vantage asks $5, so a small amount can start an account.
Cons
- The account types listed are ira, roth ira and joint, retirement and joint accounts, and a general taxable account is not among them.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and options, while eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, so forex, CFDs and futures are out of reach here.
- The group sits in US and its registrations are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881, with no UK or EU regulator named.
Who each suits
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.
SoFi
Who it suits
- Beginners, which the audience fact lists as beginners, who want to start small with a $0 minimum deposit.
- Retirement savers who want an IRA, a Roth IRA or a joint account at $0 in account fees.
- Fractional share buyers who want crypto and equities in the same app, as the feature list crypto, fractional shares and mobile app shows.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and SoFi lists stocks, etfs and options.
- Investors who want a broader spread of instruments than shares, ETFs, options and crypto, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who need a UK or EU regulated provider, because the licences named are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881.
Country by country
| Country | Smartbroker | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
SoFi
What does it cost to open and hold a SoFi account?+
The published minimum deposit is $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so opening and holding an account adds no charge on the listed terms. Those are account level figures, which is the first thing to check before you choose a wrapper or leave a balance untouched.
What does a stock trade cost?+
A stock trade costs $0 and the pricing model is commission free, so commission does not decide which shares you can hold. Other brands on the site charge a stock trade fee as high as €17.54, and the account fee of $0 and inactivity fee of $0 add nothing on top.
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