Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Smartbroker vs Zacks Trade
Smartbroker vs Zacks Trade: the differences
| Compare |  Smartbroker |  Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | €0 | $250 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) | FINRA |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | Web, App | Zacks Trade Pro, Client Portal, Zacks Trade app |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $15 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 8.83% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA |
| Interest on cash | 2.25% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Smartbroker scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only Smartbroker offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- Regulators: only Zacks Trade offers FINRA.
- Markets: only Smartbroker offers Crypto, Metals.
- Markets: only Zacks Trade offers Options.
- Platforms: only Smartbroker offers Web, App.
- Platforms: only Zacks Trade offers Zacks Trade Pro, Client Portal, Zacks Trade app.
- Support channels: only Smartbroker offers Help centre.
- Support channels: only Zacks Trade offers Chat.
- Features: only Smartbroker offers Crypto.
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.
Zacks Trade
Zacks Trade is a US broker built for experienced traders and day traders who want options and margin, charging a stock trade fee of $1 and a minimum deposit of $250 on its IRA account. The catch is the $15 inactivity fee for anyone whose account sits idle.
Score breakdown
| Area | Smartbroker | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5Higher | 8.5Cheap trades at $1 a stock and $1 an option, offset by a $250 minimum deposit and a $15 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. | 9.2 |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 8.7 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Smartbroker | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Smartbroker | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 60 of 471 | 201 of 471 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Smartbroker | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 391200N0BYCZF2F43264 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed | FINRA 7874 |
Additional countries for Smartbroker: 1. Additional countries for Zacks Trade: 1.
Sources behind this comparison
Smartbroker
- smartbrokerplus.de: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Zacks Trade
- zackstrade.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Smartbroker | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile app | Mobile app, Options |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Smartbroker AG | LBMZ Securities Inc. |
| Headquarters | Germany | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2013 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Smartbroker | Zacks Trade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $15above the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 8.83%above the median | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1highest quarter | $0.625 |
| 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.
Zacks Trade
Pros
- Simple per-trade pricing: $1 a stock, $1 an options contract, margin at 8.83%.
- FINRA registration under licence 7874, and client holdings sit with SIPC protection.
- Support covers email, chat and phone, so phone and chat are both available.
Cons
- The $15 inactivity fee sits above the €10 upper quartile among the brokers compared.
- A $250 minimum deposit is well above the €4.64 median on the site.
- Account types cover ira only, which rules out a taxable brokerage account for wider investing.
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.
Zacks Trade
Who it suits
- Experienced traders and day traders who already know the markets they trade.
- US investors who want an IRA and plan to trade options or use margin.
- Investors who will keep trading, since the inactivity fee applies once an account goes quiet.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, which takes a minimum deposit of $0 rather than $250.
- eToro, where a stock trade costs $0 against $1 here.
- Vantage, with a minimum deposit of $5, which suits a smaller starting balance.
Country by country
| Country | Smartbroker | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Zacks Trade
What does it cost to trade stocks and options?+
Stocks cost $1 per trade and options contracts $1, and the account opens at a minimum deposit of $250. Margin runs at 8.83%. Every figure here applies to the IRA account, which is the account type on offer.
Is my money protected and who regulates the broker?+
Zacks Trade is registered with FINRA under licence 7874, and the legal entity behind the brand is LBMZ Securities Inc. Client holdings sit with SIPC protection, which is the scheme covering money in the account rather than the firm's own balance sheet.
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