Best Online Brokers in Ireland 2026
CBI-regulated brokers in Ireland — ranked by fees and platform quality for Irish investors in 2026.
✅ CBI Regulated
🇮🇪 CBI Regulated
⚠️ 41% ETF Exit Tax
🛡️ €100k DGS Protected
🔬 Tested with real accounts
🔄 Last updated: July 2026 · Reviewed by WhichBrokr Research Team
⚠️ Risk warning: Investing involves risk of loss. Capital is not guaranteed. Some links on this page are affiliate links — this does not affect our rankings.
⚡ No time to read? Our top picks for Ireland
DEGIRO — Europe's lowest-cost broker for stocks & ETFs. Access to 50+ exchanges in 30 countries.
Interactive Brokers — The broker of choice for serious investors. Access to 150+ markets in 33 countries.
XTB — Best overall broker for European investors. Zero commission stocks & ETFs up to €100k/month.
eToro — World's #1 social trading platform. Copy the trades of top investors automatically.
Top 4 Best Online Brokers in Ireland — Detailed Reviews
DG
Editor's Choice
DEGIRO
Regulated by AFM
4.4/5
Commission
1 + exchange fee per trade
Europe's lowest-cost broker for stocks & ETFs. Access to 50+ exchanges in 30 countries.
IB
Best for Professionals
Interactive Brokers
Regulated by SEC
4.6/5
Commission
From $0.005/share (Pro; EU only)
Europe's lowest-cost broker for stocks & ETFs. Access to 50+ exchanges in 30 countries.
XTB
Editor's Choice
XTB
Regulated by FCA
4.7/5
Commission
0% up to €100k/month
Best overall broker for European investors. Zero commission stocks & ETFs up to €100k/month.
eT
Editor's Choice
eToro
Regulated by CySEC
4.1/5
Commission
0% (EU/UK real stocks)
World's #1 social trading platform. Copy the trades of top investors automatically.
How to Get Started with Best Brokers in Ireland
1
Choose a regulated platform
Pick a broker regulated by CBI or operating under an international licence. All platforms on this page qualify.
2
Open your account
Account opening is fully online. You'll need a photo ID (passport or national ID) and proof of address. Most platforms verify within 1–2 business days.
3
Fund your account
Deposit via bank transfer (free, 1–3 days) or debit card (instant, small fee). Minimum deposits vary — most top platforms start from €0.
4
Start investing
Diversify across stocks and ETFs. Consider low-cost index ETFs for long-term growth.
🇮🇪 Ireland: Country Environment Blueprint
Passporting / Access
✅ Fully accepted. Any EU/EEA-regulated broker can legally serve Ireland residents via MiFID II passport — no local entity required.
Regulatory Blacklist
✅ Active. CBI maintains a register of regulated entities and issues warnings. Check centralbank.ie/consumer-hub/caution before depositing.
Capital Gains Tax
33% — 33% CGT on gains. Annual exemption of €1,270 per person. Importantly: ETFs and investment funds are subject to Exit Tax of 41% — different from stocks.
Dividend Tax
25% Dividend Withholding Tax (DWT) on Irish-domiciled companies. Foreign dividends subject to income tax (20–40%).
Foreign Account Reporting
Foreign account reporting requirements may apply. Check with your local tax authority.
Loss Carry-Forward
Indefinite carry-forward.
PRSA (Personal Retirement Savings Account)
Cap: Age-related limits (up to 40% of net relevant earnings for ages 60+) Irish pension plan. Tax relief on contributions at marginal rate (20% or 40%). Gains grow tax-free. Tax on withdrawal.
Pension Approved Minimum Retirement Fund (AMRF)
Cap: ARF-related Post-retirement fund for pension drawdown.
US ETF Access (PRIIPs)
⛔ US-domiciled ETFs are restricted for retail investors (PRIIPs regulation). Use UCITS equivalents: iShares CSPX, Amundi CU2, or Vanguard VWRA.
Domestic Exchanges & Indices
Euronext Dublin · Index: ISEQ Overall
Key stocks: Kerry Group (KYG.IR), AIB (A5G.IR), Bank of Ireland (BIRG.IR), CRH (CRH.IR), Smurfit Kappa (SKG.IR)
What Ireland Investors Need to Know in 2026
Irish investors face a unique and punishing ETF tax: a 41% Exit Tax applies to all investment fund and ETF disposals — significantly higher than the standard 33% CGT on individual stocks. This creates a strong incentive to buy individual stocks rather than ETFs.
The 8-year 'deemed disposal' rule makes Irish ETF investing even more complex: even if you don't sell, ETF gains are deemed to crystallise every 8 years, triggering the 41% Exit Tax. Plan accordingly.
State Savings products (through NTMA) offer government-guaranteed returns and are DIRT-exempt — a competitive alternative to savings accounts for conservative Irish investors.
🏠 Local Platforms to Know
DEGIRO
DEGIRO — Most popular EU broker in Ireland. AFM-regulated, CBI-passported. Good for stock investors (avoid ETF Exit Tax issue).
AIB
AIB Invest (formerly Goodbody) — AIB's investment arm. Full-service Irish broker.
HL
Hargreaves Lansdown (Ireland) — UK broker serving Irish clients. Good platform but UK-focused.
NTM
NTMA State Savings — Government-guaranteed savings. DIRT-exempt. Available at post offices and online.
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How we chose these platforms
Our team opened real accounts, deposited funds and tested each platform in Ireland. We evaluate regulation quality, fees (commissions, spreads, FX conversion), platform usability, customer support response times and local features specific to Ireland investors. Rankings are updated regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the ETF Exit Tax in Ireland so high? +
Ireland applies 41% Exit Tax on investment fund and ETF gains (vs 33% CGT on stocks). Additionally, a deemed disposal rule every 8 years means you pay tax even if you don't sell. Consider individual stocks or using pension wrappers for ETF exposure.
What is the CGT rate in Ireland? +
33% with a €1,270 annual exemption. However, ETFs and investment funds are subject to 41% Exit Tax — a key difference.
What are NTMA State Savings? +
Government-guaranteed savings products. DIRT-exempt. Include Prize Bonds, Savings Certificates and Savings Bonds. Available at An Post.