What flatex does

flatex is the German online brokerage brand of flatexDEGIRO SE, a publicly listed company on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange's MDAX index (ticker FTK). Founded in 2006, it operates a fully digital, execution-only securities trading platform serving over 3 million retail customers across Germany and Austria within the broader flatexDEGIRO Group. The platform is delivered under a full German banking license (Vollbanklizenz) issued by BaFin, with custody, execution, and regulatory functions handled through its wholly-owned subsidiary flatexDEGIRO Bank SE, which is supervised by both BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank.

The product suite spans stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, savings plans (ETF, fund, and stock), certificates, leveraged products, CFDs, and 20 cryptocurrencies. Trading is facilitated through proprietary in-house platforms: flatex next (web and mobile, primary), flatex classic (web/desktop), flatex trader 2.0 (professional desktop), and stock3. The technology infrastructure is built on the group's 30+ years of financial IT expertise and includes own data centers in Germany capable of handling up to 3 billion price queries and over 1 million securities transactions per day, with weekly deployments of new functionality. The platform connects to 40 trading venues and 17 off-exchange direct trading partners.

flatex generates revenue primarily through a €5.90 flat-fee per-order commission (volume-independent), supplemented by premium partner distribution fees (Société Générale, UniCredit), currency conversion spreads, custody fees on selected instruments (Xetra-Gold, ADRs, GDRs), CFD margin income, and securities-backed loan interest. With approximately €70 billion in client assets and 70+ million transactions processed in 2025, the business model is highly transactional and asset-light, supported by a product-led go-to-market strategy targeting active traders, long-term ETF/fund savers, families (children's and joint depots), business clients, and crypto investors.

Name

flatex

Legal name

flatexDEGIRO SE

Website

https://flatex.de

Company type

Public

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

flatex is the German online brokerage brand of MDAX-listed flatexDEGIRO SE, offering retail investors flat-fee execution-only trading in stocks, ETFs, funds, savings plans, certificates, CFDs, and crypto across a proprietary multi-platform infrastructure backed by a full BaFin banking license.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Retail Brokerage

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)

akta.pro primary industry

Discount & Online Retail Brokerage (FSAEACAB)

Keywords

• Online brokerage services
• Securities trading platform
• Retail investment accounts
• ETF savings plans
• Flat-fee trading

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Transaction/Order Commission: flatex charges a flat fee of €5.90 per order for all transactions, both on-exchange and off-exchange (Direkthandel), regardless of order volume or number of shares traded. This is the primary revenue driver. Additional foreign costs, spreads, and product costs apply on top.
2. Premium Partner Fees: Revenue from product partners (Société Générale as Platin-Partner, UniCredit as Gold-Partner, and others) for the distribution of certificates and leveraged products. Trading with Platin partners is free (except spreads and product costs) for orders from €500. Gold and Silver partners offer reduced fees starting at €1.90 for orders from €1,000 volume.
3. Securities Custody and Administration: Account and depot maintenance services. While most custody is free, a custody fee applies for Xetra-Gold, ADRs, and GDRs.
4. Currency Conversion: Revenue generated from foreign currency transactions when clients trade instruments denominated in currencies other than EUR, through exchange rate spreads.
5. CFD Trading (Margin Trading): Revenue from CFD trading requiring a margin account. flatex generates income through spreads and margin requirements on leveraged CFD positions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

flatex is an online execution-only brokerage that offers self-directed retail investors in Germany and Austria the ability to trade stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, savings plans, certificates, leveraged products, CFDs, and cryptocurrencies across multiple proprietary digital platforms (flatex next, flatex classic, flatex trader 2.0, stock3). The company charges a flat €5.90 per-order commission regardless of volume and provides free custody, free realtime quotes, and free financial education through the flatex Academy.

Product overview

flatex is an online broker (brand of flatexDEGIRO SE) offering a multi-platform, execution-only securities trading ecosystem. The core offering spans stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, savings plans (ETF, fund, and stock savings plans), certificates and leveraged products, CFDs, and cryptocurrencies (20 coins). Trading is facilitated through flatex next (primary web/mobile app), flatex classic (desktop), flatex trader 2.0 (professional), and stock3. Account types include individual, joint, children's/junior, and corporate depots, all with linked cash accounts. A securities-backed loan product (Wertpapierkredit) enables leveraged positions. Educational services include the flatex Academy (webinars, Wissenszentrum, market updates), and customer retention programs include a VIP Club and a customer referral program. The 2024 launch of cryptocurrency trading (20 coins) extended the offering beyond traditional securities into digital assets. An Altersvorsorgedepot (state retirement depot) is in preparation for the January 1, 2027 launch date.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• flatex next: Mobile and desktop trading platform with intuitive interface for trading stocks, ETFs, funds, derivatives, and CFDs
• flatex classic
• flatex trader 2.0
• flatex wealth
• flatex green
• stock3
• flatex MORNING NEWSLETTER

Products and services

• flatex next Primary multi-channel trading platform available as a web-based application and mobile app (iOS/Android). Supports full digital account opening within minutes and offers trading in stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, savings plans, certificates, leveraged products, CFDs, and crypto.
• flatex classic Web-based trading platform accessible via browser for comprehensive trading functionality. Targets traders who prefer a traditional desktop/web experience.
• flatex trader 2.0 Advanced desktop trading software for particularly active traders with enhanced features, advanced charting, order types, and real-time market data integration.
• stock3 Specialized trading platform targeting active traders with professional-grade tools, serving specific trader segments with specialized features.
• Aktien (Stocks) Equity trading on German exchanges (Xetra, all German Präsenzbörsen) and international exchanges (Europe, USA, Canada). Supports both exchange-traded and OTC (außerbörslicher Direkthandel) transactions.
• ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) Exchange-listed funds offering broad market exposure. Approximately 1,500 sparplanfähige (savings-plan-eligible) ETFs and over 5,000 ETF and fund savings plans available; many ETFs commission-free.
• Sparpläne (ETF/Fund Savings Plans) Recurring investment plans available for ETFs and funds, starting from €25 per month with execution fees from €1.00. Over 5,000 ETF and fund savings plans available; users define amount and frequency with automated execution.
• Aktiensparpläne (Stock Savings Plans) Recurring investment plans for individual stocks, allowing investors to build positions in specific equities through scheduled purchases at regular intervals.
• Fonds (Funds) Investment funds from approximately 200 fund management companies, with approximately 5,000 funds available for trading and savings plans.
• Anleihen (Bonds) Government and corporate bond trading, including fixed-income securities with various maturities and credit ratings.
• Krypto (Cryptocurrencies) Direct trading of 20 cryptocurrency coins on the flatex platform at the lowest total cost per roundtrip among German online brokers per Frankfurt School study, traded with the same interface and fee structure as traditional securities.
• Krypto-ETNs Crypto Exchange-Traded Notes providing exposure to cryptocurrencies through an exchange-listed, regulated wrapper.
• Zertifikate & Hebelprodukte (Certificates & Leveraged Products) Leveraged and structured products including knock-out products, turbo certificates, factor certificates, and other leveraged instruments. Approximately 2.1 million certificates and leveraged products available.
• CFDs (Contracts for Difference) Contract for difference trading for leveraged speculation on price movements of underlying assets. Includes currency CFDs and equity CFDs on the integrated trading platform with a dedicated margin account.
• Wertpapierkredite (Securities-backed Loans) Loans secured by securities holdings in the customer's portfolio, allowing investors to leverage their existing positions.
• Kinderdepot / Minderjährigendepot (Children's/Junior Depot) Securities account for minors available from birth for long-term wealth building; parents can invest on behalf of children in savings plans and securities. Fully digitalized account opening process.
• flatex wealth Wealth management and advisory service for higher-net-worth clients seeking more comprehensive portfolio management.
• flatex Academy (Webinare & Wissenszentrum) Educational platform providing webinars, knowledge center (Wissenszentrum), market updates (Marktupdate), Female Finance content, and trading education. Over 100,000 people annually strengthen their financial knowledge through flatex.
• Altersvorsorgedepot (Government-subsidized Retirement Depot) State-subsidized retirement depot mandated by the German government, scheduled for launch on January 1, 2027, offering government-backed retirement savings with a dedicated information page and calculator.
• Kunden werben Kunden (Customer Referral Program) Referral program offering €50 trading credit to both the referrer and the referred new customer upon successful depot opening and activation, limited to Germany and Austria.
• VIP Club VIP loyalty program for high-volume or long-term flatex customers providing additional benefits and preferential conditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 86% cost savings for investors compared to traditional filiabanks, according to Euro am Sonntag analysis
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Société GénéralecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2026Société Générale joined flatex as a Platin-Partner effective July 1, 2026, as part of flatex's simplified premium partner model (reduced from multiple tiers to Platin and Gold). As a Platin-Partner, Société Générale's certificates and leveraged products are distributed through flatex's platform. Trading is completely free (plus market-standard spreads, allocations, and product costs) for orders of €500 or more. This is a key GTM channel for flatex to offer free certificate trading.
• UniCreditcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2026UniCredit joined flatex as a Gold-Partner effective July 1, 2026. As a Gold-Partner, UniCredit's certificates and leveraged products are distributed through flatex's platform. Trading starts at €1.90 per order for order volumes of €1,000 or more. This partnership expands flatex's product range for the gold tier of its premium partner program.
• 17 Direkthandelspartner (Direct Trading Partners)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorflatex partners with 17 off-exchange direct trading partners for stocks, certificates, warrants, funds, and ETFs. These partners provide liquidity and enable flatex customers to trade off-exchange with competitive pricing. The direct trading partners complement flatex's exchange-based trading by offering additional market access and product availability.
• flatexDEGIRO Bank SEcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorflatex (as a brand of flatexDEGIRO SE) operates in close partnership with flatexDEGIRO Bank SE, which holds the full banking license and is responsible for account/depot management, order execution, and securities custody. flatex provides the customer-facing platform and marketing while the Bank provides regulatory and custodial infrastructure.
• Frankfurt School of Finance & ManagementminorOthersFrankfurt School of Finance & Management conducted an independent, commissioned study (mid-Feb 2025 to mid-Feb 2026) on crypto trading costs at flatex vs. other German crypto providers. The study validated flatex as Germany's cheapest crypto broker (1.2% Bitcoin roundtrip cost vs. 3.2–3.7% at competitors). This study serves as a third-party validation of flatex's competitive pricing.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Bux Zero (Bux): Dutch-origin European commission-free stock and ETF broker with fractional shares and savings plans. Targets the same DACH/European self-directed retail cohort as flatex but with a narrower asset-class range (no CFDs, no certificates) and earlier-stage positioning.

Direct peers

• Trade Republic: Germany's largest commission-free retail broker offering stocks, ETFs, derivatives, and crypto through a mobile-first platform with savings plans. Direct head-to-head competitor to flatex on flat/zero-cost trading, multi-asset access, and German retail customer acquisition.
• Scalable Capital: Munich-based online broker with a free (Scalable Free) and premium tier offering stocks, ETFs, funds, derivatives, and crypto. Competes directly with flatex in DACH on price, savings-plan depth, and B2B/white-label brokerage services.
• Bitpanda: Austrian multi-asset platform (stocks, ETFs, crypto, metals) and a direct peer in the Frankfurt School study in which flatex was named cheapest crypto broker. Comparable on DACH crypto/broker overlap and a direct rival for German retail crypto cost leadership.
• eToro: Global multi-asset retail broker offering stocks, ETFs, CFDs, and crypto with social/copy-trading features. Comparable product set to flatex (execution-only, multi-asset, commission-free tiers) with a global footprint and similar self-directed retail target audience.

Broad incumbents

• DEGIRO: flatexDEGIRO's pan-European online broker subsidiary serving 18+ European countries with low-cost execution-only trading. Sister brand under flatexDEGIRO SE; comparable business model but broader geographic remit and slightly different product mix (no crypto, B2C focus).
• Comdirect (Commerzbank subsidiary): German bank-affiliated broker offering securities, funds, savings plans, and CFDs within a broader banking product suite. Comparable retail brokerage functionality but bundles trading with banking services, similar to flatex wealth/linked-cash-account model.
• ING DiBa: Germany's largest direct bank with a brokerage offering for stocks, ETFs, funds, and savings plans. Competes with flatex particularly on long-term investors using ETF-Sparpläne and free depot accounts within a broader retail banking relationship.
• Interactive Brokers: Global multi-asset broker with deep product range, professional-grade platforms, and Tier-1 markets coverage. Comparable to flatex trader 2.0/stock3 active-trader offering but with stronger institutional/active-trader positioning and broader geographic reach.
• Robinhood: US commission-free multi-asset retail broker (stocks, options, crypto, futures) that pioneered the zero-commission model and frequently benchmarks against European brokers. Comparable product/market profile to flatex but US-focused and product set includes options/futures.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flatex-onlinebroker
• Facebookfacebook.com/flatexDEGIRO
• Instagraminstagram.com/flatex_de
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@flatexDEGIRO
• Xx.com/flatex

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about flatex