ETF investing: costs, fractional shares and monthly saving
Updated
In short (16 October 2026): ETF trading without a brokerage fee and fractional shares are available in the data: fractional shares Lightyear, Trading 212, Interactive Brokers and eToro; free monthly ETF saving Lightyear, Trading 212 and eToro. Not investment advice. Investing involves risk.
Contents
An ETF is a fund listed on a stock exchange that you buy through a broker like a share. The costs are made up of the brokerage fee, currency exchange and the fund's own annual costs. This guide compares brokers' costs and features: fractional shares and free monthly saving.
Not investment advice. Investing involves risk. Pankkitutka compares costs and does not recommend individual investments or service providers. The value of investments can rise and fall, and you can lose the money you invest.
ETF investing costs by provider
The table shows fractional shares and whether you can save into an ETF monthly without a brokerage fee or service charge. The Notes column shows the provider's own ETF pricing.
| Provider | Fractional shares | Monthly ETF saving without a brokerage fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEGIRO | not available | No | ETF Core Selection funds have a brokerage fee of €0, but a €1 handling fee on every order; other ETFs €2 + €1. |
| Nordnet | not available | No | No brokerage fee on purchases under an ETF monthly savings agreement, but the service fee is €2.50/month/agreement. Sales according to the price list. |
| Danske Bank | not available | No | Regular share saving covers shares (OMXH25 and Nasdaq-100), brokerage fee 0.2% with no minimum; ETF trades follow the tiered price list. |
| eToro | Yes | Yes | ETF trades with no brokerage fee; currency conversion may cost. |
| Interactive Brokers | Yes | No | Normal brokerage fee on ETF trades. |
| Lightyear | Yes | Yes | No order or custody fee on ETF trades; currency exchange 0.35% if the ETF is not denominated in euros. |
| Trading 212 | Yes | Yes | No brokerage fee; currency exchange 0.15% on non-euro instruments. |
Fractional shares
A fractional share is a part of a whole share or ETF, so you can invest a small fixed amount regardless of the share price. In the data, fractional shares are offered by foreign brokers and apps whose accounts are held in a nominee register (hallintarekisteri). See the table for who offers fractional shares.
Monthly saving
With monthly saving you buy for the same amount every month. Costs depend on the provider: some offer purchases with no brokerage fee, and others have a monthly fee or a minimum fee for small trades. See the provider's row in the table and calculate the costs with the calculator.
Which account can an ETF go in?
An ETF is not eligible for an equity savings account (osakesäästötili):
- Shares that are traded on a regulated market or a multilateral trading facility in the EEA (e.g. Nasdaq Helsinki, First North), or on a comparable market outside the EEA, are eligible for an equity savings account, as are share issues that will be listed within a year. ETFs, funds, unlisted shares, bonds and derivatives are not eligible. (Verohallinto, syventävä ohje: Osakesäästötilin verotus (VH/6117/00.01.00/2023), issued 1 January 2024; authority)
So you need a book-entry securities account (arvo-osuustili) or an investment account with a foreign broker. Sales made through a foreign broker must be reported by you: read foreign broker taxation.
Index fund or ETF?
Both can track the same index, but they are bought in different ways and have different costs. An index fund's subscription fee is in the provider's price list (many banks charge €0), while an ETF carries a brokerage fee. Compare fund costs on the index funds page and start with the guide investing for beginners.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How much does ETF investing cost?
In October 2026 The costs of an ETF are the brokerage fee, currency conversion and the fund's own annual cost. According to the data, ETFs without a brokerage fee are offered by Lightyear, Trading 212, DEGIRO and eToro, and in ETF trades at Finnish banks the percentage cap or minimum on small trades affects the price. Not investment advice. Investing involves risk.
What are fractional shares and who offers them?
In October 2026 A fractional share is part of a whole share or ETF, so you can invest a small fixed amount. According to the data, fractional shares are offered by Lightyear, Trading 212, Interactive Brokers and eToro. Accounts at foreign brokers are investment accounts where the securities are in a nominee register of the broker and its custodians: Lightyear, Trading 212, Interactive Brokers and eToro.
Can I buy ETFs in an equity savings account?
In October 2026 shares that are traded on a regulated market or a multilateral trading facility in the EEA (e.g. Nasdaq Helsinki, First North), or on a comparable market outside the EEA, are eligible for an equity savings account, as are share issues that will be listed within a year. ETFs, funds, unlisted shares, bonds and derivatives are not eligible. So you cannot buy ETFs in an equity savings account; you need a book-entry account or an investment account at a foreign broker for them.
Can I save monthly into ETFs without costs?
In October 2026 Free monthly ETF saving (no brokerage fee and no service fee) is offered, according to the data, by Lightyear, Trading 212 and eToro. Nordnet: No brokerage fee on purchases under an ETF monthly savings agreement, but the service fee is €2.50/month/agreement. Sales according to the price list. Danske Bank: Regular share saving covers shares (OMXH25 and Nasdaq-100), brokerage fee 0.2% with no minimum; ETF trades follow the tiered price list. Interactive Brokers: Normal brokerage fee on ETF trades. DEGIRO: ETF Core Selection funds have a brokerage fee of €0, but a €1 handling fee on every order; other ETFs €2 + €1.
What is an ETF?
An ETF (exchange traded fund) is a fund listed on a stock exchange that you buy and sell like a share. An index ETF tracks an index. Pankkitutka does not recommend individual ETFs.