Trade Republic runs savings plans on a wide range of ETFs, but only a handful actually make sense as a long-term core holding for a German investor filing taxes under the Investmentsteuergesetz. This guide ranks the ones worth setting up in 2026 and flags the picks that look tempting but add nothing.
- iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF (TER 0.20%) is the default etf trade republic empfehlung for a single-fund core position. Buy.
- Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF (TER 0.22%) adds emerging markets automatically. Buy.
- iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF (TER 0.07%) is the cheapest option but too concentrated to run alone. Buy as a satellite, not a stand-alone plan.
- Xtrackers MSCI World UCITS ETF (TER 0.19%) is nearly identical to the iShares version — no reason to switch. Hold.
- SPDR MSCI ACWI IMI UCITS ETF overlaps heavily with Vanguard FTSE All-World and adds no diversification benefit. Skip.
Why this matters
Trade Republic's savings plan feature lets you automate monthly buys from as little as €1, which is exactly why the ETF you pick matters more than the broker you use to buy it. A 0.15 percentage point gap in total expense ratio looks tiny on a statement but compounds into a real drag over a 20-30 year holding period.
German tax treatment adds another layer most comparison lists ignore. Equity funds with at least 51% stock exposure qualify for the 30% Teilfreistellung under the Investmentsteuergesetz, which shields part of your distributions and gains from the Abgeltungsteuer. Every ETF on this list clears that bar, but domicile still affects the withholding tax drag on US dividends inside the fund.
Cross-check any broker-specific fee before committing — InvestBeacon's broker comparison tracks how Trade Republic's savings plan terms stack up against Scalable Capital, Smartbroker and other regulated platforms across 14 European markets.
How we ranked
Each ETF is scored on four criteria that actually move outcomes for a German saver running a Trade Republic plan in 2026: total expense ratio, replication method (physical vs synthetic), diversification breadth, and tax treatment under German fund rules. Fund size and trading volume are used as a tiebreaker — a thinly traded ETF widens the spread you pay on every execution, even inside a savings plan.
None of these funds pay a kickback to appear here and none is exclusive to Trade Republic — every one of them trades on other regulated brokers too. The ranking reflects the fund itself, not the platform running the plan.
The ranked list
1. iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF (Acc) — the default pick
ISIN IE00B4L5Y983, TER 0.20%, physical replication. This is the ETF most German savings plans default to because it covers roughly 1,300 large and mid-cap companies across 23 developed markets in a single fund. The US weight sits above 60%, so it is not a pure global-diversification play, but it is the closest thing to a set-and-forget core holding available on Trade Republic. Verdict: Buy.
2. Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF (Acc) — the wider net
ISIN IE00BK5BQT80, TER 0.22%, physical replication. The extra two basis points buy you exposure to roughly 3,600 companies including emerging markets, which the MSCI World index excludes entirely. If you want one ETF and never want to think about adding an emerging-markets sleeve later, this is the cleaner single-fund answer. Verdict: Buy.
3. iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF (Acc) — the cheap satellite
ISIN IE00B5BMR087, TER 0.07%, physical replication. Nothing on Trade Republic beats this fund on cost, and its Irish domicile means the fund itself benefits from the reduced US treaty withholding rate on dividends. The catch is concentration — 500 US companies, no European or Asian exposure at all. Running it as your only savings plan skips diversification you'd get from either fund above it. Verdict: Buy as a satellite position alongside a broader fund, not as a stand-alone plan.
4. Xtrackers MSCI World UCITS ETF (1C) — the near-twin
ISIN IE00BJ0KDQ92, TER 0.19%, physical replication. This tracks the same MSCI World index as the iShares fund above, with a marginally lower TER and slightly smaller fund size. If you already hold it from before 2026, there's no cost-driven reason to sell and switch. If you're starting fresh, the iShares version has deeper trading volume and no meaningful edge goes to switching either way. Verdict: Hold if you already own it; otherwise pick pick #1.
5. iShares MSCI EM IMI UCITS ETF (Acc) — the regional add-on
ISIN IE00BKM4GZ66, TER 0.18%, physical replication. This covers large, mid and small-cap emerging-market companies across roughly two dozen countries. It only earns a place in a plan once your core global fund is large enough that a 10-15% emerging-markets tilt actually moves your allocation. Adding it too early just adds a second line item to track for no real diversification gain. Verdict: Wait until your core position is established.
6. SPDR MSCI ACWI IMI UCITS ETF — the redundant pick
ISIN IE00B3YLTY66, TER 0.17%, physical replication. On paper this looks attractive — global developed and emerging markets, small-cap inclusion, a TER five basis points below Vanguard FTSE All-World. In practice it overlaps roughly 95% with the Vanguard fund in underlying holdings, and Trade Republic's savings plan liquidity on this ticker runs thinner. There's no diversification argument for running both. Verdict: Skip if you already hold Vanguard FTSE All-World.
Comparison table
| ETF | ISIN | TER | Replication | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Core MSCI World (Acc) | IE00B4L5Y983 | 0.20% | Physical | Buy |
| Vanguard FTSE All-World (Acc) | IE00BK5BQT80 | 0.22% | Physical | Buy |
| iShares Core S&P 500 (Acc) | IE00B5BMR087 | 0.07% | Physical | Buy (satellite) |
| Xtrackers MSCI World (1C) | IE00BJ0KDQ92 | 0.19% | Physical | Hold |
| iShares MSCI EM IMI (Acc) | IE00BKM4GZ66 | 0.18% | Physical | Wait |
| SPDR MSCI ACWI IMI | IE00B3YLTY66 | 0.17% | Physical | Skip |
What to avoid
- Running two overlapping global funds at once. Holding both iShares Core MSCI World and Xtrackers MSCI World in separate savings plans doubles your admin for zero diversification benefit.
- Chasing the lowest TER without checking breadth. The S&P 500 fund's 0.07% looks unbeatable until you realize it skips Europe, Japan and every emerging market entirely.
- Ignoring fund domicile. Irish-domiciled UCITS funds get the reduced 15% US treaty withholding rate on US-sourced dividends; funds domiciled outside Ireland can lose more to withholding tax on the same underlying US stocks. Check the fact sheet before you set the plan live.
Compare brokers before you commit
See how Trade Republic's savings plan terms stack up against other regulated European brokers.
Where to buy
- Set the savings plan up directly inside the Trade Republic app — funds on this list are available there as of 2026, but fee schedules on savings plan executions have shifted before, so check the current terms screen before you confirm the first run.
- Confirm the ETF's UCITS status and accumulating (Acc) share class before selecting it — a distributing share class of the same index creates extra tax paperwork every payout.
- If a fund shows thin trading volume on the day you check, wait a day or set the plan for a different execution date rather than force it through a wide spread.
FAQ
What is the best etf trade republic empfehlung for 2026?
iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF (IE00B4L5Y983, TER 0.20%) is the most commonly recommended core ETF for a Trade Republic savings plan in 2026. Vanguard FTSE All-World is the better single-fund pick if you want emerging markets included automatically.
Is Trade Republic good for ETF savings plans?
Trade Republic supports automated monthly ETF savings plans starting from as little as €1, which makes it accessible for small, regular contributions. The fund you choose matters more for long-term returns than the broker running the plan.
How much does an ETF savings plan cost on Trade Republic?
Trade Republic's savings plan fee schedule has changed over time, so confirm the current terms in the app before setting up a plan in 2026. The ongoing cost that matters most long-term is the fund's own TER, not the execution fee.
iShares Core MSCI World vs Vanguard FTSE All-World, which is better?
iShares Core MSCI World (TER 0.20%) covers developed markets only, while Vanguard FTSE All-World (TER 0.22%) adds emerging markets in the same fund. Pick the Vanguard fund if you want a single ETF and never want to add a separate emerging-markets position later.
What is the minimum amount for a Trade Republic ETF savings plan?
Trade Republic advertises a minimum savings plan amount of €1 per execution, making it possible to start a plan with a very small monthly contribution. Most investors run plans well above that minimum to make the fee structure worthwhile.
Does fund domicile affect my taxes on a Trade Republic ETF savings plan?
Yes — Irish-domiciled UCITS ETFs benefit from a reduced 15% US treaty withholding rate on US-sourced dividends inside the fund, which funds domiciled elsewhere don't always get. This matters most for funds with heavy US exposure like MSCI World and S&P 500 trackers.
Can I run multiple ETF savings plans on Trade Republic at once?
Yes, Trade Republic allows multiple simultaneous savings plans, but running two overlapping global-equity funds adds admin without real diversification. A core global fund plus one satellite position, like an S&P 500 or emerging-markets ETF, is a more efficient split.
Is the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF a good stand-alone savings plan?
No — at 0.07% TER it's the cheapest fund on this list, but it only covers 500 US companies with zero exposure to Europe, Japan or emerging markets. It works best as a satellite alongside a broader global fund, not as your only savings plan.
One last thing
The Teilfreistellung most German investors rely on to shield 30% of gains and distributions from tax only applies automatically to funds with at least 51% equity exposure — every ETF ranked here clears that threshold, but check the fact sheet if you branch out into bond or mixed-asset ETFs later, because the exemption rate drops sharply for those.
