Why compare commissions?
The difference between the cheapest and most expensive broker for a portfolio of 100 trades per year can amount to PLN 2,000-5,000. This is particularly important for active traders executing many transactions per month. When comparing brokers, it's not enough to look only at the per-trade commission — hidden fees (spread, FX charges, inactivity fee, custody fee) can double the total cost.
What to look for when comparing?
When choosing a broker, it's worth analyzing four main cost categories that can significantly impact your investment returns:
- Transaction commissions — a fee charged for each buy or sell trade. Can be per-share (e.g., $1/trade) or percentage-based (e.g., 0.15% of value)
- FX conversion fees — the cost of currency exchange for transactions on foreign markets. Typically 0% to 1.5% of the amount
- Custody fees — some brokers charge an annual fee for account maintenance or asset custody
- Inactivity fees — some brokers charge a fee when you don't execute transactions for a period of time (e.g., EUR 10/month)
How to use the commission analyzer?
Our commission analyzer lets you compare costs across 6 brokers based on your actual transactions or specified parameters. Here's how to use it:
- 1Open the commission analyzer at /analizator-prowizji
- 2Upload a CSV file with transactions from any supported broker, or enter the number and average value of trades
- 3The system will automatically calculate costs at each of the 6 brokers using current tariffs
- 4Compare results in the table — you'll see total commissions, FX fees, and savings from switching brokers
Comparison example with real numbers
For a portfolio with 50 trades per year averaging PLN 5,000 on the US market: IBKR (Interactive Brokers) charges about PLN 50-75 in commissions + low FX fees (0.002%). XTB offers 0% commission on stocks up to EUR 100,000 monthly turnover, but the FX fee is 0.5%. Trading 212 — 0% commission, but spreads can be higher. The annual difference can reach PLN 500-2,000 depending on frequency and volume.
Hidden fees to watch out for
Beyond explicit commissions, many brokers charge fees that aren't visible at first glance: spread (the difference between buy and sell price) — especially significant with CFD brokers and on forex; fees for foreign dividend conversions; fees for transferring your portfolio to another broker; fees for real-time market data. Check the broker's full fee schedule before opening an account.
Use our commission analyzer at /analizator-prowizji to check real costs for your transactions. You can upload a CSV file or enter data manually — the comparison takes less than a minute.