In the US, Webull offers stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and much more. In the UK, you can invest in US stocks, US options and Asian stocks, but not ETFs or UK stocks. What about in Europe (ex-UK)?
Well, in Germany, Netherlands, Portugal or any other European country, Webull is not available!
From the Webull US website:
From the Webull UK website:
Why isn’t Webull available across Europe yet?
While Webull has launched into Europe in the UK, the platform remains unavailable in other European countries. This limited rollout is likely due to regulatory, operational, and strategic factors.
One of the primary challenges is regulatory complexity. Europe is not a unified market for financial services; each country has its own financial regulators and compliance frameworks.
Beyond that, market maturity and competition also play a role. European investors already have access to various local and international platforms, such as Interactive Brokers, XTB, and Freedom24, that offer similar features, often tailored to regional markets. Webull faces the challenge of differentiating itself in a space where low-commission trading has already become the norm.
Lastly, Robinhood has been focusing on stabilising its business post-IPO and expanding carefully after periods of volatility and regulatory scrutiny in the U.S., which likely contributes to its cautious European expansion strategy.
Is Webull planning to expand into Europe (ex-UK)?
Currently, Webull has not made official announcements or confirmed timelines regarding any expansion into the EU. The company has remained silent across its official website, press releases, and social media channels.
To investigate further, we explored a few public sources for clues:
- Webull’s careers page: Most job openings are based in the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. There are currently no job listings indicating plans for operations in EU countries.
- Regulatory activity: So far, there’s no evidence that Webull has applied for licenses with key European regulators, such as BaFin (Germany), AMF (France), CMVM (Portugal), or others under the MiFID II framework.
- Public statements: Webull has made no comments suggesting imminent European expansion outside the UK.
The European market operates under MiFID II, and each country has its own investor protection laws, tax reporting obligations, and financial regulations. To be fully compliant, Webull would likely need to open local subsidiaries or partner with a European entity.
Alternatives to Webull in Europe
- Interactive Brokers: The best broker overall. Low fees for stocks, ETFs, options and low conversion fees
- XTB: 0% commissions on stocks and ETFs for monthly turnover up to €100,000 (above this amount, a 0.2% commission applies, min. €10)
- Trading 212: 0% commissions on stocks and ETFs with no limits. High interest on uninvested cash
- Lightyear: Emerging low-cost broker in Europe; mobile-first and expanding quickly.
- DEGIRO: It has a wide range of products, but it charges a minimum of €1 per trade + an annual €2.50 connectivity fee
- Freedom24: Offers stocks, ETFs and options, plus direct investment in bonds.
Regulation and safety
Before deeply diving into each broker, it is essential to mention that all alternative brokers to Webull are regulated in Europe!
To demonstrate this, let’s use Interactive Brokers as an example. As a European, when you open an account at Interactive Brokers, you do it through the subsidiary “Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited”, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI, reference number C423427):
As a result, you are protected by the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme (ICS).
The ICS is intended to help private individuals, such as people like you and me. Compensation under the ICS is limited to 90% of the amount lost, subject to a maximum of €20,000 to each investor. The coverage provides protection against the failure of the investment firm, not against loss of market value of financial products.
In the following table, we include the protection associated with each broker only considering the perspective of a European investor (a non-European investor may open his/her account through another subsidiary under a different jurisdiction):
Bottom line: You don’t need Webull in Europe
Webull may be a household name in the US, but European investors have no way of using Webull to invest (except if you are a UK resident). If you're looking to invest in stocks, ETFs, options, or other asset classes in Europe, you'll need to turn to one of the many regulated alternatives that offer broader access, competitive pricing, and investor protection.
Platforms like Interactive Brokers, XTB, Trading 212, and Lightyear not only fill the gap Webull left in Europe but often go beyond in terms of tools, regulation, and market access.
As always, the best broker for you depends on your goals, experience level, and the types of assets you want to trade.
