Trade Republic vs Revolut: where your savings earn more in 2025

Trade Republic vs Revolut: the savings battle comes down to interest rates

A saver asks where they would put their money to earn a 2% return. The answer has sparked an exchange of options that goes beyond the trendiest apps. The reality is that interest rates on savings accounts have risen, but not every promotion holds up.

Revolut offers an attractive 3% for new customers, but with capital capped at €25,000 and only for three months. After that period, the rate drops to 1.15%, well below the 2.25% that Trade Republic pays steadily. Traditional banks (Bankinter, Kutxabank) barely compete in this space. Revolut's app is the best rated, but Trade Republic wins on long-term returns.

Alternatives that outperform savings accounts

For those seeking more than 2%, there are options beyond the obvious. Trade Republic has corporate bonds with short maturities and attractive yields. Interactive Brokers offers one-year investment grade euro bonds yielding around 3% gross. And money market ETFs like XEON track short-term interest rates with no management fees. But beware: on Trade Republic, the bid-ask spread can eat into part of the return if you're not careful.

What the app hype doesn't tell you

While some decide to split their money evenly, others warn that Revolut's promotion is a temporary hook. Over twelve months, Trade Republic comes out ahead if you keep the cash there. And for those who don't need immediate liquidity, bonds on platforms like Trade Republic offer a bonus, although tax filing gets slightly more complicated. The surprising fact: the highest return isn't in any trending app, but in money market ETFs, which anyone with a broker can buy.