Choosing where to buy Danish shares is one of the first decisions a new investor in Denmark makes, and it shapes both the fees you pay and the accounts you can open. Danish residents today have more options than ever, as a large Nordic broker, a Danish-founded global bank, the country’s biggest high street bank and several international discounters all compete for the same kroner. The platform that suits a retiree managing a pension portfolio is rarely the one that suits a student starting with a few hundred kroner, so this guide sets out what each of the main platforms actually offers — with fee figures and account limits attached — so the trade-offs are visible before you open an account. Fees and limits change from time to time, so treat the numbers here as a snapshot rather than a quote.
Nordnet
Nordnet is the largest investment platform in the Nordic region, with more than three million customers across Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, and it is the default starting point for many Danish retail investors. Danish shares cost DKK 29 per trade, other Nordic stocks DKK 49, and US stocks 0.10% of trade value with a minimum of USD 4; ETFs and funds trade free, subject to exchange fees and fund-specific costs respectively. Nordnet fully supports Denmark’s tax-advantaged aktiesparekonto — gains inside the account are taxed at a flat 17%, against the 2026 contribution ceiling of DKK 122,900 — as well as Danish pension accounts, and it offers automatic monthly investments from DKK 100, research tools with company financials and analyst ratings, a clean mobile app and full English-language support. Its strength is simplicity, and its natural audience is beginners and intermediate investors who want a reliable platform without complexity.
Saxo Bank
Saxo Bank was founded in Denmark and is one of the oldest online brokers in Europe, and it is the obvious answer for investors who want breadth. Pricing is volume-based: Danish shares cost DKK 0-49 per trade, Nordic shares DKK 29-99, and US stocks USD 0-4, with the rate falling as activity rises. Two interfaces are on offer — SaxoInvestor for casual investors and the advanced SaxoTraderGO with charting, research and real-time data — and the platform reaches 36 exchanges in more than 30 countries, supports the aktiesparekonto fully alongside Danish pension accounts, and carries a wide range of Danish and international funds. It rewards active traders and larger portfolios that can work the volume pricing in their favour.
Danske Bank
Danske Bank is Denmark’s largest bank, and its investment platform appeals through integration rather than price. Danish shares cost DKK 49-99 per trade and Nordic shares DKK 69-149; US stocks run higher than at the dedicated brokers, and ETFs are available but pricier than at Nordnet or Saxo. In return you get seamless connection to your existing bank account, the in-house Danske Invest fund range (some with promotional fee structures for existing customers), full pension integration, and access to personal advisors at additional cost. English support exists but is less extensive than at the specialist brokers. In short: a good home for existing Danske Bank customers who value one-stop convenience, and harder to justify for cost-conscious or frequent traders.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers is the American heavyweight, and for cross-border investors it is often the cheapest ticket in town. US stocks cost USD 0.005 per share with a minimum of USD 1, ETFs are among the cheapest available anywhere, currency conversion is competitive, and there is no custody fee — you pay per transaction only. The platform reaches more than 150 markets in 33 countries, offers professional-grade charting, algorithmic trading and options analysis, and supports fractional shares in US stocks. The catches are significant: no aktiesparekonto, because international brokers cannot offer the Danish tax-advantaged account; no pension account support; an interface designed for experienced users; and English-only service with no Danish customer support. It is a powerful tool for international investing, best run alongside a Danish broker that can hold your aktiesparekonto.
DEGIRO
DEGIRO is the Dutch discounter that has spread across Europe on the appeal of very low costs. Danish shares cost DKK 0 plus an exchange fee typically around DKK 10-15; US stocks are USD 0 plus a small exchange fee; other Nordic stocks follow a similar low-cost pattern; and ETFs are among the cheapest available, with no custody fee for standard accounts. The interface is clean, the mobile app is easy to use, and access spans numerous European and global exchanges. What DEGIRO lacks is Danish-specific: no aktiesparekonto, no pension accounts, limited research tools compared with Nordnet or Saxo, customer support that can slow during busy periods, and Dutch rather than Danish regulation. It is a strong secondary broker for cost-conscious investors who already hold their Danish products elsewhere.
Lunar
Lunar is a Danish digital bank that has added basic investing to its app, aimed at people who want banking, savings and investing in one place. Setup is quick — you can open an account and start investing within minutes — the interface is genuinely beginner-friendly, small monthly investments are supported, and because Lunar is a Danish company it is regulated in Denmark with Danish customer support. The trade-offs arrive further up the ladder: a limited selection of ETFs, minimal research and analysis features, no aktiesparekonto as yet (worth checking for updates), and fees that become less competitive as portfolios grow. For absolute beginners starting from DKK 100 it is a reasonable first step; anyone with serious investment ambitions should plan to graduate to a dedicated broker.
The platforms side by side
The table below condenses the essentials. Fees are the headline rates quoted by each provider and should be re-verified before you commit.
| Platform | Minimum | Danish stocks | Nordic stocks | US stocks | ETFs | Aktiesparekonto | Pension | English | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nordnet | DKK 100 | DKK 29 | DKK 49 | 0.10% (min USD 4) | Free | Yes | Yes | Full | Beginners and intermediate |
| Saxo Bank | DKK 0 | DKK 0-49 | DKK 29-99 | USD 0-4 | Low | Yes | Yes | Full | Active traders, larger portfolios |
| Danske Bank | Varies | DKK 49-99 | DKK 69-149 | Higher | Higher | Yes | Yes | Partial | Existing bank customers |
| Interactive Brokers | USD 0 | Low | Low | USD 0.005/sh (min USD 1) | Lowest | No | No | Full | International, experienced |
| DEGIRO | EUR 1 | DKK 0 + exchange fee (~DKK 10-15) | Similar low-cost | USD 0 + small fee | Very low | No | No | Full | Cost-conscious |
| Lunar | DKK 100 | Varies | Limited | Limited | Basic | No | No | Danish | Absolute beginners |
Why fees matter over time
Fee differences look modest in small percentages and grow enormous over decades. Here is what a DKK 100,000 investment grows to over 20 years at an average 7% annual return, after accounting for platform fees:
| Platform | Annual Fee | Value After 20 Years |
|---|---|---|
| Nordnet | 0.15% | DKK 386,000 |
| Saxo Bank | 0.25% | DKK 365,000 |
| Danske Bank | 0.50% | DKK 330,000 |
The distance between Nordnet and Danske Bank is about DKK 56,000 on a single DKK 100,000 investment. Scale that to a million-kroner portfolio and the gap becomes DKK 560,000 — more than half a million kroner lost quietly to fees. The cheapest platform is not automatically the best, but the arithmetic makes clear that fees deserve to be a primary consideration.
Choosing yours
Starting is straightforward: open a Danish bank account with a NemKonto, decide what you want to invest in — Danish stocks, ETFs or funds — pick a platform that fits, and open your account online using your CPR number, then set up automatic monthly investments so contributions happen without thinking. As a rule of thumb, Nordnet remains the default recommendation for most investors; Saxo Bank comes into its own with portfolios above roughly DKK 500,000 or frequent trading; DEGIRO suits those chasing the absolute lowest trading costs without needing Danish-specific account types; Interactive Brokers rewards experienced international investors, paired with a Danish broker for the aktiesparekonto; Danske Bank is best left to existing customers who value convenience; and Lunar serves beginners who will outgrow it as their needs grow.
Fees are the one part of investing you can control completely, so it is worth reviewing your platform’s charges each year and switching if a better option emerges. The best platform is the one you will actually keep using — start simple, keep costs low, and the annual review will catch the rest.