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A CHF 1,000 order for a Swiss share costs CHF 3.75 at Saxo and CHF 40.75 at UBS. Same share, same exchange, about 11 times the price. Buying stocks on the Swiss stock market is simple once you know the five steps, but the broker you pick decides how much of your money goes to fees. This guide walks you through each step, from opening a broker account to your tax return, with real costs in CHF.
How do you buy shares in Switzerland?
To buy shares in Switzerland, you need a broker account (a securities account, or "depot") at a Swiss bank, an investing app or a foreign online broker. You open it online, transfer money from your bank account, then search for the share and place a buy order. The broker holds the shares for you and, at Swiss brokers, sends you a tax statement each year.
Here are the five steps in short:
- Choose a broker: a Swiss bank, an app like Yuh or neon, or a foreign broker like Interactive Brokers.
- Open your broker account: online, with your ID and a smartphone.
- Fund it: transfer CHF from your bank account, and know when currency exchange kicks in.
- Place your order: pick the share, the exchange, the amount and the order type.
- Hold and declare your shares: dividends, wealth tax and the eTax statement.
Step 1: Choose a broker: Swiss bank, app or foreign broker
The broker is the one investment decision that keeps costing you money for years. Commissions, custody fees, currency exchange and Swiss stamp duty all depend on it. In our broker comparison, the yearly cost for the same ETF investor ranges from about CHF 20 to CHF 399. Before comparing names, decide which of the three types of broker suits you.
Swiss or foreign broker?
A Swiss broker (Saxo, Swissquote, PostFinance, Cornèrtrader, UBS) is FINMA-regulated, gives you a free or paid eTax statement and protects your cash with esisuisse. You pay Swiss stamp duty on each trade. A foreign broker (Interactive Brokers, DEGIRO, Trading 212) charges no stamp duty and is often cheaper, but you list your positions yourself at tax time.
If you mostly buy Swiss stocks and ETFs on SIX and want simple paperwork, a Swiss broker is the comfortable choice. If you buy US stocks often or invest large amounts, a foreign broker saves real money. Many Swiss investors run both: a foreign broker for US stocks, a Swiss one for the simple stuff. Your investment strategy decides which one comes first.
App, online broker or your house bank?
Investing apps like Yuh and neon are the easiest start: everything in CHF, savings plans from CHF 1 or CHF 10, and a clean interface. Their fees are a percentage (0.5% per trade on Swiss stocks), which is cheap for CHF 500 and expensive for CHF 20,000. Online brokers and trading platforms like Saxo, Swissquote and Interactive Brokers cost less on larger orders and give you access to more stock markets.
Your house bank (UBS, Raiffeisen, PostFinance or a cantonal bank) is convenient because you're already a client. Traditional banks are usually also the most expensive option: at UBS e-banking, a CHF 1,000 order costs over CHF 40 and custody costs 0.35% a year plus VAT. If you want to stay with UBS, its cheaper app, UBS key4 trading, is worth a look. Other Swiss providers such as TradeDirect, BPS (SUISSE) and VZ also offer trading accounts. You'll find each broker we cover in our broker reviews.
Is my money safe at a broker?
Your stocks are the safest part. In Switzerland, securities in custody belong to you, not to the bank. If the bank fails, they're handed back to you. Cash is different: at a Swiss bank, it's protected by esisuisse up to CHF 100,000 per client and bank. Yuh's account sits at Swissquote Bank and neon's at Hypothekarbank Lenzburg, so the same protection applies. At foreign brokers, the local scheme applies instead.
Not sure which broker fits you? Our ranking recalculates the yearly cost for three profiles. Pick yours: starter with CHF 10,000, ETF investor with CHF 50,000 or active trader with CHF 200,000.
Step 2: Open your broker account
At most brokers, you open your broker account entirely online, in one sitting. You'll need your ID or passport, your Swiss address, your tax residence and a smartphone. Most brokers verify your identity with a short video call or by photographing your ID and your face in the app. You'll also answer questions about your income, your investing experience and your risk profile.
One question surprises many people: are you a US person? If you're a US citizen or green card holder, say so. Some brokers can't accept US persons, and lying here can get your account closed. You'll also fill in or confirm a W-8BEN form if you plan to buy US stocks (more on that in Step 5).
The entry conditions differ from broker to broker. Here's what we verified:
- Saxo and DEGIRO: you must be at least 18.
- DEGIRO: you need a valid ID, residence in a country where DEGIRO operates and a European bank account in your name.
- neon: you must live in Switzerland, be taxable only in Switzerland and hold a valid ID from a listed country.
- Swissquote: you need your ID and a proof of residence no older than six months, and your first deposit must come from a bank account in your country of residence.
For other brokers, check the broker's conditions before you apply, especially if you're under 18 or have a foreign nationality.
Step 3: Fund your account in CHF, and know when currency exchange costs you
Once your account is open, you transfer money from your bank account by normal bank transfer, usually in CHF. At Swiss brokers and apps, it works like any other payment to a Swiss account. Some brokers ask for a minimum first deposit: CHF 1,000 at Swissquote and Cornèrtrader. Most apps have no minimum.
The real cost hides in currency exchange. As long as you buy Swiss stocks or ETFs traded in CHF, nothing is converted. When you buy a US stock, the broker converts your francs into dollars and charges a margin: 0.002% at Interactive Brokers, 0.25% at Saxo and DEGIRO, but 0.95% at Swissquote and Yuh. On a CHF 10,000 purchase, 0.95% is CHF 95 before any commission.
If you plan to buy foreign stocks regularly, the FX fee matters more than the commission. Some brokers let you hold a USD balance, so you exchange once and reuse the dollars for several trades or for dividends.
Step 4: Place your order
Placing an order looks intimidating the first time, but every broker's order ticket asks for the same five things:
Type the company name, the ticker (for example NESN for Nestlé) or the ISIN, a 12-character code that identifies each security. The ISIN is the safest way to get exactly the right share or ETF.
For Swiss stocks, choose SIX Swiss Exchange in CHF. For US stocks, choose the US exchange (NYSE or Nasdaq) in USD. If the same ETF trades in CHF on SIX, buying it there avoids currency exchange.
Enter the number of shares, or an amount in CHF if your broker supports fractional shares. Check that the total fits your cash balance.
Choose a market order to buy at the current price, or a limit order to set the maximum price you're willing to pay. Add a validity date for limit orders.
Many brokers show an estimate of the commission and taxes before you confirm. Read it once. After the trade, the broker sends you a contract note: keep it for your records. When you sell later, you fill in the same ticket with "sell" instead of "buy".
Market or limit order?
A market order buys immediately at the best available price. It's fine for large, liquid stocks like Nestlé, Novartis or Roche during trading hours. A limit order only executes at your price or better. It's the safer choice for smaller Swiss companies with few trades, at the opening or outside trading hours, when prices can jump. As a beginner, use limit orders set close to the current price.
SIX, BX Swiss or a foreign exchange?
SIX Swiss Exchange is the main Swiss exchange, where the SMI stocks and most Swiss ETFs trade. BX Swiss is a smaller Swiss exchange in Bern: neon, for example, executes its orders there. For US stocks, your broker routes the order to the US market. For a long-term investor, the exchange matters less than the currency: buy in CHF when you can.
Fractional shares and savings plans
Some Swiss stocks cost several hundred francs per share. With fractional shares, you can buy a part of one share for a fixed amount, for example CHF 100. Interactive Brokers, Swissquote, Yuh and Trading 212 offer them. A savings plan invests the same amount every month automatically: neon, PostFinance and Trading 212 start from CHF 1, Yuh from CHF 10, and Saxo offers AutoInvest. It's the easiest way to invest in stocks regularly without timing the market.
Step 5: Hold your shares and declare them in your tax return
In Switzerland, capital gains on private investments are tax-free, but dividends are taxed as income and your portfolio counts toward your wealth tax. If you trade very often, use leverage or buy with borrowed money, the tax office can treat you as a professional trader, and then your gains are taxable. For Swiss dividends, 35% withholding tax is deducted at source, and you reclaim it through your tax return. Our guide to taxes on shares in Switzerland explains each tax and what your broker does for you.
A Swiss broker sends you an eTax statement (Steuerauszug) that you import into your tax software. It's free at Saxo and neon, CHF 20 plus VAT at Cornèrtrader, CHF 25 at Yuh, CHF 85 at Swissquote, CHF 97.30 at PostFinance and from CHF 100 at UBS. Foreign brokers don't provide one. For Interactive Brokers, third-party services create one for about CHF 45 to 50.
For US stocks, sign the W-8BEN form: US dividends are then taxed at 15% at source instead of 30%, and you can claim that 15% back in your Swiss tax return with the DA-1 form. To see how much wealth tax and income tax you pay in your municipality, use our Swiss tax map.
What does buying stocks cost in Switzerland?
Each order costs you up to three things: the broker's commission, the Swiss stamp duty (0.075% on Swiss securities and 0.15% on foreign ones, charged by Swiss brokers only, as the federal tax administration explains in German) and the currency exchange on foreign stocks. Here's one buy order at five brokers, all costs included:
| Broker | Swiss share, CHF 1,000 | Global ETF on SIX, CHF 1,000 | US share, CHF 1,000 | Swiss share, CHF 10,000 | Global ETF on SIX, CHF 10,000 | US share, CHF 10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | CHF 5.00 | CHF 5.00 | CHF 2.40 | CHF 5.00 | CHF 5.00 | CHF 2.40 |
| Saxo Bank | CHF 3.75 | CHF 4.50 | CHF 4.80 | CHF 15.50 | CHF 23.00 | CHF 48.00 |
| Swissquote | CHF 6.60 | CHF 11.35 | CHF 21.85 | CHF 37.35 | CHF 24.85 | CHF 159.85 |
| Yuh | CHF 5.75 | CHF 6.50 | CHF 16.00 | CHF 57.50 | CHF 65.00 | CHF 160.00 |
| UBS e-banking | CHF 40.75 | CHF 41.50 | CHF 61.50 + FX | CHF 97.50 | CHF 105.00 | CHF 157.50 + FX |
Prices as of October 2026, from each broker's published price list, at USD/CHF 0.80 and a US share price of USD 100. "Global ETF" means a foreign-domiciled ETF bought on SIX in CHF; the Swissquote ETF price uses its ETF Leaders offer. UBS doesn't publish its FX margin, so we left it out.
Annual custody fees come on top. Saxo, Interactive Brokers and Yuh charge none. Swissquote charges CHF 86.48 to 216.20 a year, depending on your portfolio, and UBS 0.35% a year plus VAT, which is CHF 189 on CHF 50,000. At a big bank, the custody fee often costs more than all your trades together. Our broker comparison tool puts any two brokers side by side.
For a small portfolio under CHF 10,000 with monthly buys of CHF 500, Yuh, neon and Saxo all cost about CHF 39 to 45 a year. Percentage fees only hurt once your orders grow. See the full ranking for starters.
Shares or ETFs: what should a beginner buy?
A single share is a bet on one company. An ETF buys hundreds or thousands of companies in one order, so one bad result doesn't sink your portfolio. For most beginners, a low-cost global ETF, or an SMI ETF if you want to stay Swiss, is the simpler and more diversified way to invest in stocks for the long term. You can always add a few individual shares later, once your core investments are in place.
We don't tell you which stock to buy now, and you should be wary of anyone who does. Nobody can reliably predict which share will beat the market next year. What you control is your costs, your diversification and your investment horizon, and over time those drive most of your returns. If you want to see what a monthly ETF plan could grow to, our ETF calculator does the maths. If you want to research Swiss companies, our Swiss stocks screener shows dividends, valuations and sectors.
How much money do you need to start investing in stocks?
Technically, very little. With fractional shares or a savings plan, you can start with CHF 1 at neon, PostFinance or Trading 212, or CHF 10 at Yuh. Some brokers ask for a minimum first deposit, such as CHF 1,000 at Swissquote and Cornèrtrader. But the real limit is the minimum commission: a CHF 5 minimum on a CHF 200 order is 2.5% gone before the market moves.
As a rule of thumb, invest money you won't need for at least five years, keep a financial cushion in a savings account, and make each order large enough that fees stay below 1%. With an app charging 0.5%, that's any amount. With a CHF 40 minimum at a big bank, you'd need CHF 4,000 per order.
Before you invest in a taxable broker account, check your third pillar first. Investing in pillar 3a gives you a tax deduction no broker can match: our guide to investing in pillar 3a funds explains how to start.
Common mistakes when buying shares
It's convenient, but at UBS a CHF 1,000 order costs over CHF 40 and custody adds 0.35% a year. Compare the yearly total before you buy your first share.
A 0.95% currency fee costs more than most commissions. If you buy US stocks, pick a broker with a low FX margin or buy the same exposure through an ETF in CHF.
Smaller Swiss companies trade less, so a market order can execute far from the last price. Use a limit order close to the current price.
One company's bad year can wipe out your gains. The stock market rewards patience, not concentration risk. Spread your money across many companies, ideally through an ETF, and add single shares on top if you want.
Your shares count toward wealth tax and dividends are income. Keep your eTax statement or list your positions, and reclaim the Swiss withholding tax every year.
My take
If a friend asked me how to buy their first shares in Switzerland, I'd tell them three things. First, fill your pillar 3a before anything else. Second, open an account at a low-cost broker rather than at your house bank: Saxo if you want a Swiss bank and a free tax statement, Interactive Brokers if you're comfortable doing your own tax list. Third, start with a global ETF and a monthly plan, and stop checking the price every day. The boring setup is the one that works.
Frequently asked questions
How do I buy stocks as a beginner in Switzerland?
Open a broker account online at a Swiss broker, an app like Yuh or neon, or a foreign broker like Interactive Brokers. Transfer CHF from your bank account, search for the share or ETF by name or ISIN and place a limit order. Many beginners start with a monthly ETF savings plan instead of single stocks.
How much money do I need to start buying shares?
You can start with CHF 1 at neon, PostFinance or Trading 212, or CHF 10 at Yuh, thanks to savings plans and fractional shares. Swissquote and Cornèrtrader ask for a CHF 1,000 first deposit. Keep each order large enough that minimum commissions stay below about 1% of the amount.
Which broker is cheapest for a portfolio under CHF 10,000?
For a starter with CHF 10,000 and monthly buys of CHF 500, Yuh and neon cost about CHF 39 a year and Saxo about CHF 45, according to our ranking. Trading 212 is cheaper still, but it's a foreign broker with no Swiss tax statement.
Which bank or app is best to buy stocks in Switzerland?
It depends on how you invest. Saxo is the cheapest Swiss bank for most investors, Interactive Brokers the cheapest overall, and Yuh or neon the simplest apps for small amounts. Big banks like UBS are convenient but cost much more per order and per year. Our broker ranking compares 10 brokers on real costs.
Can expats buy shares in Switzerland?
Yes, if you live in Switzerland. Brokers check your residence and tax status: neon requires Swiss residence and exclusive Swiss tax liability, Swissquote a proof of residence no older than six months. US citizens and green card holders should check each broker's conditions, as some brokers don't accept US persons.
Should I buy shares or funds (ETFs)?
For most beginners, ETFs are the better start. One ETF spreads your money across hundreds of stocks, so a single company's problems hurt much less. Individual shares give you more control but also more risk, and your returns depend on a handful of companies. Many investors combine a global ETF as the core with a few single stocks on top.
Which stock should I buy now?
We don't recommend individual stocks, because nobody can reliably predict which one will outperform. A diversified ETF on the SMI or the global market is a solid base for most people. If you want to research Swiss companies yourself, our stocks screener lets you compare dividends, valuations and sectors.
