easyInvesto or ComfortInvest: what should an investor choose

Nowadays, there are special internet platforms known as robo-advisors that allow even beginners to invest independently. And not just investing mindfully, but with the help of online experts, you can get a suitable investment strategy that takes into account your level of risk tolerance and long-term plans.

Today we will compare two investment platforms — easyInvesto and ComfortInvest.

Comparison of self-directed investment platforms

Video: easyInvesto and ComfortInvest after three years

We opened accounts on both platforms and ran them in parallel for three years. In the video, we break down how it worked out in practice: how the strategies behaved, how the management actually differs, and what you should look at before choosing a platform.

They are not opening accounts for citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus.

A real Robo-Advisor

Online process with no middlemen
The ETF robo-advisor is already available from €400 as a one-off or €50 a month
Up to 19 portfolios from 7 investment types, managed by DWS
Sustainable development strategies are available – Nachhaltigkeit
Good value: a total of 1.2 % per annum of the total value of assets and 0.3 % per annum of the value of the ETF
No contract fee

Online asset management

Online process with an intermediary
Professional asset management is already available from 100 euros as a one-off and 50 euros a month
Nine portfolios featuring active funds and expert-driven ETFs are proposed
Four sustainability strategies are available – Nachhaltigkeit
The option to make a lump-sum payment in savings plans – Sparpläne
With the option of call accounts and fixed-term deposit accounts – Tagesgeld- und Festgeldkonto

Advantages of ComfortInvest

And that is not all the benefits, there are many more.

How much can one save?

It all depends on your goal and the size of the contributions.

For example, with an initial deposit 5 000 € and monthly payments €100 you can earn more €13,000 in just 5 years.

If you invest from €50,000, then in 15 years’ time it is to be expected profit of €130,000.

With ComfortInvest you can make a one-off investment from €1,000 and make monthly contributions from €50.

Right now (only until the end of 2023) there is the opportunity to start investing with a one-off 100 Euros and/or 50 Euros monthly.

I.e. you can decide for yourself how much you want to invest to see how the platform works and how much you can earn in the future.

If you would like to read more about ComfortInvest and even calculate the expected return and the size of your investment, click on the link:

ComfortInvest

easyInvesto platform

This is a very convenient and easy-to-use platform (even for absolute beginners) where you can start investing with small amounts, from €50.

All operations are done online, so there is no need to go anywhere.

With EasyInvesto, when investing independently you decide for yourself which risks you are prepared to take and what contributions to make, so you will have a personal strategy and results.

Of course, the fee for automatic investing is higher. Is it worth it? It depends on how you look at it.

If you are a complete beginner at investing, it is best to leave the development of your investment strategy to EasyInvesto.

Advantages of easyInvesto

If you would like to read more about easyInvesto and calculate the expected return and the size of your investment, click on the link:

easyInvesto

How to choose: breakdown by situation

Row-by-row comparison of a table answers the question “what is the difference”, but not the question “what is right for me”. Below are typical situations and the logic for choosing in each.

Your situation	What to look at first
I am starting with a small amount and am not sure I can handle a drawdown	Entry threshold and minimum regular contribution. Starting with an affordable amount and sticking to the plan is more important than starting “correctly” with an amount you need for living expenses
I have accumulated capital with a time horizon of 10 years or more	Total costs as an annual percentage. Over the long term, a difference of half a percentage point turns into double-digit percentages of the final result
I want to top up monthly and not have to think about it	Automation: withdrawals, rebalancing, and no manual actions. Plus the ability to pause contributions without penalty
I’m not sure I’ll be staying in Germany for long	What happens to the depositary account during relocation, and is it possible to transfer units to another bank without selling them? Selling upon exit triggers tax, whereas a transfer does not.
I already have a deposit and my own portfolio	Do not duplicate the same risk. A managed solution only makes sense if it covers something that is missing from your portfolio
We’re saving for a specific goal in 3–5 years’ time	Equity allocation. For a short-term investment horizon, a high proportion of equities is inappropriate in any of the options

What is the same for both solutions

Before comparing the differences, it is useful to understand what the choice of provider does not affect.

Tax regime. Both solutions are investments in funds, and the same capital gains tax applies to them 26.375 per cent (27.82 or 27.99 including church tax), the same rules on partial exemption and the same tax-free allowance of 1,000 euros per person.
Advance lump-sum income. Vorabpauschale is charged in both cases. The base rate for 2026 is 3.20 per cent, direct debit at the beginning of January 2027, automatically from the current account.
Legal protection of shares. The fund’s segregated assets under Section 92 of the KAGB operate in the same way. None of the providers is “safer” than another in terms of insolvency.
Market risk. The drawdown depends on the share of equities in your profile, not the brand. With the same share of equities, both portfolios will drop by roughly the same amount.

In other words: choosing between solutions is a choice based on costs, barriers to entry, convenience and quality of service. Not on “reliability” and not on taxes.

Pre-signature checklist

Nine points to check for any of the options. The answers should be in the documents, not just on the website.

Total cost as a single figure. The provider’s fee, plus the funds’ TER, plus transaction costs, plus custody fees. Look for the section on costs in the Key Information Document (PRIIP-KID).
Entry threshold and minimum contribution. These are two different numbers, check both.
Where is the depot located? A German custodian bank withholds tax itself, applies partial exemptions and takes account of any exemption claims. With a foreign broker, this is your responsibility, and you must attach the KAP form to your tax return.
Has an application for release been submitted? A tax exemption form must be submitted to each bank separately; the total amount must not exceed 1,000 euros per person and 2,000 euros for a married couple. The individual’s tax reference number is required.
The rebalancing rule. By calendar or by deviation of the share from the target. And is it done primarily through new contributions — this is more tax-efficient.
Change of risk profile. Is it possible to change one’s strategy without selling the entire portfolio? A sale generates taxable income.
Exit. Withdrawal times, early withdrawal fees, and the option to transfer units to another bank rather than sell them.
Licence. Checked in BaFin’s public database by name legal entity. A brand may not be listed in the database — this isn’t necessarily a problem, but it is a reason to check who is responsible for the service.
Reporting. How often does the statement arrive, and does it show the return after deducting all expenses rather than before?

Three mistakes when choosing

Comparison by single-line commission. Two propositions with the same management fee can differ in total costs by almost double due to what lies inside the portfolio.
Selection of the share proportion based on the desired return. The share of equities is determined by your time horizon and the drawdown you can withstand without selling. The risk questionnaire is not just a formality.
Change of provider via sale. If units can be transferred, transfer them. Selling for the sake of a rebrand is a voluntary early payment of tax on accumulated profits.