top of page

Best ETF Savings Plan in Switzerland: Top Providers Comparison May 2025

Compare and find the best ETF savings plan in Switzerland now


  • Saxo Bank ETF Savings Plan: Best ETF savings plan in Switzerland & test winner
  • Yuh + neon ETF savings plan: The best trading apps for easy investing
  • Swissquote ETF savings plan: The best for discerning traders
  • PostFinance + Zuger Kantonalbank: The traditional providers in the test

Portrait of Aljoscha Moser
Portrait of Flurin Bleisch

Reviewed by Flurin Bleisch

Best ETF savings plan Switzerland comparison

2025


Best ETF savings plan

Tested providers

Yuh Logo
Swissquote Logo
PostFinance Logo
neon Logo
Saxo Bank Logo
Zuger Kantonalbank Logo

Top 3

Updated 1.5.2025

1

Best ETF Savings Plan 1st Place: Saxo

2

Best ETF Savings Plan 2: neon
Best ETF savings plan: 2nd place Yuh

3

Best ETF Savings Plan 3rd Place: Swissquote

In our analysis, we compared the best free credit cards in Switzerland. The best free credit cards not only charge no annual fees but also offer attractive cashback and bonus programs.

1

Saxo Bank Logo, Saxo Logo

Outstanding - 1st place

average rating is 5 out of 5

5

ETF savings plan test winner award

Saxo ETF savings plan

Saxo is the best choice for cost-conscious investors - CHF 0 purchase fees & free custody account management


Short review:
Saxo Bank offers the best ETF savings plan in Switzerland. No purchase fees, a broad selection of ETFs and free custody account management make the provider unbeatably favourable. Saxo Bank Switzerland is a FINMA-regulated bank with a Swiss banking licence and is part of the Danish Saxo Bank Group. The offices of Saxo Bank Switzerland are located in the ‘Circle’ at Zurich Airport.



Advantages:

  • Free ETF savings plan
  • No custody account fees
  • Wide selection of ETFs

Disadvantages:

  • None

Cost for CHF 500 savings plan

CHF 0

Custody fee per year

Free of charge

Number of available ETF plans

103 ETFs (all free of charge)

Savings plan offering

Number of ETF savings plans

103 ETFs available

Number of free ETF plans

All 103 ETFs free of charge

Global and Swiss ETFs

🌎 World and 🇨🇭 Swiss ETFs available (all free of charge)

Costs

Purchase fees for ETFs (savings plan)

Free of charge

Sale fees for ETFs

0.08% (min. CHF 3)

Custody fee per year

Free of charge

E-tax statement

Chargeable (CHF 108.10) - an optional additional service that simplifies the tax return, but is not mandatory.

Fee schedule

Features

Execution

On the 5th day of the month

Max. number of simultaneous plans

No limitation

Fractional trading

Only whole ETF shares can be purchased

Available savings plan options

ETFs

Transfer of custody (ETFs to a new provider)

Custody account transfer of savings plan securities not possible (other securities: CHF 50 per security)

Provider

Saxo Bank Logo, Saxo Logo

Provider

Saxo Bank Switzerland offers a platform for investors who want to trade cost-effectively worldwide.

Services

Online trading (shares, ETFs, bonds, options, foreign exchange, etc.)

Regulation

Regulated in Switzerland (FINMA) 🇨🇭

Deposit protection on cash

Swiss deposit protection of CHF 100,000

Protection of securities (stocks, bonds, funds, ETFs) in case of provider insolvency

Investments such as stocks and ETFs remain protected in the event of a bank insolvency, as they are not part of the bankruptcy estate and must be fully returned to clients (Art. 37d BankG).

Platform

App + Web

2

Yuh Logo

Very good - 2nd place

average rating is 4.4 out of 5

4.4

Yuh ETF savings plan

Yuh is perfect for beginners who want to combine investing & banking in one app


Short review:
Yuh offers an intuitive trading and banking app. In addition to investing, users can also manage a private account, savings account and even a 3a account. ETF savings plans are available, but standard fees of 0.5 % (min. CHF 1) apply, which is disadvantageous for larger purchases and sales. There are also some ETFs that can be saved in free of charge.



Advantages:

  • Simple and intuitive trading app
  • Free custody account
  • Integrated 3a account & Twint
  • Free private and savings account included

Disadvantages:

  • ETF savings plans not free of charge as standard (0.5 % fees)
  • No web interface for trading
  • Limited trading offering compared to Saxo or Swissquote

Cost for CHF 500 savings plan

CHF 2.50

Custody fee per year

Free of charge

Number of available ETF plans

56 ETFs (13 of which are free of charge)

Savings plan offering

Number of ETF savings plans

56 ETFs available

Number of free ETF plans

13 ETFs free of charge

Global and Swiss ETFs

🌎 World and 🇨🇭 Swiss ETFs available (some free of charge)

Costs

Purchase fees for ETFs (savings plan)

0.5% (min. CHF 1)

Sale fees for ETFs

0.5% (min. CHF 1)

Custody fee per year

Free of charge

E-tax statement

Chargeable (CHF 25) - an optional additional service that simplifies the tax return, but is not mandatory.

Fee schedule

Features

Execution

Weekly or monthly on any given day

Max. number of simultaneous plans

No limitation

Fractional trading

Purchase of ETF fractions possible

Available savings plan options

ETFs, individual shares, cryptos, theme certificates

Transfer of custody (ETFs to a new provider)

Custody account transfer not possible (ETFs must be sold)

Provider

Yuh Logo

Provider

Yuh combines banking, trading and 3a in one app for users who want simple and affordable solutions.

Services

Bank account, online trading (shares, ETFs, crypto), savings, pillar 3a

Regulation

Regulated in Switzerland (FINMA) 🇨🇭

Deposit protection on cash

Swiss deposit protection of CHF 100,000

Protection of securities (stocks, bonds, funds, ETFs) in case of provider insolvency

Investments such as stocks and ETFs remain protected in the event of a bank insolvency, as they are not part of the bankruptcy estate and must be fully returned to clients (Art. 37d BankG)

Platform

App

2

neon Logo

Very good - 2nd place

average rating is 4.4 out of 5

4.4

neon ETF savings plan

neon scores with a modern and free account app - perfect for beginners


Brief review:
neon offers a modern and user-friendly financial app for ETF savings plans and free banking. There are standard fees of 0.5% (min. CHF 1) per savings plan execution, but some ETFs can also be saved for free. This makes neon particularly suitable for beginners and smaller savings plans.



Advantages:

  • Very simple and modern app for investors
  • Free custody account
  • ETFs available for free
  • Free account app

Disadvantages:

  • No 3a account or Twint integration as with Yuh
  • No web interface for trading
  • ETF savings plans not free of charge by default

Cost for CHF 500 savings plan

CHF 2.50

Custody fee per year

Free of charge

Number of available ETF plans

99 ETFs (16 of which are free of charge)

Savings plan offering

Number of ETF savings plans

108 ETFs available

Number of free ETF plans

16 ETFs free of charge

Global and Swiss ETFs

🌎 World and 🇨🇭 Swiss ETFs available (some free of charge)

Costs

Purchase fees for ETFs (savings plan)

0.5%

Sale fees for ETFs

0.5%

Custody fee per year

Free of charge

E-tax statement

Free of charge - the e-tax statement is provided free of charge.

Fee schedule

Features

Execution

On the 3rd, 15th or 28th day of each month

Max. number of simultaneous plans

3 savings plans

Fractional trading

Only whole ETF shares can be purchased

Available savings plan options

ETFs, individual shares

Transfer of custody (ETFs to a new provider)

Custody account transfer possible (CHF 100 per security)

Provider

neon Logo

Provider

neon offers banking and trading in one app for anyone who wants to manage their finances simply and cheaply.

Services

Bank account, online trading (shares, ETFs), savings

Regulation

Regulated in Switzerland (FINMA) 🇨🇭

Deposit protection on cash

Swiss deposit protection of CHF 100,000

Protection of securities (stocks, bonds, funds, ETFs) in case of provider insolvency

Investments such as shares and ETFs remain protected in the event of bank insolvency, as they do not form part of the bankruptcy estate and are returned to customers in full (Art. 37d BankA)

Platform

App

3

Swissquote Bank Logo, Swissquote Logo

Good - 3rd place

average rating is 4 out of 5

4

Swissquote ETF savings plan

The most comprehensive and sophisticated trading offer with flat fee - attractive for larger portfolios


Short review:
Swissquote offers the most sophisticated trading platform. The savings plan offer complements the range with an attractive option for long-term wealth accumulation. The purchase fees are capped at CHF 9 (for amounts over CHF 1,000) or CHF 3 (up to CHF 500), which is particularly attractive for higher savings plan amounts. The custody fees have a negative impact on smaller portfolios.



Advantages:

  • Most comprehensive trading platform in Switzerland
  • Flat fee of max. CHF 9 per ETF trade
  • Many additional offers (private account, mortgages, pillar 3a)

Disadvantages:

  • Custody account fees noticeable for smaller portfolios
  • Higher purchase fees for small savings plans

Cost for CHF 500 savings plan

CHF 3.85

Custody fee per year

from CHF 80 (max. CHF 200)

Number of available ETF plans

104 ETF

Savings plan offering

Number of ETF savings plans

104 ETFs available

Number of free ETF plans

No free ETF savings plans

Global and Swiss ETFs

🌎 World and 🇨🇭 Swiss ETFs available

Costs

Purchase fees for ETFs (savings plan)

Up to CHF 500: CHF 3.85 | Up to CHF 1,000: CHF 5.85 | Over CHF 1,000: max. CHF 9.85

Sale fees for ETFs

Up to CHF 500: CHF 3.85 | Up to CHF 1,000: CHF 5.85 | Over CHF 1,000: max. CHF 9.85

Custody fee per year

Up to CHF 50,000: CHF 80 | Up to CHF 100,000: CHF 100 | Up to CHF 150,000: CHF 150 | Over CHF 150,000: max. CHF 200

E-tax statement

Chargeable (CHF 91.80) - an optional additional service that simplifies the tax return, but is not mandatory.

Fee schedule

Features

Execution

Daily, weekly, every 2 weeks, monthly, every 2 months or quarterly on any given day

Max. number of simultaneous plans

No limitation

Fractional trading

Purchase of ETF fractions possible

Available savings plan options

ETFs, individual shares, cryptos, theme certificates

Transfer of custody (ETFs to a new provider)

Custody account transfer possible (CHF 50 per security)

Provider

Swissquote Bank Logo, Swissquote Logo

Provider

Swissquote is Switzerland's leading online bank for investors looking for comprehensive solutions for trading, banking, mortgages and pensions.

Services

Online trading (shares, ETFs, funds, crypto, etc.), bank account, savings, mortgages, pillar 3a, robo-advisory

Regulation

Regulated in Switzerland (FINMA) 🇨🇭

Deposit protection on cash

Swiss deposit protection of CHF 100,000

Protection of securities (stocks, bonds, funds, ETFs) in case of provider insolvency

Investments such as shares and ETFs remain protected in the event of bank insolvency, as they do not form part of the bankruptcy estate and are returned to customers in full (Art. 37d BankA)

Platform

App + Web

4

PostFinance Logo

Unsatisfactory - 4th place

average rating is 3.8 out of 5

3.8

PostFinance ETF savings plan

Quite expensive with 1% transaction fee - benefits in the test from the CHF 18 trading credit per quarter


Brief review:

The PostFinance Trading Plattofrm was developed by Swissquote, but offers fewer functions. The custody fees are a disadvantage for small portfolios, but are partially offset by a trading credit balance (CHF 18 per quarter). The purchase fees of 1 % are comparatively high - so as soon as the trading credit is used up, the offer can no longer keep up with the competition in terms of fees.


✅ Advantages:

  • Solid trading platform with many functions
  • Trading credit partially offsets custody account fees
  • Wide range of financial services

Disadvantages:

  • High purchase fees (1%)
  • Custody fees as a disadvantage for small portfolios

Cost for CHF 500 savings plan

CHF 5

Custody fee per year

CHF 72 (as trading credit) + CHF 60 account fee

Number of available ETF plans

30 ETF

Savings plan offering

Number of ETF savings plans

30 ETFs available

Number of free ETF plans

No free ETF savings plans

Global and Swiss ETFs

🌎 World and 🇨🇭 Swiss ETFs available

Costs

Purchase fees for ETFs (savings plan)

1% (min. CHF 1)

Sale fees for ETFs

from CHF 6 (max. CHF 300)

Custody fee per year

CHF 72 (the custody account fee is credited quarterly as a trading credit of CHF 18) + CHF 60 per year for the Smart banking package

E-tax statement

Chargeable (CHF 97.30) - an optional additional service that simplifies the tax return, but is not mandatory.

Fee schedule

Features

Execution

Weekly, every 2 weeks, monthly, every 2 months or quarterly on any day

Max. number of simultaneous plans

No limitation

Fractional trading

Only whole ETF shares can be purchased

Available savings plan options

ETFs

Transfer of custody (ETFs to a new provider)

Custody account transfer possible (CHF 108 per security)

Provider

PostFinance Logo

Provider

PostFinance offers financial services in the areas of payments, investments, retirement planning and financing for private and business customers.

Services

Bank accounts, payment services, trading (shares, funds, ETFs, etc.), mortgages, pensions

Regulation

Regulated in Switzerland (FINMA) 🇨🇭

Deposit protection on cash

Swiss deposit protection of CHF 100,000

Protection of securities (stocks, bonds, funds, ETFs) in case of provider insolvency

Investments such as shares and ETFs remain protected in the event of bank insolvency, as they do not form part of the bankruptcy estate and are returned to customers in full (Art. 37d BankA)

Platform

App + Web

5

Zuger Kantonalbank Logo, ZugerKB Logo

Unsatisfactory - 5th place

average rating is 3 out of 5

3

Zuger Kantonalbank ETF savings plan

So far the only ETF savings plan from a cantonal bank - but with a small selection of ETFs and high fees


Brief review:

Zuger Kantonalbank's e-fund savings plan enables customers to save automatically in a selection of funds and ETFs. On the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, the balance in the e-fund savings plan account is invested in the selected products.


Advantages:

  • Simple handling directly in e-banking
  • Tax statement included

Disadvantages:

  • High purchase fees (1.5 %)
  • Custody fees in the amount of 0.22%

Cost for CHF 500 savings plan

CHF 7.50

Custody fee per year

0.22%

Number of available ETF plans

5 ETFs

Savings plan offering

Number of ETF savings plans

5 ETFs available

Number of free ETF plans

No free ETF savings plans

Global and Swiss ETFs

🌎 World and 🇨🇭 Swiss ETFs available

Costs

Purchase fees for ETFs (savings plan)

1.5%

Sale fees for ETFs

1.5%

Custody fee per year

0.22%

E-tax statement

Chargeable (CHF 108.10 per portfolio) - an optional additional service that makes tax returns easier but is not mandatory.

Fee schedule

Features

Execution

On the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month

Max. number of simultaneous plans

No limitation

Fractional trading

Only whole ETF shares can be purchased

Available savings plan options

ETFs, ZugerKB funds

Transfer of custody (ETFs to a new provider)

Custody account transfer possible (CHF 100 per security)

Provider

Zuger Kantonalbank Logo, ZugerKB Logo

Provider

Zuger Kantonalbank offers financial services in the areas of payments, investments, pensions and financing for private and business customers.

Services

Bank accounts, payment services, trading (shares, funds, ETFs, etc.), mortgages, pensions

Regulation

Regulated in Switzerland (FINMA) 🇨🇭

Deposit protection on cash

Swiss deposit protection of CHF 100,000

Protection of securities (stocks, bonds, funds, ETFs) in case of provider insolvency

Investments such as stocks and ETFs remain protected in the event of a bank insolvency, as they are not part of the bankruptcy estate and must be fully returned to clients (Art. 37d BankG)

Platform

App + Web

Compare the best ETF savings plans in Switzerland

Provider
ETF Saving Plans
Free ETF Saving Plans
Purchase Costs (Plan)
Sale Costs
Annual Deposit Fee
Execution Interval
Fractional Trading
Platform
Regulation
Saxo ETF savings plan
103 ETFs available
All 103 ETFs free of charge
Free of charge
0.08% (min. CHF 3)
Free of charge
On the 5th day of the month
Only whole ETF shares can be purchased
App + Web
Regulated in Switzerland (FINMA) 🇨🇭
Open now + receive CHF 200 trading credit
Yuh ETF savings plan
56 ETFs available
13 ETFs free of charge
0.5% (min. CHF 1)
0.5% (min. CHF 1)
Free of charge
Weekly or monthly on any given day
Purchase of ETF fractions possible
App
Regulated in Switzerland (FINMA) 🇨🇭
Open now + receive CHF 50 trading credit
neon ETF savings plan
108 ETFs available
16 ETFs free of charge
0.5%
0.5%
Free of charge
On the 3rd, 15th or 28th day of each month
Only whole ETF shares can be purchased
App
Regulated in Switzerland (FINMA) 🇨🇭
Open now + receive CHF 100 trading credit
Swissquote ETF savings plan
104 ETFs available
No free ETF savings plans
Up to CHF 500: CHF 3.85 | Up to CHF 1,000: CHF 5.85 | Over CHF 1,000: max. CHF 9.85
Up to CHF 500: CHF 3.85 | Up to CHF 1,000: CHF 5.85 | Over CHF 1,000: max. CHF 9.85
from CHF 80 (max. CHF 200)
Daily, weekly, every 2 weeks, monthly, every 2 months or quarterly on any given day
Purchase of ETF fractions possible
App + Web
Regulated in Switzerland (FINMA) 🇨🇭
Open now + receive CHF 100 trading credit
PostFinance ETF savings plan
30 ETFs available
No free ETF savings plans
1% (min. CHF 1)
from CHF 6 (max. CHF 300)
CHF 72 (as trading credit) + CHF 60 account fee
Weekly, every 2 weeks, monthly, every 2 months or quarterly on any day
Only whole ETF shares can be purchased
App + Web
Regulated in Switzerland (FINMA) 🇨🇭
Can be taken out directly with the provider
Zuger Kantonalbank ETF savings plan
5 ETFs available
No free ETF savings plans
1.5%
1.5%
0.22%
On the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
Only whole ETF shares can be purchased
App + Web
Regulated in Switzerland (FINMA) 🇨🇭
Open directly with provider

ETF savings plans compared: What to look for when choosing

Best ETF savings plan Switzerland comparison

📖 Overview

  1. The most important facts about ETF savings plans at a glance

  2. Overview of ETF savings plan providers in Switzerland

  3. How we tested

  4. How does an ETF savings plan work in practice?

  5. Buying whole units vs. fractional trading

  6. Savings plan investments

  7. How to find ETFs for your savings plan and build your ETF portfolio

  8. Security

  9. FAQ

Welcome offers 🚀 

We have agreed welcome conditions for you with the following providers:

  • Saxo: With the voucher link you will receive a trading credit (credit of trading fees) in the amount of CHF 200. learn more

  • Swissquote: With the Swissquote promotional code MKT_SWISSQMONEY you will receive a trading credit of CHF 100. learn more

  • neon: With the code neonMoney you will receive a trading credit of CHF 100. learn more

  • Yuh: With the promotional code YUHMON you will receive a trading credit of CHF 50 + 250 SWQ. learn more

Best ETF savings plans 2025

A good ETF savings plan should be simple, flexible and affordable – but the most important factor is the costs. After all, they play a crucial role in determining how much of the return you actually receive in the end. Even small fees can make a big difference, especially when it comes to long-term saving.

  • 1st place 🥇 Saxo - the test winner: The test winner is Saxo Bank, which offers the best ETF savings plan in Switzerland. With Saxo, asset accumulation via ETF savings plans is particularly attractive, as Saxo does not charge any purchase fees or custody account fees. The wide range of ETFs with over 100 ETFs available for savings is also impressive. Saxo is a pure online trading platform. If you are also looking for a wide range of services, such as a bank account with debit card or a pillar 3a, you will find what you are looking for at Swissquote or PostFinance.

  • 2nd place 🥈 Yuh and neon - the trading apps for simple investing: Yuh and neon achieved the same score in the test: both offer a wide selection of ETFs that can be saved in. In contrast to Saxo, the standard fees of 0.5% (or at least CHF 1) generally apply to the execution of savings plans. Purchase fees are waived for selected ETFs. As with Saxo, there are no custody fees. Thanks to their intuitive apps, Yuh and neon are particularly attractive for newcomers. The trading offering is significantly smaller compared to Saxo, PostFinance and Swissquote. There is no web solution.

  • 3rd place 🥉 Swissquote - the most sophisticated and comprehensive offering: Swissquote offers the most sophisticated trading and banking platform. With the savings plan offer, Swissquote adds another function to the platform for long-term wealth accumulation. Purchase fees are limited to CHF 9 (for amounts over CHF 1,000) or CHF 3 (up to CHF 500), allowing Swissquote to offer competitive fees. The flat fee of CHF 3 to a maximum of CHF 9 is attractive for large sums, but can be disadvantageous for smaller amounts.

  • 4th place PostFinance - Swissquote in light: The PostFinance trading platform was developed by Swissquote, although the range of functions is limited compared to the Swissquote platform. The custody account fees are partially offset by a quarterly trading credit of the same amount (currently CHF 18). However, the purchase fees of 1% are relatively high compared to the other providers in the test.

  • 5th place: Zuger Kantonalbank - savings plan with a cantonal bank: With the e-fund savings plan from Zuger Kantonalbank, selected funds and ETFs can be saved regularly. The frequency of deposits is freely selectable. Balances in the e-fund savings plan account of over CHF 100 are invested in the selected products on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. The ETF offering is still very limited and the purchase and sales costs of 1.5% are also high compared to the competition.


The most important facts about ETF savings plans at a glance

Investors can build up assets automatically with low-cost ETFs. Here you can find out how it works, which ETF savings plans are suitable and what you need to look out for when choosing the best ETF savings plan offer.

ETF savings plans in the mobile finance apps from Swissquote, neon and Yuh
ETF savings plans can be set up and managed with just a few clicks.

  • How an ETF savings plan works: An ETF savings plan is like a standing order for your investment. You decide how much you want to invest on a regular basis. The money is then continuously and automatically invested in selected ETFs. In this way, you gradually build up broadly diversified assets.

  • ETF simply explained: An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the performance of an index. It enables a broad diversification of the money invested, as it contains many shares at once. So instead of buying individual shares, you invest in a whole basket of companies. ETFs are inexpensive, transparent and can be traded flexibly on the stock exchange.

  • ETF savings plans in Switzerland: While ETF savings plans have long been established in many countries, they are still considered a novelty in Switzerland. ETF savings plans are an exciting opportunity for investors to invest cost-effectively and automatically.

  • ETF savings plans vs. actively managed index fund savings plans: ETF savings plans allow you to invest in various markets in a broadly diversified and cost-effective manner. Compared to actively managed index funds, which are still sold by many traditional banks, ETFs are generally much more flexible and cheaper.

  • What you should look out for when choosing a savings plan: You should opt for an ETF savings plan that invests as broadly diversified as possible and has the lowest possible costs. This applies to both the broker (trading fees, custody fees) and the ETF itself (TER). Broad diversification prevents the performance of individual shares or economies from having too negative an impact on the value of your investment. Nobody can predict market developments, but excessive fees will certainly reduce your return.

Cost type

Explanation

Order fees (buy/sell)


Fee per savings plan execution, usually as a percentage (e.g. 1% per purchase) or as a fixed price (e.g. CHF 3 per purchase).

Custody fees

Costs for holding the ETF in the custody account. Some brokers offer free custody accounts.

TER (total expense ratio)

Annual management fee of the ETF, which is retained directly by the fund provider. This is usually between 0.1% and 0.5% and is automatically deducted from the fund assets, regardless of which broker you invest with.

Currency exchange fees


Fee when ETFs are purchased in foreign currency, often 0.25% to 1% per conversion.


  • That's why an ETF savings plan is worthwhile: An ETF savings plan makes sense because it allows you to build up assets automatically over the long term. On the one hand, you benefit from the compound interest effect and the so-called cost-average effect. The latter means that you regularly buy at the current market price - sometimes cheaper, sometimes more expensive. In this way, you smooth out the fluctuations on the stock market and reduce your average purchase price in the long term. You could also invest manually in the ETFs of your choice every month, but there is a high risk that you will lose motivation and discipline after a few months.

Example of the compound interest effect with ETF savings plans
How your assets grow with compound interest: If you invest CHF 500 per month over 25 years, you can more than double your invested capital thanks to the power of compound interest. In this example with an assumed annual return of 6.3 %, the capital invested grows from 150,000 francs (amount paid in) to 353,243 francs (portfolio value) - a gain of over 200,000 francs. This return corresponds to the average performance of the MSCI World Index over the last 20 years.

Overview of ETF savings plan providers in Switzerland

Both traditional banks and brokers and modern smartphone banks and financial apps now offer ETF savings plans. However, the range in Switzerland is still limited.

In this ETF savings plan comparison, we have examined the following Swiss ETF savings plan providers – all regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA:

  • The online broker Saxo offers favourable conditions and a large selection of ETFs – ideal for cost-conscious investors.

  • The finance apps neon and Yuh combine ETF savings plans, trading and banking in a modern app. They are therefore particularly suitable for beginners who want everything from a single source.

  • The online bank Swissquote combines ETF savings plans, banking, trading and retirement planning in a single platform – ideal for anyone who wants to manage their finances centrally. With millions of tradable products, Swissquote also offers the largest investment universe compared to the other providers in the test.

  • Traditional banks such as PostFinance and Zuger Kantonalbank also offer ETF savings plans, often with higher fees – but with a branch structure.

The provider that is best for you depends on what is most important to you: low fees, ease of use, a wide range of products or traditional banking services? In our comparison, we present the individual providers in detail so that you can make the right choice for your ETF savings plan in Switzerland.


How we tested

To calculate the rating, we rely on objective methods so as not to influence the result with subjective criteria. For this purpose, we focus solely on the fees (purchase fees for savings plan execution, sales fees, custody account fees). There is a simple reason for this: the costs are the only objective and comparable factor. Fees have a direct impact on returns and are therefore of central importance to the majority of investors.

Other features and aspects (e.g. fractional trading, web access or number of ETFs) may vary in importance depending on personal preference and investment objective. Some investors favour a broad range of ETFs, while others value the ability to invest in fractions of ETFs. However, these factors are subjective and difficult to compare, as they are not equally important for every investor. That's why we show such characteristics clearly in our comparison so that you can get a quick and easy overview. However, these ‘soft criteria’ are not included in the evaluation, as they depend heavily on individual preferences and are therefore difficult to compare.

Our approach ensures that the test score remains objective and is based on a standardised benchmark. At the same time, by presenting the additional functions and product features, we offer you the opportunity to choose the best provider for you personally. In this way, we create transparency without subjective factors distorting the evaluation. In the detailed comparison report, we not only scrutinise the ETF savings plan offering, but also show you in detail which strengths and weaknesses of the tested providers you should be aware of.


The specific test criteria

We base the investment volume on the figures from the Federal Statistical Office, according to which private households have a savings amount of around CHF 1,500 at their disposal. Based on this savings amount, we assume for the calculation that three ETFs of CHF 500 each are saved each month and that the trading orders are executed via a Swiss stock exchange (SIX or BX). The average custody account volume for the calculation of custody account fees is CHF 100,000.

In addition to the purchase costs (savings plan execution), we also take into account the sales costs, as these influence the return on the investment over the entire investment period. As the increase in value of an investment is only realised when it is sold, the selling costs are decisive for the net income. In order to present these effects transparently, we assume an investment horizon of 10 years and simulate the complete sale of the three ETFs held (without taking into account price gains or losses). This method enables a realistic assessment of the total costs and shows how the sales costs affect the final result in the long term. In addition, not all providers allow securities to be transferred to another custody account, which means that they can only be redeemed by selling them.

The calculation bases are summarised as follows:

  • Custody account assets: CHF 100,000

  • Purchase of ETF A via savings plan (SIX / BX stock exchange): 12x per year at CHF 500 each

  • Purchase ETF B via savings plan (SIX / BX exchange): 12x per year at CHF 500 each

  • Purchase ETF C via savings plan (SIX / BX exchange): 12x per year at CHF 500 each

  • Sell ETF A (SIX / BX stock exchange): 1x after 10 years at CHF 60,000

  • Sale of ETF B (SIX / BX stock exchange): 1x after 10 years at CHF 60,000

  • Sale of ETF C (SIX / BX stock exchange): 1x after 10 years at CHF 60,000 each


Why three ETFs? Broad diversification can be achieved with just three ETFs. Different markets, regions or asset classes can be covered with three ETFs. For example, a portfolio consisting of an ETF for global equities, an ETF for bonds and an ETF for property. Or a portfolio consisting of one ETF for global equities, one for Swiss equities and one ETF for emerging markets.


How does an ETF savings plan work in practice?

Setting up, editing and cancelling a savings plan

  1. To buy ETFs, you need to open a custody account with an online broker or bank. Your purchased securities will then be held there.

  2. Define your optimal investment strategy. For example, you could opt for a global strategy or focus on Swiss investments.

  3. Select the right ETFs for your strategy and decide how often and how much you want to invest. For long-term wealth accumulation, we recommend ETFs that are as broadly diversified as possible and have low ongoing charges (TER).

  4. Set up a standing order from your salary account to your custody account so that enough money is available for your savings plans. These will not be executed without sufficient funds.

  5. You can adjust your savings plans flexibly, e.g. to invest more in the event of a salary increase or to take a break during a career break.


With an ETF savings plan, you can build up long-term assets while remaining flexible. You can adjust the savings plan at any time, stop it or withdraw the money you have saved by selling ETF units.


Buying whole units vs. fractional trading

Let's assume you want to invest 500 francs in a world ETF every month using a savings plan. We also assume that the world ETF is currently trading at CHF 120. A distinction must be made between providers that only allow you to buy whole ETF shares via a savings plan and those that also allow you to buy fractions:

  1. Buying whole ETFs: As many units as possible are bought. In our example, 4 whole ETFs could be purchased for a total of CHF 480. The remaining amount of CHF 20 is therefore not invested and is available for investment in the following month.

  2. Buying fractions of ETFs: Fractional trading can be particularly interesting for expensive ETFs. In our example, 4.16 units could be purchased. The exact structure of fractional trading varies from provider to provider.


What is the legal framework for fractional trading?

It is not possible to buy fractions of shares (e.g. 0.5 Roche shares) directly on the stock exchange. Therefore, the broker acquires a whole share (e.g. 1 Roche share), holds it in trust for you and grants you a pro rata right of use in accordance with the fraction you have acquired (so-called fiduciary share). You are the beneficial owner of the acquired fraction.


What happens in the event of bankruptcy?

Securities held in trust at a FINMA-regulated bank are segregated from the bankruptcy estate in the event of bankruptcy and therefore constitute special assets. However, only the transfer of entire securities can be requested. Fractions may therefore have to be sold. There is also a risk if the shares are held with a sub-custodian that goes bankrupt - other legal provisions of other countries may apply here, which complicates the surrender. Both the General Terms and Conditions of Yuh and Swissquote contain corresponding limitations of liability.


Savings plan investments

Many providers offer savings plans not only for ETFs, but also for shares, cryptocurrencies or theme certificates:


ETF - the best investment for wealth accumulation

ETFs are the best and most cost-effective choice for building a diversified portfolio over the long term. A single global ETF, such as the Vanguard FTSE All-World (ISIN: IE00B3RBWM25), invests in over 3,600 shares.


Equities - individual opportunities with companies

Adding equities to a diversified global portfolio leads to a targeted weighting of certain companies. This moves away from a pure market mapping approach, usually in the hope of potential excess returns. In other words, you expect your investment to outperform the market as a whole or you value particular characteristics of an individual share that appear attractive in the long term.


Cryptocurrencies - opportunities and risks

Cryptocurrencies are an asset class with potentially high potential returns, but also high risks and volatility. Many investors see diversification potential in crypto investments.


Theme certificates - investing in trends & themes

With themed certificates, you can invest in future trends such as AI, for example. Here, too, the focus is on the belief in growth in a specific area and thus the hope of achieving above-average returns. These investments are also so-called tracker certificates where, unlike an ETF, you bear the issuer risk (i.e. the risk that the issuer can no longer fulfil its obligations to investors).


How to find ETFs for your savings plan and build your ETF portfolio

There is a large selection of ETFs. Over 1,800 ETFs are tradable on the Swiss stock exchange alone. So that you don't get lost in the jungle of products, we show you the most important criteria for finding suitable ETFs here. There are differences in:

  • ReplicationPhysical means that the ETF actually buys the shares it contains. Synthetic means that it replicates the performance with the help of financial instruments.

  • Distribution: Accumulating ETFs reinvest dividends automatically. Distributing ETFs pay out dividends to you on a regular basis.

  • TER (Total Expense Ratio): This annual fee is automatically deducted from the fund's assets. The lower, the better.

🚀 7 things you should look out for when choosing an ETF

Many beginners feel overwhelmed by the huge selection of ETFs.

Our tip: Don't make it too complicated

Here you will find a selection of interesting ETFs. However, this is not an investment recommendation or advice:

Index / Region

ETF

ISIN

Was wird abgebildet?

Ausschüttung

TER p.a.

MSCI World 🌎

iShares Core MSCI World

IE00B4L5Y983

Around 1,350 shares from 23 industrialised countries

Accumulating

0.20 %

S&P 500 🇺🇸

iShares Core S&P 500

IE00B5BMR087

500 largest US companies

Accumulating

0.07 %

MSCI EM 🇨🇳

iShares Core MSCI EM IMI

IE00BKM4GZ66

Shares from China, India, Brazil & Co.

Accumulating

0.18 %

SPI 🇨🇭

iShares Core SPI® CHF (CH)

CH0237935652

Swiss companies from the broad market

Distributing

0.10 %



Security

A distinction must be made between the credit balance in your account and the ETFs. The credit balance is subject to deposit protection and is protected up to an amount of CHF 100,000 in the event of bankruptcy. Your ETFs are securities that constitute special assets and do not fall into the bankruptcy estate in the event of bankruptcy.


  • Custodian bank bankruptcy: Your securities in the custody account remain your property even in the event of insolvency. The securities would be transferred to a new custodian bank of your choice, with the only annoyance being that this process can take several weeks to months. The liquid assets you hold in your investment account, on the other hand, are only protected by the deposit guarantee up to CHF 100,000.

  • Bankruptcy of fund providers: Even if the ETF issuer becomes insolvent, your ETFs and index funds are protected as special assets and are therefore excluded from the bankruptcy estate. The securities remain your property. Your ETFs would be transferred to another fund company, which can also take time.


FAQ

How long should I hold my saved ETFs?

As long as possible. Because the longer your investment horizon, the higher your chances of returns.

Are ETF savings plans a long-term investment?

Am I well diversified with each ETF?

What does an ETF savings plan cost?

What is an ETF savings plan?


Portrait of Aljoscha Moser

Swiss Focus

Our comparisons consider the specific characteristics of the Swiss market – from fee structures to tax aspects.

In-Depth Analyses

All financial products are reviewed by experts with years of experience in the financial industry – objective, transparent and data-driven.

bottom of page