Investing as a Student in Denmark: Aktiesparekonto, Nordnet, Saxo, eToro and Lysa (2026)

Quick answer

I’m a big advocate of investing, and these options are solid. They won’t run away with your money (at least they didn’t with mine). Nordnet is where most Danes open their first account. eToro is a popular choice and has been around for a while. Saxo is integrated with SKAT, which makes taxes easy, and Lysa is the new kid on the block, leaning towards robo investing. Pick the one that speaks to you the most. The most important thing is to start.

A few facts help you choose. Build a buffer first: one to three months of expenses in a normal savings account. After that, most students in Denmark start with an aktiesparekonto, a special account where gains are taxed at a flat 17%. You can put in up to 174,200 kr in 2026. Nordnet and Saxo both offer one. Lysa and eToro don’t offer an aktiesparekonto: Lysa invests for you automatically, and eToro is a global trading app with low fees on US shares.

Before you invest

Investing means your money can go down as well as up, sometimes for years. A few rules before you buy anything:

• Keep a buffer for rent and surprises in a normal account. Don’t invest money you need this semester.
• Never invest borrowed money, including SU loans.
• Invest for at least five years. Over shorter periods, the stock market can easily be lower than when you started.
• Spread your money. A global index fund holds thousands of companies; a single stock tip doesn’t.

The aktiesparekonto

The aktiesparekonto (share savings account) is the simplest way to invest as a Danish taxpayer.

• You can deposit up to 174,200 kr in total in 2026. The limit goes up a little each year.
• Gains are taxed at 17%, lower than the 27% to 42% on investments outside the account.
• Tax is calculated every year on the value increase, even if you don’t sell (the “lagerprincip”). The bank handles it and takes the tax from the account. You don’t fill anything in.
• You can have one aktiesparekonto at a time, and you need a Danish CPR number and to be fully taxable in Denmark.

For a student investing a few hundred kroner a month, the limit won’t be a problem for years.

Where to open one

Nordnet

Nordnet is where most Danes open their first aktiesparekonto. You can set up a monthly savings plan into index funds. The minimum fee on Danish shares is 25 kr per trade, so buying for 200 kr at a time costs a lot in percentage terms. Monthly savings plans in funds usually avoid that.

→ Open an aktiesparekonto at Nordnet

Saxo

Saxo has cut its fees and now has some of the lowest minimum trading fees in Denmark, which matters when you invest small amounts. It also offers an aktiesparekonto.

→ See Saxo’s aktiesparekonto

Lysa

Lysa is a robo-advisor: you answer some questions, set a monthly amount, and Lysa invests it in a mix of index funds. There’s one all-in fee of about 0.4% a year and no trading fees. The catch is that it isn’t an aktiesparekonto, so gains are taxed at the normal, higher rates.

→ See how Lysa works

eToro

eToro is an international investing app where you can buy real shares and ETFs from 1 USD in commission, and since 2026 hold money in Danish kroner. It’s popular for US shares and has social features where you can see and copy what other investors do.

Two things to know before you sign up. eToro doesn’t offer an aktiesparekonto, so gains are taxed at 27% or 42%. And it’s a foreign broker, so nothing is reported to Skattestyrelsen automatically: you enter your gains, losses and dividends in your tax return yourself. Our eToro review goes through fees and tax in detail.

eToro also sells CFDs, which are leveraged products where you can lose money fast. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage; a large share of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with eToro (see the current figure on eToro’s site). As a beginner, stick to buying real shares and ETFs.

→ See eToro

The student investing series

This guide is the starting point. The rest of the series goes deeper:

1. How much should you invest on SU? Buffer first, then a monthly amount that fits a student budget.
2. The aktiesparekonto explained: limits, tax, what you can buy, and how to open one.
3. Index funds and ETFs for beginners: what to buy, and SKAT’s positive list.
4. How investing is taxed in Denmark: 17%, 27% and 42%, and when you pay.
5. eToro review for students: fees, risks and doing your own tax reporting.

A simple start

1. Open an aktiesparekonto with Nordnet or Saxo once you have CPR and MitID.
2. Set up a monthly transfer you won’t miss, even 200 to 500 kr.
3. Buy a broad global index fund every month, regardless of whether the market is up or down.
4. Don’t check it every day.

FAQ

Can international students open an aktiesparekonto?

Yes, if you have a CPR number and are fully taxable in Denmark, which most students living here are. You lose the special tax treatment if you move abroad.

How much do I need to start investing?

Very little. Many funds let you invest from 100 kr a month. Watch the trading fee: with a 25 kr minimum, buying for 100 kr costs 25% in fees.

Is investing better than a savings account?

Over many years, a broad index fund has historically returned more than a savings account, but with ups and downs along the way. Keep money you need soon in a savings account.

Can I use eToro for an aktiesparekonto?

No. eToro is a foreign broker and doesn’t offer the Danish aktiesparekonto. Gains on eToro are taxed at the normal 27% or 42%, and you report them yourself.

What happens to my aktiesparekonto if I leave Denmark?

You stop being fully taxable in Denmark, and the account can’t continue as an aktiesparekonto. Ask your bank before you move.

Last checked: October 2026. Fees and the deposit limit change. Check current prices with each platform, and read Skattestyrelsen’s rules on aktiesparekonto.