Readers ask me one practical question more than any other, so here is the full answer on how to buy VWCE on Scalable Capital, or its ultra-cheap rival WEBN, without stumbling over the small print. I have run savings plans and one-off orders on Scalable for several years. Consequently, I know exactly where the process is smooth and where beginners lose money to spreads, wrong tickers or unnecessary subscriptions. This walkthrough covers the VWCE-versus-WEBN decision, account opening, both order types, and execution on gettex. Fees and rules change often, so treat every figure below as illustrative and verify current terms on scalable.capital before you commit.
VWCE or WEBN — which one should you buy?
Before any order, you need to pick your fund, and this pair covers the same job. Both are accumulating, Irish-domiciled UCITS ETFs holding thousands of large and mid-cap companies across developed and emerging markets. In other words, either one can be your entire equity portfolio.
VWCE is the incumbent. The Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF has traded since 2019, tracks the well-known FTSE All-World index, and has grown into one of Europe’s largest ETFs. Its TER sits at roughly 0.14%. I break down the holdings and track record in my VWCE factsheet.
WEBN is the challenger. The Amundi Prime All Country World UCITS ETF launched in June 2024 and charges roughly 0.07%, about a third of VWCE’s fee. It tracks a Solactive all-country index rather than a FTSE or MSCI benchmark, and it is still a young fund. My WEBN factsheet covers the tracking record and the securities-lending detail honestly.
| Feature | VWCE (Vanguard) | WEBN (Amundi) |
|---|---|---|
| Index | FTSE All-World | Solactive GBS Global Markets Large & Mid Cap |
| Approx. TER | ~0.14% | ~0.07% |
| ISIN | IE00BK5BQT80 | IE0003XJA0J9 |
| Launched | 2019 | June 2024 |
| Track record | Long, across several market regimes | Short but encouraging so far |
| On Scalable | Savings-plan eligible, commission-free plan | Savings-plan eligible, commission-free plan |
| Best for | Investors who value the proven record | Cost-focused accumulators starting fresh |
My honest steer is simple. If a short track record would keep you awake, buy VWCE and pay the extra basis points for peace of mind. If you are starting fresh and cost is king, WEBN is the sharper deal. There is no wrong answer between these two, and the full field is ranked in my guide to the cheapest all-world ETF. Whichever you choose, the buying process on Scalable is identical from here.
Step 1: open the account to buy VWCE on Scalable Capital
Scalable Capital is a German neobroker regulated by BaFin, Germany’s financial watchdog, alongside the Deutsche Bundesbank. Custody sits with Scalable Capital Bank and its partner Baader Bank, your ETFs are segregated special assets, and cash falls under the German statutory deposit guarantee up to €100,000. As of 2026, it serves core EU markets including Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain and the Netherlands, so check availability for your country first.
Head to Scalable Capital and choose the broker account, not the wealth-management product. You will need a passport or ID card, a SEPA bank account in your name, your tax identification number and a smartphone, because the platform is app and web only. The signup flow asks standard MiFID II questions about your experience. Answer honestly; nobody fails.
During signup you pick between the only two broker models Scalable offers: FREE and PRIME+. Pick FREE for now. You can upgrade later, and I explain below exactly when the subscription pays for itself. Identity verification took me under ten minutes, and the first SEPA deposit usually lands within one business day. For the deeper background on the platform, my full Scalable Capital review covers regulation, custody and the honest weaknesses.
Step 2: find the ETF in the app
Here is the tip that prevents the most expensive beginner mistake: search by ISIN, not by name. Type IE00BK5BQT80 for VWCE or IE0003XJA0J9 for WEBN. Fund names are similar across share classes, and one wrong letter buys you the distributing version instead of the accumulating one. WEBN’s distributing sibling, WEBG, is the classic trap.
Once the fund page opens, confirm three things before you tap anything. First, the ticker and ISIN match what you intended. Second, the fund shows as savings-plan eligible, which both VWCE and WEBN do within Scalable’s enormous commission-free range of thousands of eligible ETFs. Third, the listed TER matches the factsheet figure, so you know you are on the right share class.
Step 3: one-off order or free savings plan?
Scalable gives you two ways to buy, and they suit different situations.
A one-off order suits a lump sum. You choose the amount or number of units, pick a market or limit order, and confirm. On the FREE model, a single trade on the core venue typically costs a small flat fee, illustratively around €0.99. For a liquid fund like VWCE or WEBN, I use a limit order close to the current quote; it costs nothing extra and protects against a poor fill if the spread widens.
A savings plan suits monthly investing, and this is where Scalable genuinely shines. Plan executions are commission-free on both models, they start from very small amounts, illustratively as little as €1, and fractional execution invests every cent. You set the amount, the date and the funding method, then the plan runs automatically. I fund mine by direct debit so a forgotten transfer can never skip a month. My step-by-step Scalable Capital savings plan guide walks through every setting in detail.
Which should you pick? If you are investing a salary surplus each month, the free savings plan is the obvious default. If you are deploying a lump sum, a one-off limit order gets it invested today, and the flat fee is trivial.
Step 4: execution on gettex — timing your order
Every Scalable order executes on gettex, the Munich market-maker exchange, as the primary venue. This single-venue setup keeps costs low, but it carries one practical rule.
Gettex quotes through long trading hours, from early morning to late evening. However, spreads are tightest while Xetra, the German reference market, is open during its core hours, roughly 09:00 to 17:30 German time. Outside that window the market maker carries more risk, so spreads can widen. Therefore, place one-off orders during core hours, and avoid the first minutes after the open and the late evening.
Savings-plan executions happen automatically during the trading day at a time the broker determines, so the timing question mostly answers itself. Keep perspective, too. On a €200 purchase of a liquid all-world ETF, a slightly wider spread costs a few cents. Your savings rate and TER matter a hundred times more.
What it costs to buy VWCE on Scalable Capital: FREE vs PRIME+
Now the money question. What does it actually cost to buy VWCE on Scalable Capital over a year of investing? The answer depends almost entirely on how often you place one-off trades.
On the FREE model there is no monthly fee and no custody fee. Savings plans execute commission-free, and single trades on the core venue cost a small flat fee, illustratively around €0.99. If you insist on Xetra execution instead, expect roughly €3.99 plus a small venue charge, which is rarely worth it for a fund this liquid.
PRIME+ carries a monthly subscription, illustratively around €4.99, and removes order fees on one-off trades above a minimum order size on the core venues, alongside extras such as unlimited price alerts and portfolio analytics. Roughly speaking, the maths only works if you place several one-off trades every month. A pure savings-plan investor buying VWCE or WEBN monthly pays nothing in commissions on FREE, so the subscription would buy them nothing at all.
One more cost trap deserves a bold warning. Uninvested cash in the broker account earns no interest on either model. Interest is only available through Scalable’s separate overnight cash product, a distinct account with a variable rate. So either invest your cash or move it; never let it idle in the brokerage expecting a return. When your plan is set, open the account through Scalable Capital and start on FREE. All figures are illustrative; verify current pricing on scalable.capital.
Common mistakes when buying VWCE or WEBN
Buying the wrong share class. Searching by name instead of ISIN is how people end up holding WEBG instead of WEBN, or a distributing Vanguard class instead of VWCE. Always search by ISIN.
Paying for PRIME+ out of habit. If your only activity is a monthly savings plan, the subscription buys you nothing, because plan executions are already free.
Trading at 8 a.m. or 10 p.m. Off-hours spreads on gettex are wider. A limit order during Xetra core hours removes the risk.
Routing one-off orders through Xetra. The flat fee plus venue charge adds up; the core venue does the same job for less.
Holding both funds for “diversification”. VWCE and WEBN track near-identical markets, so owning both adds paperwork, not diversification.
Parking cash in the broker account. It earns nothing there. Only the separate overnight product pays interest, and its rate is variable.
Key takeaways
- VWCE is the proven FTSE All-World incumbent at ~0.14% TER; WEBN is the young Amundi challenger at ~0.07%. Either works as a one-fund core.
- Open the FREE broker account, search by ISIN (IE00BK5BQT80 for VWCE), and choose a one-off order or a savings plan.
- Savings plans are commission-free on both broker models and start from very small amounts, illustratively €1, with fractional execution.
- One-off orders execute on gettex; place them during Xetra core hours with a limit order for the tightest spreads.
- PRIME+ only pays off if you place several one-off trades a month; pure plan investors should stay on FREE.
- Broker-account cash earns no interest; only Scalable’s separate overnight product pays a variable rate.
- Fees and terms change; verify everything on scalable.capital before you commit.
FAQ
Q: Can I buy VWCE on Scalable Capital as a savings plan?
A: Yes. VWCE is savings-plan eligible, and plan executions are commission-free on both the FREE and PRIME+ models, starting from very small monthly amounts.
Q: Is WEBN also available on Scalable Capital?
A: Yes. WEBN sits within Scalable’s commission-free savings-plan range and can also be bought as a one-off order on gettex. Search by ISIN IE0003XJA0J9 to avoid the distributing WEBG class.
Q: Which is better on Scalable, VWCE or WEBN?
A: Both buy near-identical global exposure. VWCE offers a long track record and the familiar FTSE All-World index at roughly 0.14%. WEBN charges roughly 0.07% but has only traded since June 2024.
Q: What does a one-off VWCE order cost on Scalable?
A: On the FREE model, a single trade on the core venue costs a small flat fee, illustratively around €0.99. On PRIME+, trades above a minimum order size are free. Verify current pricing on scalable.capital.
Q: When is the best time of day to place the order?
A: During Xetra core hours, roughly 09:00 to 17:30 German time, when gettex spreads are tightest. Use a limit order for extra protection.
Q: Do I need PRIME+ to invest monthly?
A: No. Savings-plan executions are free on the FREE model too. PRIME+ only makes sense if you place several one-off trades each month or value the analytics extras.
Q: Is my money safe at Scalable Capital?
A: Scalable is regulated by BaFin, your ETFs are segregated special assets held with Scalable Capital Bank and partner Baader Bank, and cash is covered by the German deposit guarantee up to €100,000 per person per bank.
Q: Does uninvested cash earn interest while I wait to buy?
A: No. The broker account pays no interest on idle cash. Interest is only available via Scalable’s separate overnight cash product, which carries a variable rate.
Q: Can I hold both VWCE and WEBN at the same time?
A: You can, but the two funds track near-identical global markets, so holding both mostly duplicates exposure rather than diversifying it.
Q: Which countries can open a Scalable Capital account?
A: As of 2026, core markets include Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain and the Netherlands. Check current availability on scalable.capital before signing up.
Cited sources: justETF and Morningstar. Fees and rules change — verify current terms with each broker.
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European UCITS/ETF investor with 11+ years building a global dividend and index portfolio, and founder of Financial Expert Class. I write every guide here from first-hand experience investing across EU brokers and tax regimes — not theory. More about me →