The best alternatives to Interactive Brokers are
- Saxo Bank - Danish investment bank
- DEGIRO - German-Dutch discount broker
- Swissquote - Swiss investment bank
- TradeStation Global - UK-based global stockbroker
Let's see in a bit more detail how the Interactive Brokers alternatives compare to Interactive Brokers and each other:
| Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank | DEGIRO | Swissquote | TradeStation Global | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| Fees score | 4.5 stars | 3.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 2.4 stars | 3.9 stars |
| Account opening score | 3.4 stars | 2.5 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.0 stars | 2.8 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 3.0 stars | 4.8 stars | 3.3 stars | 4.6 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Web platform score | 4.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.0 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Markets and products score | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.5 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker |
Why are these brokers considered good alternatives to Interactive Brokers? There are many areas based on which Interactive Brokers can be compared with others. When we say a given online broker is a good alternative to Interactive Brokers we mean these brokers are comparable in the following areas:
- The products they offer, meaning you can buy mostly the same things, i.e. stocks, CFDs, options, etc.
- The type of clients they target, i.e. beginners, experienced investors, or day traders.
Interactive Brokers alternatives recommendations
Brokers are different in a number of ways, which means each of them may be suitable for different people. Here's how they compare overall:
- Interactive Brokers is recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment
- Saxo Bank is recommended for investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research
- DEGIRO is recommended for traders and investors looking for execution only
- Swissquote is recommended for affluent investors who value safety and are ok with higher fees
- TradeStation Global is recommended for traders and investors looking for low fees and a wide selection of products
Important factors of finding Interactive Brokers alternatives
So far BrokerChooser has reviewed 94 online brokers in detail, which gives this comparison a solid starting point.
Not only that, but all of these brokers are reviewed using the exact same broker review methodology, which makes everything easily comparable. For each broker, we
- open a live account
- check over 100 criteria, with weighting based on readers' preferences
- refresh data regularly
Whether Interactive Brokers or one of its alternatives is the best choice for you is on the following five broker characteristics that most interest people:
Fees. There are different types of fees that your online brokerage may charge, and both the number and the size of these fees may vary significantly from broker to broker. Both of these aspects can impact your returns and your overall experience. Interactive Brokers is one of the cheaper brokers, so if this is an important consideration for you, make sure you pick a similarly low-cost Interactive Brokers alternative.
Deposit/withdrawal. The number of ways that you can deposit or withdraw money to or from your account matters a lot. For example, while you cannot make a deposit with your credit card at Interactive Brokers, some alternatives might allow you to do that.
Web trading platform. While online brokers are usually available on various platforms like mobile apps, tablet apps or desktop software, most people use them through their web platform in a browser. User-friendly trading platforms that offer many different resources can significantly increase your trading comfort.
Markets and products. A lot of people have specific products they would like to invest in. Knowing whether stocks, forex, mutual funds, and other products are available at the given Interactive Brokers alternative is a must.
Now let's dive into the details of how Interactive Brokers and its alternatives perform in the most important areas!
Interactive Brokers alternatives
Saxo Bank
Saxo Bank, a Danish investment bank founded in 1992, provides online trading and investment services. The company is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the Danish Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Saxo Bank is a global service provider and its subsidiaries are present in the form of separate legal entities in different regions of the world. The services offered by the various entities may differ slightly, especially with respect to fees and product portfolios. In this review, we tested Saxo Bank UK.
Saxo Bank is considered safe because it has a long track record, a banking background and is regulated by top-tier financial authorities.
Recommended for investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Great trading platform | • High bond, options and futures fees |
| • Outstanding research | • High minimum deposit |
| • Broad product portfolio | • Lacks live chat and 24/7 availability |
Fees
Saxo Bank has average trading and non-trading fees overall. Trading fees vary greatly between different asset classes.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex fees | • Inactivity fee |
| • Low fund fees | • High bond, options and futures fees |
| • No withdrawal fee |
| Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $20.3 | $2.3 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $23.0 | $9.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $7.8 | $10.7 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Saxo's account opening is fully digital, user-friendly and available in most countries. On the other hand, the minimum deposit is high in certain countries and account verification can take longer.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Minimum deposit is high in certain countries |
| • User-friendly | • Slow account verification |
| • Available in almost every country |
| Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $2,000 | $0 |
| Time to open account | >3 days | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in Saxo Bank minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Saxo provides multiple deposit and withdrawal options free of charge on a user-friendly interface.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Electronic wallets not available for deposit or withdrawal |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Saxo Bank's web trading platform is one of the best among online brokers. While it's easy to use, the platform also provides features tailored for professionals, such as an advanced order panel.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | None |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 5.0 stars | 4.0 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 5.0 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 5.0 stars | 3.8 stars |
Learn more about Saxo Bank's web trading platform in the detailed Saxo Bank review.
Markets and products
Saxo Bank's product portfolio covers all asset classes and a lot of markets globally. Mutual funds are the only areas where the selection could be improved.
| Saxo Bank | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Verdict
Saxo Bank is a great broker, providing a complex and good service.
It offers a user-friendly and well-designed trading platform, backed by great research. The product portfolio covers all asset types and many international markets.
It has some drawbacks though. The fees for bonds, options and futures are high. There is also a high minimum deposit for certain countries. Lastly, there is no live chat or 24/7 customer support.
In general, Saxo Bank is one of the best online brokerage companies out there. By opening an account, you will get a broad, well-developed service constantly adapted to the needs of clients.
| Saxo Bank | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Saxo Bank is a Danish investment bank. It is regulated by more than 10 financial authorities, including the top-tier UK FCA. |
| Fees score | 3.3 stars |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research |
Interactive Brokers alternatives
DEGIRO
DEGIRO review summary
DEGIRO is a German-Dutch online discount broker. It was established in 2008 by former employees of another brokerage company in the Netherlands. DEGIRO merged with flatexDEGIRO Bank AG in early 2021, creating the biggest online execution-only broker in Europe with its own banking license.
DEGIRO is regulated by top-tier financial authorities such as the BaFin in Germany.
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.
Disclaimer for UK clients: Deemed authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The nature and extent of consumer protections may differ from those for firms based in the UK. Details of the Temporary Permissions Regime, which allows EEA-based firms to operate in the UK for a limited period while seeking full authorisation, are available on the Financial Conduct Authority’s website.
Our overall DEGIRO rating
Compare this broker to the best DEGIRO alternative here.
Recommended for traders and investors looking for execution only
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • One of the lowest fees on the market | • Forex not available |
| • Regulated by multiple top-tier authorities | • Limited research tools |
| • Easy-to-use web and mobile platform | • No credit/debit card deposit |
Fees
DEGIRO has low trading fees for all asset classes, from stocks to options. Non-trading fees are also low, as there are no inactivity or withdrawal fees.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No inactivity fee | • Higher trading fees for Asian and smaller European stock exchanges |
| • Low stock and ETF fees |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $1.6 | $2.3 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $6.2 | $9.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | $10.7 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
The account opening process at DEGIRO is fast, fully digital, and no minimum deposit is required.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in DEGIRO minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
DEGIRO deposits and withdrawals are free of charge via bank transfer. On the other hand, you cannot deposit funds using a credit or debit card.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free withdrawal | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • No deposit fee | |
| • Several account base currencies |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
DEGIRO's web platform is simple and easy to use, even for beginners. On the negative side, you cannot set price alerts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | • No price alerts |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.0 stars | 4.0 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.5 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | 3.8 stars |
Learn more about DEGIRO's web trading platform in the detailed DEGIRO review.
Markets and products
At DEGIRO, you can access many markets and trade a lot of different products. CFD and forex are not available, though.
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
Verdict
DEGIRO is a good choice if you want a simple platform and don’t want to spend too much on fees.
Transaction costs are generally very low. DEGIRO also has one of the best trading platforms for Europeans. In addition, the account opening process is fast.
On the other hand, as DEGIRO is an execution-only broker, research tools are limited. We should also mention that there is no forex trading, and most clients can only deposit and withdraw by bank transfer.
All in all, DEGIRO is a great online broker. There is no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee, so feel free to go ahead and give it a try.
| DEGIRO | |
|---|---|
| Summary | DEGIRO is a discount broker that merged with flatexDEGIRO Bank AG and is supervised by the German financial regulator |
| Fees score | 4.5 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders and investors looking for execution only |
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Interactive Brokers alternatives
Swissquote
Swissquote is a Swiss investment bank established in 1996. It has two main trading arms: a Swiss unit for trading stocks, funds, options and futures, and a company in the UK for CFDs and forex.
Formally, Swissquote Bank Ltd is based in Switzerland and is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), the country's financial regulator.
The other entity, Swissquote Ltd, is Luxembourg and offers CFDs and forex trading. It is regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), Luxembourg's regulator. The purpose of this entity is to grant access to the European markets after Brexit. The UK entity remained only for UK clients
Swissquote is considered safe because Swissquote Bank Ltd has a banking license, it is listed on the Swiss stock exchange, discloses detailed financials regularly and has a long track record.
Here, we focus mainly on the Swiss entity, sometimes referred to as "Swissquote (CH)". Throughout our content, we will refer to the Luxembourg-based entity as "Swissquote Europe (LUX)".
Recommended for affluent investors who value safety and are ok with higher fees
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Access to many markets and products | • High trading fees |
| • No inactivity fee | • Confusing trading platform selection |
| • Rock-solid background | • Some research tools are not free |
Fees
Swissquote charges no inactivity fee and you can trade an impressive selection of funds for favorable fees. On the other hand, trading fees are generally high, including stocks and ETFs fees, and there is a fee for withdrawing your money.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fund fees | • High stock and ETF fees |
| • No inactivity fee | • High bond fees |
| Swissquote | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $50.3 | $2.3 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $70.6 | $9.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $10.1 | $10.7 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Swissquote offers a fully digital account opening process, although we encountered wait times. There is no minimum deposit for trading accounts, but a high minimum for forex and robo-advisory accounts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Long wait times |
| • No minimum deposit for trading account | • Forex and robo-advisor accounts have high minimum deposit |
| Swissquote | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in Swissquote minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Depositing at Swissquote is quick with credit/debit card and can be done in several base currencies. On the negative side, you can only withdraw money via bank transfer, and the Swiss entity charges fees.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Swiss entity charges withdrawal and deposit fees |
| • Several account base currencies |
| Swissquote | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $10 | $0 |
Web trading platform
The Swissquote (CH) eTrading platform has a lot of functions, so many that sometimes it can get complicated. Customizability is good and there is a clear overview of trading fees, but it's easy to get lost on the platform.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Clear fee report | • Easy to get lost among functions |
| • Two-step (safer) login | |
| • Good search function |
| Swissquote | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.0 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.7 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.4 stars | 3.8 stars |
Learn more about Swissquote's web trading platform in the detailed Swissquote review.
Markets and products
At Swissquote (CH) you can access many markets and trade with a lot of different product types. At Swissquote Bank (LUX) you can trade forex and CFDs too.
| Swissquote | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Verdict
Swissquote is an investment bank with a rock-solid background:
- It is Swiss,
- it is listed on an exchange
- and it is a bank.
It has two main entities, one in the UK and one in Switzerland. If you open an account at the London-based entity you can trade forex and CFDs, while the Swiss entity gives you access to assets ranging from stocks to options.
Swissquote offers a broad range of products across many markets. There are many stocks, mutual funds, and a lot of different other types of products, from bonds to cryptos.
However, nothing is free: Swissquote's trading fees are relatively high.
All in all, Swissquote is a great stockbroker. As you can trade many products and no inactivity fee is charged, feel free to give it a try.
| Swissquote | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Swissquote is a Swiss online broker with a banking license. It is listed on the Swiss stock exchange and regulated by several authorities globally, including the top-tier UK FCA. |
| Fees score | 2.4 stars |
| Recommended for | Affluent investors who value safety and are OK with higher fees |
Interactive Brokers alternatives
TradeStation Global
TradeStation Global is a brand of TradeStation International Ltd, which is based in the UK and is regulated by the top-tier Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
TradeStation Global is a combined product offered by Interactive Brokers (IB) and TradeStation for clients outside the EU/EEA. Here are its most important elements:
- The account opening, deposit/withdrawal options, and available products are the same as at Interactive Brokers.
- You can use both Interactive Brokers's and TradeStation's own desktop platform.
- TradeStation Global charges its own fees, and offers its own customer support and educational tools.
Both Interactive Brokers and TradeStation are reputable brokers, regulated by top-tier financial authorities. While Interactive Brokers is listed on the NASDAQ, TradeStation itself is not: only TradeStation's parent company Monex is listed, on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Recommended for traders and investors looking for low fees and a wide selection of products
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low stock and ETF fees | • Only bank transfer allowed for deposit and withdrawal |
| • Wide range of products | • Complicated account opening |
| • Fast customer service | • Limited education materials |
Fees
TradeStation Global has low trading fees, especially for stocks and ETFs. There's no inactivity fee and the first withdrawal each month is free. However, mutual fund fees are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • High fund fees |
| • Low non-trading fees | |
| • Low stock and ETF fees / Free stock trading |
| TradeStation Global | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $3.3 | $2.3 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $5.4 | $9.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $10.7 | $10.7 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
TradeStation Global's account opening is fully digital and fast, but the process is complicated, and there's a high $1,000 minimum deposit required in order to use TSG's own desktop platform.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • $1,000 minimum deposit required for desktop platform |
| • Fully digital | • Not user-friendly |
| TradeStation Global | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1,000 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in TradeStation Global minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
TradeStation Global offers many account base currency options and one free withdrawal per month. The main drawback is that you can only use bank transfer.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • Several account base currencies | |
| • No charge for the first withdrawal each month. |
| TradeStation Global | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
You can use your TradeStation Global account to log in to the Interactive Brokers web trading platform. The TSG Client Portal is simple and easy to use even for beginners.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| TradeStation Global | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.5 stars | 4.0 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.8 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | 3.8 stars |
Learn more about TradeStation Global's web trading platform in the detailed TradeStation Global review.
Markets and products
With TradeStation Global, you can access the same range of product types and exchanges as at Interactive Brokers. This selection is one of the widest among online brokers.
| TradeStation Global | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Verdict
TradeStation Global has low stock/ETF fees, provides access to a lot of products and markets and has great customer support. The TradeStation Global desktop platform has great charting tools, plenty of indicators, highly customizable watchlists (Radar Screen) and a great programming tool (EasyLanguage).
On the other hand, the deposit and withdrawal process is not user-friendly and you can use only bank transfer. The account opening is complicated, and for full account verification to use the TSG desktop trading platform, a minimum deposit of $1,000 is required.
If you want access to IB's product range and an account with a slightly different fee structure, feel free to try TradeStation Global.
| TradeStation Global | |
|---|---|
| Summary | TradeStation Global is an introducing broker of Interactive Brokers. This practically means that assets and cash are held with Interactive Brokers, but services like fees and customer support are provided by TradeStation Global. TradeStation Global is regulated by the top-tier UK FCA. |
| Fees score | 3.9 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders and investors looking for low fees and a wide selection of products |
Interactive Brokers alternatives
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers review summary
Interactive Brokers, one of the biggest US-based discount brokers, was founded in 1978. The broker is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including top-tier ones like the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Given that the broker has licenses from multiple top-tier regulators, Interactive Brokers is considered safe. The fact that it has a long track record and publicly disclosed financials while being listed on a stock exchange all point to IB being a safe service provider.
Our overall Interactive Brokers rating
Compare this broker to the best Interactive Brokers alternative here.
Recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Complicated account opening process |
| • Wide range of products | • Complex desktop trading platform |
| • Many great research tools | • Understaffed customer service |
Fees
Interactive Brokers has low trading fees and the best margin rates in the industry. For US clients, stock and ETF trading is free if they choose the Lite plan.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | None |
| • Free stock and ETF trading for US clients | |
| • Low margin rates |
| Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank | DEGIRO | Swissquote | TradeStation Global | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $1.0 | $10.0 | $0.7 | $25.0 | $1.5 |
| UK stock | $4.2 | $11.2 | $2.8 | $35.0 | $2.4 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k
Account opening
IB's account opening process is fully digital and the required minimum deposit is low. On the negative side, the process is complicated and account verification takes relatively long.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Not user-friendly |
| • No minimum deposit for most account types |
| Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank | DEGIRO | Swissquote | TradeStation Global | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $2,000 | $0 | $0 | $1,000 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | >3 days | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day |
Learn more about Interactive Brokers minimum deposit here.
Deposit and withdrawal
Interactive Brokers offers several account base currencies and one free withdrawal per month. The main drawback is that you can only use bank transfer.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • Several account base currencies | |
| • First withdrawal free each month |
| Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank | DEGIRO | Swissquote | TradeStation Global | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No | No | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Interactive Brokers' web platform is simple and easy to use, even for beginners, however there are some minor but annoying glitches.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • User experience could be better |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank | DEGIRO | Swissquote | TradeStation Global | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.0 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.7 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.8 stars | 5.0 stars | - | 3.4 stars | 3.0 stars |
Learn more about Interactive Brokers's web trading platform in the detailed Interactive Brokers review.
Markets and products
At Interactive Brokers, you have access to an extremely wide range of markets and all product types are available.
| Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank | DEGIRO | Swissquote | TradeStation Global | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Verdict
Interactive Brokers is one of the biggest US-based discount brokers, regulated by several top-tier regulators globally. We recommend this broker both for advanced traders and for everyday investors who want to have access to many stock markets.
On the plus side, IB offers very low fees, a vast range of markets and products, and diverse research tools.
There are some drawbacks, though. We weren't satisfied with the quaity of the customer service and the account opening process is complicated. Unlike the web and mobile platforms, the desktop platform is complex and hard to get a handle on, especially for beginners.
If you have experience navigating complex platforms and enjoy transparent, low-cost trading, Interactive Brokers is a great fit for you.
| Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Interactive Brokers is a US discount broker. It is listed on a stock exchange and regulated by several authorities, including top-tier ones like the FCA and the SEC. |
| Fees score | 4.5 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment |
Interactive Brokers alternatives
Bottom line
Based on our analysis, there are several good alternatives to Interactive Brokers. They all offer similar products and target similar customers. Here's a recap of the results in a table.
| Broker | Info | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | International broker providing all asset classes | Traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment |
| Saxo Bank | Danish investment bank | Investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research |
| DEGIRO | German-Dutch discount broker | Traders and investors looking for execution only |
| Swissquote | Swiss investment bank | Affluent investors who value safety and are OK with higher fees |
| TradeStation Global | UK-based global stockbroker | Traders and investors looking for low fees and a wide selection of products |
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