TradingCritique

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Trading 212 vs Interactive Brokers

Broker Name

Trading 212

Trading 212

VS
Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers

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Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

STP broker

Market maker

Years of Existence / Established Year

2003

1993

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

3 million- lifetime funded account

3.12M


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Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSC

SEC, FINRA, NYSE, FCA, FINMA, CFTC, MAS, SFC, CBI, IIROC, JFSA, MiFiD

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

No major awards listed

Best Online Broker for Advanced Traders in 2024, Professional Trading 2024, #1 Best Online Broker in 2023, Best for Advanced Traders, Best Online Broker in 2024, Best Stock Broker for International Trading

Security Measures

ICF

SIPC

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Yes


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Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

13,000+ Global stocks and ETFs

150 Markets including Forecast and event contracts, Spot currencies,US spot Gold, Hedge funds

Currency Pairs

Yes

Yes

Commodities

Yes

No

Indices

Yes

No

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

Yes

CFDs

Yes

No

ETFs

Yes

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Yes

Options

No

Yes

Futures

No

Yes

Bonds

No

Yes

Mutual Funds

No

Yes

Fractional Shares

Yes

No

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

No

No

Precious Metals

No

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Yes

No

Equities

No

No


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Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

Yes

MT4

No

No

MT5

No

No

cTrader

No

No

Social Trading

Yes

No

Copy Trading

Yes

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Trading 212 web and mobile trading platform

IBKR global Trader, Client Portal, Desktop, Mobile, Trader workstation, APIs, Forecast Trader, IMPACT

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Yes


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Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Invest, CFD, Stock ISA, and cash ISA

Individual, Joint, Trust, IRA and UGMA/UTMA Accounts, Non-Professional Advisor Accounts, Family Office Accounts, Small Business Accounts, Advisor Accounts, Money Manager Accounts, Broker & FCM Accounts, Proprietary Trading Group Accounts, Hedge Fund & Mutual Fund Accounts, Compliance Officers, Administrators, Institutional Hedge Fund Investors

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

No

Yes

Minimum Deposit

£1, €1, $1

$0

Leverage Available

1:30

10:1 to 50:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on the assets class

EUR 5,000,000

Commission (per account type)

$0

$0

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginners to experienced traders

Beginner to advanced traders


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Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Bank transfer, Instant bank transfer, Card payments, Online banking PL, Carte Bleue, Blik, Direct e-banking, e-wallets

ACH transfer, Link a new bank account, Bank wire, Transfer from wise balance, Scan a check , Mail a check, SEPA

Withdrawal Methods

Bank transfer, Instant bank transfer, Card payments, Online banking PL, Carte Bleue, Blik, Direct e-banking, e-wallets

ACH, Check, Direct debit, Transfer to wise balance, Canadian ETF transfer, SEPA

Other E-Wallets Supported

Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, iDEAL

No


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Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

No

Yes

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Trading Academy, Market News and Analysis, Webinars, Video Tutorial, Trading Guides and eBooks

Traders' Academy (Online Courses), IBKR Webinars, Market Insights and Analysis, Trader's University (Video Tutorials), IBKR Quant Blog (Quantitative Trading), Customer Education (Trading Guides)


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Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

FX fees- 0.5%

IBKR Lite: Commission-free U.S. stocks, ETFs, and specific mutual funds, IBKR Pro: $0.005 per share, minimum $1 per trade

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Variable

Fixed spread

Per Lot Fees

NA

NA

Options Contract Fees

NA

$0.65/contract

Futures Contract Fees

NA

$0.85

Markup Fees on Spread

NA

$1.50

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

NA

NA

Maximum Leverage

1:30

50:1


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Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$0

$0

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

$0

NA

Advisory Fees

NA

It depends up on the account type

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Yes

over $10 million free

Statement or Document Fee

NA

NA

Account Opening Fee

NA

$0

Account Maintenance Fee

$0

$0

Deposit Fee

0.70%

$0

Currency Conversion Fee

0.15%

$0.03

Withdrawal Fee

$0

$10 outgoing wire transfer fee


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Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

No

Yes


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Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

pre-market session from 04:00 - 09:30 ET, regular trading from 09:30 - 16:00 ET, after-hours session from 16:00 - 20:00 ET

9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday Overnight trading hours: 8:00 PM ET - 3:50 AM ET, Sunday through Friday


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Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

24/7

24/7

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Live chat, E-mail- [email protected] Phone- +447385762101

Phone: 1 (888) 919-0022, E-mail: [email protected], Live chat

Support Languages

18+

33


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Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Aldermary House, 10-15 Queen Street, London, EC4N 1TX.

Greenwich, Connecticut

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

No

No


At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.
If minimizing trading costs is your top priority, Trading 212 might be more attractive due to its lower commissions. Meanwhile, Interactive Brokers justifies its moderate fees with more robust tools and professional-grade features.
Trading 212 uses a digital-first onboarding approach with clear instructions and fast ID verification. Interactive Brokers goes a step further with manual checks and optional account tiers, ideal for serious professionals.
Trading 212 excels in real-time trade execution with minimal latency, whereas Interactive Brokers complements its execution with strong analytical modules and educational support within the platform.
Trading 212 delivers a robust ecosystem for seasoned traders, whereas Interactive Brokers focuses on ease of access and modern usability.