Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Investor vs Interactive Brokers, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, Interactive Investor offers better pricing than Interactive Brokers for share dealing.
What type of trader are you?
New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.
Interactive Investor and Interactive Brokers both give UK investors a wide choice of investments, including shares, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts) and investment trusts. Both also score 5 out of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, showing they each offer plenty of options for building a portfolio. Interactive Broker is ranked #1 out of 21 brokers for investment choices, while Interactive Investor is ranked #3, which may appeal to investors looking for a strong all-round selection.
There are a few clear differences between the two online brokers. Interactive Brokers offers CFD trading, while Interactive Investor does not, but neither broker currently offers crypto trading or spread betting. Interactive Investor does provide adviser services, which Interactive Brokers does not. So, if you want a broker with broader trading tools, Interactive Brokers may suit you, while Interactive Investor may be better if you also want access to adviser support.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
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Interactive Brokers
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|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing Interactive Investor with Interactive Brokers for trading tools, Interactive Brokers has the edge for charting. It lets you show corporate events such as earnings, splits and dividends on charts, and it also offers far more drawing tools and technical indicators. Interactive Investor still covers the basics well, with notes on charts, stock overlays, a browser-based platform and price alerts, but it does not include event markers or index overlays.
For UK investors who want a straightforward setup, Interactive Investor may be enough for simpler analysis. But if you want more ways to study price action and build charts, Interactive Brokers offers a wider range of tools. Neither platform provides real-time market data in this comparison.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
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Interactive Brokers
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|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 155 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 12 | 85 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
For UK investors seeking retirement account options, both Interactive Investor and Interactive Brokers cater to individual savings needs, offering both ISA and SIPP accounts. Interactive Investor provides an easy-to-use platform, accommodating those looking to manage their Individual Savings Account (ISA) and Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) effortlessly. Interactive Brokers likewise supports ISAs and SIPPs, making it a strong contender for those interested in maximizing their retirement savings through these tax-efficient accounts. Each platform ensures UK investors have flexible options tailored for future financial planning.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both Interactive Investor and Interactive Brokers offer iPhone and Android apps in the UK. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Investor’s mobile app is rated 4.5 out of 5 and ranks 8th out of 21 brokers, while Interactive Brokers’ app scores 5 out of 5 and ranks 5th. If you prioritise the highest-rated app experience, Interactive Brokers has the edge, though Interactive Investor still delivers a well-regarded app for everyday investing on the go.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investor education, Interactive Investor and Interactive Brokers are both strong choices for UK users, with client webinars available and recordings you can watch later, plus clear learning content on share trading, funds and retirement. UK.StockBrokers.com rates both platforms 5 stars for beginner education, with Interactive Investor ranked #3 out of 21 brokers and Interactive Brokers close behind at #4, so there is little to separate them on educational support.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
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Interactive Brokers
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|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Interactive Investor and Interactive Brokers, both platforms offer comprehensive research tools that cater to a variety of investment needs. Investors with either service can access detailed reports on funds, allowing for well-informed decisions. Both brokers provide insights into portfolio allocation by asset class, ensuring investors have a clear view of their investments. Research coverage extends across multiple investment vehicles, including shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds with both Interactive Investor and Interactive Brokers offering valuable insights for each. This parity makes either broker a viable option for UK investors seeking thorough and accessible market research.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
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Interactive Brokers
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|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Interactive Investor or Interactive Brokers? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Investor to be a better trading platform overall.
Interactive Investor is a great platform for any investor, offering a wide range of investments for cheap prices on the whole.
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Interactive Brokers
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Interactive Investor does not offer crypto trading, while Interactive Brokers does provide crypto trading access in select markets, making Interactive Brokers the more flexible choice for investors seeking cryptocurrency exposure.
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↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Investor | Interactive Brokers | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Interactive Brokers Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Investor | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | ||
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Investor | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £3 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £3 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £3 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | £71.88 / £179.88 | £0 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £179.88 | £0 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £179.88 | £0 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £179.88 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £3.99 | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £3.99 | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3.99 | £3 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £3.99 | £3 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £49 | $30 |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Investor | Interactive Brokers | |
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| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Interactive Investor | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 155 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 12 | 85 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Investor | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Investor | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Interactive Investor | Interactive Brokers | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Interactive Brokers Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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