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.
Comparing Interactive Investor vs Interactive Brokers for UK investors: both offer wide investment choice, including share dealing, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. Neither provides advisor services.
The big differences are in extras: Interactive Brokers also offers crypto and CFD trading, while Interactive Investor does not. If you want crypto or CFDs, choose Interactive Brokers; for core share dealing and funds, either can suit. Both earned 5 stars for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, with Interactive Brokers ranked #1 out of 21 brokers and Interactive Investor ranked #3.
| 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 | No | Yes |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For UK investors comparing Interactive Investor vs Interactive Brokers on trading tools, both let you display corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) on charts, add notes, and overlay other stocks. Each offers a browser-based trading platform and lets you set price alerts. Note that neither includes real-time market data.
Interactive Brokers goes further on charting: 155 technical indicators and 85 drawing tools, plus the ability to add index overlays. Interactive Investor lists 104 technical indicators, does not support index overlays, and does not specify a drawing tools count. If you want more chart studies and drawing options, Interactive Brokers has the edge; if you just need the essentials, Interactive Investor covers the basics.
| 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 | 85 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | 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 UK beginners comparing educational resources, Interactive Investor and Interactive Brokers both cover share trading, funds, and retirement. Only Interactive Brokers offers client webinars with an on-demand archive; Interactive Investor does not provide webinars. UK.StockBrokers.com rates both 5/5 for beginner education, with Interactive Investor ranked 3rd of 21 brokers and Interactive Brokers 4th. Choose Interactive Brokers if live or recorded webinars are important, or Interactive Investor for similar topic coverage with a slightly higher UK ranking.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Interactive Brokers
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|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | 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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When comparing online brokers, Interactive Investor does not offer crypto trading, whereas Interactive Brokers provides this feature, making Interactive Brokers a more comprehensive choice for investors interested in cryptocurrency.
We reviewed and compared over 20 of the top U.K. brokerage firms to create our list of the best U.K. investment platforms for beginner investors.
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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 | No | 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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| 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 | 85 | ||
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | 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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