Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs Interactive Brokers, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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, Trading 212 offers better pricing than Interactive Brokers for share dealing.
Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.
5 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Interactive Brokers would cost £15 per year.
12 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Interactive Brokers would cost £36 per year.
36 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Interactive Brokers would cost £108 per year.
120 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Interactive Brokers would cost £360 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £1 per year, while Interactive Brokers would cost £0 per year.
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.
For UK investors exploring online trading platforms, both Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers offer compelling choices. Trading 212 provides opportunities for trading shares, ETFs, CFDs, and investment trusts. However, it falls short when it comes to crypto trading, funds trading, and bonds. It's rated 4.5 stars for investment choices by UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking it 16th out of 21 brokers.
Conversely, Interactive Brokers caters to a broader spectrum of investment choices, including share trading, crypto trading, ETFs, CFDs, and funds trading. Additionally, it accommodates corporate and government bond trading, appealing to more diverse investment strategies. With a 5-star rating, Interactive Brokers stands at the 2nd position among 21 brokers, making it a preferred choice for those seeking extensive investment options.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For UK traders seeking user-friendly charting tools, both Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers offer compelling features, yet they differ significantly in terms of specific functionalities. Trading 212 provides an impressive 106 technical indicators, allowing users a wider range of analysis options compared to Interactive Brokers’ 96 indicators. It also supports users by facilitating the addition of notes to charts and real-time market data. However, Trading 212 lacks the ability to display corporate events or add index and stock overlays on charts, which might limit context for some traders.
Conversely, Interactive Brokers shines in its capacity to enrich chart information with corporate events and supports an extensive library of 80 drawing tools—far surpassing Trading 212's 27 options. Traders using Interactive Brokers can also integrate index and stock overlays, providing a more comprehensive market view. Despite lacking real-time market data, Interactive Brokers provides a browser-based platform and the ability to set price alerts, offering a robust charting solution for those seeking detailed analytical capabilities. Both platforms excel in their way but cater to different trading preferences and requirements.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 96 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 80 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
When comparing retirement account options between online brokers Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers, UK investors should be aware of their offerings. Both Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), making them viable options for tax-efficient savings. However, when it comes to Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), only Interactive Brokers offers this account type, providing an additional avenue for UK investors focusing on their retirement planning. Therefore, those looking to incorporate a SIPP in their investment strategy will find Interactive Brokers as the more suitable choice.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers for UK users, both offer user-friendly mobile apps available on iPhone and Android devices. These apps provide a convenient way to manage investments on the go. UK.StockBrokers.com rates both Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers' mobile apps highly, each earning a commendable 5-star rating. However, out of 21 brokers, Trading 212 slightly edges out the competition, ranking third, whereas Interactive Brokers follows closely behind in fourth place. Whether you prefer Trading 212's intuitive interface or Interactive Brokers' comprehensive features, both options deliver an excellent mobile trading experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers both offer notable features but differ in key areas. Trading 212 provides educational content on share trading and funds but does not host webinars or cover retirement topics. In contrast, Interactive Brokers covers the same subjects, offers educational client webinars, and even archives these for on-demand viewing. Rated 4 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, Trading 212 stands at the 13th position among 21 brokers, while Interactive Brokers scores slightly higher with 4.5 stars, earning an 8th place ranking. For UK investors keen on comprehensive learning, Interactive Brokers may have the edge, especially if webinars and retirement education are priorities.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When it comes to market research features, Interactive Brokers and Trading 212 cater to different needs for UK investors. Trading 212 provides access to research for shares, ETFs, and CFDs, as well as portfolio allocation by asset class. However, it does not offer research reports for funds or bonds. On the other hand, Interactive Brokers offers a more comprehensive suite of research tools, including detailed reports on shares, ETFs, funds, CFDs, and bonds, along with the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class. This makes Interactive Brokers a strong contender for those who seek deeper insights into funds and bonds in their investment journey.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Trading 212 or Interactive Brokers? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Trading 212 to be a better trading platform overall.
Trading 212 offers commission-free share dealing and is a great option for those looking to simply execute share or ETF trades. Novice investors or those looking for more diversification through mutual funds may find better options elsewhere.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
When comparing online brokers, Trading 212 does not offer crypto trading, whereas Interactive Brokers provides access to cryptocurrency markets, making it a preferred choice for those interested in digital assets.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Interactive Brokers Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £3 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £3 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £3 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £15 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £36 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £108 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £360 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 / £14.85 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | |
| ETFs - Fee | 0 | £3 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Platforms & Tools | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 96 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 80 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Interactive Brokers Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
Trading 212 Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
XTB Review
IG Group Review
eToro Review
Saxo Review
CMC Invest Review
Freetrade Review
Halifax Review
Vanguard Review