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.
When exploring online brokers in the UK, Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers both accommodate share trading and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), with each platform offering its unique strengths. However, if you're on the hunt for crypto trading, Interactive Brokers stands out as Trading 212 does not include this option in its offerings. Additionally, while both brokers offer Contracts for Difference (CFD) trading and investment trusts, Trading 212 falls short on funds trading and corporate or government bonds, which Interactive Brokers provides as part of its comprehensive investment suite.
For those considering how these platforms stack up in rankings, UK.StockBrokers.com awarded Interactive Brokers an impressive five-star rating for investment choices, positioning it as the second best out of 18 brokers. In contrast, Trading 212 received a still commendable 4.5 stars but ranks sixteenth. These ratings highlight Interactive Brokers as the preferable choice for investors seeking more diverse investment options, whereas Trading 212 caters to those interested in straightforward share and ETF trading without the complexity of broader asset types.
| Feature |
Trading 212
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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 |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
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
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Interactive Brokers
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|---|---|---|
| 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.
UK investors seeking user-friendly mobile trading platforms can consider both Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers, as each offers dedicated apps for iPhone and Android users. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both brokers receive a top rating of 5 stars for their mobile apps. However, Trading 212 edges ahead in the rankings, securing the #3 spot among 18 brokers, while Interactive Brokers closely follows at #4. Whether you're trading from your iPhone or Android device, both platforms provide a high-quality app experience, making them popular choices for mobile traders in the UK.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners seeking to enhance their investment knowledge, Interactive Brokers outshines Trading 212 through its comprehensive educational offerings. Interactive Brokers provides live and archived client webinars, allowing users to learn at their own pace, a benefit absent from Trading 212. Both brokers offer educational materials on share trading and funds, but only Interactive Brokers covers retirement, an area where Trading 212 lacks. Although Trading 212 holds a commendable 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, it ranks 13th out of 18 brokers, while Interactive Brokers, boasting a higher 4.5-star rating, is positioned 8th. This makes Interactive Brokers a more appealing choice for those prioritizing educational resources.
| 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 |
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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
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Interactive Brokers
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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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers | |
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| 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 | |
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| 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 | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Interactive Brokers Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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