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.
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, Trading 212 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.
For UK investors choosing between Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers, each platform offers a distinct array of investment choices to suit different trading preferences. Trading 212 provides a solid option for those interested in share trading, ETFs, CFD trading, and investment trusts. However, it does not offer crypto trading, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, or advisor services. Despite these limitations, Trading 212 still garners an impressive rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment selections, although it ranks 16th out of 21 brokers.
Interactive Brokers, on the other hand, stands out with a broader spectrum of investment possibilities. In addition to share trading, ETFs, CFD trading, and investment trusts, this platform allows users to explore cryptos, funds, and both corporate and government bonds. Like Trading 212, it doesn't offer advisor services, but its comprehensive selection earns it a superior 5-star rating and positions it as the second-best choice among 21 brokers, according to UK.StockBrokers.com. For investors prioritizing variety, Interactive Brokers may be the preferred choice.
| Feature |
Trading 212
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Interactive Brokers
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|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual 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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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
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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.
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 |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers for market research capabilities, UK investors will find notable differences between the two. Trading 212 provides research and analysis on shares and ETFs, along with insights into portfolio allocation by asset class. However, it falls short in offering research reports for funds and bonds. On the other hand, Interactive Brokers offers a more comprehensive selection, including detailed research reports for funds and bonds, in addition to shares and ETFs. Both platforms allow users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, but those seeking in-depth research across a wider range of financial products may find Interactive Brokers more appealing.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | 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 | |
| Mutual 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 | 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) | |||
| 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 | £0 | £0 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £0 | £0 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £0 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £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 | |||
| 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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