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.
Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers both offer robust platforms for trading shares, ETFs, and CFDs. However, when it comes to the range of investment options, Interactive Brokers takes the lead with additional offerings such as funds trading, corporate bonds, and government bonds. Trading 212, although not providing these specific investment avenues, still caters to investors looking for simpler options, covering shares, ETFs, CFDs, and investment trusts.
In terms of ratings from UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers receives a full 5-star rating for investment choices, ranking it 2nd out of 18 brokers, indicating a broad and versatile selection of investment options. Trading 212, while more limited in its offerings, still holds a commendable 4.5-star rating and is ranked 11th, making it a competitive choice for users prioritizing a user-friendly experience alongside their investment choices.
| 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 | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers for trading tools, both platforms offer browser-based trading and allow users to add notes to charts. Trading 212 shines with its 106 technical indicators and real-time market data, but it falls short in displaying corporate events on charts, providing index and stock overlays. While Interactive Brokers supports only 96 technical indicators, it excels with 80 drawing tools and features such as corporate event displays and chart overlays, providing a comprehensive suite for exploring market trends.
For investors prioritizing a rich array of drawing tools and overlay options, Interactive Brokers offers an impressive selection, making it a robust choice for detailed technical analysis. On the other hand, Trading 212 secures an edge with real-time data and a slightly higher count of technical indicators, catering to traders seeking immediate updates and a straightforward trading interface. Ultimately, the decision between Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers will depend on your specific needs for real-time data access versus advanced charting capabilities.
| 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 Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers, both platforms offer ISA accounts, which are popular for UK investors looking to save tax-efficiently. However, when it comes to SIPP accounts, a type of personal pension plan ideal for those wanting more control over their retirement savings, Trading 212 does not offer this option. In contrast, Interactive Brokers provides SIPP accounts, making it a suitable choice for investors keen on expanding their retirement planning with a personal pension scheme. Investors should consider these differences when choosing a platform to meet their financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers, both platforms cater to iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility for most smartphone owners. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both apps have earned a commendable 5-star rating, reflecting their quality and user satisfaction. However, in a ranking of 18 brokers, Interactive Brokers takes a slight edge in mobile app performance, securing the #2 spot, while Trading 212 stands at #9. This suggests that while both apps excel in user experience and features, Interactive Brokers may offer a slightly more distinguished mobile trading environment.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers in terms of educational resources for beginner investors, Interactive Brokers takes the lead with its comprehensive offerings. Interactive Brokers offers live and on-demand educational webinars that allow clients to delve into various financial topics at their convenience, whereas Trading 212 does not provide such webinars. Both platforms offer valuable resources on share trading and funds, but Interactive Brokers stands out by also providing education in retirement planning, an area where Trading 212 lacks. In terms of beginner education ratings, Trading 212 earns 4 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com and is ranked 11th among 18 brokers. In contrast, Interactive Brokers receives a higher rating of 4.5 stars, though it holds the 12th rank, reflecting subtle yet significant differences in their approach to beginner education.
| 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 the market research features of Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers, key differences emerge. Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers both allow users to assess portfolio allocation by asset class, and they provide research tools for shares, ETFs, and CFDs. However, Interactive Brokers takes the lead when it comes to offering detailed research reports for funds and bonds, resources that Trading 212 lacks. This makes Interactive Brokers a more comprehensive choice for investors looking for in-depth insights into funds and bonds, whereas Trading 212 still serves well for various asset allocations and specific markets like shares and ETFs.
| 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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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers, it's notable that neither platform currently offers cryptocurrency trading, potentially impacting investors seeking to engage in digital asset markets.
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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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