Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs XTB, 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, XTB 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 - Interactive Brokers would cost £15 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £36 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £108 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £360 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £0 per year, while XTB 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 their options in online trading platforms, Interactive Brokers and XTB stand out as noteworthy choices, each offering a range of investment opportunities. Interactive Brokers offers robust share trading, crypto trading, ETF trading, CFD trading, funds trading, and the ability to trade both corporate and government bonds as well as investment trusts. Conversely, XTB also provides share, ETF, and CFD trading options but does not offer crypto trading, funds trading, bonds, or investment trusts. This makes Interactive Brokers a more comprehensive option for those seeking a variety of trading choices.
Considering ratings for investment choices compiled by UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers achieves an impressive 5 out of 5 stars, securing the 2nd spot among 18 brokers surveyed. In comparison, XTB earns a 4.5-star rating, placing it 13th on the list. These ratings indicate that while both platforms have their merits, Interactive Brokers tends to offer a wider array of investment options, potentially catering better to the diverse needs of UK investors.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools of Interactive Brokers and XTB, UK investors will find distinct differences between the two. Both brokers allow the display of corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends on charts and enable users to add notes. However, Interactive Brokers stands out with a comprehensive selection of 80 drawing tools and 96 technical indicators, compared to XTB’s 20 drawing tools and 39 indicators. Moreover, Interactive Brokers offers more advanced chart functionalities, allowing both index and stock overlays, which are not available with XTB charts. Both platforms provide browser-based trading and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, but Interactive Brokers lacks real-time market data, a feature provided by XTB.
UK investors looking for in-depth charting options and customization might prefer Interactive Brokers for its extensive toolbox and advanced capabilities, like adding complex overlays. On the other hand, those who prioritize real-time market data could lean towards XTB despite its more limited charting tools, making it suitable for traders who value timely updates over extensive chart features. Both platforms serve their purposes well, depending on the trader's focus on either comprehensive analytical tools or swift market updates.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 96 | 39 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 80 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers Interactive Brokers and XTB for UK users interested in retirement accounts, it's important to consider the available options. Interactive Brokers supports both Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP), providing a comprehensive suite for those planning their financial futures. Alternatively, XTB caters to individuals looking solely for ISA accounts, as they do not offer SIPP options. This distinction makes Interactive Brokers a more versatile choice for those seeking a wider range of retirement investment accounts.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors choosing between Interactive Brokers and XTB, both platforms offer comprehensive mobile apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers' app is rated an impressive 5 stars, placing it 4th out of 18 in their mobile app rankings. In comparison, XTB's mobile offering is highly commendable as well, earning a 4.5-star rating and ranking 6th among its peers. Both brokers ensure a quality trading experience on-the-go, but Interactive Brokers slightly edges out with a higher rating and rank for its mobile functionality.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors offered by Interactive Brokers and XTB, UK investors will find that Interactive Brokers provides a more comprehensive educational experience. Interactive Brokers hosts live webinars and offers the convenience of archived sessions for on-demand viewing, while XTB does not offer webinars at all. Both brokers provide information on share trading, but only Interactive Brokers covers additional topics like funds and retirement. Despite the differences in educational offerings, both Interactive Brokers and XTB receive a solid rating of 4.5 stars for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com, with Interactive Brokers slightly ahead in the rankings at 8th place compared to XTB, which sits at 9th among 18 brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When it comes to market research features, Interactive Brokers and XTB both offer insights into shares, ETFs, and CFDs, ensuring investors can stay informed across various investment types. Both platforms also allow users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, aiding in diversified investment strategies. However, Interactive Brokers stands out for offering research reports for funds and bonds, which XTB does not provide. This makes Interactive Brokers a more comprehensive choice for investors in the UK seeking detailed research on a wider array of financial instruments, including valuable insights into funds and bonds that are absent from XTB's offerings.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Interactive Brokers or XTB? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Brokers to be a better trading platform overall.
Interactive Brokers is a sophisticated trading platform aimed at confident and institutional-grade investors. For newer investors, Interactive Brokers is more intimidating, though it's worth exploring the platform to see if you could save money or access more investments compared to other brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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XTB
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When comparing online brokers, Interactive Brokers offers the advantage of crypto trading, whereas XTB does not provide this feature, making Interactive Brokers a more versatile option for those interested in cryptocurrency investments.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £15 | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £36 | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £108 | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £360 | £0 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £14.85 | N/A | |
| 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 | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
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| Platforms & Tools | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 96 | 39 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 80 | 20 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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