Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Investor vs Saxo, 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, Interactive Investor offers better pricing than Saxo 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 Investor would cost £79.83 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 per year.
12 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £107.76 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 per year.
36 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £203.52 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 per year.
120 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £538.68 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £0 per year, while Saxo 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 comparing Interactive Investor with Saxo in terms of available investment options, both platforms offer a wide range of choices. UK investors can access share trading, funds, ETFs, corporate and government bonds, as well as investment trusts through either service. However, significant differences appear in the finer details: Saxo also provides CFD trading, catering to users seeking this specific type of investment. On the flip side, important factors such as crypto trading, spread betting, and advisor services remain absent from both Interactive Investor and Saxo.
Both platforms enjoy high marks for their investment choices, with Interactive Investor receiving a respectable five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking third out of 21 brokers. Meanwhile, Saxo stands out by securing the top spot in the same category, emphasizing its comprehensive offering that might appeal slightly more to experienced investors seeking the diversity of CFD trading. Regardless, both brokers offer UK investors solid options to cater to a variety of investment needs.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Interactive Investor and Saxo both offer a comprehensive suite of trading tools, but there are subtle differences that might influence a trader's choice. Interactive Investor provides 18 drawing tools for charting, slightly fewer than Saxo’s 20. When it comes to technical indicators, Interactive Investor has a significant edge, offering 104 compared to Saxo's 64. Both platforms allow chart annotation with notes, include powerful features such as index and stock overlays, and integrate corporate events like earnings and dividends into their charts. A browser-based trading platform and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates are available with both providers, ensuring traders have the flexibility and control needed to react swiftly to market changes.
Real-time market data is standard for both Interactive Investor and Saxo, equipping traders with up-to-date information for decision-making. Although Interactive Investor shows corporate events directly on the chart, Saxo does not offer this specific function. Therefore, users prioritizing a wider selection of technical indicators and on-chart corporate event display may find Interactive Investor more appealing, whereas those who prefer slightly more drawing tools might lean towards Saxo. Ultimately, the decision between these two platforms will largely depend on individual preferences and specific trading needs.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 64 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
For UK investors considering online brokers that support retirement accounts, both Interactive Investor and Saxo offer appealing options. Each platform provides access to Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), facilitating tax-efficient investment opportunities tailored for growth. Whether you seek to manage an ISA or plan for retirement with a SIPP, both brokers provide the essential account types, helping you make informed decisions for your financial future. However, the choice may ultimately rest on evaluating other factors like fees, trading tools, and customer support, which can differ between platforms.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Interactive Investor and Saxo for UK users, both brokers provide comprehensive solutions for iPhone and Android devices. Interactive Investor earns a commendable 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it at an impressive 7th out of 21 brokers for mobile app functionality. Meanwhile, Saxo shines with a top-rated, 5-star experience, ranking as the number one choice among the same group of brokers. Whether using iOS or Android, both platforms assure users of high-quality trading on the go, yet Saxo stands out slightly ahead with its industry-leading mobile app reputation.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK, choosing between Interactive Investor and Saxo can be pivotal in shaping their learning experience. Both platforms offer educational client webinars that can be accessed live or viewed on demand, catering to various learning preferences. Interactive Investor stands out by providing comprehensive education on share trading, funds, and retirement topics, while Saxo's offerings are less specified in these areas. Despite these differences, both brokers receive a top rating of 5 stars for beginner education by UK.StockBrokers.com. However, Interactive Investor edges out Saxo with a ranking of #2 out of 21 brokers, compared to Saxo’s #3 rank, indicating a slight preference among UK investors for Interactive Investor’s beginner-friendly resources.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When evaluating the market research features offered by Interactive Investor and Saxo, UK investors will find both platforms provide comprehensive tools. Both platforms offer research reports on funds and allow users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, which is beneficial for those aiming to diversify. In terms of market analysis, both Interactive Investor and Saxo provide research on shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, which caters to a wide range of investment interests. However, Saxo stands out by also offering research on CFDs, giving traders an additional dimension of market analysis. Thus, while both brokers offer extensive research features, those interested in CFDs might find Saxo a more fitting choice.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Interactive Investor or Saxo? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Investor to be a better trading platform overall.
The standout feature at Interactive Investor (ii) is its low flat-rate fees. Other investment platforms typically favour percentage fees for fund investing, although more brokers are now opting for flat fees. Our view is that Interactive Investor is a great platform for any investor, offering a wide range of investments for cheap prices on the whole.
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Saxo
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| Charges & Fees |
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While Interactive Investor does not offer crypto trading, Saxo provides a platform for trading cryptocurrencies, making Saxo a better choice for investors interested in digital assets.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Investor | Saxo | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Saxo Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Investor | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | ||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Investor | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.99 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.83 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £107.76 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £203.52 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £538.68 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £71.85 | 0.4% + 0% commission: £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £59.88 - £143.88 | Up to £800 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £143.88 | £500 to £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £143.88 | Up to £1,998 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £143.88 | £1,000 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £3.99 | €20 minimum | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £3.99 | €20 minimum | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3.99 | From $1 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £3.99 | From $1 / £3 / €10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £49 | £50 |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Investor | Saxo | |
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| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Interactive Investor | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 64 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 20 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Investor | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Investor | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Interactive Investor | Saxo | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Saxo Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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