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.
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 and Saxo, both online brokers present a robust array of investment options suitable for various investors. Interactive Investor and Saxo both offer share trading and ETF trading, providing a solid foundation for any investment portfolio. Additionally, they facilitate trading in funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts, ensuring a comprehensive range of fixed income options for investors. However, distinctions arise with CFD trading, which Saxo supports but Interactive Investor does not, reflecting a consideration for those interested in derivative products. Neither broker offers access to crypto trading, spread betting, or advisor services, simplifying their offerings to focus on traditional investment avenues.
Both Interactive Investor and Saxo are highly regarded for their investment choices, earning a solid 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. Despite having an equal star rating for investment choices, Saxo ranks as the top broker among 18 in this category, whereas Interactive Investor is positioned at number five. This ranking underscores Saxo's slightly broader or possibly more efficient service offerings within its scope, making it the preferred choice for those prioritizing investment choice variety. Nevertheless, both brokers remain strong contenders in the market, each offering diverse, reliable, and quality investment opportunities.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | 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 the trading tools of Interactive Investor and Saxo, both platforms offer robust options for investors, each with its unique strengths. Interactive Investor provides the ability to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature that Saxo lacks. On the other hand, Saxo slightly edges out Interactive Investor when it comes to drawing tools, offering 20 compared to Interactive Investor's 18. However, Interactive Investor takes the lead with 104 technical indicators, surpassing Saxo's offering of 64 technical indicators.
Both Interactive Investor and Saxo allow users to add notes, index overlays, and stock overlays to their charts, enhancing the customization options available to traders. They each offer browser-based trading platforms, real-time market data, and capabilities to create alerts for stock price updates, ensuring that traders are well-equipped for timely and informed decisions. This makes both platforms viable options for traders seeking comprehensive online trading tools.
| 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 | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When comparing the retirement account options at Interactive Investor and Saxo, both online brokers offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). This means that whether you're focusing on tax-efficient savings with ISAs or planning for retirement through SIPPs, both platforms provide these essential services. Consider your broader financial goals and the user experience each platform offers to decide which broker best suits your needs.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both Interactive Investor and Saxo provide mobile apps for iPhone and Android devices, catering to users who prefer to manage their investments on the go. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Investor's mobile app garners a solid 4.5-star rating, positioning it at #12 out of 18 brokers for mobile app services. In comparison, Saxo excels with a full 5-star rating, securing the top spot as the #1 ranked mobile app out of 18 brokers, indicating a slightly superior user experience for mobile trading enthusiasts.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, both Interactive Investor and Saxo offer client webinars, including archived sessions for on-demand viewing. However, Interactive Investor takes a more comprehensive approach, offering educational material on share trading, funds, and retirement, topics on which Saxo does not provide education. Despite this, both platforms enjoy a stellar 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for their beginner education offerings. Notably, Interactive Investor is ranked as the top choice out of 18 brokers, indicating a slightly superior position over Saxo, which holds the second spot. This makes Interactive Investor an attractive option for those seeking a broad-based educational experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Interactive Investor and Saxo, both online brokers provide comprehensive research reports for funds and enable users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, ensuring investors have robust tools for informed decision-making. Both platforms excel in providing detailed research for shares, ETFs, and bonds, catering to diverse investment interests. However, for those interested in CFDs research, Saxo stands out by offering this feature, unlike Interactive Investor. Ultimately, both brokers equip investors with essential resources, but Saxo provides additional insight into the CFDs market, which might be a deciding factor for certain traders.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | 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.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
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Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
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When comparing online brokers, neither Interactive Investor nor Saxo offer crypto trading options for their investors, making them less suitable for those specifically looking to trade cryptocurrencies.
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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 | No | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Investor | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | 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 | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| 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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