Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Axi, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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Interactive Brokers, established in 1977, and Axi, founded in 2007, are prominent names in the online brokerage industry. Interactive Brokers is a publicly traded company, while Axi is privately owned. Both are non-banking financial institutions. When considering regulatory credentials, Interactive Brokers holds 9 Tier-1 licenses, making it highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com's rating system. Axi, on the other hand, holds 2 Tier-1 licenses, signaling a respectable level of trust.
In addition to their top-tier licenses, Interactive Brokers also possesses 2 Tier-2 licenses, compared to Axi's single Tier-2 license, further underscoring Interactive Brokers' solid regulatory standing. This focus on regulatory compliance is reflected in their ForexBrokers.com Trust Score rating, where Interactive Brokers scores a near-perfect 99, indicating a high level of trust. In contrast, Axi receives a Trust Score of 82, placing it in the trusted category but slightly behind its counterpart in terms of perceived reliability.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing Interactive Brokers and Axi for commissions and fees, Interactive Brokers stands out with its competitive pricing strategy, especially for forex trading. Although the broker doesn't publicly list average forex spreads, reported data from Q3 2024 shows an impressive average spread of 0.19 pips for the EUR/USD pair, leading to an effective all-in spread of 0.59 pips when including commissions. Interactive Brokers charges commissions per side starting at 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) of the U.S. dollar trade value, with a minimum charge of $2 per order. For active traders, who exceed monthly trading volume thresholds, fees can drop significantly. The broker also manages to keep costs low by aggregating prices from major interbank forex dealers, providing competitive commission rates ranging from $16 to $40 per million round trip.
In contrast, Axi provides a less detailed overview of their commission structure as average spread data is not available, making direct cost comparisons difficult. Despite this, Axi is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, suggesting effectiveness in pricing, but not at the level of Interactive Brokers, which garners a full 5-star rating. This star rating reflects the user-friendly cost model Interactive Brokers offers to forex traders, further supported by its rank as the second-best out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, a significant lead over Axi, which ranks 43rd.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and Axi are both prominent online platforms offering a variety of trading options, yet they cater to different investor preferences. Interactive Brokers stands out with an impressive array of 8,500 tradeable symbols and 90 forex pairs, allowing traders ample choice. Additionally, it offers the opportunity to invest in major U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, such as shares of Apple and Vodafone. Interactive Brokers also supports both the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies and related derivatives, providing a well-rounded selection for those interested in digital assets. Rated 5 stars for its range of investments and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers, Interactive Brokers clearly excels in offering diverse investment opportunities, though it lacks copy trading features.
In contrast, Axi focuses on a more streamlined selection, offering 175 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, and it doesn't provide access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges. The platform's strengths lie in forex and CFD trading, along with copy trading capabilities, making it suitable for those who prefer these aspects. While Axi also offers cryptocurrency derivatives, it falls short in delivering actual cryptocurrency purchases compared to Interactive Brokers. Axi holds a rating of 3.5 stars for its range of investments and is ranked #56 by ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its more limited, yet targeted investment offerings.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 175 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 65 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Interactive Brokers and Axi both offer simulated trading through virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice without financial risk. However, Interactive Brokers sets itself apart with a proprietary platform developed in-house, offering more tailored tools and features compared to Axi, which relies on third-party platforms such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4). For those who prefer copy trading, Axi provides this option while Interactive Brokers does not. Both brokers offer desktop and web-based platforms, but Interactive Brokers shines with its extensive 85 drawing tools for charting compared to Axi's 15. Additionally, Interactive Brokers offers a striking 659 fields for watch lists, giving traders a comprehensive overview that greatly surpasses Axi’s 7 fields.
In terms of integration and trading options, Axi offers ZuluTrade for social trading, which Interactive Brokers lacks. Despite this, Interactive Brokers garners a higher rating with five stars for its trading platforms and tools, ranking #3 out of 63 brokers. Axi, on the other hand, rates 3.5 stars and ranks significantly lower at #63. Both brokers provide the functionality to trade directly from stock charts, but overall, Interactive Brokers’ platform capabilities are rated higher, making it a more favored choice for those seeking versatile and extensive trading features.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Interactive Brokers and Axi, both offer apps for iPhone and Android users. They also provide stock and forex price alerts for traders on the go. A key difference is in watchlist syncing; Interactive Brokers allows watchlist changes to sync between the app and the client’s online account, whereas Axi does not offer this feature. Additionally, when it comes to charting capabilities, Interactive Brokers supports 97 technical studies, significantly more than Axi's 30. Both platforms allow users to draw trendlines and view different time frames on charts, but neither saves drawings automatically.
For those looking to integrate real-time quotes into their watchlists, both Interactive Brokers and Axi meet this need. However, the overall ratings showcase a clear difference in user satisfaction: Interactive Brokers earns a full five-star rating, while Axi receives 3.5 stars out of five. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Interactive Brokers holds a solid fourth place out of 63, compared to Axi's lower ranking of 59. These distinctions highlight Interactive Brokers as the more feature-rich choice for mobile trading enthusiasts.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of Interactive Brokers and Axi, it's clear that Interactive Brokers stands out as the more comprehensive choice. Interactive Brokers excels by providing daily market commentary, a feature Axi does not offer. Both brokers deliver forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, offering informed insights crucial for traders. While Axi leverages Autochartist for technical and fundamental analysis tools, Interactive Brokers utilizes Trading Central for similar resources. Interactive Brokers further enhances its research toolkit with sentiment-based trading tools and exclusive research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading, which are not available with Axi. Both brokers do provide economic calendars to keep traders updated on global news events, but Interactive Brokers is ultimately the stronger contender, reflected in its perfect five-star research rating compared to Axi's three stars.
Interactive Brokers is ranked third out of 63 brokers for research by ForexBrokers.com, showcasing the broker's commitment to delivering exceptional market analysis and tools to its users. In contrast, Axi's standing at 55 highlights the areas where it could improve its research offerings. Whether you're a trader looking for thorough analysis, up-to-date market news, or innovative trading tools, Interactive Brokers might be the more fitting choice. With its wide range of resources, Interactive Brokers equips traders with the insights needed to navigate the markets effectively, setting a high standard for research in the industry.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners at Interactive Brokers and Axi, both online broker platforms offer a strong foundation in forex and CFDs education. Each provides at least ten educational pieces, including engaging articles, informative videos, and archived webinars dedicated to these financial subjects. Additionally, they both host online client webinars monthly to enhance learning experiences. However, Interactive Brokers stands out by offering a searchable archive of past webinars, which is not available at Axi. This feature allows learners to revisit valuable content at their convenience.
For those starting their trading journey, both brokers deliver at least ten beginner-friendly educational videos, but Interactive Brokers goes a step further by offering an equal number of advanced videos for seasoned traders. This diverse range aligns with an impressive collection of investor dictionaries containing over 50 terms from each platform, aiding in greater financial literacy. Reflecting this extensive educational support, Interactive Brokers earns a 5-star rating and ranks 3rd out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas Axi holds a 3-star rating and ranks 27th. This detailed focus on education makes Interactive Brokers a more comprehensive choice for those seeking to deepen their trading knowledge.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Interactive Brokers is better than Axi. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Axi finished with an overall rank of #49.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 |
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Interactive Brokers provides the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, while Axi allows only the trading of cryptocurrency derivatives, not the actual cryptocurrencies themselves.
Interactive Brokers supports ACH and SEPA transfers, as well as bank wires for fund transactions, while Axi provides flexibility with Skrill, credit card options such as Visa and Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not support ACH or SEPA transfers.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 175 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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