Interactive Brokers vs Axi 2025
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.
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.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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.
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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 |
Interactive Brokers stands out for its competitive pricing structure, especially for active forex traders. With a commission model that starts at 0.00002 of the U.S. dollar trade value, Interactive Brokers offers flexibility in fees that can attract significant cost savings for heavy traders. The overall commission per side may decrease to as low as 0.08 basis points for exceptionally active users. While the average spreads are not published, the broker provided spreads of 0.19 pips for EUR/USD during Q3 2024, resulting in an all-in spread of 0.59 pips after commission. Interactive Brokers earns a high rating of 5 stars, securing the #2 rank out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, Axi is more modest in its offering without available average spreads data for a direct comparison. Although rated favorably with 4 stars in the same category, Axi falls short of matching Interactive Brokers' top-tier competitiveness as it ranks #44 out of 63 brokers. Despite this, Axi still provides a viable trading environment for traders who are looking for a straightforward fee structure without delving into the complexities that often accompany commission-based models, such as the intricate pricing tiers seen with Interactive Brokers.
Choosing between Interactive Brokers and Axi largely depends on your trade volume and complexity needs. Interactive Brokers is highly appealing for those who trade large volumes and are adept at maximizing cost-efficiencies through its tiered commission model. Axi, while not as high-performing in ranking, could suit traders who prefer simplicity over potentially intricate cost structures. Ultimately, Interactive Brokers excels in offering potentially lower costs through strategic trading volumes, making it a prime choice for experienced and active forex traders.
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Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 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 offers a much wider range of investments than Axi. IBKR lists about 8,500 tradeable symbols versus Axi’s 175, and 90 forex pairs versus 65. Both support forex trading, but only Interactive Brokers lets you buy exchange‑traded securities directly on U.S. and international exchanges—so you can purchase shares like Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone in London—while Axi does not offer direct stock ownership. For digital assets, Interactive Brokers supports buying actual cryptocurrency as well as crypto derivatives; Axi offers crypto derivatives but not delivered coins.
Extras differ too: Axi provides copy trading, whereas Interactive Brokers does not. Reflecting the broader product lineup, Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com; Axi earns 3.5 stars and ranks #57. Choose Interactive Brokers if you want wide market access across stocks, forex, and crypto; pick Axi if you prioritize CFD trading with copy trading and can work with a smaller product list.
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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 free paper (demo) trading and provide Windows desktop and web-based platforms. Interactive Brokers has its own in-house platform, while Axi relies on third‑party software, most notably MetaTrader 4. If you want copy trading, Axi supports it through ZuluTrade; Interactive Brokers does not. Neither broker offers MetaTrader 5 or DupliTrade.
Both brokers let you place trades directly from charts. However, Interactive Brokers offers far more drawing tools (85 vs 15) and vastly more watchlist fields (659 vs 7) for deeper screening and tracking. Reflecting these differences, ForexBrokers.com rates Interactive Brokers 5 stars and ranks it #3 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Axi earns 3.5 stars and ranks #64.
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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.
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and Axi both offer iPhone and Android trading apps with key features such as stock and forex price alerts, drawing trendlines, viewing multiple time frames, and creating watchlists with real-time quotes. The standout difference is syncing: IBKR syncs watchlists with your online account so changes carry across devices, while Axi does not. For charting depth, IBKR includes 97 technical studies compared to Axi’s 30, and neither app auto-saves chart drawings.
Expert ratings underline the gap: Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while Axi holds 3.5 stars and ranks #60. If you want advanced chart tools and watchlists that sync across devices, Interactive Brokers is the stronger pick. Axi is better suited for traders who need the basics without cross-device syncing or a large set of indicators.
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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.
Interactive Brokers vs Axi: for market research, Interactive Brokers takes the lead. IB supplies daily market commentary (Axi does not), real-time forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones (both do), and an economic calendar (both do). Independent testing rates IB 5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks it #3 of 63 brokers, while Axi earns 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #56 of 63.
Tool selection also favors Interactive Brokers. IB offers Trading Central analytics, a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, plus research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). Axi counters with Autochartist and its own sentiment tool, along with premium forex news, but it does not advertise integrations with TipRanks or Acuity Trading. If you want deeper third‑party research suites and in-house commentary, Interactive Brokers is stronger; if you primarily want Autochartist signals with headline news and a calendar, Axi covers the basics.
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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 | |
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | |
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.
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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.
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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 5Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
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Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
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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 | |
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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 | ||
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 | |
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Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
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) |
Investments | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
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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 | |
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Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A | |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
Autochartist | No | Yes | |
Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
TipRanks | Yes | ||
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 | |
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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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Overall Rating |
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Commissions & Fees |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Interactive Brokers Review |