Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs BDSwiss, 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.
Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers has established itself as a highly reliable online broker with a Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. This public company holds an impressive nine Tier-1 licenses, adding to its reputation for high trustworthiness and compliance with top-tier regulations. Despite not being a bank, Interactive Brokers operates with a high level of confidence and security for its clients.
BDSwiss, on the other hand, entered the market in 2012 and has garnered an average Trust Score of 73 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. It holds one Tier-1 license, which indicates a level of trust, but might not match the regulatory clout of its competitors. Privately held and not a bank, BDSwiss serves its clients with a focus on essential regulatory standards, but potential investors might consider their regulatory positioning when choosing between these two brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When evaluating the commissions and fees of Interactive Brokers and BDSwiss, both platforms present unique pricing structures that cater to forex traders. Interactive Brokers is renowned for its competitive pricing model, although specifics can be challenging to pinpoint due to its average forex spreads not being published. Notably, the Q3 2024 data shows an average spread of 0.19 pips for EUR/USD, leading to an all-in spread of 0.59 pips when commissions are included. The broker charges commissions starting at 0.2 basis points, with potential reductions for highly active traders. This structure positions Interactive Brokers as an appealing choice for cost-efficient trading, earning it a 5-star rating and a #2 ranking in the commissions and fees category among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, BDSwiss offers a more straightforward pricing model but with higher spreads. Its Classic account features a spread of 1.5 pips on EUR/USD, which can be considered pricey. Comparatively, the Raw account delivers a tighter spread of 0.3 pips paired with a $5 commission per side, resulting in an effective spread of 1.3 pips. The VIP account slightly edges out with a total spread of 1.2 pips. Despite its higher costs, BDSwiss maintains good execution statistics, reflected in its 4-star rating and #30 ranking for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
Ultimately, the choice between Interactive Brokers and BDSwiss will largely depend on your trading volume and need for competitive spreads. Interactive Brokers stands out for those seeking reduced costs through trading in high volumes and favoring flexibility in execution, while BDSwiss might appeal to traders who prioritize simplicity and straightforward pricing. Both brokers cater to different strategies, offering traders a variety of options based on their individual needs.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
When comparing Interactive Brokers and BDSwiss on the available range of investments, it's clear that Interactive Brokers offers an extensive selection. With 8,500 tradeable symbols, they provide significantly greater diversity compared to BDSwiss's 1,081 symbols. Both brokers offer forex trading as either CFDs or spot contracts, but Interactive Brokers stands out with 90 tradeable forex pairs, as opposed to BDSwiss's 53 pairs. Moreover, Interactive Brokers allows clients to purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, a feature BDSwiss does not provide. This gives investors the flexibility to invest directly in well-known companies like Apple and Vodafone.
For cryptocurrency enthusiasts, Interactive Brokers permits the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies in addition to cryptocurrency derivatives, while BDSwiss only offers derivatives. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers does not support copy trading, a feature available with BDSwiss that may appeal to those looking for alternative trading experiences. Overall, Interactive Brokers receives top honors with a 5-star rating and a #1 ranking from ForexBrokers.com for their range of investments, while BDSwiss garners a 4-star rating and ranks #34. This substantial difference emphasizes Interactive Brokers' comprehensive and versatile investment offerings.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 53 |
| 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 BDSwiss both provide traders with simulated trading, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the platforms through a virtual demo account. Each broker offers a proprietary trading platform that they developed in-house, along with a Windows-based desktop platform and a web-based version. However, a notable difference emerges in copy trading and the availability of popular trading software. While BDSwiss supports copy trading and integrates with MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Interactive Brokers does not offer these options. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
When examining the tools and features, Interactive Brokers shines with a vast array of 85 drawing tools compared to BDSwiss's 15, and an impressive 659 fields for watch lists, significantly overshadowing BDSwiss’s 7. Both brokers support trading directly from stock charts, but Interactive Brokers receives higher accolades for its trading platforms and tools with a 5-star rating, ranking 3rd out of 63 brokers. In comparison, BDSwiss secures 4 stars and ranks 24th. This distinction signals Interactive Brokers as a more feature-rich choice for those prioritizing trading tools and platform sophistication.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| 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 it comes to mobile trading apps, both Interactive Brokers and BDSwiss offer options for iPhone and Android users, ensuring a broad accessibility to their services. They both provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts and real-time quotes on watchlists. However, a key difference lies in watchlist symbol syncing; Interactive Brokers syncs watchlists between its app and online account, whereas BDSwiss does not offer the same functionality.
In terms of charting capabilities, Interactive Brokers stands out by offering 97 technical studies compared to BDSwiss's 30, and supports drawing trendlines and viewing various time frames on charts, similar to BDSwiss. Yet, BDSwiss has the edge in auto-saving chart drawings, which Interactive Brokers lacks. Overall, Interactive Brokers scores higher with a 5-star rating and is ranked 4th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, maintaining a higher position than BDSwiss, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks 24th.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Interactive Brokers and BDSwiss offer daily market commentary to keep traders informed about market movements. While both brokers provide this feature, Interactive Brokers extends its market research offerings by including forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. This sets Interactive Brokers apart from BDSwiss, which does not offer this level of news coverage. Additionally, both brokers incorporate tools from Trading Central, but Interactive Brokers further enhances its offerings with sentiment-based trading tools and research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading. These features contribute to Interactive Brokers' higher ranking and research rating compared to BDSwiss.
In terms of technical analysis tools, BDSwiss offers resources from Autochartist, unlike Interactive Brokers. However, when it comes to the comprehensive scope of research tools, Interactive Brokers emerges as the stronger contender, securing a 5-star rating and a third-place rank in the Research category by ForexBrokers.com. BDSwiss, while competent with a 4-star rating and ranked 24th, does not provide the same breadth of tools and third-party research integration. Both platforms feature an economic calendar to track global economic events, ensuring traders stay updated on key market influences. However, the additional tools and higher quality of news sources provided by Interactive Brokers establish it as a more resource-rich option for market research.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Interactive Brokers and BDSwiss offer an extensive range of materials related to forex and CFDs trading. Each platform provides over 10 educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars focusing specifically on these subjects. Additionally, both brokers host online educational webinars monthly, complete with a searchable archive of past sessions. Whether you're just starting or seeking more advanced knowledge, both brokers have you covered with a robust library of beginner and advanced video content.
Interactive Brokers slightly edges out with additional features such as an extensive investor dictionary containing over 50 investing terms, an area where BDSwiss also performs well but lacks the extra polish. Reflecting these differences, Interactive Brokers achieves a top-tier education rating of 5 stars, standing at #3 out of 63 brokers in the Education category ranked by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, BDSwiss, with a strong yet slightly less comprehensive offering, holds a 4-star rating and ranks #19. This makes Interactive Brokers a slightly more appealing choice for education-focused investors looking to build a strong foundation or expand their trading knowledge.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 BDSwiss. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
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
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Interactive Brokers provides the opportunity to buy both actual cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, while BDSwiss only offers the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives and does not facilitate purchasing actual cryptocurrency.
Interactive Brokers and BDSwiss both support ACH, SEPA transfers, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but unlike Interactive Brokers, BDSwiss also accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Skrill, whereas neither broker supports PayPal.
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 | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | BDSwiss | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 53 | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | No |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | BDSwiss Review |
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