Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs easyMarkets, 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 and easyMarkets offer distinct online brokerage experiences, each carrying unique regulatory credentials. Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers stands out as a highly trusted choice with a stellar ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99. This makes it a reliable option for traders seeking security and confidence. Notably, it holds nine Tier-1 licenses, signifying top-tier trust and compliance, and two Tier-2 licenses, elevating its trusted status further. Additionally, being publicly traded adds transparency to its operations.
In comparison, easyMarkets, established in 2001, also offers a secure trading environment with a trust score of 84, which qualifies it as a trusted broker according to ForexBrokers.com. easyMarkets holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, showcasing its commitment to adhering to trusted regulatory standards. However, it is not publicly traded, which is a factor some investors may consider when evaluating transparency and accountability. While both brokers are not banks, they provide robust trading platforms, each appealing to different trader preferences and risk appetites.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2001 |
| 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 | 2 |
Interactive Brokers and easyMarkets cater to forex traders with distinct pricing structures. Interactive Brokers stands out with a highly competitive commission-based model, particularly for active traders. While the broker doesn't publish its average forex spreads, data from Q3 2024 suggests an average spread of 0.19 pips for EUR/USD, resulting in an effective all-in spread of 0.59 pips after commission. The commission per side starts at 0.2 basis points of the U.S. dollar trade value, with a $2 minimum fee, but can drop further for high-volume traders. This approach has earned Interactive Brokers a 5-star rating in the commissions and fees category, ranking #2 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, easyMarkets opts for a fixed spread structure, which can simplify costs for traders. When using easyMarkets' platform or TradingView, EUR/USD spreads are consistently set at 0.8 pips. However, traders using MT4 will experience higher costs with spreads of 1.7 pips on the Standard account unless they upgrade to a VIP account, which reduces the spread to 0.7 pips. MT5 offers variable spreads starting at 0.7 pips. Despite this straightforward pricing, easyMarkets manages a 3.5-star rating and is ranked #52 by ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees.
In summary, while Interactive Brokers offers a more flexible and potentially lower-cost solution for high-volume forex traders, easyMarkets provides fixed-rate simplicity that might appeal to those seeking predictability in their trading costs. Each broker’s structure caters to a different type of trader, highlighted by their respective rankings and star ratings.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.8 |
| 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.
Interactive Brokers impressively stands out with a comprehensive array of investment options. With 8,500 tradeable symbols, it significantly exceeds easyMarkets' offering of 230. Additionally, while Interactive Brokers provides access to 90 forex pairs, easyMarkets lags with 63. Notably, Interactive Brokers offers clients the option to invest directly in U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, something easyMarkets does not. Both brokers support cryptocurrency derivatives, but only Interactive Brokers allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Despite not providing copy trading functionality, which is available on easyMarkets, Interactive Brokers still holds the top position in the Range of Investments category according to ForexBrokers.com, earning a 5-star rating.
Conversely, easyMarkets offers a more modest selection of investments, earning it a 3.5-star rating for its range. Its appeal lies in features like copy trading, which is lacking in Interactive Brokers. However, its inability to offer direct purchases of exchange-traded securities or actual cryptocurrencies places it at a significant disadvantage in terms of investment diversity. Consequently, easyMarkets is ranked much lower at #54 in the same category comparison by ForexBrokers.com. This analysis suggests that investors seeking a wide range of investment opportunities may find Interactive Brokers to be the more suitable choice.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 230 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 63 |
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms of Interactive Brokers and easyMarkets, both brokers offer a strong set of features, including simulated (paper) trading, proprietary platforms, and both Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms. Interactive Brokers shines with its comprehensive selection of 85 drawing tools and the ability to customize watch lists with 659 columns. In contrast, easyMarkets provides just 30 drawing tools and 8 watch list columns. While both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts, easyMarkets offers additional features such as MetaTrader 4 and 5, as well as a copy trading option, which Interactive Brokers does not support. However, Interactive Brokers does not provide support for platforms like ZuluTrade or DupliTrade, a limitation shared by easyMarkets.
Regarding industry recognition, Interactive Brokers rates higher overall in trading platforms and tools with a five-star rating, positioning itself at number three out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. EasyMarkets, while still commendable with a four-star rating, ranks lower at number 35 in the same category. While both brokers boast in-house developed platforms, easyMarkets appeals to those seeking MetaTrader compatibility and copy trading options, whereas Interactive Brokers caters to advanced users who need extensive customization and detailed charting tools.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and easyMarkets both provide iPhone and Android apps for seamless trading experiences on the go. When focusing on advanced features, Interactive Brokers gains an edge by offering stock and forex price alerts, a feature not available with easyMarkets. Both platforms allow syncing of watchlists across devices, ensuring your changes are always up-to-date. Technical analysis enthusiasts will appreciate Interactive Brokers' 97 technical studies compared to easyMarkets' 81, and both apps enable drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts. However, neither app automatically saves these chart drawings, so remember to save your analysis manually.
In terms of performance, you can create watchlists with real-time quotes on both mobile apps. If ratings and rankings matter to you, Interactive Brokers outperforms with a perfect 5-star rating and a #4 ranking out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while easyMarkets holds a solid 4-star rating and is positioned at #30. Overall, for those prioritizing comprehensive app features and top-tier ratings, Interactive Brokers appears to offer a more complete package for mobile trading.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 81 |
| 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 and easyMarkets both provide their clients with daily market commentary and access to high-quality forex news from major providers like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay well-informed. Additionally, both brokers support technical analysis through Trading Central, offering tools like Technical Analytics that cater to traders' diverse strategy needs. They also include sentiment-based trading tools, allowing traders to gauge market dynamics and make informed decisions. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers stands out by offering market research from TipRanks and insights from Acuity Trading, which aren't available with easyMarkets.
In terms of resources, both platforms offer an economic calendar to track upcoming global events. However, when it comes to research quality and breadth, Interactive Brokers takes the lead, earning a 5-star research rating and ranking 3rd out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's research category. In contrast, easyMarkets receives a 3.5-star rating and holds the 43rd position. This difference highlights Interactive Brokers' superior range of research tools and informational resources, making it a preferable choice for those who prioritize in-depth market analysis.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 educational resources available for beginners between Interactive Brokers and easyMarkets, both platforms offer an impressive array. They each provide more than ten educational pieces focusing on forex and CFDs, ensuring novices have access to essential learning materials such as articles, videos, and webinars. For those who prefer interactive sessions, both Interactive Brokers and easyMarkets host online educational webinars at least once a month and maintain a searchable archive of their recordings, offering a robust learning path for clients at their own pace.
For beginner-friendly video content, both platforms have at least ten videos tailored for those new to trading, along with a similar selection for more advanced traders. Additionally, they each offer an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, making the learning process smoother for newcomers. Despite these similarities, Interactive Brokers stands out with a 5-star rating for education and ranks third among 63 brokers in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, while easyMarkets is rated at 3.5 stars, ranking 39th. This distinction highlights Interactive Brokers as a preferred choice for those prioritizing educational quality.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 easyMarkets. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while easyMarkets finished with an overall rank of #42.
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
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 |
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Interactive Brokers supports the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas easyMarkets offers only cryptocurrency derivatives, not the actual digital currencies.
Interactive Brokers and easyMarkets both provide ACH and SEPA transfer options and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but easyMarkets additionally supports Skrill and credit card transactions via Visa or Mastercard, 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 | easyMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | easyMarkets Review |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 230 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 63 | |
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 81 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | easyMarkets Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | easyMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | easyMarkets Review |
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