Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Fineco, 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 Fineco are both reputable players in the online brokerage market, but they cater to different needs. Established in 1977, Interactive Brokers has a long-standing presence and is publicly listed, offering a Trust Score of 99 out of 99. It holds an impressive nine Tier-1 licenses, which are the highest standard of regulatory approval, and two Tier-2 licenses. While Interactive Brokers is not a bank, its comprehensive regulatory compliance makes it a highly reliable choice for traders.
Founded in 1999, Fineco is both a bank and a publicly traded company, boasting a strong Trust Score of 94 out of 99. It holds two Tier-1 licenses, which indicates a high level of trust, but lacks Tier-2 licenses. As a banking institution, Fineco provides an integrated approach to financial services, making it appealing for users looking for combined banking and trading options. Both brokers are highly trusted, yet distinct in their regulatory frameworks and service offerings, allowing investors to choose based on their specific trading and banking needs.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Fineco
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | Yes |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Interactive Brokers generally offers lower and more transparent trading costs than Fineco for forex. While IBKR doesn’t publish average forex spreads, Q3 2024 data shows the EUR/USD averaging 0.19 pips, or about 0.59 pips all-in once commission is included. Fineco, by contrast, doesn’t publish average spreads and lists EUR/USD at 1.0 pip (and sometimes 0.8), without clarifying the time frame—making like-for-like comparisons difficult. For the Commissions and Fees category, Interactive Brokers is rated 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers, while Fineco is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #52 out of 63.
Interactive Brokers charges a commission instead of marking up spreads, aggregating quotes from 17 major banks. Forex commission starts at 0.2 basis points (0.00002) of trade value with a $2 minimum per side ($4 round turn), which means smaller trade sizes feel the minimum more. On a $100,000 EUR/USD trade, the commission is roughly 0.40 pips, bringing the effective total to about 0.59 pips based on the Q3 2024 spread. Very active traders can qualify for lower rates (down to 0.08 bps and $1–$1.50 minimums per order, depending on monthly volume), and both IBKR Lite and IBKR Pro support forex but are not commission-free.
Fineco does not disclose average spread data for forex and CFDs, which limits cost transparency. The broker lists EUR/USD at 1.0 pip (and sometimes 0.8 pips), but without average figures or dates, it’s hard to gauge typical pricing; Fineco may be more competitive on index CFDs. Overall, for traders focused on tight spreads and clear commission structures, Interactive Brokers tends to come out ahead on costs (5 stars, #2/63) versus Fineco (3.5 stars, #52/63).
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Fineco
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and Fineco both support forex trading (CFD or spot) and let you buy exchange‑traded shares on U.S. and international markets; neither offers copy trading. Fineco lists more total tradeable symbols (about 9,770) than Interactive Brokers (about 8,500). That said, Interactive Brokers provides more tradeable forex pairs (90 vs 54) and is the only one of the two that lets you buy real cryptocurrency and trade crypto derivatives; Fineco does not offer either.
For Range of Investments, ForexBrokers.com rates Interactive Brokers at 5 stars and ranks it #1 out of 63 brokers, while Fineco earns 4.5 stars and ranks #17. Pick Interactive Brokers if you want more forex pairs and access to crypto, and consider Fineco if a larger overall list of symbols is your priority—both give you access to U.S. and global stocks.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Fineco
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 9770 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 54 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | No |
| 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 Fineco offer traders distinct experiences when it comes to trading platforms and tools. Interactive Brokers leads with its offer of simulated trading via a free virtual demo account, which Fineco does not provide. Both brokers have developed their proprietary trading platforms, which can be accessed through Windows-based desktop downloads as well as web-based interfaces. However, neither Interactive Brokers nor Fineco supports popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 and they do not offer copy trading options or integration with DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For personalization and advanced trading, Interactive Brokers excels with 85 drawing tools available for charting compared to Fineco's 7. Moreover, Interactive Brokers allows users to trade directly from stock charts and provides an impressive 659 watch list columns. Rating-wise, Interactive Brokers stands tall with a perfect 5-star rating for its platforms, securing the #3 spot among 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Fineco, rated at 4 stars, holds the #18 rank, reflecting its competitiveness but also room for improvement in comparison to Interactive Brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Fineco
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 37 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 7 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | N/A |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and Fineco both offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts and the ability to view multiple chart time frames. Where they differ is depth and convenience. Interactive Brokers includes 97 built-in technical indicators, supports trendline drawing, syncs watchlists with your online account, and lets you create watchlists with real-time quotes. Fineco offers 6 indicators, does not support trendline drawing or watchlist syncing, and does not provide real-time quotes in watchlists. On both apps, chart drawings do not auto-save.
Independent ratings reflect these gaps. Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, while Fineco holds 4 stars and ranks #43. In short, Interactive Brokers suits traders who want advanced charting and a seamless workflow across devices, whereas Fineco fits those who prefer a simpler app with basic alerts and time-frame views.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Fineco
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 6 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
For market research, Interactive Brokers clearly has the edge over Fineco. Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars and ranks #3 of 63 brokers for Research, while Fineco scores 4.0 stars and ranks #34. Interactive Brokers provides daily market commentary (Fineco does not), delivers forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones (Fineco does as well), and both brokers include an economic calendar to track global events.
In tools and analytics, Interactive Brokers offers Trading Central, a sentiment indicator showing long/short positioning, and research from TipRanks plus Acuity Trading. Fineco does not offer Trading Central or a sentiment tool, and it does not use Autochartist (same as Interactive Brokers). Fineco’s access to TipRanks and Acuity Trading isn’t specified here. If you want deeper in-platform research and trade ideas, Interactive Brokers is the stronger pick; if you mainly need news headlines and an economic calendar, Fineco covers the basics.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Fineco
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing Interactive Brokers and Fineco in terms of educational resources for beginners, Interactive Brokers stands out with a comprehensive array of educational content tailored for forex and CFDs. Beginners have access to more than ten educational pieces covering these topics, including various formats such as articles and videos, while Fineco does not provide the same level of content. Both brokers offer regular online webinars, ensuring at least one educational session each month. However, only Interactive Brokers provides a searchable archive of past webinars, allowing users to revisit and learn at their own pace.
In terms of videos designed for beginners, both brokers offer a strong selection of at least ten videos each, addressing fundamental trading topics. However, Interactive Brokers excels by also offering advanced educational videos for more experienced traders, which Fineco lacks. Both platforms include an investor dictionary explaining over 50 investment terms, aiding in the understanding of trading concepts. Overall, Interactive Brokers earns a higher education rating of 5 stars and ranks #3 among 63 brokers for educational offerings, while Fineco has a 4.0-star rating and ranks #49 in the same category.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Fineco
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| 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 Fineco. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Fineco finished with an overall rank of #25.
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
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Fineco
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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Interactive Brokers distinguishes itself by offering the ability to purchase both actual delivered cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Fineco does not provide options for buying either actual cryptocurrencies or cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Interactive Brokers and Fineco enable ACH and SEPA transfers for depositing and withdrawing account funds, while neither offers the option to use PayPal, Skrill, Visa, or Mastercard, although they both support bank wire transactions.
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 | Fineco | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Fineco Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | Fineco | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Fineco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Fineco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Fineco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | Fineco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 9770 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 54 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Fineco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | No |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | Fineco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Fineco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Fineco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | N/A | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 37 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 7 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | Fineco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 6 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | Fineco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | Fineco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Fineco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fineco Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | Fineco | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Fineco Review |
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