Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Swissquote, 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 Swissquote, founded in 1996, are both prominent names in the online brokerage space, each publicly traded and equipped with a high level of trust according to forex ratings. Interactive Brokers boasts a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, showcasing its reliability with 9 highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and 2 trusted Tier-2 licenses. Swissquote, also with a Trust Score of 99, combines its brokerage services with banking capabilities, holding 5 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, emphasizing its trustworthy standing in the financial sector.
For investors evaluating these platforms, it's important to note that Interactive Brokers is not a bank but offers an extensive range of financial services, while Swissquote operates as both a bank and a broker. This dual function might appeal to clients seeking a more comprehensive financial service under one roof. Both brokers are reliable choices, yet the choice hinges on whether the integrated banking service of Swissquote or the sheer number of high-trust licenses held by Interactive Brokers aligns better with your needs.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 1996 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | Yes |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Interactive Brokers (5 stars; ranked #2 of 63 for Commissions and Fees) is one of the cheapest choices for forex if you trade standard sizes or larger. Though IBKR doesn’t broadly publish average spreads, Q3 2024 data showed the EUR/USD averaging 0.19 pips, or about 0.59 pips all-in after commission. Swissquote (3.5 stars; ranked #54 of 63) charges more on most account types across its U.K., Luxembourg, and Switzerland entities, so cost-conscious traders will usually find IBKR cheaper.
IBKR uses a clear commission model instead of marking up the spread, aggregating quotes from 17 major banks. Commissions start at 0.2 basis points (about $2 per side minimum, $4 round turn), equal to roughly 0.40 pips on a $100,000 EUR/USD trade; ultra‑active traders can see rates fall to 0.08 bps and per‑order minimums drop as low as $1 with very large monthly volume. Note: the $2 per‑side minimum means trading smaller than 100,000 units becomes proportionally pricier.
Swissquote’s pricing varies by region and account. In the U.K., the Elite account (requires a $10,000 deposit) charges about $5 per round turn with lower spreads, while Standard starts from 1.3 pips on EUR/USD and Prime lists a 0.6‑pip minimum (that’s a minimum, not an average). In Luxembourg, minimum spreads run roughly 0.8 pips (Prime) to 1.5 pips (Standard). In Switzerland, EUR/USD starts from 1.7 pips on Standard, 1.4 pips on Premium, and 1.1 pips on Prime (slightly above the industry average), with custom pricing only by negotiation. Overall, even Swissquote’s better tiers usually land above IBKR’s effective costs on major pairs.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.59 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers vs Swissquote: both brokers offer a wide range of investments, including forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, plus access to U.S. and international stocks (so you can buy names like Apple or Vodafone directly, not just via CFDs). Interactive Brokers lists about 8,500 tradeable symbols and 90 forex pairs, while Swissquote offers around 472 symbols and 80 forex pairs. If sheer market coverage matters most, Interactive Brokers has the bigger catalog.
For crypto, both let you buy actual cryptocurrencies as well as trade crypto CFDs. One key difference is copy trading: Swissquote supports it, while Interactive Brokers does not. Both earn 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments; however, Interactive Brokers is ranked #1 of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category, and Swissquote is #2. In short, Interactive Brokers wins on breadth, while Swissquote appeals if you want copy trading alongside strong market access.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 472 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 80 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 vs Swissquote: both brokers deliver strong trading platforms and tools for everyday investors. Each offers a free paper trading (demo) account, an in-house platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform. You can place trades right from charts with either broker, making it easier to act on what you see.
The key differences come down to extras. Swissquote supports copy trading and the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, while Interactive Brokers does not. For platform quality, ForexBrokers.com rates Interactive Brokers 5 stars (ranked #3 of 63) and Swissquote 4.5 stars (ranked #12 of 63). Choose Interactive Brokers if top-tier platform ratings matter most; pick Swissquote if you want MetaTrader and copy trading alongside strong in-house tools.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 86 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers vs Swissquote for mobile trading: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with stock and forex price alerts. The big difference is watchlists—Interactive Brokers syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while Swissquote does not. If you like charting, Interactive Brokers packs in 97 technical studies compared to Swissquote’s 30. Both apps let you draw trendlines.
For chart drawings, Interactive Brokers does not auto-save, whereas Swissquote does, which can be handy if you frequently annotate charts. Overall ratings favor Interactive Brokers at 5 stars and a #4 ranking out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote earns 4.5 stars and a #12 ranking. In short, Interactive Brokers suits traders who want deeper indicators and synced watchlists, and Swissquote appeals if auto-saving chart notes is a priority.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research features of Interactive Brokers and Swissquote, both platforms offer daily market commentary and forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Interactive Brokers shines with a range of advanced research tools. It includes options like Trading Central for technical analytics and offers sentiment-based trading tools and TipRanks market research, which Swissquote lacks. Swissquote, on the other hand, provides tools from Autochartist for technical analysis but does not match the breadth of Interactive Brokers' offerings.
Both platforms provide an economic calendar for tracking global events. However, Interactive Brokers excels in its overall research capabilities, earning a perfect 5-star rating and ranking third among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Swissquote, while still impressive with a 4-star rating, ranks 16th, highlighting Interactive Brokers as the superior choice for those focused on comprehensive market research.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners choosing between Interactive Brokers and Swissquote, both make learning to trade straightforward. Each broker runs online client webinars at least once a month and offers plenty of video lessons—more than 10 for beginners and more than 10 for experienced traders—so you can start with the basics and advance at your own pace.
Where they differ: Interactive Brokers earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers for Education on ForexBrokers.com, signaling a stronger overall learning experience. Swissquote performs well with a 4-star Education rating and a #20 ranking, delivering regular webinars and sizable video libraries that suit new traders. If top-tier education and room to grow matter most, Interactive Brokers has the edge; if you’re leaning toward Swissquote for other reasons, its education is still more than enough to get started.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 Swissquote. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11.
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
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
In the Interactive Brokers vs Swissquote comparison for cryptocurrency trading, both brokers let you buy actual, delivered crypto and also trade cryptocurrency CFDs, providing flexible options for accessing digital assets.
Interactive Brokers and Swissquote both support ACH/SEPA and bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals, while Swissquote additionally accepts PayPal and Skrill and Interactive Brokers does not; card (Visa/Mastercard) availability is not specified for either.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 1996 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 472 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 80 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.59 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 86 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Swissquote Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill