Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Trade Nation, 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, stands out as a prominent name in the brokerage world. It is publicly traded, which often instills additional trust in investors. The firm holds an impressive nine Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, signaling a high level of regulatory compliance across major financial authorities. With a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers is considered a highly trusted option for investors seeking secure and reliable services.
In contrast, Trade Nation, founded in 2014, is a newer entrant in the brokerage industry and is not publicly traded. The firm holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, showcasing a commendable effort in maintaining regulatory standards. With a Trust Score of 85, it is classified as a trusted broker according to ForexBrokers.com. While it does not reach the same level of regulatory coverage as Interactive Brokers, Trade Nation presents a trustworthy option for those exploring diversified trading platforms.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2014 |
| 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 |
When it comes to trading commissions and fees, Interactive Brokers and Trade Nation each offer distinct advantages for investors. Interactive Brokers stands out with its competitive pricing structure, particularly for forex trading. While the broker does not publicly disclose average spreads, data from Q3 2024 reveals that the EUR/USD pair sees average spreads of 0.19 pips, translating to an effective all-in spread of 0.59 pips after accounting for commissions. Forex trading commissions start at 0.00002 of the trade value, with a minimum charge of $2 per order. For traders dealing with high volumes, there are discounted rates available when specific monthly trade thresholds are met. With a 5-star rating for commissions and fees and a #2 ranking out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers is well-suited for active traders seeking low-cost, commission-based forex trading.
On the other hand, Trade Nation offers competitive fixed-spread pricing, distinguishing itself with predictable costs across its platforms. The broker lists a fixed spread of 0.6 pips for the EUR/USD pair, with brief widening during its daily rollover period. With account types that include both commission-based and commission-free options, Trade Nation provides flexibility for different trading styles. Notably, the Raw Spread account with MetaTrader charges a $3.50 commission per trade side per standard lot but offers competitive spreads upon factoring in all costs. Trade Nation also earns a 5-star rating for its commission and fee structure, securing the #7 spot among 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com.
In essence, both Interactive Brokers and Trade Nation offer low trading costs, but the choice may heavily depend on individual trading preferences. Interactive Brokers is ideal for those prioritizing low commissions with potential discounts for high-volume trading. In contrast, Trade Nation appeals to those who favor fixed-spread pricing for its predictability and simplicity. Both brokers have proven their value with high ratings and rankings, reflecting their efficient fee structures in the competitive world of forex trading.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.59 | 0.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.6 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers offers a far wider range of investments than Trade Nation. It lists about 8,500 tradeable symbols versus Trade Nation’s 1,000, and 90 forex pairs compared with 46. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both offer crypto CFDs. However, only Interactive Brokers lets you buy actual cryptocurrency and trade exchange‑listed stocks and ETFs on U.S. and international markets (think Apple on Nasdaq or Vodafone in London). Trade Nation does not offer real shares, but it does offer copy trading, which Interactive Brokers does not.
For Range of Investments, Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Trade Nation earns 3.5 stars and ranks #39. Choose Interactive Brokers if you want the broadest market access, including real stocks and crypto. Pick Trade Nation if you prefer a simpler CFD lineup with the option to copy other traders.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| 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 Trade Nation: both brokers provide free paper trading, in-house platforms, and access by desktop (Windows) and web browser. A key difference is chart trading—Interactive Brokers lets you place orders directly from charts, while Trade Nation does not. For overall quality, Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and is ranked #3 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Trade Nation earns 4 stars and is ranked #45.
Feature-wise, Trade Nation supports copy trading and offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4), which can appeal to fans of automated strategies and popular third‑party tools. Interactive Brokers does not offer copy trading or MT4. Neither broker supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5). If you want chart‑based order entry and higher-rated, feature-rich platforms, Interactive Brokers is the better fit; if you prefer MT4 and the option to mirror other traders, Trade Nation is the way to go.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and Trade Nation both deliver full-featured mobile trading on iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and watchlist syncing with your online account, so changes carry over across devices. Charting is strong on both: Interactive Brokers offers 97 technical studies and Trade Nation offers 99. You can draw trendlines in both apps; however, only Trade Nation auto-saves your chart drawings, while Interactive Brokers does not.
For overall quality, Interactive Brokers stands out with a 5-star Mobile Trading Apps rating and a #4 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Trade Nation earns 4 stars and ranks #46. Choose Interactive Brokers if you want a top-rated, high-ranking mobile experience; pick Trade Nation if auto-saving drawings and a slightly larger set of indicators matter most to you.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 99 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Interactive Brokers and Trade Nation both deliver daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each offers sentiment tools that show long/short positioning and integrates Acuity Trading (Signal Centre), and neither uses Autochartist. Where they differ: Interactive Brokers adds Trading Central analytics, TipRanks research, and a built-in global economic calendar—features Trade Nation does not provide.
These gaps show up in the ratings: Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while Trade Nation holds 3.5 stars and ranks #43. If you want deeper third-party analytics and a clear schedule of market-moving events, Interactive Brokers is the stronger choice; if you mainly need news, commentary, and sentiment, Trade Nation covers the basics.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing education at Interactive Brokers and Trade Nation, Interactive Brokers stands out. It holds a 5-star Education rating and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Trade Nation earns 3.5 stars and ranks #41. Both brokers provide at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so you can build skills at your own pace with either. If live learning matters, Interactive Brokers also runs client education webinars at least once a month, whereas Trade Nation does not offer monthly webinars.
Regarding forex and CFD learning specifically, this summary doesn’t confirm whether either broker provides 10 or more dedicated pieces of forex/CFD content. Still, if you want top-rated, structured education and regular live sessions, Interactive Brokers is the stronger pick. If you’re mainly after on-demand videos for beginners, both Interactive Brokers and Trade Nation have you covered.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 Trade Nation. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34.
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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Trade Nation
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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Comparing online brokers for crypto trading, Interactive Brokers lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, while Trade Nation does not offer actual crypto purchases and only provides cryptocurrency CFDs.
Interactive Brokers vs Trade Nation: Interactive Brokers offers ACH/SEPA transfers and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals but not PayPal or Skrill, while Trade Nation does not offer ACH/SEPA and its options for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires were not specified.
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 | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | Trade Nation | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2014 | |
| 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 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.59 | 0.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.6 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 99 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trade Nation Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Trade Nation Review |
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