Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs XTB, 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 XTB are both well-established online brokers with impressive regulatory credentials. Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers is publicly traded and holds 9 Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its high level of trust. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, Interactive Brokers is considered highly trustworthy. Despite not being a bank, its regulatory standing is robust, setting it apart as a leader in the industry.
XTB, established in 2002, is also publicly traded and holds 2 Tier-1 licenses, demonstrating a solid level of trust within the market. It shares the same number of Tier-2 licenses as Interactive Brokers, with 2 licenses that indicate trusted standing. XTB secures a Trust Score of 96 out of 99 by ForexBrokers.com, marking it as a highly trusted broker, just a notch below Interactive Brokers in terms of trustworthiness.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2002 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Interactive Brokers emerges as a frontrunner for competitive pricing with a comprehensive offering for forex traders, boasting a remarkable rating of 5 stars for its commissions and fees. Although the broker does not publicly disclose average spreads for forex, data from Q3 2024 shows the EUR/USD with an average spread of just 0.19 pips, resulting in a total effective spread of 0.59 pips when considering commissions. With forex commission rates starting at 0.2 basis points of the trade value per side, with a minimum of $2 per order, Interactive Brokers is particularly appealing for active traders who can take advantage of discounts available for high trading volumes. Ranked #2 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers aggregates pricing from major interbank dealers to offer transparent, commission-based trading.
XTB offers two distinct accounts to cater to different trader profiles: the spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account. With a 4.5-star rating for its commissions and fees, XTB maintains pricing that aligns with the industry average, albeit not quite matching the top-tier brokers. As of Q4 2023, the average forex spread for the EUR/USD pair was 1 pip. Though the Pro account is being phased out, clients trading larger amounts find both account types competitively priced, with the Standard account providing better value for smaller trades and new retail traders.
Both brokers present compelling options, with Interactive Brokers leading the charge for active traders given its volume-based discounts and efficient execution methods. However, XTB's active trader incentives, such as the Lower Spread Group—which offers rebates of up to 30% on spreads—provide significant value for dedicated participants. XTB ranks #11 in commissions and fees, underlining its solid, yet slightly less competitive standing compared to Interactive Brokers. As traders evaluate their options, both brokers offer enticing characteristics that can cater to a wide range of trading requirements.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.00 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 1.00 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| 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 and XTB are both prominent online brokers, each offering a wide array of investment opportunities. Interactive Brokers boasts a larger selection with 8,500 tradeable symbols, compared to XTB’s 7,184. For forex enthusiasts, Interactive Brokers provides access to 90 forex pairs, whereas XTB offers 71. Both brokers allow trading in forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and they provide the option to trade exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges. This means you can buy shares of companies like Apple or Vodafone through either platform. However, only Interactive Brokers enables clients to purchase real cryptocurrency, while both platforms offer cryptocurrency derivatives.
Despite their similarities, there are differences in how they approach certain services. Neither broker supports copy trading, which might be a consideration for those interested in mimicking expert trades. What sets Interactive Brokers apart, according to ForexBrokers.com, is its top ranking for Range of Investments among 63 brokers, attributed to its broader selection. Both brokers earn a perfect score of five stars in this category, yet Interactive Brokers' comprehensive offerings place it at #1, while XTB sits at #14. Whether seeking access to a wide variety of tradeable symbols or specific forex pairs, both platforms provide excellent choices catered to a wide range of investment strategies.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 7184 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 71 |
| 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 | 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 XTB both provide traders with virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice their trading strategies without financial risk. Each broker has developed a proprietary trading platform that can be accessed through a Windows-based desktop or a web browser. However, neither broker supports popular third-party trading platforms such as MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, nor do they offer copy trading features. Both platforms allow users to trade directly from charts, although Interactive Brokers distinguishes itself by offering a significantly larger number of drawing tools, with 85 compared to XTB's 32. Additionally, Interactive Brokers supports an extensive 659 columns for watch lists versus XTB's 8, offering users more customization options.
When it comes to technical performance and professional ratings, Interactive Brokers excels with a 5-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, ranking third among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. XTB is not far behind, boasting a 4.5-star rating and ranking ninth in the same category. Overall, Interactive Brokers offers a more comprehensive platform with an array of technical features that cater to both novice and experienced traders, while XTB provides a streamlined and efficient experience that is slightly less feature-rich but still highly rated.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 39 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 32 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Interactive Brokers and XTB, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android, ensuring compatibility with major mobile platforms. They both provide stock and forex price alerts and support the drawing of trendlines on charts, along with viewing multiple time frames for more comprehensive analysis. However, Interactive Brokers shines in its ability to sync watchlist symbols between its mobile app and the client's online account, ensuring seamless updates across platforms. XTB lacks this feature, although it offers the convenience of auto-saving chart drawings, which Interactive Brokers does not.
Interactive Brokers offers a more extensive suite of charting tools, boasting 97 technical studies compared to XTB's 39. Both platforms allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, enriching the overall trading experience. In terms of ratings, Interactive Brokers earns a near-perfect score of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, compared to XTB's respectable 4.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers is ranked #4 among 63 brokers for mobile trading apps, while XTB holds the #8 spot, reflecting the slight edge Interactive Brokers has in terms of features and overall user satisfaction.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 39 |
| 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.
When comparing the market research offerings of Interactive Brokers and XTB, both platforms provide a solid foundation with daily market commentary and forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They also share the availability of sentiment-based trading tools and economic calendars to keep investors informed about global economic events. However, Interactive Brokers takes a competitive edge by offering research tools from Trading Central, comprehensive insights from TipRanks, and additional resources from Acuity Trading, which are not available with XTB.
Despite this, both brokers receive high ratings for their research capabilities, with each earning a 5-star rating. However, in a ranking of 63 brokers, Interactive Brokers stands out by securing the 3rd position in the research category, while XTB is slightly behind, noted as the 7th. This distinction highlights Interactive Brokers’ stronger emphasis on delivering diverse and comprehensive research tools, making it particularly appealing to those who seek detailed analysis and insights.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| 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 it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Interactive Brokers and XTB excel in providing a wealth of information to help new traders get started. They both offer more than ten pieces of educational content on forex and CFDs, ensuring ample study material for eager learners. Additionally, they host monthly online webinars and maintain a searchable archive of past webinars, offering continuous learning opportunities. For video content, both brokers supply over ten beginner-focused videos to help novices grasp trading concepts, while also catering to seasoned traders with at least ten advanced videos.
Despite these similarities, there are notable distinctions. Interactive Brokers holds the edge with an investor dictionary featuring over 50 essential investing terms, an advantage for those who value easily accessible definitions. Both platforms boast a five-star rating for their educational offerings; however, Interactive Brokers claims a higher rank in ForexBrokers.com's education category, placed at #3 compared to XTB's #11. These differences may guide beginners to choose Interactive Brokers if they are seeking a more comprehensive lexicon and a highly ranked educational experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
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 XTB. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while XTB finished with an overall rank of #7.
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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XTB
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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Interactive Brokers provides the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, while XTB only offers the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives and does not support buying the actual cryptocurrency.
When comparing the deposit and withdrawal options of Interactive Brokers and XTB, Interactive Brokers offers ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires, but does not support PayPal, Skrill, Visa, or Mastercard, whereas XTB provides options for PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but not ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | XTB | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | XTB Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2002 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 7184 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 71 | |
| 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 | 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.00 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 1.00 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 39 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 32 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 39 | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | XTB | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | XTB Review |
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