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Home ‣ Compare ‣ Interactive Brokers vs Xtrade 2025

Interactive Brokers vs Xtrade 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Xtrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Interactive Brokers
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 8500
Xtrade
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $250
  • Trust Score: 74
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 482

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.

Regulation

Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers stands out as a prominent choice for online trading with a Trust Score of 99 as rated by ForexBrokers.com. This high score reflects its solid reputation in the financial industry, bolstered by its status as publicly traded and holding nine Tier-1 licenses, which are recognized for their high level of trust. Additionally, Interactive Brokers has two Tier-2 licenses, adding another layer of credibility to its global operations. Although not a bank, the firm's extensive regulatory credentials make it a reliable platform for traders seeking a well-regarded broker.

In contrast, Xtrade, established in 2003, has a Trust Score of 74, indicating an average level of risk according to ForexBrokers.com. Unlike Interactive Brokers, Xtrade is not publicly traded and holds only one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license. While Xtrade offers a viable platform for online trading, its lower trust rating and licensing count may present concerns for some traders comparing it to more established competitors. Both brokers are not banks, but Interactive Brokers' robust regulatory backing gives it an edge in instilling greater confidence among users.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Xtrade logoXtrade
Year Founded info 1977 2003
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 9 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1

Fees

Interactive Brokers vs Xtrade: commissions and fees. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) uses commission-based forex pricing without marking up spreads, aggregating quotes from 17 interbank dealers. In Q3 2024, we observed an average raw spread of 0.19 pips on EUR/USD at IBKR, for an estimated 0.59 pips all-in after commission. Commissions start at 0.00002 of the USD trade value per side with a $2 minimum per order ($4 round turn), or about $16–$40 per million round turn. A standard $100,000 EUR/USD buy and sell equates to roughly 0.40 pips in commission on top of the spread. IBKR Lite and IBKR Pro both support forex and are not commission-free.

Minimums matter: tickets under 100,000 units can feel pricier due to the $2 per‑side floor, though active-trader discounts can drop the minimum to $1.50—and as low as $1—at very high monthly volumes. IBKR can also handle large orders via RFQ to help with execution. For commissions and fees, Interactive Brokers is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranked #2 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.

Xtrade does not publish average spread data, so a precise apples-to-apples comparison is not possible. Based on third‑party scoring, Xtrade is rated 2.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranked #64 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In practical terms, traders who want transparent, low forex trading costs—especially on standard-lot and larger trades—are likely to find Interactive Brokers the more cost-effective choice, while Xtrade’s lack of disclosed averages and lower rating point to potentially higher costs.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Xtrade logoXtrade
Minimum Deposit info $0 $250
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.59 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.65 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes No
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

Interactive Brokers offers far more to trade than Xtrade. You’ll find about 8,500 tradeable symbols at Interactive Brokers versus 482 at Xtrade, and 90 forex pairs versus 56. Both support forex trading (CFD or spot) and both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. Where Interactive Brokers pulls ahead is access to real, exchange-traded securities: you can buy and sell actual U.S. and international shares (for example, Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange), and even purchase delivered cryptocurrency. Xtrade does not offer exchange-traded stocks or delivered crypto. Neither broker provides copy trading.

These differences show up in independent ratings: for Range of Investments, Interactive Brokers earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade scores 3.5 stars and ranks #50. If you want the widest selection across global markets, Interactive Brokers is the stronger choice; if you prefer a simpler CFD-focused lineup, Xtrade may suit your needs.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Xtrade logoXtrade
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 8500 482
Forex Pairs (Total) info 90 56
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info Yes No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

Interactive Brokers and Xtrade both provide paper (demo) accounts and proprietary, in-house platforms you can use in a web browser. Only Interactive Brokers adds a Windows desktop download, which Xtrade lacks. Both let you place trades straight from charts. Indicator totals aren’t specified for either broker, but charting draw tools differ: Interactive Brokers lists 85, while Xtrade lists 100. Neither broker supports copy trading or third-party services like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, and neither offers MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5.

Interactive Brokers stands out for customization and data depth, offering 659 watch list fields compared with Xtrade’s 9. That advantage shows up in ratings: Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools at ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade scores 3.5 stars and ranks #59. Choose Interactive Brokers if you want a desktop platform and highly detailed watch lists; pick Xtrade if you prefer a simple, browser-based setup with plenty of drawing tools.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Xtrade logoXtrade
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes No
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 155 N/A
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 85 100
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 659 9

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

Interactive Brokers and Xtrade both offer iPhone and Android apps, but the mobile trading experience differs a lot. Interactive Brokers includes price alerts, synced watchlists that mirror your online account, and real-time quotes in watchlists. Its charting is far deeper, with 97 technical indicators, the ability to draw trendlines, and multiple time frames (intraday, daily, weekly). Xtrade provides basic access on iPhone and Android but does not offer price alerts, watchlist syncing, real-time watchlist quotes, trendline drawing, or multiple time frames, and it does not list a count of technical studies. Neither app auto-saves chart drawings.

Ratings reflect these gaps: Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Xtrade earns 4 stars and ranks #54, according to ForexBrokers.com. If you want advanced mobile charting, alerts, and synced watchlists for stocks and forex, Interactive Brokers is the stronger pick; if your needs are minimal, Xtrade may still cover the basics.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Xtrade logoXtrade
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes No
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 97 N/A
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info No No
Mobile Watchlist info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

Interactive Brokers and Xtrade both cover the essentials for market research, offering daily market commentary, top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar. Neither broker includes Autochartist. Where they differ is depth: Interactive Brokers adds Trading Central analytics, a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning, TipRanks stock research, and Acuity Trading tools (including Signal Centre). Xtrade does not include these extras.

These differences show up in independent ratings: Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers for Research at ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade holds 3.5 stars and ranks #53. If you want a wide mix of third‑party insights and sentiment data, Interactive Brokers is the stronger choice. If you only need basic news, commentary, and a calendar, Xtrade covers the core needs.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Xtrade logoXtrade
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes No
TipRanks info Yes No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info Yes No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Interactive Brokers stands out compared to Xtrade. Interactive Brokers offers comprehensive educational materials, including a significant collection of over ten educational pieces dedicated to forex and CFDs. Additionally, it provides clients with the opportunity to attend live educational webinars every month and access a searchable library of previously recorded sessions, all geared towards enhancing the learning experience. Beginners can also benefit from more than ten educational videos focused specifically on trading topics, offering a solid foundation for new traders. The broker is also notable for its collection of advanced educational videos designed for experienced traders, allowing for continued learning and growth.

On the other hand, while Xtrade also offers a range of forex and CFDs educational content, its resources fall short in several areas compared to Interactive Brokers. It does not provide monthly online webinars or a searchable archive of recorded webinars, limiting the options for interactive learning. Furthermore, Xtrade lacks a comprehensive selection of beginner and advanced educational videos. Both platforms offer investor dictionaries containing definitions of over 50 investing terms, ensuring clients have access to essential financial terminology. Overall, Interactive Brokers receives higher ratings and a better ranking for its educational offerings, making it a more attractive option for beginners seeking extensive learning support.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Xtrade logoXtrade
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes No
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes No
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Interactive Brokers is better than Xtrade. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #60.

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 logoInteractive Brokers
Xtrade logoXtrade
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 74
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Interactive Brokers or Xtrade?

Interactive Brokers offers the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Xtrade provides only cryptocurrency derivatives without the capability of purchasing actual cryptocurrencies.

What funding options does each broker offer?

Interactive Brokers and Xtrade differ in their account fund transfer options, with Interactive Brokers supporting ACH and SEPA transfers and bank wires, but not accepting PayPal, Skrill, Visa, or Mastercard, while Xtrade accepts Skrill, Visa, and Mastercard, alongside bank wires, but does not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transfers.

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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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Overall Rating Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 74
Winner check_circle
Review Interactive Brokers Review Xtrade Review
Broker Screenshots Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
IBKR mobile watchlist. IBKR Desktop platform charts. Interactive Brokers research Traders Insight daily analysis article detail Interactive Brokers IBKR Podcast video.
Regulation Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Trust Score info 99 74
Year Founded info 1977 2003
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes
Tier-1 Licenses info 9 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info Yes No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info Yes No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info Yes
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info Yes No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No Yes
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info Yes No
India (SEBI Authorised) info Yes No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 8500 482
Forex Pairs (Total) info 90 56
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info Yes No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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 Xtrade
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.59 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.65 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes No
Inactivity Fee info No No
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes No
Execution: Market Maker info No Yes
Funding Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Minimum Deposit info $0 $250
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
Trading Platforms Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes No
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No No
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields info 659 9
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 155 N/A
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 85 100
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes No
Mobile Trading Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes No
Mobile Watchlist info Yes No
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 97 N/A
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info No No
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes No
Research Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
TipRanks info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes No
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes No
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs Interactive Brokers Xtrade
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes Yes
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review Interactive Brokers Review Xtrade Review
Overall Interactive Brokers Xtrade
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 74
Winner check_circle
Review Interactive Brokers Review Xtrade Review
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