Intraday trading (or day trading) means opening and closing positions within the same trading day, so platform speed, trading costs and risk management tools matter more than for long-term investors. These are our chosen global brokers for intraday trading:
- Interactive Brokers: Best overall
- eToro: Best for social trading
- TradeZero: Best for active traders (promo code: IITW)
- Freedom24: Best for intermediate traders
- Saxo: Best for professional traders
- XTB: Best for CFD and Forex
- Fusion Markets: Best for a quick sign-up process
Disclaimer: When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.
52% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Investing involves risk of loss.
Investing involves risk of loss.
62% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
69-80% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Video summary
Comparison
Before we look at the features of each trading platform, here is how the seven brokers compare:
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a great option for retail investors interested in optimising their trading commissions. It suits traders looking for access to 170 markets in 40 countries and a secure broker. On the downside, if you are new to investing, the platform may feel complicated, with many buttons and features. Intraday traders can take advantage of its global market access to trade in their preferred time zone.
- eToro is the go-to option for social trading, allowing you to copy successful traders or share your own trades with a wider audience. The interface is very user-friendly and ideal for novice investors. However, if you have extensive experience in the markets, you may miss some niche features offered by trading platforms designed for professionals.
- TradeZero was founded in 2015 in the Bahamas and built its reputation around one clear specialty: short-selling U.S. equities. The broker later expanded into the United States in 2018, into Canada in 2022, and most recently entered the European market through the Netherlands in 2025.
- Freedom24 is an online brokerage platform offering access to global stocks, ETFs, bonds and US stock options on 15 exchanges. It combines US options from $0.65 per contract with ETF Investment plans for long-term investing, making it suitable for both new and experienced investors.
- Saxo has a product offering similar to IBKR’s, albeit with higher commissions and currency conversion fees. Its SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO platforms suit sophisticated traders who can take full advantage of their tools.
- XTB is one of the most popular CFD and forex brokers. In eligible countries, XTB also pays interest on uninvested cash, which suits intraday traders who close all positions and return to cash at the end of the day.
- Fusion Markets also targets the niche CFD and forex trading field. The broker allows traders to choose between two account types: the Zero account, with raw spreads plus a commission of $4.50 per standard lot round turn, or the Classic account for traders who prefer $0 commissions with wider spreads. Fusion Markets does not advertise interest on uninvested cash, a disadvantage for intraday traders who return to cash at the end of the day. On the positive side, its sign-up process is very quick.
Reviews
Interactive Brokers at a glance
Trader Workstation (TWS), the proprietary trading platform of Interactive Brokers, is one of the most innovative trading platforms developed by a brokerage firm. It includes two layouts: “TWS Mosaic”, a fully customisable workspace, and “Classic TWS”, with more advanced tools for experienced traders.
You get comprehensive order management, technical charts, watchlists, and other portfolio tools in a single view. You can organise your trading activity by asset classes and, at the same time, keep up to date with relevant market news impacting the markets. TWS offers powerful trading tools like ComboTrader, which helps traders create proprietary combination order strategies or choose from multiple templates with predefined programs to execute intraday trades.
Interactive Brokers also offers the newer IBKR Desktop and a web-based alternative called “Client Portal”, a lighter version of TWS, which lets you keep track of your portfolio performance and other essential features with few constraints. The same goes for its mobile app, which enables you to check every piece of information on the go.
We opened an account and extensively tested TWS along with the mobile app. For traders looking for advanced charting tools and depth of market information, such as conference call transcripts, news and instrument information, Trader Workstation is truly indispensable. At the same time, the mobile app came in handy when we had to close a position on the go after a surprising market move. Likewise, the mobile app is excellent when you have idle cash on hand and see a good opportunity during a market pullback. We did have trouble finding specific options contracts on the mobile app, for example, so for niche financial instruments in which you have not traded recently and do not have an open position, you need the desktop version to get your work done in a timely manner.
eToro at a glance
52% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
eToro offers one of the most intuitive and easy to learn trading platforms for intraday traders globally. The broker’s most distinctive feature is social trading, allowing you to copy the portfolios of successful traders or develop a community around your trading account.
The TipRanks research tab aggregates the cumulative knowledge of investors and experts from some of the world’s leading financial institutions, allowing you to get a quick idea of whether the stock you are trading is a buy, hold, or sell according to analyst consensus.
For traders looking for speed of execution, the platform offers One-click trading, allowing you to open a new position using ready-made parameters with a single click.
eToro is renowned for its user-friendly interface and excellent visualisation. ProCharts is a professional-grade technical analysis tool that compares charts from different financial instruments and/or time frames. Last but not least, the Economic calendar available to traders is one of the platform’s most useful features, allowing you to keep track of earnings reports, dividend payments and economic data releases.
We opened an account and went through the app’s features with ease. Setting up trades is really intuitive, and exploring the stock-specific pages you are interested in is a real joy, bringing you tons of easy to read information. At the same time, the lack of more advanced instrument information may leave some traders disappointed. But for most traders, especially beginners, eToro is a solid platform to get started in the world of intraday trading.
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 52% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
TradeZero at a glance
Investing involves risk of loss.
TradeZero offers a professional-grade trading environment tailored to active intraday traders who focus on U.S. stocks and options. Unlike many brokers that emphasize multi-asset access such as CFDs or forex, TradeZero is more specialized for traders seeking direct access to U.S. markets.
The broker’s standout feature is its advanced desktop platform, ZeroPro, which supports Level 2 market data, customizable layouts, fast execution, and a broad set of order types. These features are particularly relevant for intraday traders who rely on speed, precision, and market depth.
Two newer tools to know:
TZ1
TZ1 is TradeZero’s new browser-based trading platform. It is fully integrated with TradingView, enabling traders to place trades from the charting experience. It is designed for active traders who want a modern web interface while still accessing TradeZero’s core trading functionality, including beyond basic short selling.
ProScanner
ProScanner is a real-time U.S. equity market scanner built directly into ZeroPro and TZ1. It helps you scan live market data, filter symbols by custom criteria, and organize fast-moving information into a structured view. It is included with the platform at no additional fee.
TradeZero also supports TradingView integration, allowing traders to use TradingView charts alongside TradeZero execution. For traders who prefer mobile access, the ZeroMobile app provides a streamlined experience, though functionality can vary compared to the desktop platform.
We opened an account and tested the desktop and mobile platforms. ZeroPro stands out as TradeZero’s core strength for active traders who want control over layout, order handling, and market depth. Beginners may find the interface less intuitive than platforms built primarily for first-time investors.
Besides, TradeZero operates through different subsidiaries, so you should understand which one you are opening an account with:
| Broker | US stock fees | Interest offered | Financial products | Min. deposit | Notes |
| TradeZero International | Varies by schedule | Not applicable | US stocks and options | $500 | No PDT rule |
| TradeZero Canada | Varies by schedule | Not applicable | US stocks and options | $500 | No PDT rule |
| TradeZero America | Varies by schedule | Not applicable | US stocks and options | $2,000 (margin account) | PDT rule removed on 4 June 2026 |
| TradeZero Europe | Varies by schedule | Not applicable | US stocks and options | $250 | No PDT rule |
Each entity also operates under different margin conditions. TradeZero offers leverage across its subsidiaries as follows:
- Up to 6x leverage in TradeZero International: 6:1 (intraday), 2:1 (overnight)
- Up to 3x leverage in TradeZero Canada: 3:1 (intraday), 2:1 (overnight)
- TradeZero America: since 4 June 2026, intraday buying power is risk-based, depending on your account’s real-time margin capacity instead of the number of day trades, with 2:1 overnight
- Up to 3x leverage in TradeZero Europe: 3:1 (pre-market & intraday), 2:1 (post-market & overnight)
In the US, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the removal of the Pattern Day Trader (PDT) rule and its $25,000 minimum on 14 April 2026. TradeZero America applied the change from 4 June 2026, the first possible day, so margin accounts with more than $2,000 can now day trade without the old limit of three round trips in five days.
Overall, TradeZero is best suited for experienced intraday traders who prioritise focused US market access, platform functionality designed for active execution, and tools that support short-selling workflows, rather than a broad product range.
Freedom24 at a glance
Investing involves risk of loss.
Freedom24, part of Freedom Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: FRHC), is a European broker that gives access to more than 1 million instruments on 15 exchanges in Europe, Asia and the US, including stocks, ETFs, bonds and US stock options. For intraday traders, it combines access to US and European exchanges with US stock options from $0.65 per contract on the Smart in EUR plan.
For long-term investing alongside trading, Freedom24 offers ETF Investment plans: you can invest in selected ETFs regularly (weekly or monthly) with €0 commission. The €0 fee applies only to purchases made within the Freedom24 Recurring Investment function, and other fees apply according to the Freedom24 Fee Schedule.
In selected countries (the Netherlands, Germany, Lithuania, Spain, Greece and Italy), clients can also ask their personal manager for investment advice. The only prerequisite is completing the suitability test.
With no minimum deposit, it presents two pricing plans: “Smart in EUR” (€0.02 per share + €2 per order on US and European stocks and ETFs, and $0.65 per US option contract), which suits investors with lower trading volumes, and “All Inclusive in EUR” (0.5% of the trade value + €0.012 per share + €1.20 per order, and $3 per US option contract + €10 per order), which includes a personal manager. Both plans charge a €7 withdrawal fee, and Freedom24 does not offer fractional shares.
Freedom Finance Europe Ltd is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). In the unlikely event that the segregated assets cannot be returned to clients, Freedom24 falls under the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), which compensates for any losses from non-returned investments up to €20,000.
Want to learn more? Check out our Freedom24 Review.
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss. Commission-free investing applies exclusively to specific recurring investment plans. Other fees apply according to the Freedom24 Fee Schedule. Options are complex financial instruments with a high risk of loss and are not suitable for all investors. Access to a specific financial instrument may depend on the suitability assessment.
SaxoTraderGO at a glance
62% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Saxo features three platforms for trading: SaxoInvestor, SaxoTraderGO, and SaxoTraderPRO. We focus on the middle one, SaxoTraderGO, the broker’s most popular platform, available on web and mobile.
SaxoTraderGO is an award-winning web-based platform with crucial features: fundamental and technical analysis tools, an extensive charting package, performance analysis, a comprehensive account overview, and a user-friendly interface.
News and expert research are available through the proprietary SaxoStrats feature, with in-house analysts weighing in on the latest market trends. The Depth Trader feature lets you see all the buy and sell orders waiting to be executed so that you can manage your trades more effectively.
Powerful risk management tools available to intraday traders include the Account shield feature, which, if activated, can act as a stop loss on your entire account, closing all open positions and cancelling all orders. Sometimes, it is better to finish the day at a small loss and come back to the markets the next day.
Saxo provides 24-hour support on business days and educational resources for all types of traders. VIP clients can receive priority support and exclusive invitations to events. The Swiss private bank J. Safra Sarasin became Saxo’s majority owner in March 2026 and sole owner in July 2026.
XTB xStation 5 at a glance
69-80% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
XTB offers forex and CFD trading, as well as real stocks and ETFs, through its flagship xStation 5 platform. The trading interface has many distinctive features, including market sentiment, which pools the trading bias among all XTB clients on specific instruments, allowing you to get a quick feel on trader consensus.
Intraday traders can access comprehensive charting tools that incorporate risk management, allowing you to place take profit or stop loss levels directly on your charts.
The platform also incorporates news from in-house analysts and an economic calendar to keep track of all key financial developments.
Fusion Markets cTrader at a glance
74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Fusion Markets specialises in forex and CFD trading and gives clients access to the popular cTrader platform (developed by Spotware), as well as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 for experienced traders.
cTrader prides itself on niche features such as market depth, featuring standard market depth, price depth, as well as volume-weighted average price (VWAP) depth. The charting package is equally comprehensive, offering 26 different timeframes and over 70 inbuilt indicators to give you a more full-bodied overview of the market.
Once you are familiar with the platform, QuickTrade Mode allows you to pre-set your order type settings and risk management levels. Once done, you can execute trades with a single click.
For intraday traders looking to complement their routine with algorithmic trading, cTrader Algo (formerly cAlgo) allows you to create automated strategies and install your own trading bots.
Bottom line
To sum it up, here’s a brief overview of our findings regarding the best intraday trading platforms globally:
Interactive Brokers
Best overalleToro
Best for social tradingTradeZero
Best for active tradersFreedom24
Best for intermediate tradersSaxo Bank
Best for powerful trading toolsXTB
Best for Forex and CFDsFusion Markets
Best for a quick sign-up process
With our comparison complete, here is what you need to do to get started on intraday trading:
- Find a suitable broker: make sure the broker works with residents of your country. Consider the fees and market access of the broker if you are interested in trading niche markets.
- Open an account and deposit money: after deciding which broker’s trading platform to use, you must go through the account opening process and deposit money.
- Start trading: having considered the pros and cons of each broker and after going through the account opening process, you can start trading. Keep in mind that intraday trading is high-risk, especially with leverage, and most retail traders lose money, so only risk capital you can afford to lose.
Do your own research to find the strategy that suits you best.
Disclaimer: The inclusion of TradeZero’s name, logo or web links is present pursuant to an advertising arrangement only. TradeZero is not a contributor, reviewer, provider or sponsor of content published on this site and is not responsible for the accuracy of any products or services discussed.
