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Interactive Brokers (IBKR) vs Scalable Capital: 2024 Comparison

Franklin Silva| Updated January 3rd, 2024

Are you confused about whether to choose Interactive Brokers (IBKR) vs Scalable Capital as a broker for your investing needs?

In this side-by-side comparison, we analyse Interactive Brokers (IBKR) vs Scalable Capital to help you understand how these apps compare on some of the most common features and make a better-informed decision about the best broker for you.

Below, you’ll find the pros and cons of each broker, as well as a comparison table that features the different fees charged, the financial instruments supported, the regulation, and more. Keep reading!

Ideal for
Every investor (best overall)

Interactive Brokers is a global online broker and publicly listed company which surpassed major financial crises, showing resilience and a rigorous risk management process.

It offers an advanced investment platform that includes a wide range of products (stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs, futures, bonds, and currencies) from 150 markets.

Beginners and intermediate investors have educational tools to explore, but the learning curve will be steep. Interactive Brokers also launched IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks, Options and ETFs.

Ideal for
Commission-free savings plans

Scalable Capital is an online broker (“Do-it-yourself” service) and Europe’s largest Robo-Advisor.

They help investors invest in stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies by themselves and also help investors get a personalized, globally diversified, and fully managed portfolio.

It is regulated by the BaFin, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority in Germany. It is supervised by both BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Low commissions on US stock trading
  • No monthly inactivity fee
  • The broadest product and markets range in the brokerage industry
  • Demo account
  • Excellent reputation (founded in 1978)
  • Extensive research and Education tools
  • Has a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks, Options and ETFs, ideal for novice investors, IBKR GlobalTrader.
  • Offers interest on uninvested cash balances

Cons

  • Complicated and lengthy account opening process (but fully online)
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Website is difficult to navigate
  • Interactive Advisors (Robo-advisor feature) is only available for US customers

Pros

  • Stocks and ETFs commission-free (in PRIME Broker)
  • €1 minimum deposit
  • Interest on idle cash
  • No custody fee
  • Regulated by Bafin

Cons

  • No access to US stock exchanges
  • No fractional shares
  • Limited crypto available
  • €3.99 per trade on Xetra
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) vs Scalable Capital: 2024 Comparison 3
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) vs Scalable Capital: 2024 Comparison 4
  •  
  • General Information
  • Founded in
  • Demo Account
  • Account Minimum
  • Interest on uninvested cash (annually)
  • Products
  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Options
  • Futures
  • CFDs
  • Leverage Products
  • Forex
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Commodities
  • Fees
  • US stocks
  • EU stocks
  • ETFs
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Custody Fee
  • Inactivity Fee
  • Withdrawal Fee
  • Connectivity Fee
  • Currency Conversion Fee
  • Security
  • Regulators
  • Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)
  • Interactive BrokersAsset 3
  • General Information
  • Founded in1978
  • Demo Account
  • Account Minimum€/$/£0
  • Interest on uninvested cash (annually)EUR: 3.467%; USD: 4.83%; GBP: 4.75% (as of January 2024)
  • Products
  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Options
  • Futures
  • CFDs*On Stocks, Indices, Metals, and Forex.
  • Leverage Products
  • Forex
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Commodities
  • Fees
  • US stocksTiered plan: $0.0035 per share**Min. $0.35; Max. 1% of trade value.
  • EU stocksTiered plan: 0.05% of trade value**Min. €1.25; Max. €29.
  • ETFsTiered plan: 0.05% of trade value**Min. €1.25; Max. €99.
  • CryptocurrenciesUp to 0.18% of the trade value**Only in the US.
  • Custody Fee€/$/£0
  • Inactivity Fee€/$/£0
  • Withdrawal Fee€/$/£0**One free withdrawal per month
  • Connectivity Fee€/$/£0
  • Currency Conversion Fee0.0020%
  • Security
  • RegulatorsFINRA, SIPC, SEC, CFTC, IIROC, FCA, CBI, AFSL, SFC, SEBI, MAS and MNB.
  • Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)

    Up to £85,000 for clients under IB U.K. Limited; Up to €20,000 for clients under IB Ireland Limited.

  • Scalable CapitalAsset 3
  • General Information
  • Founded in2014
  • Demo Account
  • Account Minimum€1**Online broker. For Robo-advisor: €20 monthly or a lump sum of €1,000.
  • Interest on uninvested cash (annually)EUR: 2.60%
  • Products
  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Options
  • Futures
  • CFDs
  • Leverage Products
  • Forex
  • Cryptocurrencies*Crypto ETPs
  • Commodities*Via ETCs.
  • Fees
  • US stocks-
  • EU stocksUp to €3.99
  • ETFsUp to €3.99
  • Cryptocurrencies0.99%**Spread surcharge.
  • Custody Fee€0
  • Inactivity Fee€0
  • Withdrawal Fee€0
  • Connectivity Fee€0
  • Currency Conversion Fee0%
  • Security
  • RegulatorsBaFin
  • Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)Up to €100,000 for cash; Up to €20,000 for financial assets. **From non-returned assets up to 90%.
Franklin Silva
Co-Founder & Fintech Analyst

Franklin is a CFA Level III Candidate with 3 years of experience in Wealth Management as a Fund Research Analyst and the Host of the "Edge Over Hedge" YouTube Channel.

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