Hello, investor! Are you trying to decide between Trading 212 and Interactive Brokers? This article walks you through a detailed, side-by-side comparison so you can make the right choice.
We use both brokers, and we know how hard it can be to pick one.
Below we look at how they compare on features, fees, products, interest on cash and regulation.
You will find a comparison table and a breakdown of the pros and cons of each platform. Let’s dive in.
Trading 212 vs Interactive Brokers
- Interactive Brokers: best for advanced investors, and our recommended choice overall;
- Trading 212: best for beginners, and our choice for interest on cash and 0% commission investing in stocks and ETFs (other fees may apply, see terms and fees).
All in all, we would feel comfortable investing with either.
Trading 212 is a strong choice for low-cost investing, especially if you want to earn interest on your cash. It is simple, straightforward and cheap for most retail investors.
If you want the broadest range of tools, products and markets, Interactive Brokers takes the crown. It is one of the oldest brokers around and a publicly listed company. While other brokers offer higher rates and lower fees to attract new users, IBKR’s model is sustainable and transparent, which is why we pick it as the winner.
Video summary
Want the short version? Check our video comparison of Trading 212 and IBKR below:
| Category | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Account minimum | €/£10 | €/$/£0 |
| Interest on uninvested cash | EUR 2.20%, USD 3.30%, GBP 3.80%September 2026, variable. New clients onboarded under Trading 212 EU GmbH have been offered a promotional EUR rate above the standard one. Interest applies to cash in an investment account and terms apply. | EUR 1.697%, USD 3.130%, GBP 3.227%September 2026, IBKR Pro, variable. No interest on the first €10,000 or equivalent, and accounts below $100,000 NAV earn a proportional rate. |
| US stocks | 0% commission (other fees may apply) | Tiered plan: $0.0035 per shareMin. $0.35, max. 1% of trade value. Fixed plan: $0.005 per share, min. $1. |
| EU stocks | 0% commission (other fees may apply) | Tiered plan: 0.05% of trade valueMin. €1.25, max. €29. Fixed plan: €3 up to €6,000, then 0.05%. |
| ETFs | 0% commission (other fees may apply) | Tiered plan: 0.05% of trade valueMin. €1.25, max. €29. |
| Currency conversion | 0.15% in the Invest account, 0.50% in the CFD account | From 0.002% of the converted amount, minimum $2 per order |
| Entity and regulators | Trading 212 EU GmbH (BaFin) or Trading 212 Markets Ltd (CySEC) in the EU, Trading 212 UK Ltd (FCA) in the UK, plus ASIC and the Bulgarian FSC in the group | Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (Central Bank of Ireland) in the EU, IBKR UK (FCA), IBKR LLC (SEC, FINRA, CFTC) in the US |
Rates and fees checked against each broker’s published pages in September 2026. Interest rates are variable and depend on your country and entity, so confirm in the app before you count on them.
Want a more detailed comparison? Check the full side by side in our broker comparison tool.
About Trading 212
Trading 212 is a fintech based in London that aims to democratise investing through a simple web and mobile app.
More than 5 million users invest through it in over 10,000 stocks and ETFs, plus forex, commodities, CFDs and crypto. Your shares are held in pooled accounts, known as omnibus accounts, at its sub-custodians, which include Interactive Brokers.
One detail worth knowing before you open an account: in the European Union, new clients are onboarded to Trading 212 EU GmbH, licensed by BaFin in Germany, while earlier clients remain with Trading 212 Markets Ltd, licensed by CySEC in Cyprus. The entity determines your investor protection and, at times, the interest rate you are offered. You can check which one holds your account in the app.
It also pays an attractive rate on uninvested cash. For the detail, see how Trading 212 interest on uninvested cash works.
You will find 0% commission on stocks and ETFs (other fees may apply, see terms and fees), fractional shares, and automated investing through Pies and AutoInvest. Pies and AutoInvest are an execution-only service that follows your own investment decisions. They are not investment advice or portfolio management.
New users can also receive a free fractional share worth up to £/€100 by signing up with the Trading 212 sponsored code IITW.*
On the downside, the product range is limited: no options, no futures and no bonds.
For the full picture, see our Trading 212 review.
*Sponsored Link. To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR/GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link. Terms apply.
Risk disclaimer: When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.
Trading 212 pros and cons
Pros
- Commission-free real stock, ETFs and crypto trading (other fees may apply. See terms and fees)
- AutoInvest & Pies feature (execution-only service, not financial advice)
- Fast and easy account opening process
- Demo account
- Top Tier Regulators
- Free fractional shares worth up to €100
- High interest on uninvested cash
Cons
- Limited product portfolio (no Options, Bonds, Mutual Funds or Futures)
- No relevant Fundamental tools
- 0.15% of Foreign exchange fees
About Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers is a global broker and a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: IBKR) that has come through several financial crises with a rigorous approach to risk. By June 2026 it had more than 5 million client accounts and over $930 billion in client equity.
It offers an advanced platform covering stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs, futures, bonds and currencies across more than 150 markets, with accounts in up to 29 currencies. Clients in the European Union are onboarded to Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
It also offers IBKR GlobalTrader, a simpler mobile app for stocks, options and ETFs.
Beginners and intermediate investors have plenty of educational material, but the learning curve is steep. In exchange, IBKR has one of the strongest offerings anywhere on security, product range and pricing, and one of the best reputations in the industry.
If you want to know more, see our Interactive Brokers review.
Interactive Brokers 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
Fees and commissions
| Fee type | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers |
| Stocks (US, EU and UK) | 0% commission (other fees may apply) | Fixed plan: $0.005 per shareTiered plan: $0.0005 to $0.0035 per share. European stocks: €3 per trade up to €6,000 on the Fixed plan, or 0.05% with a €1.25 minimum on Tiered. |
| ETFs | 0% commission (other fees may apply) | Fixed plan: $0.005 per shareTiered plan: $0.0005 to $0.0035 per share, and $0 on the No Transaction Fee ETF list. |
| Options | Not available | Fixed plan: $0.65 per contractTiered plan: $0.15 to $0.65 per contract. |
| Futures | Not available | Fixed plan: $0.85 per contractTiered plan: $0.25 to $0.85 per contract. |
| Bonds | Not available | Yes, from 0.002% of face value on US government bonds |
| Currency conversion | 0.15% in Invest, 0.50% in CFD | From 0.002% of the amount, minimum $2 per order |
| Withdrawals | Free | One free withdrawal per monthSubsequent withdrawals are charged, and the fee varies by method and currency. |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
| Custody fee | None | None |
Trading 212 has a simple, commission-free structure that suits most retail investors, while Interactive Brokers is cheaper for anyone trading in size or in products Trading 212 does not offer.
A worked example makes the difference concrete. Buying €5,000 of a European ETF costs nothing at Trading 212 and €3 at IBKR on the Fixed plan. Converting €5,000 into dollars costs €7.50 at Trading 212 and around $2 at IBKR. So if you invest in your own currency, Trading 212 is cheaper. If you regularly convert currencies or trade in the US in dollars, IBKR wins the moment you move any meaningful amount.
Investment products
| Investment products | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers |
| Stocks | Yes, more than 10,000 stocks and ETFs, real and CFDs | Yes, tens of thousands across more than 150 markets |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes |
| Automated investing | Yes, through Pies and AutoInvest | Recurring investments, with standard commissions |
| Cryptocurrencies | Yes, as CFDs | Yes, spot crypto in some regions, plus crypto futures |
| Forex | Yes, as CFDs | Yes, spot forex |
| Indices and commodities | Yes, as CFDs | Yes, through futures, options and CFDs |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes, government and corporate |
| Mutual funds | No | Yes |
| Tax wrappers | Stocks and Shares ISA and Cash ISA in the UK | Stocks and Shares ISA in the UK, plus IRAs in the US |
Interactive Brokers offers a far broader range, including options, futures, bonds and funds that Trading 212 does not have. Trading 212 answers with 0% commission on stocks and ETFs, a better rate on uninvested cash and an automation tool that IBKR has no real equivalent to.
One distinction worth understanding: at Trading 212, crypto, forex, indices and commodities are available as CFDs, which are leveraged derivatives you do not own, while at IBKR most of those exposures come through the underlying instrument or a regulated futures contract.
Safety
| Aspect | Trading 212 | Interactive Brokers |
| Regulators | FCA, CySEC, BaFin, ASIC and the Bulgarian FSC | Central Bank of Ireland, FCA, SEC, CFTC, FINRA, ASIC and others |
| Investor protection | Up to €20,000 for EU clients, up to £85,000 for UK clients | Up to €20,000 for EU clients, up to £85,000 for UK clients, up to $500,000 for US clients under SIPC |
| Additional insurance | Yes, private insurance on top of the statutory scheme | Yes, excess SIPC cover for US clients |
| Asset segregation | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | Yes | Yes |
| Listed on an exchange | No | Yes, NASDAQ: IBKR |
| Published financials | Group accounts filed in each jurisdiction | Quarterly reports and monthly metrics |
Both are supervised by well-regarded regulators and both segregate client assets. The practical difference is transparency: IBKR is listed on NASDAQ and publishes quarterly results and monthly brokerage metrics, which is a level of public accountability a private company does not have.
Note also that the FSCS limit for investments remained at £85,000 when the deposit limit rose to £120,000 in December 2025. The higher figure does not apply to a brokerage account.
Trading platforms
Trading 212
Trading 212 has a mobile app and a web platform, with two account types, Trading 212 Invest and Trading 212 CFD.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers offers the IBKR GlobalTrader mobile app and several desktop and web platforms, including Trader Workstation, Client Portal and IBKR Desktop, covering the full product range.
Customer support
Trading 212
Support is by email, live chat and an extensive help centre, in several languages. There is no phone line.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers offers phone support 24 hours a day on business days, plus email and live chat, with a large knowledge base and educational resources.
How to invest in the S&P 500 on Trading 212 and IBKR
Want to see how it works on each platform?
Check our step-by-step videos, where we place the trade on both apps. It is a useful way to get a feel for each before deciding:
Trading 212
Interactive Brokers
Trading 212 vs Interactive Brokers: final verdict
Interactive Brokers
Best for every investor (best overall)Trading 212
Best for beginners and those looking to invest in interest on uninvested cash
Choosing between them is not always straightforward, so here is the short version:
Do you want a simple app, 0% commission on stocks and ETFs and interest on idle cash? Trading 212 is the better fit. It is built for beginners and for anyone who wants a straightforward way to invest in stocks and ETFs (other fees may apply, see terms and fees).
Do you want advanced tools, global markets and products such as options, futures and bonds? Then Interactive Brokers is the choice, with more than 150 markets and the lowest currency conversion cost in the industry.
Do you convert currencies often? IBKR, without much argument. The gap between 0.15% and 0.002% adds up quickly.
Do you invest a fixed amount every month in your own currency? Trading 212, where the commission is zero and Pies automate the whole thing.
And remember, by signing up with the Trading 212 sponsored code IITW you can receive a free fractional share worth up to £/€100. Terms apply.
Want to learn more about other brokers? Check our in-depth broker reviews, our comparison table and our BrokerMatch tool.
FAQs
Which one is cheaper?
For a simple portfolio of stocks and ETFs bought in your own currency, Trading 212, because the commission is zero. For anyone converting currencies or trading in size, Interactive Brokers, whose currency conversion starts at 0.002% of the amount against 0.15% at Trading 212.
Does Trading 212 hold my shares at Interactive Brokers?
In part. Trading 212 holds client shares in pooled omnibus accounts at its sub-custodians, and Interactive Brokers is one of them. Your assets are segregated from Trading 212’s own, and the arrangement is set out in its help centre.
Which entity will I be a client of?
At Trading 212, new clients in the EU are onboarded to Trading 212 EU GmbH, licensed by BaFin, while earlier clients stay with Trading 212 Markets Ltd, licensed by CySEC. UK clients are with Trading 212 UK Ltd. At Interactive Brokers, clients in the EU are onboarded to Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. The entity determines your investor protection, so it is worth checking.
Do both pay interest on uninvested cash?
Yes, but differently. Trading 212 pays a single rate on your whole balance, with no minimum and no cap, in more than ten currencies. Interactive Brokers pays nothing on the first €10,000 or equivalent and only pays the full rate on accounts with a net asset value above $100,000. Both rates are variable and follow central bank rates.
Can I trade options or futures on Trading 212?
No. Trading 212 offers stocks, ETFs and CFDs, but no options, futures, bonds or mutual funds. If you need those, Interactive Brokers is the option here.
Disclaimer: Crypto-assets are high-risk and volatile. You could lose your invested capital, and these assets are not covered by protection schemes. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Make sure you understand the risks before investing and whether you can afford to lose your money. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.
