Interactive Brokers vs Kraken

Interactive Brokers or Kraken – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare Interactive Brokers and Kraken in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Interactive Brokers vs Kraken Comparison Table 2025
Interactive Brokers Kraken
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4.3
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3.9
Interactive Brokers is ranked #33 among CFD brokers. Kraken is ranked #36 among crypto brokers.
Review
Review
Interactive Brokers (IBKR), a leading brokerage, offers access to 150 markets across 33 countries and provides extensive investment services. With more than 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed company complies with strict regulations from the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC. It is among the most reliable brokers worldwide for traders. Kraken is a top cryptocurrency exchange featuring a specialised trading platform and over 220 cryptocurrency tokens. Traders can access up to 1:5 leverage for spot trading with consistent rollover fees, and up to 1:50 for futures trading. The platform additionally offers crypto staking and hosts an engaging NFT marketplace.
Pros
  • IBKR is a highly respected brokerage, regulated by top-tier authorities, ensuring the integrity and security of your trading account.
  • The TWS platform is tailored for intermediate and advanced traders, featuring over 100 order types and a dependable real-time market data feed with exceptional uptime.
  • Interactive Brokers has been awarded Best US Broker for 2025 by DayTrading.com. This accolade highlights its dedication to traders in the US, offering exceptionally low margin rates and access to global markets at minimal expense.
  • The new IBKR Desktop platform combines the top features of TWS with customised tools such as Option Lattice and MultiSort Screeners, providing an impressive trading experience for traders of all skill levels.
  • A wide range of third-party research subscriptions, both free and paid, are available for traders. Additionally, by subscribing to Toggle AI, traders can receive commission rebates from IBKR.
  • IBKR consistently offers unparalleled access to global equities, with thousands of shares available across over 100 market centres in 24 countries, including the recently added Saudi Stock Exchange.
  • While initially targeting seasoned traders, IBKR has recently widened its appeal by eliminating its $10,000 minimum deposit requirement.
  • IBKR offers an economical environment for traders, featuring low commissions, narrow spreads, and a clear fee structure.
  • Has maintained an excellent security history with no breaches over the past ten years since inception.
  • An impressive selection of over 220 well-established cryptocurrencies.
  • NFT marketplace and crypto staking offered for traders.
  • Excellent trading platform and mobile app.
  • Kraken Pro offers competitive trading fees.
  • 50x leverage on futures trading enables traders to multiply potential returns by borrowing funds. This allows traders to control larger contract sizes with a smaller capital outlay. With increased leverage, the risks and rewards are both amplified, requiring careful risk management.
  • Minimum deposit requirement is only $10.
  • 3D secure is necessary.
  • Unlocking the world of mobile investing offers traders a convenient platform to buy and sell assets. With intuitive apps, investors swiftly execute trades, analyse market trends, and manage portfolios. Mobile platforms empower users by providing real-time data and seamless access to financial markets. This modern approach enhances flexibility, allowing traders to respond instantly to market changes. For the savvy trader, mobile investing significantly streamlines the investment process, making it an indispensable tool in today’s fast-paced financial environment.
  • Crypto staking
Cons
  • The learning curve for TWS is quite steep, making it tough for novice traders to navigate and grasp all its features. In contrast, Plus500's web platform is far more accessible for those new to trading.
  • IBKR offers a variety of research tools, but their inconsistent placement across trading platforms and the 'Account Management' webpage creates a confusing experience for users.
  • Support can be sluggish and frustrating. Tests reveal that you may face challenges reaching customer service quickly, which could result in delays in issue resolution.
  • You are limited to a single active session per account, meaning you cannot use both your desktop programme and mobile app at the same time. This restriction can occasionally lead to a frustrating experience for traders.
  • Delayed verification for Pro accounts.
  • Limited support for newer altcoins.
  • Minimal leverage in spot trading.
  • Does not accept deposits in traditional currency.
  • Slow processing times
Awards
  • Best US Broker 2025 - DayTrading.com
FCA Regulated
Yes Yes
Instruments
Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies Cryptos
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0 $10
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
$100 Variable
Regulator
FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM FCA, FinCEN, FINTRAC, AUSTRAC, FSA
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android Yes
Trading App

The IBKR Mobile app, available on both iOS and Android devices, makes your phone a powerful gateway to your IBKR accounts, offering you the freedom to keep an eye on portfolios, initiate trades, and dive into real-time quotes and charts, all while managing your account activities on the fly. This app stands out for its intuitive design, making it especially welcoming for those just starting their trading journey, providing a smoother and more accessible experience than the more complex TWS platform.
iOS App Rating
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4.3
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4.7
Android App Rating
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4.5
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4.2
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
1.55 - 2.59%
MetaTrader 4
No No
MetaTrader 5
No No
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
Yes Yes
OmniTrader
Yes No
TradingView
Yes No
Autochartist
No No
eSignal
Yes No
Trading Central
Yes No
STP Account
Yes No
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
Yes No
MAM Account
Yes No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
Yes No
Robo Advisor
Yes No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes No
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Auto Trading
Capitalise.ai & TWS API Kraken Futures is integrated in other platforms which have bots: Bookmap, Caspian, FMZ Quant, Gunbot, HaasOnline, Hyndor, Margin
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
Yes No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0
Islamic Account
No No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • INR
  • JPY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • AED
  • HUF
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • JPY
  • CHF
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Zinc
  • Aluminium
  • Natural Gas
  • Soybeans
  • Lead
  • Precious Metals
  • Lean Hogs
CFD
The platform provides access to over 8,000 CFDs across stocks, indices, forex, and commodities. Suited for experienced traders, the TWS platform includes more than 100 order types and algorithms. It also delivers top-tier market data from trusted sources like Reuters and Dow Jones.
Leverage
1:50
FTSE Spread
0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread<
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Oil Spread
0.25-0.85
Stocks Spread
0.003
Forex
IBKR offers a vast range of over 100 forex pairs, including major, minor, and exotic currencies, outstripping most competitors except CMC Markets. Trading is available across multiple platforms with institutional-grade spreads beginning at 0.1 pips. There are also 20 sophisticated order types, such as brackets, scale, and one-cancels-all (OCA) orders, enhancing trading strategies.
Assets
100+
GBPUSD Spread
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURUSD Spread
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURGBP Spread
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Cryptocurrency
IBKR offers access to Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin at attractive commission rates without the need for a crypto wallet. Furthermore, traders can explore a variety of assets, including crypto indices like the NYSE Bitcoin Index, and futures contracts such as BAKKT Bitcoin Futures. Kraken is a dedicated crypto exchange offering over 220 cryptocurrencies, including major tokens like Bitcoin and various altcoins. Traders can engage in spot markets with leverage of up to 5:1, or in futures markets with leverage up to 50:1. The platform provides low fees and is highly user-friendly.
Spread
0.12%-0.18% 0-0.26% average
Coins
  • BTC
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • XRP
  • AAVE
  • ALGO
  • ANT
  • REP
  • REPV2
  • BAT
  • BAL
  • XBT
  • BCH
  • ADA
  • LINK
  • COMP
  • ATOM
  • CRV
  • DAI
  • DASH
  • MANA
  • XDG
  • EWT
  • EOS
  • ETH
  • ETC
  • FIL
  • FLOW
  • GNO
  • ICX
  • KAVA
  • KEEP
  • KSM
  • KNC
  • LSK
  • LTC
  • MLN
  • XMR
  • NANO
  • OCEAN
  • OMG
  • OXT
  • PAXG
  • DOT
  • QTUM
  • XRP
  • SC
  • XLM
  • STORJ
  • SNX
  • TBTC
  • USDT
  • XTZ
  • GRT
  • TRX
  • UNI
  • USDC
  • WAVES
  • YFI
  • ZEC
  • BNB
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No Yes
Auto Market Maker
No No
Interactive Brokers Kraken
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