Nexo or Interactive Brokers – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare Nexo and Interactive Brokers in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
Nexo, a centralised cryptocurrency exchange established in Bulgaria in 2018, now operates from Switzerland in approximately 200 regions. Its offerings include spot and futures trading, peer-to-peer lending, cold wallet storage, and fiat on-ramps for purchasing crypto tokens. Nexo is registered with respected financial bodies like the ASIC. Additionally, it provides unique services, such as a credit card.
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.
Pros
A well-regarded crypto exchange, established in 2018, has initiated steps towards regulatory compliance.
Nexo Pro is an intuitive platform tailored for traders, offering robust charting tools that enhance strategic trading.
The trading platform features essential tools such as asset-specific newsfeeds and social media analysis.
Traders can utilise perpetual futures to take long or short positions on crypto assets, thereby enhancing strategic opportunities.
Nexo's platform facilitates cryptocurrency lending and borrowing through its staking and credit features, offering traders some of the most competitive yields in the market.
Traders receive bonuses and incentives, such as complimentary trading funds given to lenders and cashback through the exchange's native Nexo token.
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.
Cons
While Nexo is registered with certain reputable regulators, trading with it carries more risk compared to established crypto brokers such as AvaTrade and Vantage.
High deposit and withdrawal fees for cards and e-wallets may deter many traders from using these convenient payment methods.
Limited educational resources diminish its attraction for newcomers, who may discover more valuable materials with leading platforms such as eToro.
Elevated maker/taker fees result in traders incurring higher costs for trading derivatives compared to competing exchanges such as Binance.
The selection of tokens is broad relative to many crypto brokers, yet it remains limited when compared to similar crypto exchanges such as Kraken.
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.
Awards
Best Cryptocurrency Wallet – FinTech Breakthrough Awards, 2023
Best Use of Crypto and/or Blockchain in Financial Services – PAY360 Awards, 2022
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
3.8
4.3
Android App Rating
4
4.5
Margin Trading
Yes
Yes
Margin Rate
1.55 - 2.59%
MetaTrader 4
No
No
MetaTrader 5
No
No
cTrader
No
No
AlgoTrader
No
Yes
OmniTrader
No
Yes
TradingView
No
Yes
Autochartist
No
No
eSignal
No
Yes
Trading Central
No
Yes
STP Account
No
Yes
ECN Account
No
No
DMA Account
No
Yes
MAM Account
No
Yes
PAMM Account
No
No
LAMM Account
No
No
Demat Account
No
No
AI / Machine Learning
No
Yes
Robo Advisor
No
Yes
Negative Balance Protection
No
Yes
Market Maker
No
No
P2P Trading
No
No
Spot Trading
Yes
Yes
Auto Trading
Capitalise.ai & TWS API
Copy Trading
No
No
Social Trading
No
No
VPS Hosting
No
No
Tournaments
No
No
Demo Competitions
No
No
Ethical Investing
No
Yes
Custodial Account
No
No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No
No
Inactivity Fee
$0
Islamic Account
No
No
Account Currencies
USD
EUR
GBP
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
INR
JPY
SEK
NOK
DKK
CHF
AED
HUF
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
Nexo provides trading services for approximately 70 tokens, including Bitcoin. Users can buy, sell, and exchange digital assets directly on the platform, with access to over 500 trading pairs. Additionally, these assets can serve as collateral for fiat loans or generate passive income through the ‘smart staking’ option and interest from peer-to-peer loans.
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.