Saxo Bank vs Interactive Brokers

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

Saxo vs Interactive Brokers Comparison Table 2025
Saxo Interactive Brokers
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4
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4.3
Saxo is ranked #65 among CFD brokers. Interactive Brokers is ranked #33 among CFD brokers.
Saxo Markets is a renowned trading brokerage, investment firm, and regulated bank. Featuring over 72,000 trading instruments, alongside investment products and managed portfolios, it provides abundant opportunities for clients. This reputable brand ensures transparent pricing and is protected by top-tier regulations from more than ten agencies, including FINMA, FCA, and ASIC. 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.
66% of retail accounts lose money.
Pros
  • Advanced proprietary trading platforms featuring extensive charting options and sophisticated analysis tools.
  • Elite research centre offering specialised market analysis and exclusive forecasts, including 'Outrageous Predictions'.
  • Outstanding educational materials are available, such as podcasts, webinars, and expert-led videos.
  • Access to advanced external analysis tools, such as TradingView and Updata, is available.
  • The ISA account offers easy access and flexibility, as it incurs neither entry nor exit fees.
  • A well-regulated and reputable firm located in Switzerland.
  • Reduced fees with advanced account levels.
  • 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
  • Trading accounts require substantial financial investment.
  • A subscription is necessary to access Level 2 pricing.
  • Clients from certain regions, such as the US and Belgium, are not accepted.
  • 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 US Broker 2025 - DayTrading.com
FCA Regulated
Yes Yes
Instruments
Forex, CFDs, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, futures, options, warrants, bonds, ETFs Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
£500 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
Vary by asset $100
Regulator
DFSA, MAS, FCA, SFC, FINMA, AMF, CONSOB FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
Mobile Apps
SaxoTraderGo (iOS, Android, Windows) iOS & Android
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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4.6
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4.3
Android App Rating
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4.6
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4.5
Margin Trading
No 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
Yes Yes
Autochartist
No No
eSignal
No Yes
Trading Central
No Yes
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
Yes 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
Trade Signals
Yes
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
Yes No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • JPY
  • SEK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • INR
  • JPY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • AED
  • HUF
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Natural Gas
  • Oil
  • Copper
  • Corn
  • Gold
  • Zinc
  • Aluminium
  • Natural Gas
  • Soybeans
  • Lead
  • Precious Metals
  • Lean Hogs
CFD
Trade over 8,900 CFDs, including forex, stocks, indices, commodities, options, and bonds. Utilise advanced tools and signals to enhance your trading experience. 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
1:30 1:50
FTSE Spread
1.2 pts (Variable) 0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread<
0.7 (var) 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Oil Spread
0.03 0.25-0.85
Stocks Spread
0.10% (subject to min commission) 0.003
Forex
Access top-tier liquidity across an extensive selection of 189 currency pairs and spot metals, as well as 130 forwards, with spreads starting as low as 0.4 pips. 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
40+ 100+
GBPUSD Spread
0.7 (varies by region) 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURUSD Spread
0.2 (varies by region) 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURGBP Spread
0.6 (varies by region) 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Cryptocurrency
Engage in trading cryptocurrencies against leading fiat currencies, or adopt a longer-term strategy through ETNs. 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.
Spread
Variable 0.12%-0.18%
Coins
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • XRP
  • XTZ
  • SOL
  • ADA
  • DOT
  • BTC
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • XRP
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
Saxo Interactive Brokers
66% of retail accounts lose money.
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