Swissquote vs Interactive Brokers

Swissquote or Interactive Brokers – which is better for UK traders 2026? Compare Swissquote and Interactive Brokers in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Swissquote vs Interactive Brokers Comparison Table 2026
Swissquote Interactive Brokers
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4
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4.3
Swissquote is ranked #22 among CFD brokers. Interactive Brokers is ranked #4 among CFD brokers.
Review
Review
Founded in 1996, Swissquote is a prominent Swiss bank and broker, providing online trading opportunities for an impressive portfolio of three million products, including forex, CFDs, futures, options, and bonds. Renowned for its reliability, Swissquote has earned a solid reputation through pioneering trading solutions. It was the first bank to introduce cryptocurrency trading in 2017, and has since expanded its offerings to include fractional shares and the Invest Easy service. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) stands as a leading brokerage, offering access to 170+ markets in 40 nations alongside extensive investment services. With 40+ years in finance, this Nasdaq-listed entity complies with regulations from the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, ensuring global trustworthiness in trading.
Pros
  • Swissquote is highly reputable due to its status as a bank, its presence on the Swiss stock exchange, and its authorisations from credible regulators such as FINMA in Switzerland, FCA in the UK, and CSSF in Luxembourg.
  • Swissquote is designed for rapid trading strategies, including scalping and high-frequency approaches. With an average execution speed of 9ms and a 98% fill ratio, it also supports FIX API.
  • Swissquote offers robust platforms for traders, including MetaTrader 4/5 and its proprietary CFXD (formerly Advanced Trader). During testing, these platforms stood out with their adaptable layouts, advanced charting tools, and comprehensive technical indicators.
  • Swissquote offers sophisticated research tools such as Autochartist for technical analysis and real-time news from Dow Jones. The firm's exclusive Market Talk videos and Morning News provide daily expert insights, catering to active traders.
  • IBKR is a highly respected brokerage, regulated by top-tier authorities, ensuring the integrity and security of your trading account.
  • Interactive Brokers has introduced ForecastTrader, a distinctive zero-commission offering. Users trade yes/no Forecast Contracts on political, economic, and climate events with fixed $1 payouts per contract. Benefit from 24/6 market access and earn up to 3.14% APY on held positions.
  • 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.
  • DayTrading.com awarded Interactive Brokers 'Best US Broker' for 2025, highlighting its dedication to US traders, extremely low margin rates, and affordable global market access.
  • 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
  • Swissquote focuses on serving professional and high-net-worth clients, requiring substantial initial deposits, such as $1,000 for Standard accounts. This approach is less favourable for smaller traders who prefer brokers offering higher leverage and no deposit requirements.
  • Analysis indicates that Swissquote's charges are relatively high. Forex spreads on Standard accounts begin at 1.3 pips, whereas brokers such as Pepperstone or IC Markets offer starting spreads of 0.0 pips. Additionally, transaction fees for non-Swiss stocks and ETFs could accumulate significantly for active traders.
  • Unlike brokers like eToro that offer social trading capabilities, Swissquote does not provide tools for community interaction or replicating successful traders. This absence can reduce its attractiveness to those who prioritise peer-to-peer learning.
  • 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.
  • In 2025, IBKR was fined $11.8m by the US OFAC for operating in sanctioned areas. That same year, FINRA imposed a $125k fine for lapses in municipal bond disclosure.
Awards
  • Top Innovative Companies 2025 – Statista
  • ETF Online Broker of the Year 2024 – Swiss ETF Awards
  • World’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2024 – Statista
  • Best US Broker 2025 - DayTrading.com
FCA Regulated
Yes Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Bonds, Options, Futures, ETFs, Crypto (location dependent) Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$1,000 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots $100
Regulator
FCA, FINMA, CSSF, DFSA, SFC, MAS, MFSA, CySEC, FSCA SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App
The Swissquote app, honed over time, seamlessly merges banking with trading, offering swift access to a top-tier selection of over three million instruments, such as stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. It surpasses the majority of trading apps we've reviewed, delivering a complete financial app with dynamic charts and distinctive features. The IBKR Mobile app, for iOS and Android, transforms your phone into a robust portal to access your IBKR accounts. It allows users to monitor portfolios, execute trades, view real-time quotes and charts, and manage account activities seamlessly. With its intuitive design, the app is particularly user-friendly for novices, offering a simpler experience compared to the advanced TWS platform.
iOS App Rating
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4.5
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4.3
Android App Rating
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3.4
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4.5
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
0.50% – 1.50% (IBKR Pro markup), 2.50% (IBKR Lite markup)
MetaTrader 4
Yes No
MetaTrader 5
Yes No
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
No Yes
OmniTrader
No Yes
TradingView
No Yes
Autochartist
Yes No
eSignal
No Yes
Trading Central
Yes Yes
STP Account
Yes Yes
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
Yes Yes
MAM Account
Yes Yes
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No Yes
AI / Machine Learning
Yes Yes
Robo Advisor
Yes Yes
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
Yes No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader and FIX API solutions Capitalise.ai, TWS API
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
Trade Signals
Integrated in CFXD
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
Yes Yes
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0 $0
Islamic Account
Yes No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • ZAR
  • TRY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
  • PLN
  • AED
  • SAR
  • HUF
  • THB
  • QAR
  • MXN
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • INR
  • JPY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • AED
  • HUF
Commodities
  • Oil
  • Gasoline
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Palladium
  • Platinum
  • Natural Gas
  • Copper
  • Cocoa
  • Sugar
  • Soybeans
  • Coffee
  • Precious Metals
  • Gold
  • Zinc
  • Aluminium
  • Natural Gas
  • Soybeans
  • Lead
  • Precious Metals
  • Lean Hogs
CFD
Swissquote has become a reliable CFD broker, offering trading opportunities across a broad range of global markets with rapid execution. The broker provides the intuitive CFXD platform as well as MetaTrader, and delivers insights from respected third-party sources such as Autochartist and Trading Central. 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 1:30
FTSE Spread
0.9 0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread<
1.7 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Oil Spread
0.03 0.25-0.85
Stocks Spread
N/A 0.003
Forex
Swissquote provides attractive terms for active forex traders, offering over 80 currency pairs. It ensures rapid execution speeds averaging 9ms and grants access to the popular MT4 platform. IBKR offers a wide selection of more than 100 forex pairs, including major, minor, and exotic options, exceeding most competitors except CMC Markets. Trading takes place across various platforms with institutional-quality spreads from 0.1 pips. It supports over 100 advanced order types like brackets, scale, and OCA orders.
Assets
80+ 100+
GBPUSD Spread
1.7 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURUSD Spread
1.3 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURGBP Spread
1.5 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Cryptocurrency
Swissquote has become a top cryptocurrency provider, now offering more than 30 digital tokens. It has also launched its own SQX exchange, offers crypto staking, and provides custodian services for professional traders. This all comes from a highly trusted and well-regulated brand in the crypto industry. 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
71 BTC (Prime Account) 0.12%-0.18%
Coins
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • USDT
  • USDC
  • XRP
  • SOL
  • AVAX
  • ATOM
  • ENS
  • ONDO
  • ICP
  • NEAR
  • IMC
  • RNDR
  • GRT
  • LDO
  • ALGO
  • DOT
  • ADA
  • XTZ
  • APE
  • LINK
  • POL
  • GALA
  • SAND
  • AXS
  • MANA
  • DOGE
  • UNI
  • FIL
  • MKR
  • CHZ
  • AAVE
  • COMP
  • XLM
  • ENJ
  • BCH
  • LTC
  • ZRX
  • BNT
  • EOS
  • AUDIO
  • ETC
  • HBAR
  • BTC
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • XRP
Crypto Lending
Yes No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
Yes No
Auto Market Maker
No No
Swissquote Interactive Brokers
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