IB
Interactive Brokers
4.4 / 5Score: 3 / 4
Nearly five decades of global market access under five tier-1 regulators, spanning stocks, forex, CFDs, and beyond.
- Min deposit
- $0
- Max leverage
- 1:4
- Spread from
- 0.2 pips
- Regulators
- SEC, CFTC, FCA, MAS, ASIC
Reviewed by Experts Updated 9/11/2026
Interactive Brokers vs DEGIRO: Which Broker Wins in 2026?
Interactive Brokers and DEGIRO both appeal to cost-conscious global investors, but they serve very different types of traders. Our proprietary rating gives Interactive Brokers the edge overall (4.4/5 vs 3.3/5), though DEGIRO fights back hard on raw spread pricing.
D
DEGIRO
3.3 / 5Score: 1 / 4
Spreads from 0 pips make DEGIRO a lean, cost-focused choice for straightforward stock and ETF investing.
- Min deposit
- $0
- Max leverage
- 1:1
- Spread from
- 0 pips
- Regulators
- FCA
Overall Winner
Interactive Brokers
Best for Beginners
Interactive Brokers
Lowest Fees
DEGIRO
Top Regulation
Interactive Brokers
Side-by-side comparison
Core features compared head-to-head.
| Feature | IB Interactive Brokers | D DEGIRO |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 3.3 / 5 |
| Founded | 1978 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Greenwich, USA | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Regulation | SEC, CFTC, FCA, MAS, ASIC | FCA |
| Fees & Limits | ||
| Min Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Spreads From | 0.2 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission | $0.005/lot | $1.75/lot |
| Max Leverage | 1:4 | 1:1 |
| Platforms & Markets | ||
| Trading Platforms | Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile | Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile |
| Markets Offered | Stocks, Forex, Cfd, Indices, Commodities | Stocks, Indices, Commodities |
Trading & non-trading fees
Min Deposit
Interactive Brokers
$0
DEGIRO
$0
Spreads From
Interactive Brokers
0.2 pips
DEGIRO
0 pips
Commission
Interactive Brokers
$0.005/lot
DEGIRO
$1.75/lot
Deposit Fees
Interactive Brokers
None
DEGIRO
None
Withdrawal Fees
Interactive Brokers
None
DEGIRO
None
Pros & cons
IB
Interactive Brokers
Pros
- Backed by five tier-1 regulators for stronger oversight and investor protection
- Broadest market access among the two, including forex and CFDs
- Very low per-lot commission at $0.005
- No deposit or withdrawal fees
- Higher overall rating on our independent scale (4.4/5)
- Long operating history dating back to 1978
- Leverage flexibility up to 1:4 for eligible accounts
Cons
- Spreads start slightly wider at 0.2 pips versus DEGIRO's 0 pips
- Platform depth may feel complex for absolute beginners
- No third-party platforms like MetaTrader offered
- Leverage of 1:4 is still limited compared to some offshore brokers
D
DEGIRO
Pros
- Tightest headline spreads in this comparison, from 0 pips
- No minimum deposit needed to start investing
- No deposit or withdrawal fees
- Streamlined platform suited to simple stock investing
- Established European presence since 2013
Cons
- Only holds a single tier-1 regulatory licence (FCA)
- No forex or CFD market access
- Higher per-lot commission at $1.75 versus Interactive Brokers
- Leverage capped at 1:1, limiting strategy flexibility
- Lower overall rating on our independent scale (3.3/5)
Our expert verdict
Editor's verdict
Overall winner Interactive Brokers
Lowest fees DEGIRO
Best regulation Interactive Brokers
Better for beginners Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers is our top pick in this matchup, earning a 4.4/5 on our rating scale compared to DEGIRO's 3.3/5. The gap is driven primarily by regulatory depth and market breadth — Interactive Brokers is licensed by five tier-1 regulators (SEC, CFTC, FCA, MAS, ASIC) versus DEGIRO's single FCA licence, and it offers access to forex and CFDs that DEGIRO simply doesn't provide. DEGIRO still wins on headline pricing, advertising spreads from 0 pips against Interactive Brokers' 0.2 pips, making it a genuine contender for pure buy-and-hold stock investors focused purely on execution cost. For most traders who want a well-rounded, globally regulated, multi-asset platform, however, Interactive Brokers is the stronger overall package.
Regulation & Safety
Regulatory strength is where Interactive Brokers pulls decisively ahead. It holds licences from the SEC, CFTC, FCA, MAS, and ASIC — five separate tier-1 regulators spanning the US, UK, Singapore, and Australia. That breadth gives traders in multiple jurisdictions strong recourse and oversight regardless of where they open an account.
DEGIRO, by contrast, operates under a single FCA licence in this comparison. While the FCA is a respected regulator, relying on one licence naturally offers less redundancy and fewer regional protections than a broker supervised across five separate authorities.
For traders who prioritize capital safety and regulatory transparency above all else, Interactive Brokers' multi-jurisdictional oversight is a meaningful differentiator, especially for accounts holding significant capital.
Fees, Spreads & Commissions
This is DEGIRO's strongest category. It advertises spreads starting from 0 pips, undercutting Interactive Brokers' 0.2 pip starting spread on comparable instruments. For high-frequency or cost-sensitive traders, that difference compounds quickly over time.
However, commission structures tell a more nuanced story. Interactive Brokers charges $0.005 per lot, while DEGIRO's commission runs considerably higher at $1.75 per lot. Depending on trade size and frequency, Interactive Brokers' lower commission can offset its wider spread for active traders.
Both brokers charge $0 for deposits and withdrawals, and both require no minimum deposit to open an account, so entry-level cost barriers are effectively identical. The real difference comes down to your trading style: spread-sensitive long-term investors may favor DEGIRO, while frequent traders may find Interactive Brokers' commission structure more favorable overall.
Tradable Markets & Leverage
Interactive Brokers offers a noticeably broader market selection, covering stocks, forex, CFDs, indices, and commodities — five asset classes in total. DEGIRO's offering is comparatively narrower, covering stocks, indices, and commodities, with no dedicated forex or CFD trading available.
Leverage tells a similar story. Interactive Brokers offers leverage up to 1:4, giving active traders more flexibility for margin-based strategies. DEGIRO caps leverage at 1:1, meaning positions must generally be fully funded rather than leveraged.
This makes Interactive Brokers the clear choice for traders who want diversified, multi-asset exposure or who trade forex and CFDs regularly. DEGIRO is better suited to straightforward equity and ETF investors who don't need leveraged products.
Trading Platforms & Usability
Both brokers offer a comparable technology stack on paper — each provides a proprietary web platform and a proprietary mobile app, with no third-party platform support like MetaTrader in this comparison.
Interactive Brokers' platform ecosystem is generally built for more sophisticated order types and multi-asset execution, reflecting its broader market coverage. DEGIRO's platform is more streamlined, which can suit investors who want a simpler, less cluttered interface focused on stock and ETF investing.
Neither broker offers a raw MetaTrader 4 or 5 environment in this comparison, so traders who specifically need those industry-standard platforms should factor that into their decision regardless of which broker they lean toward.
Company Background & Track Record
Interactive Brokers has a substantially longer operating history, founded in 1978 and headquartered in Greenwich, USA — giving it nearly five decades of market experience through multiple economic cycles.
DEGIRO is a much newer entrant, founded in 2013 and based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. While over a decade of operation is respectable, it doesn't match the multi-generational track record Interactive Brokers brings to the table.
Longevity isn't everything, but for traders who value a broker's history of surviving volatile markets and regulatory changes, Interactive Brokers' near 50-year footprint is a meaningful point in its favor.
Our Verdict
Interactive Brokers earns our recommendation as the stronger all-around broker, scoring 4.4/5 against DEGIRO's 3.3/5 on our proprietary rating system. It wins decisively on regulation, market breadth, leverage, and company track record.
DEGIRO remains a credible alternative for cost-focused equity investors who want tight spreads and don't need forex, CFDs, or leverage. Its 0 pip starting spread is a genuine draw for that specific audience.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on your trading profile: diversified, leverage-seeking, multi-market traders should lean toward Interactive Brokers, while simple, spread-sensitive stock investors may find DEGIRO's pricing model more appealing.
Verdict summary
The bottom line — category winners and our final pick based on ratings.
Editor's verdict
Interactive Brokers wins overall
Interactive Brokers edges out DEGIRO overall based on our expert rating score.
IB
Highest Rated
Interactive Brokers
4.4 / 5 / 5
Category winners
Overall winner
Based on overall expert rating (4.4/5).
Interactive BrokersBetter for beginners
Stronger onboarding and educational resources.
Interactive BrokersLower trading costs
More competitive spreads and baseline commissions.
DEGIROStronger regulation
Higher trust based on tier-1 regulatory oversight.
Interactive Brokers
Frequently asked questions
Based on our independent rating system, Interactive Brokers scores higher overall at 4.4/5 compared to DEGIRO's 3.3/5. The advantage comes mainly from Interactive Brokers' broader regulatory coverage, wider market selection, and longer operating history, though DEGIRO remains competitive on raw spread pricing.
It depends on what you're measuring. DEGIRO advertises spreads from 0 pips versus Interactive Brokers' 0.2 pips, but Interactive Brokers charges a much lower commission of $0.005 per lot compared to DEGIRO's $1.75 per lot, so frequent traders may still end up paying less overall with Interactive Brokers.
Neither broker imposes a minimum deposit requirement. Both Interactive Brokers and DEGIRO allow you to open and fund an account with $0, making both accessible to traders at any starting capital level.
Interactive Brokers holds a significantly stronger regulatory footprint, licensed by the SEC, CFTC, FCA, MAS, and ASIC across five separate jurisdictions. DEGIRO operates under a single FCA licence in this comparison, meaning Interactive Brokers offers more redundant oversight for investor protection.
No, only Interactive Brokers offers forex and CFD trading in this comparison, alongside stocks, indices, and commodities. DEGIRO's market access is limited to stocks, indices, and commodities, with no dedicated forex or CFD offering.
Both brokers provide access through a proprietary web platform and a proprietary mobile app. Neither broker in this comparison supports third-party platforms such as MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, so traders reliant on those systems should weigh that limitation carefully.
Interactive Brokers offers leverage up to 1:4, while DEGIRO caps leverage at 1:1. This makes Interactive Brokers the more flexible option for traders who want to use margin, while DEGIRO suits investors comfortable trading with fully funded positions.
Yes, there's nothing preventing you from holding accounts at both brokers simultaneously. Many traders split their capital across multiple platforms to access different markets, pricing structures, or regulatory environments depending on their strategy.
Interactive Brokers has a much longer track record, founded in 1978 in Greenwich, USA, giving it nearly five decades of market experience. DEGIRO was founded later in 2013 and is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, making it the newer of the two firms.
Interactive Brokers is generally considered the stronger choice for beginners in this comparison, thanks to its higher overall rating, broader regulatory protection, and wider range of tradable markets. DEGIRO can still suit beginners focused strictly on simple stock or ETF investing without needing forex or leveraged products.
Risk warning: Trading CFDs and forex involves significant risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Please consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.