DEGIRO vs Interactive Brokers
IB is cheaper per share ($0.005 a share vs DEGIRO's €2 per US trade and €4.90 on most EU exchanges) and adds forex and the professional TWS platform to the options and futures both offer. DEGIRO wins for EU-focused buy-and-hold under 5 trades/month — the flat fee is predictable and the publicly-listed parent adds transparency. Our pick for active multi-market traders: IB. For EU-only buy-and-hold: DEGIRO.
Editor: Kyrylo Vasyliev
DEGIRO (BaFin, minimum deposit €0.01) and Interactive Brokers (SEC/FCA, minimum deposit $0) are two regulated brokers competing for retail investors in the CIS and EU markets. This comparison is built from verified data on fees, available instruments, trading platforms and country access — so you can see exactly where each broker wins before you open an account.
Across 4 fee categories we track, Interactive Brokers comes out cheaper in 2, while DEGIRO wins only 0. For active traders this gap compounds over time — commission, FX markup and custody fees are the three that hurt portfolio returns the most. On asset class coverage Interactive Brokers is ahead with 6 instrument categories versus 5 at DEGIRO — relevant if you plan to diversify beyond stocks into bonds, ETFs, commodities or crypto.
If entry budget matters, Interactive Brokers is more accessible with a minimum deposit of $0. DEGIRO supports 2 trading platforms, Interactive Brokers supports 3 — check the platforms section below to confirm your preferred terminal is available.
Trust dimensions side by side
Where it's safer
Five trust dimensions per our methodology. The further from the centre — the stronger. The dashed line is our fixed reference level, the same on every axis.
Interactive Brokers leads on the combined score — 100/100 vs 75/100. Our fixed reference line is 72.
Overview
Interactive Brokers leads with 8 out of 9 objective metrics. On fees specifically, Interactive Brokers wins 2 of 4 categories.
Fees & Commissions
Fee scenario
Approximate — based on verified fees only. Per-share commissions assume a $50 share price. Real costs depend on instrument, currency conversion and individual trade size.
Instruments & Markets
800k+ instruments · 10k+ instrumentsRegulators & investor protection
- BaFin—Germany
- Additional licences on file: AFM/DNB.
- SEC—United States
- FCA—United Kingdom
- CIRO—Canada
- SFC—Hong Kong
- ASIC—Australia
- CBI—Ireland (EU)
- MAS—Singapore
Both brokers operate under Tier-1 jurisdictions, so regulatory oversight strength is comparable.
Account & Support
DEGIRO
Interactive Brokers
Pros & Cons
DEGIRO
- Publicly-listed parent — full annual report transparency
- €2 per US stock trade, €4.90 on most European exchanges
- Real assets only — no CFDs in the account
- Strong Trustpilot rating (4.4★)
- Wide instrument selection (800k+)
- Not available in CIS countries — EU/UK residents only
- No fractional shares — each position requires the full share price
- Platform UI has not kept pace with newer entrants
- Compensation caps at €20,000 — below FCA (£85k) / SIPC ($500k)
- No negative balance protection
Interactive Brokers
- Industry-cheapest per-share commission on US stocks (IBKR Pro Tiered $0.0035/sh, Fixed $0.005/sh)
- SIPC protection up to $500,000 per account ($250k cash) — strongest US-domiciled coverage
- 175+ markets from one account, including direct access to LSE / XETRA / HKEX / TSE
- Public NASDAQ-listed parent (IBKR) — financial transparency above industry norm
- Wide instrument selection (10k+)
- Trader Workstation (TWS) has a famously steep learning curve
- IBKR Lite (zero-commission plan) is US-residents-only
- Customer support thin relative to peers — chat queues commonly multi-hour
- Mobile app is functional but utilitarian — not a Robinhood-style experience
Who each broker is for
Verdict
Both DEGIRO and Interactive Brokers are regulated brokers offering access to global financial markets. However, they differ significantly in fees, available instruments, and minimum deposit requirements. Below is our expert assessment to help you make an informed decision.
Choose DEGIRO if you want a stronger Trustpilot rating.
Choose Interactive Brokers if you want lower fees, more instruments, lower entry barrier.
- Just starting outInteractive Brokers· lower entry barrier, an unlimited demo, faster KYC
- Active tradingInteractive Brokers· lower fees, more instruments, faster withdrawals
- Advanced / professionalEither works
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your trading style, budget, and preferred instruments. We recommend using our Broker Quiz for a personalized recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this comparison and how to use it.