Interactive Brokers vs XTB
Detailed side-by-side broker comparison
Interactive Brokers (SEC/FCA, minimum deposit $0) and XTB (FCA/KNF, 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 9 fee categories we track, Interactive Brokers comes out cheaper in 2, while XTB wins only 1. For active traders this gap compounds over time — commission, FX markup and custody fees are the three that hurt portfolio returns the most. Both brokers offer access to 6 instrument categories, so asset coverage is not a differentiator here.
Both brokers have similar entry requirements, so the decision comes down to fees and instruments. Interactive Brokers supports 3 trading platforms, XTB supports 2.
Trust dimensions side by side
Where it's safer
Five trust dimensions per our methodology. The further from the centre — the stronger. Dashed line is the industry median.
Interactive Brokers and XTB are tied — both score 100/100 against an industry median of 72.
Overview
Interactive Brokers leads with 5 out of 9 objective metrics. On fees specifically, Interactive Brokers wins 2 of 9 categories.
Fees & Commissions
Fee scenario
Approximate — based on listed fees only. Real costs depend on instrument, currency conversion and individual trade size.
Instruments & Markets
10k+ instruments · 6k+ instrumentsRegulators & investor protection
- SEC—United States
- FCA—United Kingdom
- IIROC—Canada
- SFC—Hong Kong
- ASIC—Australia
- FCA—United Kingdom
- KNF—Poland (EU)
- CySEC—Cyprus (EU)
Both brokers operate under Tier-1 jurisdictions, so regulatory oversight strength is comparable.
Account & Support
Interactive Brokers
XTB
Pros & Cons
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
- 150+ 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
XTB
- Zero commission on real stocks & ETFs below €100,000 monthly turnover
- WSE-listed public company (XTB SA, ticker XTB) — quarterly financial disclosures
- xStation 5 proprietary platform — single-app for stocks + CFD + FX
- Multi-regulator coverage: FCA (UK), KNF (Poland), CySEC (EU passporting)
- Wide instrument selection (6k+)
- Above-threshold pricing aggressive: 0.2% commission with £10 minimum
- No options or futures — derivatives are CFD-only
- Demo expires after 30 days of inactivity
- Trustpilot 'fake reviews removed' notice on broker page
- Trustpilot flagged reviews for removal · 3.6/5 from 2701
Who each broker is for
Verdict
Two different value props. XTB is genuinely free for stocks under €100k/mo monthly turnover (most retail users) and runs the polished xStation; IB is cheapest per-share once you exceed the threshold and reaches 150+ markets. Acceptance also splits them: IB onboards residents of 200+ countries including all non-RU CIS, while XTB does not accept Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan residents. Both are public-company-transparent (XTB on the Warsaw exchange, IB on NASDAQ). Our pick for €5k–€50k stock-focused retail under the €100k/mo threshold: XTB. For high-volume, multi-market, or CIS-residency traders who need guaranteed acceptance: IB.
Both Interactive Brokers and XTB 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 Interactive Brokers if you want lower fees, an unlimited demo, more account currencies.
Choose XTB if you want stronger regulation.
- Just starting outInteractive Brokers· an unlimited demo
- Active tradingInteractive Brokers· lower fees
- Advanced / professionalInteractive Brokers· more exchanges
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.