DEGIRO vs Interactive Brokers: Which Broker Suits You?
DEGIRO scores 3.4 and Interactive Brokers 4.8 out of 5 on our published methodology. Interactive Brokers leads on Costs & Fees, Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust, Asset Range and Account Access & Support. Both accept clients in the EU.
Higher overall score
Interactive Brokers
4.8/5
Best for: Active & globally-minded traders
Read the full Interactive Brokers review →Score by score
Each category is scored 1–5 using our published methodology. The overall score is the plain average of the first five; ease of use is shown separately.
Key facts side by side
| DEGIRO | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds across many European and global exchanges | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, forex, crypto across 170+ markets |
| Regulated by | BaFin (flatexDEGIRO Bank SE), with DNB and AFM overseeing the Dutch branch | SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others |
| Stands out for | Among the lowest per-trade costs available in Europe | Unmatched global market access from a single account |
| Watch out for | Basic platform, no forex, and not open to US residents | Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve |
| Accepts clients in | The EU | The US, the UK, the EU and other countries |
Is DEGIRO cheaper than Interactive Brokers?
On our Costs & Fees score, Interactive Brokers rates 5/5 against DEGIRO’s 4/5, so it is generally the cheaper of the two for the costs we assess: commissions, spreads, currency conversion and account fees. Fees differ by country and account type and change often, so check both brokers’ current price lists before you choose.
Which is safer, DEGIRO or Interactive Brokers?
DEGIRO is regulated by BaFin (flatexDEGIRO Bank SE), with DNB and AFM overseeing the Dutch branch; Interactive Brokers by SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others. Interactive Brokers scores higher on our Regulation & Trust measure (5/5 against 4/5). Which company holds your account, and which investor compensation scheme covers it, depends on where you live. Compensation schemes cover a broker failing, never investment losses.
Which is better for beginners?
On ease of use for a beginner, which sits outside the overall score, DEGIRO scores 3/5 and Interactive Brokers 2/5. DEGIRO is the gentler place to start.
Who each one tends to suit
DEGIRO
- Tends to suit
- Low-cost European investing
- Stands out for
- Among the lowest per-trade costs available in Europe
- Watch out for
- Basic platform, no forex, and not open to US residents
Interactive Brokers
- Tends to suit
- Active & globally-minded traders
- Stands out for
- Unmatched global market access from a single account
- Watch out for
- Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve
More head-to-heads
Scores and facts come from our own reviews as of September 2026 and follow one published methodology. Plain Investor has no commercial relationship with either broker. This is general education, not personal financial advice. Fees, features and regulation change, so confirm current terms with each broker before opening an account.