Interactive Brokers vs Saxo Bank: Which Broker Suits You?
Interactive Brokers scores 4.8 and Saxo Bank 4.0 out of 5 on our published methodology. Interactive Brokers leads on Costs & Fees and Account Access & Support, and they tie on Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust and Asset Range. Both accept clients in the UK, the EU and other countries.
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
| Interactive Brokers | Saxo Bank | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, forex, crypto across 170+ markets | Stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, futures and forex across 50+ exchanges |
| Regulated by | SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others | Danish FSA as a licensed bank, plus FCA and others |
| Stands out for | Unmatched global market access from a single account | Professional-grade platforms and exceptional instrument breadth |
| Watch out for | Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve | Premium pricing, with custody fees in some countries |
| Accepts clients in | The US, the UK, the EU and other countries | The UK, the EU and other countries |
Is Interactive Brokers cheaper than Saxo Bank?
On our Costs & Fees score, Interactive Brokers rates 5/5 against Saxo Bank’s 2/5, 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, Interactive Brokers or Saxo Bank?
Interactive Brokers is regulated by SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others; Saxo Bank by Danish FSA as a licensed bank, plus FCA and others. Both score 5/5 on our Regulation & Trust measure. 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, Interactive Brokers scores 2/5 and Saxo Bank 2/5. Neither has a clear edge for a first account.
Who each one tends to suit
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
Saxo Bank
- Tends to suit
- Premium multi-asset investing
- Stands out for
- Professional-grade platforms and exceptional instrument breadth
- Watch out for
- Premium pricing, with custody fees in some countries
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.