Interactive Brokers vs Trading 212: Which Broker Suits You?
Interactive Brokers scores 4.8 and Trading 212 3.2 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 UK and the EU.
Higher overall score
Interactive Brokers
4.8/5
Best for: Active & globally-minded traders
Read the full Interactive Brokers review →Overall score
Trading 212
3.2/5
Best for: Beginner-friendly UK investing
Read the full Trading 212 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, forex, crypto across 170+ markets | Shares, ETFs and investment trusts |
| Regulated by | SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others | FCA in the UK; CySEC or BaFin for EU clients |
| Stands out for | Unmatched global market access from a single account | Pies and AutoInvest, with a £1 minimum to start |
| Watch out for | Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve | No mutual funds, bonds, desktop platform or phone support |
| Accepts clients in | The US, the UK, the EU and other countries | The UK and the EU |
Is Interactive Brokers cheaper than Trading 212?
On our Costs & Fees score, Interactive Brokers rates 5/5 against Trading 212’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, Interactive Brokers or Trading 212?
Interactive Brokers is regulated by SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others; Trading 212 by FCA in the UK; CySEC or BaFin for EU clients. 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, Interactive Brokers scores 2/5 and Trading 212 5/5. Trading 212 is the gentler place to start.
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
Trading 212
- Tends to suit
- Beginner-friendly UK investing
- Stands out for
- Pies and AutoInvest, with a £1 minimum to start
- Watch out for
- No mutual funds, bonds, desktop platform or phone support
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.