Interactive Brokers vs XTB: Which Broker Suits You?
Interactive Brokers scores 4.8 and XTB 3.6 out of 5 on our published methodology. Interactive Brokers leads on Costs & Fees, Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust and Asset Range, and they tie on Account Access & Support. 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Mixed |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, forex, crypto across 170+ markets | Real stocks and ETFs alongside 5,400+ CFDs |
| Regulated by | SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others | FCA, KNF, CySEC, DFSA and others |
| Stands out for | Unmatched global market access from a single account | Commission-free stocks and ETFs up to a high monthly threshold |
| Watch out for | Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve | The product range is CFD-weighted, and availability varies by country |
| Accepts clients in | The US, the UK, the EU and other countries | The UK, the EU and other countries |
Is Interactive Brokers cheaper than XTB?
On our Costs & Fees score, Interactive Brokers rates 5/5 against XTB’s 3/5, 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 XTB?
Interactive Brokers is regulated by SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others; XTB by FCA, KNF, CySEC, DFSA 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, Interactive Brokers scores 2/5 and XTB 4/5. XTB 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
XTB
- Tends to suit
- European CFD & stock trading
- Stands out for
- Commission-free stocks and ETFs up to a high monthly threshold
- Watch out for
- The product range is CFD-weighted, and availability varies by country
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.