Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Axi, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Interactive Brokers, established in 1977, and Axi, founded in 2007, are prominent names in the online brokerage industry. Interactive Brokers is a publicly traded company, while Axi is privately owned. Both are non-banking financial institutions. When considering regulatory credentials, Interactive Brokers holds 9 Tier-1 licenses, making it highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com's rating system. Axi, on the other hand, holds 2 Tier-1 licenses, signaling a respectable level of trust.
In addition to their top-tier licenses, Interactive Brokers also possesses 2 Tier-2 licenses, compared to Axi's single Tier-2 license, further underscoring Interactive Brokers' solid regulatory standing. This focus on regulatory compliance is reflected in their ForexBrokers.com Trust Score rating, where Interactive Brokers scores a near-perfect 99, indicating a high level of trust. In contrast, Axi receives a Trust Score of 82, placing it in the trusted category but slightly behind its counterpart in terms of perceived reliability.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Interactive Brokers and Axi, both platforms have their unique structures that appeal to different types of forex traders. Interactive Brokers enjoys a top-tier reputation with a 5-star rating and ranks #2 out of 62 brokers, thanks to its competitive pricing model. Interactive Brokers offers an effective all-in spread of 0.59 pips for EUR/USD trades, with a commission per side starting at 0.00002 of the USD trade value, or a minimum of $2 per order. This rate can drop further for exceptionally active traders, adding notable flexibility in fee reductions depending on trading volume.
For forex accounts at Interactive Brokers, trading $100,000 of EUR/USD will result in a commission-equivalent of roughly 0.40 pips on top of the spread. However, this platform does charge a minimum fee of $2 per side, making smaller trades relatively costlier. By aggregating prices from a wide array of interbank dealers and levying a commission-based fee ranging from $16 to $40 per million round turn, Interactive Brokers offers a transparent and beneficial model for serious traders. Discounts are available for those who trade in higher volumes, where the minimum charges can be lowered significantly, providing active traders with further savings.
In comparison, Axi holds a 4-star rating and ranks #44 in the same category. Axi's fees and average spreads are not disclosed to the same level of detail as Interactive Brokers, which may limit the transparency desired by cost-conscious traders. Although Axi is considered competitive, it does not offer the same depth of commission discounts and detailed fee structures for high-volume traders as Interactive Brokers. Consequently, Interactive Brokers stands out in providing an attractive option for those prioritizing low spreads, varied commission rates, and savings prompts tailored for active forex traders.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and Axi both provide opportunities to trade forex as a CFD or spot contract, but their offerings significantly differ when it comes to the total range of investments. Interactive Brokers impresses with 8,500 tradeable symbols, far surpassing Axi's 175. In terms of forex pairs, Interactive Brokers provides access to 90 options, while Axi offers 65. In addition to forex, Interactive Brokers allows clients to purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, catering to those interested in buying shares like Apple and Vodafone. Axi, however, does not provide these options, limiting clients to a less diverse investment approach.
For those interested in cryptocurrency, Interactive Brokers permits the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies as well as derivatives, whereas Axi only offers cryptocurrency derivatives. Axi does shine in the area of copy trading, which is not available through Interactive Brokers. With these features in mind, Interactive Brokers takes the lead in ForexBrokers.com's rankings for Range of Investments, securing the top spot out of 62 brokers, and earning a full 5-star rating. Axi, on the other hand, ranks 55th, holding a 3.5-star rating in the same category. This comprehensive range of investments offered by Interactive Brokers is what makes it a preferred choice for traders seeking diverse options.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 175 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 65 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Interactive Brokers and Axi both provide traders with virtual demo accounts for practice, making them appealing choices for newcomers wanting to hone their skills without financial risk. While Interactive Brokers boasts an in-house proprietary platform, Axi does not develop its own but supports popular third-party platforms. Windows-based desktop applications and web-based platforms are available with both brokers, allowing flexibility in how traders access their accounts. However, those interested in copy trading might prefer Axi, which offers features like ZuluTrade and supports MetaTrader 4, while Interactive Brokers does not offer these features.
When it comes to charting tools, Interactive Brokers stands out with 85 drawing tools compared to Axi's 15, providing more options for in-depth technical analysis. Further, Interactive Brokers allows trading directly from stock charts and hosts an impressive selection of 659 columns for watch lists, vastly outnumbering Axi's seven. These features contribute to Interactive Brokers receiving a 5-star rating for its trading platforms and tools and securing the #3 rank out of 62 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com review. In contrast, Axi receives a 3.5-star rating and ranks #62, reflecting a more basic range of tools suitable for a straightforward trading approach.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and Axi both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, providing features like stock and forex price alerts, as well as the ability to draw trendlines on charts. However, Interactive Brokers stands out with the capability to sync watchlists between the mobile app and online accounts, a feature Axi lacks. In terms of charting tools, Interactive Brokers offers an impressive 97 technical studies, compared to Axi's 30, giving users a broader range of analytical options. Both platforms allow users to view multiple time frames on stock or forex charts, but neither automatically save chart drawings.
When it comes to creating watchlists with real-time quotes, both apps deliver this functionality. However, Interactive Brokers leads the pack with a 5-star rating for its mobile trading app, ranking 4th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Axi's app receives a 3.5-star rating, occupying the 59th position. These distinctions make Interactive Brokers a more attractive choice for those seeking a powerful and reliable mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Interactive Brokers clearly stands out compared to Axi. Interactive Brokers not only provides daily market commentary but also delivers comprehensive forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. It further enhances its offerings with Trading Central tools, diverse research tools from Acuity Trading, and market insights from TipRanks. Additionally, it facilitates informed decision-making through a sentiment-based trading tool and a global economic calendar. These extensive features contribute to its high research rating of 5 stars and a commendable rank of #3 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, Axi's market research features, while adequate, are relatively limited. Axi does provide forex news from top-tier sources and a sentiment-based trading tool similar to Interactive Brokers, as well as an economic calendar. However, it lacks daily market commentary and tools from Trading Central and Acuity Trading, as well as insights from TipRanks. While Axi does incorporate Autochartist tools for technical and fundamental analysis, its overall research capabilities result in a lower 3-star rating and a rank of #55 among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. This comparison highlights the broader and more versatile research offerings of Interactive Brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Interactive Brokers and Axi both offer a solid foundation for anyone eager to learn about forex and CFDs. Both platforms provide a minimum of 10 educational pieces such as articles and videos focusing on forex and CFDs, along with monthly online client webinars. Interactive Brokers stands out by offering a searchable archive of these webinars, enabling users to revisit past sessions at their convenience. Additionally, both brokers cater to beginners with at least 10 educational videos specifically designed for novice traders, but Interactive Brokers expands its offering with 10 advanced videos, a feature Axi lacks.
Interactive Brokers is well-regarded for its educational tools, understanding the importance of both breadth and depth in their resources. It provides users with an investor dictionary that includes over 50 investing terms, a feature shared by Axi. However, Interactive Brokers consistently tops educational rankings with a 5-star rating and a position as the third best out of 62 brokers per ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Axi has some catching up to do in the educational sphere, earning a 3-star rating and placing 27th. If extensive educational support is a priority for you, Interactive Brokers delivers a more comprehensive and highly rated experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Interactive Brokers is better than Axi. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Axi finished with an overall rank of #49.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 |
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Interactive Brokers provides the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, while Axi allows only the trading of cryptocurrency derivatives, not the actual cryptocurrencies themselves.
Interactive Brokers supports ACH and SEPA transfers, as well as bank wires for fund transactions, while Axi provides flexibility with Skrill, credit card options such as Visa and Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not support ACH or SEPA transfers.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 175 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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