Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Spreadex, 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, is a highly trusted online broker with a stellar Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. This firm stands out for being publicly traded and holds an impressive number of 9 Tier-1 licenses, indicating a significant level of trust in its operations. Though not a bank, its position in the financial world is solidified by these licenses and its public trading status, offering a level of transparency and reliability that instills confidence in its clients.
In contrast, Spreadex, founded in 1999, has a Trust Score of 71, suggesting an average level of risk. Unlike Interactive Brokers, Spreadex is not publicly traded and holds only 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses, which could imply less regulatory oversight compared to its counterpart. Spreadex, like Interactive Brokers, is not a bank, but the difference in their regulatory standings may appeal to different types of investors based on their risk tolerance and trust preferences.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Interactive Brokers is highly rated for its competitive commissions and fees, earning a 5-star rating and securing the #2 spot out of 62 brokers ranked by ForexBrokers.com. A standout in the forex trading realm, Interactive Brokers provides a complex pricing structure that generally favors high-volume traders. The broker does not provide public average spreads for forex, yet the EUR/USD spread averaged 0.59 pips during Q3 2024, inclusive of commission. Commissions can start at 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) of the U.S. dollar trade value, with a minimum of $2 per order, which translates roughly to 0.40 pips when trading $100,000 of EUR/USD. While the minimum charge per trade is $2, active traders can benefit from reduced fees based on their monthly trading volume. For high-volume traders reaching over $5 billion per month, commissions can decrease to as low as $1 per order.
In contrast, Spreadex is known for a more straightforward approach with a 4-star rating and the #27 rank on ForexBrokers.com. Spreadex had an average spread of 0.81 pips for EUR/USD in January 2024, with a minimum spread of 0.6 pips accessible 60% of the time. Unlike Interactive Brokers, Spreadex does not differentiate its fees based on volume, which can be advantageous for those preferring transparent and fixed pricing structures.
Overall, if you are a high-volume, active forex trader, Interactive Brokers may offer you better pricing advantages due to its lower commission potential and volume-based discounts. On the other hand, for traders who prefer clarity and stability in their cost structure, Spreadex presents a simpler model with more predictable spreads.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.81 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and Spreadex both offer a diverse range of investment options, accommodating traders interested in forex CFDs or spot contracts. When it comes to tradeable symbols, Spreadex boasts 10,000 offerings, slightly surpassing Interactive Brokers' 8,500. However, Interactive Brokers shines in the forex arena with 90 forex pairs, compared to Spreadex's 52 pairs.
Interactive Brokers holds an edge with access to U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, allowing clients to invest in well-known companies like Apple and Vodafone, a service Spreadex does not provide. Crypto enthusiasts may appreciate Interactive Brokers' ability to trade actual cryptocurrencies alongside derivatives, a flexibility not available at Spreadex. Both brokers, rated five stars for their range of investments, exhibit strong versatility, with Interactive Brokers topping the ForexBrokers.com rankings as the number one choice, while Spreadex holds the 13th spot.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 52 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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.
When comparing Interactive Brokers and Spreadex, both brokers offer simulated trading through a free virtual demo account, allowing users to practice without financial risk. Each has developed its proprietary platform in-house; however, Interactive Brokers stands out with its diverse platform options, including a Windows-based desktop download. In contrast, Spreadex does not offer this feature, but both provide convenient web-based trading platforms accessible via a browser. Neither broker supports popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 or 5, nor do they offer features like copy trading, DupliTrade, or ZuluTrade. This limits options for traders seeking these specific tools.
In terms of trading tools, Interactive Brokers far exceeds with 85 drawing tools for charting, compared to Spreadex's 11. Additionally, Interactive Brokers provides significantly more watch list columns, boasting 659 compared to Spreadex’s 8, which offers traders a more detailed view of the markets. Trading directly from stock charts is a feature available with both brokers, streamlining the trading process. Rated 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, Interactive Brokers ranks #3 out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its strong platform offerings. On the other hand, Spreadex, rated 4 stars, holds the #46 spot, showcasing its capabilities but also highlighting room for improvement in its trading platform offerings.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 58 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 11 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When choosing between Interactive Brokers and Spreadex for mobile trading, both offer apps for iPhone and Android devices, catering to a broad user base. Traders can get real-time stock or forex price alerts on both platforms, ensuring they're always in the loop. While they both allow creating watchlists with real-time quotes and provide the flexibility to view charts across multiple timeframes, a standout feature for Interactive Brokers is the ability to synchronize watchlist symbols. This means any changes you make will reflect across platforms seamlessly, a convenience not offered by Spreadex.
For chart enthusiasts, Interactive Brokers provides a more detailed experience with 97 technical studies available for analysis. Although both platforms support drawing trendlines, only Interactive Brokers excels in offering more customization options. However, neither app currently supports auto-saving of chart drawings. Overall, while both apps are competent, Interactive Brokers edges ahead, earning a five-star rating and a fourth-place ranking among 62 brokers for mobile trading apps, compared to Spreadex's four stars and 46th-place finish.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | N/A |
| 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.
Interactive Brokers and Spreadex both provide daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources, ensuring that traders have access to timely and reliable information. While Spreadex comes equipped with technical analysis tools like Autochartist, Interactive Brokers distinguishes itself by offering Trading Central tools, sentiment-based trading tools, and market research from TipRanks. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers stands out with additional research resources like Acuity Trading's Signal Centre.
Both brokers offer an economic calendar for tracking global news events. However, in terms of research capabilities, Interactive Brokers earns a superior reputation, reflected in its 5-star rating and rank of #3 out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Spreadex, while competitive with a solid 4-star rating, ranks #31, indicating a slightly less comprehensive suite of research amenities.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| 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 comparing the educational resources for beginners between Interactive Brokers and Spreadex, both platforms provide a solid foundation with at least 10 educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, ensuring valuable insights into trading practices. However, Interactive Brokers stands out by offering monthly online educational webinars, which Spreadex does not. This can be beneficial for learners keen on live interactions and timely insights. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers also provides a searchable archive of previously recorded webinars, allowing users to revisit and learn at their own pace, while Spreadex lacks this feature.
Both brokers present over 10 beginner educational videos, but Interactive Brokers extends its offerings with advanced educational videos for more experienced traders, unlike Spreadex. Additionally, the inclusion of a comprehensive investor dictionary by both brokers makes investment terminology accessible to newcomers. Nonetheless, Interactive Brokers earns a higher rating of 5 stars and ranks third in the education category by ForexBrokers.com, highlighting its strong educational commitment. In contrast, Spreadex receives 4 stars and occupies the 45th spot, indicating a potential area for enhancement in trader education. With these offerings, Interactive Brokers clearly positions itself as a more comprehensive choice for educational resources in the online trading community.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 Spreadex. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Spreadex finished with an overall rank of #39.
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
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Interactive Brokers allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies and also offers cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Spreadex solely provides options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives without the capability to buy the actual cryptocurrencies.
Interactive Brokers supports ACH, SEPA, and bank wire transfers for depositing or withdrawing funds, but not PayPal, Skrill, Visa, or Mastercard, while Spreadex offers bank wire transfers and accepts Visa or Mastercard transactions, but doesn't support ACH, SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 52 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.81 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 58 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 11 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Spreadex Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill