Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Swissquote, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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Interactive Brokers and Swissquote are two prominent names in the online trading world, both earning a top Trust Score of 99 out of 99, signifying a high level of trustworthiness according to ForexBrokers.com. Established in 1977, Interactive Brokers is a well-established publicly traded entity but does not function as a bank. It holds nine Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, indicating a commendable level of regulatory oversight. On the other hand, Swissquote, founded in 1996, is also publicly traded and operates as a bank. It holds five Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, reflecting its strong regulatory standing.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 1996 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | Yes |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Interactive Brokers shines in the realm of commissions and fees, earning an impressive 5-star rating and securing the #2 spot among 62 brokers, as noted by ForexBrokers.com. For forex trading, Interactive Brokers offers competitive pricing though they do not publish their average spreads. From the Q3 2024 data, the EUR/USD spread is approximately 0.59 pips when accounting for both spreads and commissions. The commission rate starts at 0.00002 of the U.S. dollar trade value per side, with a minimum of $2 per order, but goes lower for highly active traders. Interactive Brokers aggregates pricing from top interbank forex dealers, providing tight spreads with commission-only charges that vary from $16 to $40 per million in round turns.
In contrast, Swissquote holds a 3.5-star rating, ranking #52 out of 62 brokers for its commissions and fees. Commissions and spreads differ significantly between its U.K. and other entities. At the Swissquote U.K. entity, the Elite account is favored by active traders, offering lower spreads and a $5 charge per round-turn. Swissquote’s Standard account, however, starts spreads at 1.3 pips which can be less attractive. The Prime account offers a more competitive minimum spread starting at 0.6 pips, though this reflects a minimum rather than an average.
While holding an account with Swissquote provides the prestige of a Swiss banking conglomerate, its trading costs reflect a premium. Across its U.K., Luxembourg, and Swiss branches, account types vary with different minimum deposits and spreads. Swissquote's Prime accounts require significant deposits to benefit from better spreads, yet they remain slightly above the industry average. Custom pricing is an option for active traders, though these rates depend heavily on negotiated trading volumes.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 |
| 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 | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| 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 Swissquote both offer an extensive range of investment options, catering to diverse trader needs. Interactive Brokers takes the lead with an impressive 8,500 tradeable symbols, including 90 forex pairs, accommodating those seeking a broad spectrum of trading opportunities. Swissquote, while more limited, still provides a solid selection with 472 tradeable symbols and 80 forex pairs. Both brokers allow for trading exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, giving investors the ability to purchase individual stocks such as Apple and Vodafone. Furthermore, both offer the capability to buy actual cryptocurrencies as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, appealing to crypto enthusiasts.
Despite some differences in offerings, both Interactive Brokers and Swissquote excel in their investment range, each earning a stellar 5-star rating. However, Interactive Brokers edges out slightly in industry rankings, holding the top spot among 62 brokers for Range of Investments, while Swissquote follows closely in second place. An added benefit for Swissquote users is the option for copy trading, a feature not available with Interactive Brokers. Choosing between these two highly-rated brokers may ultimately depend on individual preferences, whether it be the extensive symbol range offered by Interactive Brokers or the copy trading feature by Swissquote.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 472 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 80 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 the trading platforms and tools of Interactive Brokers and Swissquote, both brokers offer simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts. They each also provide proprietary platforms developed in-house, available for Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based browser access. While Interactive Brokers earns high marks for its extensive charting tools, offering 85 drawing tools, and the ability to trade directly from a stock chart, it lacks support for popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. In contrast, Swissquote supports both MetaTrader versions and even offers copy trading, appealing to traders who prefer social trading features.
Both brokers receive favorable ratings for their trading platforms and tools, with Interactive Brokers achieving a 5-star rating and Swissquote a close 4.5 stars. However, when considering the watch list functionality, Interactive Brokers provides significantly more customization options with 659 columns available, compared to just 11 from Swissquote. Ranked third out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in the Trading Platforms and Tools category, Interactive Brokers showcases its advanced offerings, whereas Swissquote stands strong at rank 11, slightly behind yet still commendable in providing a well-rounded platform experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 86 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 75 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Interactive Brokers and Swissquote offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, catering to investors on the go. These apps are equipped with essential features, including stock and forex price alerts. However, Interactive Brokers stands out with its seamless watchlist symbol syncing, allowing users to synchronize changes between the mobile app and their online account, while Swissquote lacks this feature. When it comes to technical analysis, Interactive Brokers also takes the lead, offering 97 technical studies in its app compared to the 30 provided by Swissquote. Both apps allow users to draw trendlines and view various time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday, on charts, although Swissquote has the advantage of auto-saving drawings.
Real-time watchlists are available in both Interactive Brokers and Swissquote apps, ensuring users stay up-to-date with market movements. In terms of user ratings, Interactive Brokers scores an impressive 5 stars, slightly edging out Swissquote's 4.5 stars. ForexBrokers.com ranks Interactive Brokers at number 4 out of 62 brokers, highlighting its impressive mobile trading app offerings. In comparison, Swissquote ranks at number 10, still a commendable position but indicative of its trailing performance in some aspects. Overall, Interactive Brokers provides a more comprehensive mobile trading experience, especially for those in need of extensive technical studies and account synchronization capabilities.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of Interactive Brokers and Swissquote, both providers deliver daily market commentary and forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring their users stay informed on market movements. However, Interactive Brokers stands out with additional tools and insights, topping the list with innovative resources. It offers technical analysis tools from Trading Central, sentiment-based trading insights, market research from TipRanks, and research tools from Acuity Trading, all contributing to its considerable advantage. Swissquote, on the other hand, provides Autochartist tools, which Interactive Brokers does not, but it falls short in other technical analysis resources.
Interactive Brokers also provides an economic calendar akin to Swissquote, allowing traders to track global economic events efficiently. Rated 5 stars for research, Interactive Brokers proudly secures the #3 position out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, highlighting its comprehensive research suite. Swissquote, rated 4 stars, ranks #16, reflecting a solid but less extensive offering compared to its competitor. This disparity underscores Interactive Brokers as the go-to choice for traders seeking more diverse and sophisticated market research tools.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Interactive Brokers and Swissquote both excel in offering educational resources tailored for forex and CFDs beginners. Each platform provides a comprehensive collection of over ten educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex or CFDs. They also host monthly online webinars and maintain a searchable archive of these sessions for convenient on-demand learning. For those new to trading, both brokers offer an impressive selection of more than ten beginner-friendly videos on trading basics, while also catering to advanced traders with a series of specialized videos.
However, there are notable differences in their educational offerings. Interactive Brokers includes an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms and is distinguished with a top-tier 5-star rating for education. It ranks 3rd among 62 brokers in the education category by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Swissquote, although equipped with a similar investor dictionary and robust array of resources, earns a 4-star rating and is ranked 21st in the same category. This highlights Interactive Brokers as a slightly more favorable choice for those prioritizing educational resources.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Swissquote. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11.
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
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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Both Interactive Brokers and Swissquote provide investors with the ability to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, offering comprehensive options for trading digital assets.
Interactive Brokers and Swissquote both support ACH and SEPA transfers, as well as bank wires for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but Swissquote additionally offers PayPal, Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard options, which Interactive Brokers does not provide.
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 | Swissquote | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 1996 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 472 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 80 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 86 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 75 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | Swissquote | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Swissquote Review |
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