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.
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 Swissquote, founded in 1996, are both prominent names in the online brokerage space, each publicly traded and equipped with a high level of trust according to forex ratings. Interactive Brokers boasts a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, showcasing its reliability with 9 highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and 2 trusted Tier-2 licenses. Swissquote, also with a Trust Score of 99, combines its brokerage services with banking capabilities, holding 5 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, emphasizing its trustworthy standing in the financial sector.
For investors evaluating these platforms, it's important to note that Interactive Brokers is not a bank but offers an extensive range of financial services, while Swissquote operates as both a bank and a broker. This dual function might appeal to clients seeking a more comprehensive financial service under one roof. Both brokers are reliable choices, yet the choice hinges on whether the integrated banking service of Swissquote or the sheer number of high-trust licenses held by Interactive Brokers aligns better with your needs.
| 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 | 2 |
| 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 For forex trading, Interactive Brokers offers competitive pricing though they do not publish their average spreads.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.
Interactive Brokers and Swissquote both offer users a choice of platforms and tools, catering to a range of trading needs. Interactive Brokers provides a solid experience with both a proprietary platform and a Windows-based desktop download version. They also have a web-based trading platform to suit different trading preferences. While both brokers offer a free virtual demo account, copy trading features, like those found in platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5, are only available with Swissquote. This can be a decisive factor for those looking for advanced trading options. Despite lacking these features, Interactive Brokers still delivers with an extensive range of 85 drawing tools and the capability to trade directly from stock charts.
Swissquote also scores high on user-friendliness with its proprietary and web-based trading platforms. For those who prefer copy trading or using MetaTrader platforms, Swissquote is a more complete option. Though it has fewer drawing tools compared to Interactive Brokers, Swissquote compensates with excellent offerings, including 75 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from charts. When it comes to customization, Interactive Brokers leads with 659 watchlist fields, far surpassing Swissquote's 11 fields. Overall, Interactive Brokers is rated 5 stars and holds a high rank of third for trading platforms and tools by ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote follows closely with a 4.5-star rating, securing the twelfth spot in ranking.
| 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.
Interactive Brokers and Swissquote both provide strong mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, catering to a wide range of trading activities. They offer features like stock and forex price alerts and the functionality to draw trendlines on charts with varying time frames. A key distinction lies in watchlist management; while Interactive Brokers allows seamless syncing of watchlists between the app and online account, Swissquote does not offer this capability. Both brokers enable the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes. However, when it comes to auto-saving chart drawings, Swissquote excels as Interactive Brokers lacks this feature.
Charting tools also differ significantly between the two apps. Interactive Brokers offers an extensive selection of 97 technical studies, far surpassing Swissquote's 30. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers enjoys a marginally higher user rating of five stars compared to Swissquote's 4.5 stars and holds a superior rank in ForexBrokers.com's evaluations, placing 4th out of 62 brokers, while Swissquote ranks 11th. This suggests that while both apps are highly rated, Interactive Brokers might offer a more comprehensive mobile trading experience.
| 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 |
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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 | 2 | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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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