Comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Trading212 [ 2024 ]

The best brokers to invest in cryptocurrencies compared by their commissions, cryptos, security and much more. Here is theInteractive Brokers vs Trading212 comparison!

Your expert: Alejandro Borja

Interactive Brokers

Your expert: Xavier Tarrasó

Trading212

Main points

Fees

Low 4,4/5

Regulated

SEC, FCA

Demo account

Yes

Low 4/5

Fees

FCA, CySEC

Regulated

Yes

Demo account

Recommended for

Beginners

Trading

Yes

Passive income

Buy and hold

Yes

Beginners

Yes

Trading

Passive income

Buy and hold

Comparison of fees

Rating

4.6 – Interactive Brokers charges low commissions (0.12% to 0.18% of trade value) with no added spreads or custody fees, making it one of the most cost-effective options for serious traders .

4.3 – Trading212 provides commission-free trading and a user-friendly platform. However, the 0.3% to 0.5% fee on currency conversion orders and inactivity fee are potential downsides .

Level

Low 4,4/5

Low 4/5

Brief explanation

Interactive Brokers offers a competitive and transparent commission structure for cryptocurrency trading. The commission rates range from 0.12% to 0.18% of the trade value, with a minimum fee of $1.75 per order, capped at 1% of the trade value. This fee structure is notably lower than many competitors, who may charge up to 2.00% or include additional spreads and markups. Trading cryptocurrencies on Interactive Brokers’ platform does not incur any added spreads, markups, or custody fees. This is facilitated through their partnerships with Paxos Trust Company and Zero Hash LLC, both of which are regulated entities, ensuring a secure trading environment. Furthermore, clients can trade cryptocurrencies 24/7 when funds are transferred to their dedicated Paxos or Zero Hash account during normal US banking hours.

Trading212 employs a straightforward fee structure with no commissions on most trading activities, particularly for CFD accounts. Users benefit from free deposits and withdrawals, making the platform financially accessible. However, there are fees associated with specific services. For instance, a 0.7% fee is charged on deposits exceeding €2,000 when using credit/debit cards or electronic wallets. Currency conversion carries a fee of 0.15% for Invest accounts and 0.5% for CFD accounts. Additionally, inactive accounts are charged £9, €9, or $9 after six months of inactivity .

Interactive Brokers

Year Founded: Established in 1978, Interactive Brokers has a long history of providing reliable and innovative trading solutions.
Security Methods: The platform uses top-tier security measures, including two-factor authentication and encryption, ensuring the safety of client assets and data.
Number of Users: Interactive Brokers boasts a large user base, serving over 1.6 million clients globally, which speaks to its reliability and popularity.
Regulation: The firm is regulated by major financial authorities, including the SEC, FINRA, and several international regulators, ensuring compliance with stringent financial laws.
Trading Volume and Liquidity: Interactive Brokers handles a high volume of trades daily, providing deep liquidity, which is crucial for effective trading execution and minimal slippage.

Trading212

Year Founded: Trading212 was established with a solid foundation in the trading industry and has steadily grown its reputation over the years, ensuring a reliable and trustworthy platform for its users.
Number of Users: With millions of users worldwide, Trading212 has built a large and active community, reflecting its credibility and user satisfaction.
Regulation: Trading212 is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), providing a strong layer of security and adherence to strict financial standards.
Customer Service: The platform offers comprehensive customer support, including a helpful community forum and various contact methods, ensuring that users can get assistance when needed.
Withdrawal and Deposit Policies: Trading212 supports a wide range of payment methods for deposits and withdrawals, including credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets, making transactions easy and accessible for users.

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Account Minimum

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Direct link to the website

Product selection

Native token

Interactive Brokers does not have a native token.

Trading212 does not have a native token.

Earns

Interactive Brokers does not offer staking or similar earning options for cryptocurrencies. The platform allows trading and holding of cryptocurrencies .

Trading212 does not offer staking or other earning options for cryptocurrencies. It provides trading through crypto CFDs .

NFT marketplace

Interactive Brokers does not have an NFT marketplace.

Trading212 does not have an NFT marketplace.

Cripto/debit card

Interactive Brokers offers an IBKR debit card for US residents as part of their Integrated Investment Management accounts .

Trading212 does not offer a card for its clients .

Payment methods

Transfers

Yes, Interactive Brokers accepts bank transfers for both deposits and withdrawals .

Yes, Trading 212 accepts bank transfers for both deposits and withdrawals .

Mastercard

No, Interactive Brokers does not accept Mastercard for deposits.

Yes, Trading212 accepts Mastercard for deposits.

Wire transfer

Wise is not mentioned as a supported payment method .

Yes, Wise is supported as a payment method .

Card

No, Interactive Brokers does not accept credit/debit cards .

Yes, Trading 212 accepts credit/debit cards .

Comparative table

Interactive Brokers	Features	Trading212
Interactive Brokers offers a low minimum trade amount, making it accessible for both small and large investors. This encourages new traders to start without significant capital.	Minimum Trade	The platform allows users to start trading with as little as £1, making it highly accessible for beginners.
The platform’s fees are among the lowest in the industry, which is a major advantage for frequent traders.	Trading and Transaction Fees	Trading212 offers competitive fees with no commissions on real stock trades, but CFD trading involves spreads.
Currently, only eight cryptocurrencies are available, which limits options for traders looking for a diverse portfolio.	Number of Cryptocurrencies	Trading212 supports a limited selection of cryptocurrencies, which might not satisfy traders looking for a wide variety of digital assets.
The platform offers limited crypto-to-crypto pairs, which restricts trading strategies for users looking to trade beyond major cryptocurrencies.	Crypto-to-Crypto Trading Pairs	The platform does not offer direct crypto-to-crypto trading pairs, limiting the trading options available.
Interactive Brokers provides clear and comprehensive information about their services and fees. However, the site could be more intuitive for beginners.	Website Transparency	Trading212 provides clear and comprehensive information about its fees, services, and regulatory status, ensuring transparency for users.
Interactive Brokers offers an IBKR debit card for US residents as part of their Integrated Investment Management accounts .	Credit/Debit Card	Trading212 does not offer a card for its clients .
The platform offers secure storage solutions through partnerships with regulated entities, ensuring the safety of users’ digital assets.	Storage Offering	Trading212 does not provide dedicated cryptocurrency storage solutions, as it primarily deals with CFDs rather than actual cryptocurrency ownership.
Interactive Brokers does not currently offer staking or rewards programs, which could be a drawback for users looking for passive income opportunities.	Staking and Rewards	There are no staking or rewards programs available on Trading212, limiting passive income opportunities for users.
The mobile and desktop platforms are highly rated for their functionality and user-friendly design, catering to both novice and experienced traders.	Mobile App and Desktop	Trading212 offers robust mobile and desktop applications with a user-friendly interface and advanced trading tools.
The customer service is generally responsive and helpful. However, the complex account setup process can be a barrier for new users.	Customer Service	The platform offers good customer support through various channels, though there is room for improvement in response times.
The platform provides efficient deposit and withdrawal processes with multiple options, although there is room for improvement in speeding up withdrawal times.	Deposit and Withdraw	Deposits and withdrawals are straightforward and support multiple payment methods, though crypto withdrawals are not available.

Key features

Analysis tools

Interactive Brokers offers the Trader Workstation (TWS) platform, which includes powerful trading tools and advanced charting capabilities. They also provide comprehensive market data and analysis tools .

Trading 212 offers a web-based platform and mobile apps with many features, including technical indicators and charting tools. They also provide educational resources and a demo account for practice trading .

Mobile APP

Yes, Interactive Brokers offers the IBKR Mobile app for iOS and Android devices, providing comprehensive trading tools and account management features .

Yes, Trading 212 provides mobile apps for both Android and iOS devices, featuring many of the functionalities found on their web-based platform .

Security

Interactive Brokers is regulated by top-tier US authorities like the SEC and FINRA, providing a high level of security and transparency. They offer SIPC insurance, protecting clients’ securities up to $500,000, including a $250,000 cash limit.

Trading 212 is regulated by the FCA and CySEC, ensuring a high level of security. However, they do not provide basic security features like two-factor authentication, which could be a concern for some investors.

Additional features

Interactive Brokers allows clients to trade cryptocurrencies through Paxos or Zero Hash, offering a low commission rate of 0.12% to 0.18% of the trade value. They support a variety of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, and provide advanced trading tools through their Trader Workstation platform. Interactive Brokers also offer features like holding USD in crypto accounts and 24/7 trading .

Trading212 allows trading of cryptocurrency CFDs with benefits like leverage and short selling. They offer a user-friendly platform with a demo account for practice. Trading212 supports a wide range of payment methods and provides low fees for trading CFDs on stocks, indices, commodities, and forex in addition to cryptocurrencies .

Anonymity

Anonymous accounts are not available. Interactive Brokers requires detailed personal information and identity verification .

Trading212 does not support anonymous accounts. The registration process includes providing personal details and identity verification.

Key points

Available cryptocurrencies

Interactive Brokers allows both direct trading and CFDs for cryptocurrencies. The available cryptocurrencies for direct trading are Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), and Litecoin (LTC). Additional coins are available through CFDs.

Trading212 supports trading in cryptocurrency CFDs. The available cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and other popular cryptocurrencies .

User-friendliness

Interactive Brokers integrates cryptocurrency trading into its existing platform, allowing users to trade crypto alongside other asset classes. The platform offers low commissions and a professional-grade trading environment. However, the setup process might be more complex compared to dedicated crypto exchanges, which could be a drawback for less experienced users .

Trading212 offers a user-friendly and fast platform for trading crypto CFDs. The account setup process is quick, and the platform supports multiple payment methods. While the range of cryptocurrencies available for trading is limited, Trading212’s intuitive design and ease of use make it a good option for beginners.

Value for money

Interactive Brokers is known for its low commissions and transparent pricing, making it a cost-effective choice for crypto trading. Its professional-grade trading tools add significant value, though the platform might be too complex for beginners.

Trading212 provides excellent value with commission-free trading and a user-friendly platform. However, its fee for credit/debit card deposits and a small commission on stock trades might be a downside for some users.

Countries of operation

United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Hungary, Australia, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore .

United Kingdom, European Union, available in most countries that allow crypto trading .

Best for

Interactive Brokers is ideal for professional and experienced traders who want to trade cryptocurrencies alongside other asset classes. Its low commissions and professional-grade trading tools make it a strong choice for serious investors.

Trading212 is best for beginner and intermediate traders looking for a user-friendly platform with commission-free trading of crypto CFDs. It’s suitable for those who want to start trading quickly and benefit from a wide range of other financial instruments.

Account

Trading

Interactive Brokers offers limited direct cryptocurrency trading but provides access to crypto-related financial products. It is more focused on traditional investment products, making it less ideal for pure crypto trading.

Trading212 supports crypto CFD trading with leverage, offering a straightforward and easy-to-use platform. It is ideal for beginners who want to start trading cryptocurrencies without owning them.

Deposit and withdrawal

Interactive Brokers allows deposits and withdrawals via bank transfers and wire transfers. The process is secure but can be slower, especially for international transfers. Fees may apply for withdrawals.

Trading212 offers free deposits and withdrawals through a variety of methods, including bank transfers, credit/debit cards, and e-wallets. The process is typically fast and efficient.

Account opening process

The account opening process at Interactive Brokers is detailed and thorough. Users must provide extensive personal and financial information, and submit various verification documents. The process is fully digital but can take a few days for approval due to the comprehensive requirements.

Trading212 offers a simple and fast account opening process. Users fill out an online form, provide personal and financial information, and submit verification documents. The process is fully digital and accounts are typically approved within one business day.

KYC required?

Yes, KYC is required at Interactive Brokers. The account opening process includes submitting personal identification documents and proof of address.

KYC is mandatory at Trading212. Users must submit identification documents and proof of address during the account opening process.

Customer Service

Interactive Brokers provides customer support via phone, email, and live chat. The support is available 24/5 and is generally responsive, though some users find the service to be slower during peak times due to high demand.

Trading212 offers customer support through live chat, email, and phone. The support is available 24/7 and is known for being responsive and helpful, providing users with timely and effective assistance.

Security

Which of these exchanges is for you?

Alejandro Borja

As an expert on our website, I highly recommend Interactive Brokers for those interested in integrating cryptocurrency trading with traditional financial instruments. The platform offers competitive fees, robust security, and seamless integration with other asset classes, making it an excellent choice for experienced traders looking to diversify their portfolios. While the account setup process can be complex, the advanced trading features and reliable customer support make it worth the effort. If you’re seeking a secure and cost-effective way to trade cryptocurrencies, Interactive Brokers is a solid option.

Xavier Tarrasó

As an expert at our website, I recommend Trading212 for beginners and casual traders who are looking to explore the world of cryptocurrency trading in a secure and user-friendly environment. The platform’s ease of use, competitive fees, and strong regulatory oversight make it a reliable choice. However, if you’re an advanced trader seeking a wide variety of cryptocurrencies or specialized features like staking, you might find the platform somewhat limited. Nonetheless, Trading212 is an excellent starting point for anyone new to crypto trading.

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How do we review crypto exchanges?

At Threenvest, we conduct a thorough review process to evaluate and rank the world’s leading crypto exchanges. Our goal is to offer an unbiased assessment, providing you with the information you need to make informed decisions on which ones best suit your needs. We strictly adhere to the guidelines of our editorial policy.

We collect data directly from exchanges through detailed questionnaires and conduct first-hand testing and observations during crypto exchange demonstrations. Questionnaire responses, combined with demonstrations and hands-on research from our experts, feed into our proprietary evaluation process that scores each provider’s performance on more than 15 factors. The end result produces star ratings ranging from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars).

For more details on the categories considered when rating brokers and our process, read our full methodology.

Risk Disclaimer

Investing in cryptocurrencies is very risky, you should only invest the money you are willing to lose. Also you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.

Neither Threenvest, nor the author, are recommending you to invest with this article.

Comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Trading212 [ 2024 ]

Interactive Brokers

Trading212

Main points

Recommended for

Comparison of fees

Rating

Level

Brief explanation

Interactive Brokers

Trading212

Product selection

Native token

Earns

NFT marketplace

Cripto/debit card

Company information

Full name

Regulation

Year founded

Founder

Payment methods

Transfers

Mastercard

Wire transfer

Card

Comparative table

Key features

Analysis tools

Mobile APP

Security

Additional features

Anonymity

Key points

Available cryptocurrencies

User-friendliness

Value for money

Countries of operation

Best for

Account

Trading

Deposit and withdrawal

Account opening process

KYC required?

Customer Service

Security

Which of these exchanges is for you?

How do we review crypto exchanges?

Risk Disclaimer

More comparatives Interactive Brokers and Trading212