Broker comparison

Interactive Brokers vs.
tastytrade

Which broker fits your needs?

Platforms, products and fees side by side.

Checked on 22 October 2026

See comparison

Summary

Your goal decides

Interactive Brokers has a higher rating of 4.8/5 compared to tastytrade (4.5/5). Interactive Brokers offers 7 instrument types, while tastytrade offers 4. Oversight: Interactive Brokers: Central Bank of Ireland; tastytrade: SEC-registered, member FINRA, SIPC, NFA (no EU supervisor). Interactive Brokers: Yes, listed options: Eurex, US. tastytrade: Yes, listed options: US. Interactive Brokers has been in the market since 1978, making it the more experienced provider.

Professional trading platform with comprehensive product range

Options broker built by traders for traders with innovative platform

At a glance

The key differences

Criterion
PlatformsTWS, IBKR Mobile, Client Portaltastytrade Desktop, tastytrade Web, tastytrade App
Product typesStocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Bonds, ETFs, CFDsStocks, Options, Futures, Crypto
Options tradingYes, listed options: Eurex, USYes, listed options: US
Fee modelEurex: Per contract: stock options €1.10 Fixed or €1.00 Tiered (up to 8,000/month); index options €0.90 Tiered (up to 1,000/month), DAX €1.70 Fixed, Micro-DAX €0.40 Fixed. Fixed has no additional third-party fees; Tiered adds exchange/regulatory fees, and Micro-DAX may incur an overnight fee; US: USD 0.65 per contract (tiered, premium ≥ USD 0.10), min. USD 1 per order, plus exchange, clearing and regulatory feesUS: Stock/ETF options: USD 1 per contract to open, capped at USD 10 per leg; USD 0 closing commission. Broad-based index options: USD 1 to open without a cap, USD 0 to close. Both incur USD 0.10 clearing per contract plus applicable exchange/regulatory fees on opening and closing
Minimum deposit0 €0 $
RegulationCentral Bank of IrelandSEC-registered, member FINRA, SIPC, NFA (no EU supervisor)
More informationDetailsDetails

Platforms

Interactive Brokers

TWS, IBKR Mobile, Client Portal

tastytrade

tastytrade Desktop, tastytrade Web, tastytrade App

Product types

Interactive Brokers

Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Bonds, ETFs, CFDs

tastytrade

Stocks, Options, Futures, Crypto

Options trading

Interactive Brokers

Yes, listed options: Eurex, US

tastytrade

Yes, listed options: US

Fee model

Interactive Brokers

Eurex: Per contract: stock options €1.10 Fixed or €1.00 Tiered (up to 8,000/month); index options €0.90 Tiered (up to 1,000/month), DAX €1.70 Fixed, Micro-DAX €0.40 Fixed. Fixed has no additional third-party fees; Tiered adds exchange/regulatory fees, and Micro-DAX may incur an overnight fee; US: USD 0.65 per contract (tiered, premium ≥ USD 0.10), min. USD 1 per order, plus exchange, clearing and regulatory fees

tastytrade

US: Stock/ETF options: USD 1 per contract to open, capped at USD 10 per leg; USD 0 closing commission. Broad-based index options: USD 1 to open without a cap, USD 0 to close. Both incur USD 0.10 clearing per contract plus applicable exchange/regulatory fees on opening and closing

Minimum deposit

Interactive Brokers

0 €

tastytrade

0 $

Regulation

Interactive Brokers

Central Bank of Ireland

tastytrade

SEC-registered, member FINRA, SIPC, NFA (no EU supervisor)

More information

Interactive Brokers

Details

tastytrade

Details

Product access and costs depend on market, account and permissions.

Detailed comparison

Comparing fees

Compare total costs, not just the order fee.

Terms by market

Eurex
Per contract: stock options €1.10 Fixed or €1.00 Tiered (up to 8,000/month); index options €0.90 Tiered (up to 1,000/month), DAX €1.70 Fixed, Micro-DAX €0.40 Fixed. Fixed has no additional third-party fees; Tiered adds exchange/regulatory fees, and Micro-DAX may incur an overnight fee
US
USD 0.65 per contract (tiered, premium ≥ USD 0.10), min. USD 1 per order, plus exchange, clearing and regulatory fees
Minimum deposit
0 €
See terms at provider

Terms by market

US
Stock/ETF options: USD 1 per contract to open, capped at USD 10 per leg; USD 0 closing commission. Broad-based index options: USD 1 to open without a cap, USD 0 to close. Both incur USD 0.10 clearing per contract plus applicable exchange/regulatory fees on opening and closing
Minimum deposit
0 $
See terms at provider

The relevant costs depend on market, currency, order size and trading style.

Worked out

What does it actually cost?

Typical months at Interactive Brokers and tastytrade, priced from their published fee schedules. Spreads, FX and exchange fees come on top depending on the venue.

ScenarioInteractive Brokerstastytrade
ETF savings plan, ≈ €200 a month€3Single Xetra buy, IBKR Pro Fixed: 0.05%, min €3 × 1 (no separate savings-plan tariff)US$0$0 online ETF commission (≈ $230 buy); $0 × 1
10 stock buys of ≈ €1,000 a month€30Germany, Fixed SmartRouting: 0.05% × €1,000 = €0.50 → €3 minimum × 10US$0$0 online US stock commission × 10 orders
10 US option contracts a monthUS$6.50US options: $0.65 per contract (premium ≥ $0.10) × 10, min $1/order; third-party fees extraUS$10$1 per contract to open × 10 (max $10 per leg); closing $0
One BTC purchase of ≈ €1,000€1.800.18% × €1,000 (monthly volume ≤ $100k), min $1.75; via zerohash europe B.V.US$8.63BTC: 0.75% of purchase × $1,150
Custody and account fee per year€0No custody, account or inactivity fee in the fee schedule—Account/inactivity fees not stated on pricing page

Checked on 22 October 2026. Prices can change; the current fee schedule is what counts. Sources: interactivebrokers.ie · interactivebrokers.ie · interactivebrokers.ie · interactivebrokers.ie · tastytrade.com

Execution quality

Order type, venue and liquidity affect execution.

IBIE offers SmartRouting for products listed on multiple venues. It continually checks available prices and costs; use depends on the product and trading permissions.

Provider information

Check the provider’s execution policy and available order types for your account.

Provider information

Product range

StocksOptionsFuturesForexBondsETFsCFDs
StocksOptionsFuturesCrypto

Categories come from broker profiles. Check specific markets and permissions before deciding.

Trading platforms

TWS · IBKR Mobile · Client Portal

Interactive Brokers offers the Trader Workstation (TWS) as a professional desktop platform with options analytics, Risk Navigator, Strategy Builder, and over 100 order types. IBKR Mobile is the app for mobile trading, the Client Portal provides a simplified web interface.

Explore platform

tastytrade Desktop · tastytrade Web · tastytrade App

tastytrade offers its own innovative trading platform as desktop, web, and app versions, specifically designed for options trading. The platform provides unique visualizations for options chains, probability-of-profit calculations, the Follow feed for copying other traders, and advanced strategy builders. All versions integrate tastylive content directly into the trading interface for real-time education.

Explore platform

Regulation & security

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (Dublin)

Supervisor
Central Bank of Ireland (ref. C423427)
Investor compensation
Securities held segregated; Irish investor compensation scheme (ICCL): 90% up to €20,000
Cash
Not a deposit bank: client money segregated; ICCL 90% up to €20,000 (shared limit with securities)

tastytrade

tastytrade, Inc.

Supervisor
SEC / FINRA, NFA
Investor compensation
SIPC member: up to $500,000 per customer (max. $250,000 cash) if the broker fails; no cover for market losses
Cash
Cash in brokerage: SIPC up to $250,000; crypto accounts not SIPC protected

Regulation does not protect against market losses. What counts is the entity you sign the contract with.

Your investor profile

Who might it suit?

For investors who trade worldwide stocks, bonds and futures alongside options; in our scenario US options cost less.

  • Low fees
  • Wide product range
  • Professional platform
  • Complex for beginners
  • More complex pricing structure

For options traders who want a platform built around option strategies and free closing of positions.

  • Specialized in options trading
  • Opening commission capped for stock/ETF options
  • Innovative trading platform
  • Focused on US markets only
  • Not ideal for buy-and-hold investors

Find the broker that fits

Interactive Brokers oder tastytrade?

Side by side. Decided with knowledge.

See the differences that matter, and the Academy lessons that explain them.

Interactive Brokers4.8
  • Low fees
  • Wide product range
  • Professional platform
tastytrade4.5
  • Specialized in options trading
  • Opening commission capped for stock/ETF options
  • Innovative trading platform
VS
  • Fees
  • Platform
  • Regulation
  • Matching lessons
Two brokers. Many options. Your call.
Open The Dealing Room

Interactive Brokers and tastytrade do not earn the same way

The table shows what they cost. These lessons show how they earn, which is what the difference is made of.

Who is on the other side?

Whether your order leaves the building or stops at the desk

Open the lesson →

Taking the other side

What it means when the broker holds the other side itself

Open the lesson →

The fill you actually get

Why the price on screen and the price you get are not the same

Open the lesson →

Your questions

Frequently asked questions

How do fees differ between Interactive Brokers and tastytrade?
Interactive Brokers: Eurex: Per contract: stock options €1.10 Fixed or €1.00 Tiered (up to 8,000/month); index options €0.90 Tiered (up to 1,000/month), DAX €1.70 Fixed, Micro-DAX €0.40 Fixed. Fixed has no additional third-party fees; Tiered adds exchange/regulatory fees, and Micro-DAX may incur an overnight fee; US: USD 0.65 per contract (tiered, premium ≥ USD 0.10), min. USD 1 per order, plus exchange, clearing and regulatory fees. tastytrade: US: Stock/ETF options: USD 1 per contract to open, capped at USD 10 per leg; USD 0 closing commission. Broad-based index options: USD 1 to open without a cap, USD 0 to close. Both incur USD 0.10 clearing per contract plus applicable exchange/regulatory fees on opening and closing. Compare total costs for the specific market, product, currency and order size in the current fee schedule.
Which broker offers more products: Interactive Brokers or tastytrade?
Interactive Brokers offers Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Bonds, ETFs, CFDs. tastytrade offers Stocks, Options, Futures, Crypto.
How are Interactive Brokers and tastytrade regulated?
The broker profiles list Central Bank of Ireland for Interactive Brokers and SEC-registered, member FINRA, SIPC, NFA (no EU supervisor) for tastytrade. Your account's contracting entity determines the applicable oversight and protection rules; check its current disclosures.
Is Interactive Brokers or tastytrade better for beginners?
Interactive Brokers lists a 0 € minimum deposit and offers TWS, IBKR Mobile, Client Portal. tastytrade lists 0 $ and offers tastytrade Desktop, tastytrade Web, tastytrade App. Compare usability, available products and costs for your intended use.
Interactive Brokers vs tastytrade: Which broker is better overall?
The choice between Interactive Brokers (4.8/5, 1823 reviews) and tastytrade (4.5/5, 1400 reviews) depends on your needs. Interactive Brokers: Professional trading platform with comprehensive product range. tastytrade: Options broker built by traders for traders with innovative platform.

Your next step

Your next step

Keep comparing

More broker comparisons

Keep learning

Before you pick a broker

The guides worth reading before your first trade, whichever of the two you choose.

Options risks & opportunitiesWhat you can lose, and what the risk buys you.Options taxes in GermanyFlat-rate tax, loss offsetting and allowances.Options trading basicsStrike, expiry, underlying: the building blocks of every option.
Terms in the glossary:MarginPremiumCall optionUnderlyingExercise