Broker comparison

Interactive Brokers vs.
XTB

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 XTB (4.4/5). Oversight: Interactive Brokers: Central Bank of Ireland; XTB: KNF/FCA/CySEC. Interactive Brokers: Yes, listed options: Eurex, US. XTB: No, but over 6,000 stocks and ETFs commission-free. Interactive Brokers has been in the market since 1978, making it the more experienced provider. Interactive Brokers charges no inactivity fee, while the other does.

Professional trading platform with comprehensive product range

Publicly traded CFD broker with award-winning xStation platform

At a glance

The key differences

Criterion
PlatformsTWS, IBKR Mobile, Client PortalxStation 5, xStation Mobile
Product typesStocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Bonds, ETFs, CFDsStocks, ETFs, CFDs, Forex, Commodities, Indices, Crypto
Options tradingYes, listed options: Eurex, USNo, but over 6,000 stocks and ETFs commission-free
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 fees0% commission on stock CFDs (up to €100,000/month), spreads from 0.1 pip
Minimum deposit0 €0 €
RegulationCentral Bank of IrelandKNF/FCA/CySEC
More informationDetailsDetails

Platforms

Interactive Brokers

TWS, IBKR Mobile, Client Portal

XTB

xStation 5, xStation Mobile

Product types

Interactive Brokers

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

XTB

Stocks, ETFs, CFDs, Forex, Commodities, Indices, Crypto

Options trading

Interactive Brokers

Yes, listed options: Eurex, US

XTB

No, but over 6,000 stocks and ETFs commission-free

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

XTB

0% commission on stock CFDs (up to €100,000/month), spreads from 0.1 pip

Minimum deposit

Interactive Brokers

0 €

XTB

0 €

Regulation

Interactive Brokers

Central Bank of Ireland

XTB

KNF/FCA/CySEC

More information

Interactive Brokers

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

0% commission on stock CFDs (up to €100,000/month), spreads from 0.1 pip

Published fee
0% commission on stock CFDs (up to €100,000/month), spreads from 0.1 pip
Minimum deposit
0 €
Inactivity
€10/month after 12 months of inactivity
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 XTB, priced from their published fee schedules. Spreads, FX and exchange fees come on top depending on the venue.

ScenarioInteractive BrokersXTB
ETF savings plan, ≈ €200 a month€3Single Xetra buy, IBKR Pro Fixed: 0.05%, min €3 × 1 (no separate savings-plan tariff)€0Savings plans free; 0% commission up to €100k monthly turnover; €0 × 1
10 stock buys of ≈ €1,000 a month€30Germany, Fixed SmartRouting: 0.05% × €1,000 = €0.50 → €3 minimum × 10€00% up to €100k monthly turnover (then 0.2%, min €10); 10 × €1,000 = €0
10 US option contracts a monthUS$6.50US options: $0.65 per contract (premium ≥ $0.10) × 10, min $1/order; third-party fees extra—No exchange-listed US options; XTB's own options priced via 0.25% strike markup, not comparable
One BTC purchase of ≈ €1,000€1.800.18% × €1,000 (monthly volume ≤ $100k), min $1.75; via zerohash europe B.V.—Not offered: only crypto CFDs in Germany, no spot purchase
Custody and account fee per year€0No custody, account or inactivity fee in the fee schedule€0Account free; 0.02% custody only above €250k avg (removed from 27 Oct 2026)

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

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

xStation 5 · xStation Mobile

XTB offers the award-winning xStation 5 and the xStation Mobile app. xStation 5 features a modern interface with real-time charts, over 30 technical indicators, drawing tools, and integrated market analyses. The platform provides a stock scanner, trade calculator, market sentiment display, and performance statistics. The xStation Mobile app mirrors the full range of features on the smartphone. Various order types including stop loss and take profit are supported.

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)

XTB

XTB S.A. Zweigniederlassung Deutschland (branch of XTB S.A., Warsaw)

Supervisor
KNF (Komisja Nadzoru Finansowego, home supervisor), BaFin (branch registration)
Investor compensation
Polish KDPW compensation scheme: 100% up to €3,000, 90% above, max €20,100 per investor
Cash
Client money segregated; no bank deposit guarantee, only KDPW compensation (max €20,100)

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 experienced investors who want options, futures and exchanges worldwide through an Irish entity.

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

For beginners who buy shares and ETFs commission-free within the allowance and want a simple app. There are no exchange-traded options.

  • Award-winning xStation platform
  • 0% commission on stocks up to €100,000
  • Publicly traded company
  • Inactivity fee after 12 months
  • No MetaTrader 4/5

Find the broker that fits

Interactive Brokers oder XTB?

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
XTB4.4
  • Award-winning xStation platform
  • 0% commission on stocks up to €100,000
  • Publicly traded company
VS
  • Fees
  • Platform
  • Regulation
  • Matching lessons
Two brokers. Many options. Your call.
Open The Dealing Room

Interactive Brokers and XTB 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 XTB?
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. XTB: 0% commission on stock CFDs (up to €100,000/month), spreads from 0.1 pip. 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 XTB?
Interactive Brokers offers Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Bonds, ETFs, CFDs. XTB offers Stocks, ETFs, CFDs, Forex, Commodities, Indices, Crypto.
How are Interactive Brokers and XTB regulated?
The broker profiles list Central Bank of Ireland for Interactive Brokers and KNF/FCA/CySEC for XTB. Your account's contracting entity determines the applicable oversight and protection rules; check its current disclosures.
Is Interactive Brokers or XTB better for beginners?
Interactive Brokers lists a 0 € minimum deposit and offers TWS, IBKR Mobile, Client Portal. XTB lists 0 € and offers xStation 5, xStation Mobile. Compare usability, available products and costs for your intended use.
Interactive Brokers vs XTB: Which broker is better overall?
The choice between Interactive Brokers (4.8/5, 1823 reviews) and XTB (4.4/5, 2100 reviews) depends on your needs. Interactive Brokers: Professional trading platform with comprehensive product range. XTB: Publicly traded CFD broker with award-winning xStation platform.
Do Interactive Brokers or XTB charge an inactivity fee?
Interactive Brokers: no inactivity fee. XTB: €10/month after 12 months of inactivity.

Your next step

Your next step

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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