Interactive Brokers vs XTB (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared

Advertiser disclosure: some links on this page may be affiliate links, meaning BrokerCatalogue may earn a commission if you open an account. This never affects the data shown here, which is drawn from our catalogue and compared mechanically. How we make money.

Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan

Interactive Brokers

Trust rank #2 · Editorial rating 10 / 10 · Founded 1977

Interactive Brokers is a well-regarded forex broker providing broad access to currency pairs, advanced trading platforms, and research and risk management tools. It supports multi-asset trading and a wide range of order…

Read the Interactive Brokers review

XTB

Trust rank #7 · Founded 2002

XTB is a forex and CFD broker offering a proprietary platform, broad instrument coverage, and integrated research and education. It is regulated in multiple jurisdictions.

Read the XTB review

Interactive Brokers (United States, founded 1977) holds 15 regulatory licences (ASIC, CBI, CFTC, CIRO, CSSF…), 10 of them tier-1, offers Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. XTB (Poland, founded 2002) holds 5 regulatory licences (DFSA, FCA, FSCA, IFSC, KNF), 1 of them tier-1, offers Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 48 countries; Interactive Brokers is available in 170 countries where XTB is not, and XTB in 0 where Interactive Brokers is not.

Verdict at a glance

  • Interactive Brokers leads on trust rank, track record, regulatory coverage, instrument range, country coverage and tier-1 licences.
  • Level on platform choice and fee level.

Scored on 8 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.

Interactive Brokers vs XTB: side-by-side data

CriteriaInteractive BrokersXTB
Editorial rating10 / 10Not verified
Trust rank#2#7
Founded19772002
HeadquartersUnited StatesPoland
RegulatorsASIC, CBI, CFTC, CIRO, CSSF, DFSA, FCA, FINRA, JFSA, MAS, MNB, NFA, SEBI, SEC, SFCDFSA, FCA, FSCA, IFSC, KNF
Broker typeDMAMarket Maker
PlatformsProprietaryProprietary
InstrumentsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, MetalsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices
Countries accepted218 countries48 countries
Fee levelLowLow
Trading typesCFD Trading, Spot TradingCFD Trading
Best-for use casesProfessional Trading, Retail TradingProfessional Trading, Retail Trading

Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.

Pros

Interactive Brokers

  • Transparent commission-based FX pricing with tight spreads
  • Aggregated multi-bank liquidity (IDEALPRO)
  • Professional platforms (TWS) and institutional APIs (FIX/REST)
  • Advanced risk management with real-time margin analytics
  • Universal multi-asset account for FX hedging and settlement

XTB

  • Tier-1 multi-jurisdiction regulation
  • Proprietary xStation 5 platform with advanced charting and one-click trading
  • Official xAPI for algorithmic trading and data access
  • Competitive FX spreads with commission-free Standard account
  • Publicly listed broker with audited financials

Cons

Interactive Brokers

  • No MT4/MT5 support
  • Steep learning curve
  • Commission-based FX pricing
  • 25k IDEALPRO minimum order size
  • Limited funding methods

XTB

  • No MetaTrader 5 support
  • No guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs)
  • Inactivity fee after prolonged inactivity
  • Withdrawal fees for small amounts below minimum threshold
  • No integrated social/copy trading

Key features

Interactive Brokers

  • Agency model with direct market access to multiple liquidity providers
  • Spot forex and forex CFDs across major and minor pairs
  • Trader Workstation FXTrader with advanced order types and depth of market
  • Smart order routing and transparent interbank pricing with commissions
  • FIX and REST API support for algorithmic forex trading
  • Two factor authentication IB Key and top tier global regulation

XTB

  • Multi asset CFD trading Forex Indices Commodities Shares ETFs Crypto
  • Real stock and ETF investing zero commission up to monthly cap
  • xStation 5 proprietary platform advanced charting sentiment and risk tools
  • Publicly listed broker segregated client funds and negative balance protection
  • Tier one regulation including FCA and KNF
  • Extensive education research and market news resources

Country availability: Interactive Brokers vs XTB

Available at both (48): Angola, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa and 8 more.

Only Interactive Brokers (170): Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso and 145 more.

Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.

Interactive Brokers vs XTB: common questions

Which broker is more regulated, Interactive Brokers or XTB?

Interactive Brokers holds more regulatory licences: Interactive Brokers (ASIC, CBI, CFTC, CIRO, CSSF, DFSA, FCA, FINRA, JFSA, MAS, MNB, NFA, SEBI, SEC, SFC) versus XTB (DFSA, FCA, FSCA, IFSC, KNF). Tier-1 licences: Interactive Brokers 10, XTB 1.

Which trading platforms do Interactive Brokers and XTB offer?

Interactive Brokers offers Proprietary; XTB offers Proprietary.

Which has lower fees, Interactive Brokers or XTB?

Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.

Which is older, Interactive Brokers or XTB?

Interactive Brokers is the older of the two, founded in 1977; XTB was founded in 2002.

Are Interactive Brokers and XTB available in the same countries?

They overlap in 48 countries. Interactive Brokers is additionally available in 170 countries (Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda and 164 more) and XTB in 0 countries ().

Keep comparing

Interactive Brokers

XTB

Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.