TIO Markets vs Interactive Brokers

TIO Markets vs Interactive Brokers Comparison Table 2024
TIO Markets Interactive Brokers
2.9
4.3

Interactive Brokers is #1 in our CFD broker rankings.

United States Flag Traders from US not accepted
United States Flag Traders from US accepted

TIO Markets is a global forex and CFD brokerage with both an offshore and UK-regulated branch. The broker has a strong customer focus, with 24/7 telephone and live chat customer service. Traders can access a range of accounts with competitive spreads from 0.4 pips.

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage for experienced traders, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.

Customer Reviews
4
Comment by Reviewer
"After spending some time exploring the accounts, I think TIO Markets is best suited to experienced traders who can deposit at least $1000 to take advantage of the competitive trading conditions available with the VIP accounts. Nonetheless, it would be nice to see a more diverse range of assets on offer in my opinion." "Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."
Pros
  • I have found fees to be pretty competitive with TIO Markets, averaging as low as 0.2 pips for GBP/USD on the VIP account
  • The company's 24/7 customer service availability is in line with some of the top brokerages that I have reviewed
  • Another major advantage for me is the free access to Trading Central, an excellent charting and analysis tool
  • TIO Markets offers access to the powerful MT4 and MT5 platforms with market-leading analysis tools
  • UK clients will be happy to find that spread betting opportunities are supported by TIO Markets
  • I'm also pleased to see top-tier FCA regulation through the company's UK branch
  • IBKR is one of the most respected and trusted brokerages and is regulated by top-tier authorities, so you can have confidence in the integrity and security of your trading account.
  • The TWS platform has clearly been built for intermediate and advanced traders and comes with over 100 order types and a reliable real-time market data feed that rarely goes offline.
  • The new IBKR Desktop platform takes the best of TWS while adding bespoke tools like Option Lattice and Screeners with MultiSort to create a genuinely impressive trading experience for day traders at every level.
  • There's a vast library of free or paid third-party research subscriptions catering to all types of traders, plus you can enjoy commission reimbursements from IBKR if you subscribe to Toggle AI.
  • IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries.
  • While primarily geared towards experienced traders, IBKR has made moves to broaden its appeal in recent years, reducing its minimum deposit from $10,000 to $0.
  • With low commissions, tight spreads and a transparent fee structure, IBKR delivers a cost-effective environment for short-term traders.
Cons
  • Most traders will be registering with the global branch, which is regulated offshore and will not offer any robust fund safeguarding measures
  • Leverage rates with the UK branch are limited to a maximum of 1:30, which may feel restricting for experienced traders
  • Compared to major competitors, TIO Markets' educational resources are notably limited
  • TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.
  • IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
  • Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
  • You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
Instruments
Forex, CFDs, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$50 $0
Trading Platforms
  • MT4
  • MT5
  • Trader Workstation (TWS)
  • IBKR Desktop
  • GlobalTrader
  • Mobile
  • Client Portal
  • AlgoTrader
  • OmniTrader
  • eSignal
  • TradingCentral
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots $100
Regulator
FCA FCA, SEC, FINRA, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB
Margin Trading
No Yes
Margin Rate
1.55 - 2.59%
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
No Yes
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No Yes
Robo Advisor
No Yes
Negative Balance Protection
No Yes
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
No Yes
Mobile Apps
Yes iOS & Android
App Review

The IBKR Mobile app, available on both iOS and Android devices, makes your phone a powerful gateway to your IBKR accounts, offering you the freedom to keep an eye on portfolios, initiate trades, and dive into real-time quotes and charts, all while managing your account activities on the fly. This app stands out for its intuitive design, making it especially welcoming for those just starting their trading journey, providing a smoother and more accessible experience than the more complex TWS platform.

Android App Rating
4.6
iOS App Rating
3.4
Auto Trading
Yes Capitalise.ai & TWS API
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No Yes
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0
Islamic Account
Yes No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • INR
  • JPY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • HUF
Stock Exchanges
Commodities
CFD Trading
Unfortunately, I do feel that the broker's mediocre range of 300 CFDs will be quite restricting for most traders. It certainly doesn't compare to many other brands I review. Plus, the absence of crypto, ETF and soft commodity CFDs is a further setback. Over 8,000 CFDs are offered on a vast array of instruments, encompassing stocks, indices, forex, and commodities. Moreover, the TWS platform lends itself to seasoned day traders, offering a comprehensive selection of over 100 order types and algorithms, alongside premium market data sourced from reputable sources such as Reuters and Dow Jones.
Leverage
1:200 1:50
FTSE Spread
20 0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread
0.8 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Oil Spread
0.02 0.25-0.85
Stocks Spread
Variable 0.003
Forex Trading
My tests uncovered an average selection of 46 forex pairs, including major, minor and exotic currency combinations. That said, access to both the MT4 and MT5 platforms is a major bonus for forex strategists looking for market-leading software. IBKR presents an extensive range of over 100 major, minor, and exotic forex pairs, surpassing the offerings of nearly all leading alternatives, though not CMC Markets. Forex trading occurs over multiple platforms and boasts institutional-grade spreads starting from 0.1 pips and 20 complex order types, including brackets, scale, and one-cancels-all (OCA) orders.
GBPUSD Spread
0.8 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURUSD Spread
0.4 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURGBP Spread
0.6 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Assets
45+ 100+
Cryptocurrency
Crypto trading not offered IBKR lets you purchase and hold Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin at competitive commission rates and without needing a crypto wallet. Additionally, there is a range of other diverse assets to explore, such as crypto indices like the NYSE Bitcoin Index, as well as futures contracts like the BAKKT Bitcoin Futures.
Spread
0.12%-0.18%
Coins
  • BTC
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • XRP
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
More Comparisons
TIO Markets
vs
Interactive Brokers
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