★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
DEGIRO vs Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
Pick DEGIRO instead if
DEGIRO
Other · Web · Mobile
- You care about calendar and downloadable tax reports, things Interactive Brokers (IBKR) doesn't offer
Start here
Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
Free • Paid plans available · Web · Mobile · Desktop
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You care about paper trading, options, and screeners, things DEGIRO doesn't offer
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
See alternativesOutbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
Our take
The bottom line
DEGIRO and Interactive Brokers (IBKR) cover a lot of the same ground (6 shared categories, including brokerage, advanced order types, and smart/direct routing), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) simply does more: 14 categories to DEGIRO's 8, including paper trading, options, and screeners. DEGIRO counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
DEGIRO
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
- Broader coverage
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR)14 vs 8 categories
- Desktop app
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
- API access
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
- Asset coverage
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR)Adds currencies and commodities
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Other | Free • Paid plans available |
Free tier | No | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | 8 limits: UK / Europe Stocks and ETFs: commission: £3/€3 per Western European stock or ETF trade at typical trade sizes;..., US Stocks and ETFs - IBKR Pro: tiered commission: USD 0.0005 to USD 0.0035 per share +6 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | Yes |
Integrations | — | TradingView, Quicken +2 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders and Pro Retail | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +7 more |
Categories covered | 8 | 14 |
Regions | Europe, North America | North America, Europe, APAC |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Streaming, Real-time, and 15-min Delayed | 3 signals: Latency: Streaming and Real-time, Granularity: Tick +1 more |
Capabilities | Multi-leg options | 7 signals: Multi-leg options, Greeks +5 more |
Security | — | Status page and Encryption in transit |
| Try it | Visit DEGIRO | Visit Interactive Brokers (IBKR) |
Where each one shines
What DEGIRO and Interactive Brokers (IBKR) each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What DEGIRO and Interactive Brokers (IBKR) each do best.What DEGIRO does best
- Trade through the DEGIRO web platform and mobile app with access to shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, options, futures, warrants, and leveraged products where local account settings allow them.
- Access more than 45 markets across 30 countries, with venue and product availability depending on the local DEGIRO country site and account profile.
- Use order types such as market, limit, stop loss, stop limit, day orders, good-till-cancelled orders, and trailing stops where supported by the exchange.
- Use direct-to-market routing on some venues and Morgan Stanley Smart Order Router on others, depending on product and market.
- Track holdings through portfolio views, favourites lists, streaming or real-time quotes where available, market news, market overviews, and an economic calendar.
What Interactive Brokers (IBKR) does best
- Trade stocks, ETFs, options, futures, futures options, spot FX, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, structured products, CFDs, crypto-related products, and spot crypto where jurisdiction allows.
- Use Client Portal, Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, GlobalTrader, paper trading, and API access depending on the workflow.
- Use IB SmartRouting, advanced order types, conditional orders, bracket workflows, options combos, and algorithmic order tools across supported products.
- Use TWS API, Web API, REST, WebSocket market-data streaming, FIX-style workflows, Flex Web Service, and programmatic reports for automation and reporting.
- Practice with paper trading after opening an approved live account, using separate credentials and simulated buying power.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for DEGIRO and Interactive Brokers (IBKR), side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for DEGIRO and Interactive Brokers (IBKR), side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFuturesOther | StocksETFsOptionsFuturesCurrenciesBondsMutual FundsCommodities+2 more |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro Retail | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsDay TradersSwing TradersAlgo TradersLong-term InvestorsFinancial Advisors+1 more |
Regions | EuropeNorth America | North AmericaEuropeAPAC |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | StreamingReal-time15-min Delayed | StreamingReal-time |
Data granularity | Not specified | Tick |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | Not specified | RESTWebSocket |
API auth & delivery | Not specified | Auth: OAuth2SDKs: Python3,000 req/minDocs |
Integrations | Not specified | TradingViewQuickenTradelogCapTools |
Export formats | CSVExcelPDF | PDFCSVXML |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status pageEncryption in transit |
Capability signals | Multi-leg options | Multi-leg optionsGreeksVaR/ESPerformance attributionPortfolio attributionRebalancingMulti-currency |
Vendor & support | flatexDEGIRO Bank SE (DEGIRO brand)Country: GermanySupport: Email and Phone | Interactive Brokers (U.K.) LimitedCountry: United KingdomSupport: Chat and Phone |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | Free“Brokerage Account” |
| Entry paid plan | — | Subscription“Market Data Subscriptions”note: Real-time, Level II, and exchange market data subscriptions vary by m... |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between DEGIRO and Interactive Brokers (IBKR)?
DEGIRO leans toward brokerage, advanced order types, and smart/direct routing, while Interactive Brokers (IBKR) puts more weight on brokerage, advanced order types, and smart/direct routing. They overlap in 6 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is DEGIRO or Interactive Brokers (IBKR) free to use?
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. DEGIRO is paid-only. If budget matters, start with Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Does DEGIRO or Interactive Brokers (IBKR) have an API?
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. DEGIRO doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose DEGIRO or Interactive Brokers (IBKR)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick DEGIRO if calendar and downloadable tax reports matter to you; go with Interactive Brokers (IBKR) if you'd rather have paper trading and options. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do DEGIRO and Interactive Brokers (IBKR) cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) adds currencies, commodities, and cryptos on top.
Do DEGIRO and Interactive Brokers (IBKR) offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Can I export data from DEGIRO and Interactive Brokers (IBKR)?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Is DEGIRO or Interactive Brokers (IBKR) better for day trading?
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the one positioned more for active traders. DEGIRO is the better fit if you care less about fast trading workflows and more about a calmer research process.
Which has a better stock screener: DEGIRO or Interactive Brokers (IBKR)?
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; DEGIRO doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with DEGIRO or Interactive Brokers (IBKR)?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
Keep researching
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.