Tool Comparison
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) vs Scalable Capital
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, Desktop
Best if
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want advanced order types, smart/direct routing, and paper trading.
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
- You want wealth management and downloadable tax reports.
Start here
Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile · Desktop
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want advanced order types, smart/direct routing, and paper trading.
Pick Scalable Capital instead if
Scalable Capital
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You want wealth management and downloadable tax reports.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and Scalable Capital cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) simply does more: 14 categories to Scalable Capital's 5, including advanced order types, smart/direct routing, and paper trading. Scalable Capital counters by keeping things simpler.
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Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
- Broader coverage
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR)14 vs 5 categories
- Desktop app
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
- API access
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
- Asset coverage
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR)Adds options and futures
What Interactive Brokers (IBKR) does best
- Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, futures options, spot FX, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, structured products, CFDs, crypto-related products, and spot crypto where jurisdiction allows.
- Client Portal, Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, GlobalTrader, paper trading, and API access cover different workflows.
- IB SmartRouting, advanced order types, conditional orders, bracket workflows, options combos, and algorithmic order tools across supported products.
- TWS API, Web API, REST, WebSocket streaming, FIX, and Flex Web Service support trading and reporting workflows.
- Paper trading with separate credentials and simulated buying power once a live account is approved.
What Scalable Capital does best
- Stock and ETF trading through supported European venues, with FREE and PRIME+ plans using different fee rules and order-size assumptions.
- Free savings plans, including small recurring investments where supported.
- PRIME+ charges €0 for eligible European Investor Exchange orders of at least €250; Xetra and gettex orders cost €1.99 on both plans.
- Supported stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, derivatives, and crypto ETPs from a web or mobile brokerage workflow.
- Scalable Wealth runs automated ETF-based portfolios, with management fees that step down at higher account sizes.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction |
Free tier | No | No |
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 | 5 limits: FREE: european investor exchange order from250 eur: 0.99, FREE: prime etf purchase on eix from250 eur: 0 +3 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | Yes | No |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | Yes | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
Integrations | TradingView, Quicken +2 more | Scalable CLI and Scalable MCP |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +7 more | — |
Categories covered | 14 | 5 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC | Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: Streaming and Real-time, Granularity: Tick +1 more | Timezone: Europe/Berlin |
Capabilities | 7 signals: Multi-leg options, Greeks +5 more | — |
Security | Status page and Encryption in transit | Status page |
| Try it | Visit Interactive Brokers (IBKR) | Visit Scalable Capital |
Standout features
The best features of Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and Scalable Capital.ShowHide
Standout features
What Interactive Brokers (IBKR) does best
- Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, futures options, spot FX, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, structured products, CFDs, crypto-related products, and spot crypto where jurisdiction allows.
- Client Portal, Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, GlobalTrader, paper trading, and API access cover different workflows.
- IB SmartRouting, advanced order types, conditional orders, bracket workflows, options combos, and algorithmic order tools across supported products.
- TWS API, Web API, REST, WebSocket streaming, FIX, and Flex Web Service support trading and reporting workflows.
- Paper trading with separate credentials and simulated buying power once a live account is approved.
What Scalable Capital does best
- Stock and ETF trading through supported European venues, with FREE and PRIME+ plans using different fee rules and order-size assumptions.
- Free savings plans, including small recurring investments where supported.
- PRIME+ charges €0 for eligible European Investor Exchange orders of at least €250; Xetra and gettex orders cost €1.99 on both plans.
- Supported stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, derivatives, and crypto ETPs from a web or mobile brokerage workflow.
- Scalable Wealth runs automated ETF-based portfolios, with management fees that step down at higher account sizes.
All details
Every attribute we track for Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and Scalable Capital.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsFuturesCurrenciesBondsMutual FundsCommodities+2 more | StocksETFsMutual FundsBonds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsDay TradersSwing TradersAlgo TradersLong-term InvestorsFinancial Advisors+1 more | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPAC | Europe |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker | 6 countriesExchanges: XETR, XMUN, and European Investor ExchangeIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | StreamingReal-time | Not specified |
Data granularity | Tick | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | RESTWebSocket | Not specified |
API auth & delivery | Auth: OAuth2SDKs: Python600 req/minDocs | Not specified |
Integrations | TradingViewQuickenTradelogCapTools | Scalable CLIScalable MCP |
Export formats | PDFCSVXML | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Status pageEncryption in transit | Status page |
Capability signals | Multi-leg optionsGreeksVaR/ESPerformance attributionPortfolio attributionRebalancingMulti-currency | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Interactive Brokers (U.K.) LimitedCountry: United KingdomSupport: Chat and Phone | Scalable Capital GmbHCountry: GermanyFounded 2014Support: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Brokerage Account” | Freeeuropean investor exchange order from250 eur: 0.99 · prime etf purchase on eix from250 eur: 0 · +1 more |
| Entry paid plan | — | €4.99/moBilled monthly“PRIME+ Broker”european investor exchange order from250 eur: 0 · xetra and gettex order eur: 1.99 |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and Scalable Capital?
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) leans toward brokerage, advanced order types, and smart/direct routing, while Scalable Capital puts more weight on brokerage, wealth management, and portfolio. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and Scalable Capital cost?
Neither has a free plan; you'll need a paid subscription for the full feature set of either. Check each tool's current plan details before buying.
Does Interactive Brokers (IBKR) or Scalable Capital have an API?
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Scalable Capital doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Interactive Brokers (IBKR) or Scalable Capital?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Interactive Brokers (IBKR) if advanced order types and smart/direct routing matter to you; go with Scalable Capital if you'd rather have wealth management and downloadable tax reports. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and Scalable Capital cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) also handles options, futures, and currencies.
Does Interactive Brokers (IBKR) or Scalable Capital have real-time data?
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Scalable Capital runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Can I export data from Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and Scalable Capital?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Is Interactive Brokers (IBKR) or Scalable Capital better for day trading?
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the one positioned more for active traders. Scalable Capital 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: Interactive Brokers (IBKR) or Scalable Capital?
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Scalable Capital doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with Interactive Brokers (IBKR) or Scalable Capital?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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