Two brokers compete on regulation, costs, and platform depth across global access versus UK spread betting.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
You choose Interactive Brokers for raw spreads and broad instrument access. You choose Spreadex for TradingView integration and FCA-regulated UK spread betting.
Choose if…
You choose Interactive Brokers for raw spreads and broad instrument access. You choose Spreadex for TradingView integration and FCA-regulated UK spread betting.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.5 / 5 |
Pros
Available to US residents
Lowest margin rates in industry
150+ global markets
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | Spreadex |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Fail |
Interactive Brokers rates 4.6/5 versus 4/5 for Spreadex. Interactive Brokers edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Interactive Brokers starts from 0.2 pips, tighter than Spreadex's 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither Interactive Brokers nor Spreadex requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both Interactive Brokers and Spreadex hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
Interactive Brokers lists maximum leverage of 50:1, while Spreadex lists up to 30:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Interactive Brokers charges $2 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Spreadex are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Spreadex supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS). Spreadex has exclusive access to TradingView.
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0.20 pips vs 0.60 pips for Spreadex, reducing trading costs.
Interactive Brokers wins for safety & regulation with multiple top-tier regulators.
Interactive Brokers is best for active traders due to TWS and broad market access.
Interactive Brokers is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.20 pips.
Interactive Brokers wins for platform choice with Trader Workstation plus a web/mobile platform.
Spreadex wins for beginners with FCA oversight and straightforward spread betting.
Interactive Brokers wins for instrument variety with 17,000 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 1978 | 1999 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Greenwich, United States | St Albans, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.2 pips▼ lower | 0.6 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $2/lot | N/A |
|---|
| 0.4 pips | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 50:1▲ higher | 30:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferCredit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | First withdrawal/month free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | CMVM ASIC JFSA AMF FCA DFSA MFSA CNB CMF IIROC CBI SEBI SFC NFA SEC CNV FSC FINRA | FCA |
|---|
| Platforms | Trader Workstation (TWS) Proprietary Web/Mobile | Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
FCA-regulated (190941) UK spread betting on 10,000+ financial markets
TradingView integration for browser-based charting and order execution
UK capital gains tax-free profits on spread bets under current HMRC rules
Unique dual financial and sports spread betting from one FCA account
No minimum deposit and no commission on spread bets
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
Cons
Steeper learning curve on TWS
No MT4 / MT5
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Cons
UK residents only - no international client access
No MT4 or MT5 available
Research tools minimal
Not suitable for traders who need raw ECN execution
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Support available in limited languages
Interactive Brokers edges Spreadex on the editorial score and broader market access. The higher rating reflects its wider instrument coverage and multi-regulator footprint.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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