Compare Brokers
We help you pick the best broker for your needs with our broker comparison tool. Select 2 brokers and see exactly what makes them different.
Quick Verdict
Interactive Brokers is the winner in this comparison, outperforming Kraken after we recorded hundreds of data points and ran hands-on tests, earning it the higher overall rating and our recommendation.
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Interactive Brokers
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Kraken
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Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a leading brokerage offering access to over 170 markets in 40 countries and a range of investment services. With 40+ years in the industry, this Nasdaq-listed company follows strict regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, making it a trusted global trading broker. | Kraken is a top cryptocurrency exchange with its own trading platform and over 600 crypto tokens. It offers up to 1:5 leverage with consistent fees on spot trading and up to 1:50 leverage on futures. | |
| Instruments | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies | Cryptos, xStocks, Pre-IPO Perpetual Futures |
| Demo Account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 |
| Trading Platforms | Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Futures, AlgoTrader, Quantower |
| Payment Methods | ACH Transfer, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service, Cheque, TransferWise, Wire Transfer | ACH Transfer, Apple Pay, Bitcoin Payments, Credit Card, Debit Card, Etana, Ethereum Payments, Google Wallet, PayID, Wire Transfer |
| Minimum Trade | $0 | Variable |
| Regulator | SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS | FINTRAC, AUSTRAC, CySEC, CBI |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF |
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| Mobile Apps | iOS & Android | ✓ |
| App Review | The IBKR Mobile app for iOS and Android allows you to access your IBKR accounts, monitor portfolios, execute trades, and view real-time quotes and charts. Its user-friendly design is ideal for new traders, offering a simpler experience compared to the more complex TWS platform. | We tested Kraken with a live account and found it easy to use, especially compared with Binance. You can explore tokens, manage your portfolio, and buy, sell, convert, or set recurring buys through the '+' icon in the bottom menu. 2FA and biometric login support secure access. It also offers a way to seek potential prop funding from the app. |
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| Margin Trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Margin Rate | 5.5% - 6.13% (depending on account tier) | |
| Account Types | STP, DMA, MAM, Demat | |
| AI / Machine Learning | ✓ | ✗ |
| Robo Advisor | ✓ | ✗ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✗ | ✗ |
| Market Maker | ✗ | ✗ |
| P2P Trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Spot Trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Trading | Capitalise.ai, TWS API | Kraken Futures is integrated in other platforms which have bots: Bookmap, Caspian, FMZ Quant, Gunbot, HaasOnline, Hyndor, Margin |
| Copy Trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Social Trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| VPS Hosting | ✗ | ✗ |
| Tournaments | ✗ | ✗ |
| Demo Competitions | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ethical Investing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custodial Account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✗ | ✗ |
| Inactivity Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Islamic Account | ✗ | ✗ |
Forex Trading | ||
IBKR offers more than 100 major, minor, and exotic forex pairs, more than almost any other option except CMC Markets. Forex trading is available on multiple platforms with institutional-grade spreads starting from 0.1 pips and over 100 complex order types, like brackets, scale, and one-cancels-all (OCA) orders. | ||
| GBPUSD Spread | 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value | |
| EURUSD Spread | 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value | |
| EURGBP Spread | 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value | |
| Assets | 100+ | |
Cryptocurrency Trading | ||
IBKR allows you to buy and retain Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin with low commission fees and no need for a crypto wallet. You can also explore additional assets such as crypto indices, including the NYSE Bitcoin Index, and futures contracts like the BAKKT Bitcoin Futures. | is a crypto exchange offering over 600 cryptocurrencies, including major tokens like Bitcoin and altcoins. Traders can trade on spot markets with up to 1:5 leverage or futures with up to 1:50. The platform is easy to use, and fees are low. | |
| Crypto Spread | 0.12%-0.18% | 0-0.26% average |
| Crypto Coins | BTC, LTC, ETH, XRP | AAVE, ALGO, ANT, REP, REPV2, BAT, BAL, XBT, BCH, ADA, LINK, COMP, ATOM, CRV, DAI, DASH, MANA, XDG, EWT, EOS, ETH, ETC, FIL, FLOW, GNO, ICX, KAVA, KEEP, KSM, KNC, LSK, LTC, MLN, XMR, NANO, OCEAN, OMG, OXT, PAXG, DOT, QTUM, XRP, SC, XLM, STORJ, SNX, TBTC, USDT, XTZ, GRT, TRX, UNI, USDC, WAVES, YFI, ZEC, BNB |
| Crypto Lending | ✗ | ✗ |
| Crypto Mining | ✗ | ✗ |
| Crypto Staking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Auto Market Maker | ✗ | ✗ |