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Head to head
interactive investor or Questrade? Fees, regulation, platform and product range compared side by side — with a verdict drawn from the data.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly. Investments can fall in value. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.
The UK's flat-fee platform: one monthly subscription, and your charges stop growing with your portfolio.
Canada's biggest independent broker, now genuinely commission-free — with a 1.5% currency spread as the sting in the tail.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
Four decision axes, each derived from the recorded data.
Overall Questrade takes it, 4.2 against 4.1 out of 5. Questrade is the cheaper of the two: a reference EUR 5,000 stock order costs €0.00 there against €4.67. interactive investor scores 77 against 76 out of 100 on the group index. Your account's protection depends on its legal entity. Questrade covers more ground with 10 of 14 asset classes against 6. On platform and app Questrade is ahead, 4.5 against 4.1 out of 5. Which one is right depends on which of these axes matters for your trading profile.
interactive investorQuestradeinteractive investorQuestradeinteractive investorQuestradeinteractive investorQuestradeinteractive investorQuestradeUp to four brokers at once — every row a decision point.
Data as of: 30 Aug 2026
| Criterion | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.1 | 4.2 — Better |
| Group index | 77 of 100 | 76 of 100 |
| Best for | Portfolios above GBP 40,000SIPP and drawdown savers with larger potsUS and international share investorsBuy-and-hold investors consolidating platformsInvestors who want costs that stop growing | Canadian self-directed investorsRegistered account investing (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP)US options tradersActive traders who want a free professional platformInvestors combining ETFs, bonds and mutual funds in one account |
| Regulation | FCA | CIROOSC |
| Top-tier licences | 1 | 2 — Better |
| Investor protection | £85,000 | CA$1,000,000 — Better |
| Listed group | No | No |
| Banking licence | No | No |
| Segregated client accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | Yes | No |
| Audited financials | Yes | Yes |
| Disclosed regulatory actions | None | None |
| Founded | 1995 | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Leeds, GB | Toronto, CA |
| Fees | 4.0 | 4.4 — Better |
| Safety & regulation | 4.3 — Better | 4.2 |
| Trading platform | 4.1 | 4.4 — Better |
| Product range | 3.5 | 4.0 — Better |
| Mobile app | 4.1 | 4.5 — Better |
| Research | 4.2 — Better | 3.9 |
| Customer support | 4.2 — Better | 3.6 |
| Deposit & withdrawal | 4.2 — Better | 3.9 |
| Account opening | 4.3 | 4.4 — Better |
| Education | 3.9 — Better | 3.8 |
| Reference order EUR 5,000 | €4.67 | €0.00 — Better |
| Minimum deposit | None | None |
| Stocks (per order) | £3.99 | Free |
| US stocks | £3.99 | Free |
| ETFs | £3.99 | Free |
| Options | Not offered | Free |
| Futures | Not offered | Not offered |
| Crypto | Not offered | Not offered |
| Bonds (order) | £3.99 — Better | CA$24.95 |
| Funds (order) | £3.99 — Better | CA$9.95 |
| EUR/USD spread | n/a | 1.9 pips |
| Index CFD spread | n/a | n/a |
| FX conversion | 0.75 % — Better | 1.5 % |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
| Custody fee | £71.88 p.a. | None — Better |
| Withdrawal fee | free | free |
| Deposit fee | free | free |
| Overnight financing | n/a | n/a |
| Other fees |
|
|
| Asset classes (of 14) | 6 | 10 — Better |
| Exchanges | 17 | n/a |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | No |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Warrants | No | Yes |
| Spread betting | No | No |
| Social trading | No | No |
| Platforms | ii websiteii mobile appQuotestreamii360 | Questrade web and appQuestrade ProQuestrade EdgeQuestrade mobileQuestrade MCP |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Fractional shares | No | Yes |
| Maximum leverage | n/a | 1:3 |
| Account opening | Fully online, typically 10–15 minutes with a National Insurance number and UK bank details; the first month of the subscription is often waived on promotion | Fully online, typically minutes to open with no minimum balance; funding by electronic transfer takes 1–3 business days |
| Account types | CorePlusPremiumStocks and Shares ISASelf-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP)Junior ISA | TFSARRSPFHSARESPMarginCashFX & CFD |
| Payment methods | Bank transferDebit card | Bank transferCheque |
| Account currencies | GBPEURUSD | CADUSD |
| Deposit time | Debit card effectively instant; bank transfer and Direct Debit typically same day to 2 business days | Electronic funds transfer 1–3 business days; wire same or next business day |
| Withdrawal time | Usually 1–3 business days to a nominated UK bank account | 1–3 business days by electronic funds transfer |
| Free withdrawals | n/a | n/a |
| Languages | English | EnglishFrench |
| Channels | PhoneEmailTicket system | PhoneEmailLive chatBranch |
| Availability | Monday to Friday 07:45–17:30 UK time, with the international dealing desk open 17:30–21:00 | Monday–Friday 07:30–20:00 ET, Saturday and Sunday 10:00–16:00 ET |
Editorial assessment based on the recorded data.
interactive investor
The UK's flat-fee platform: one monthly subscription, and your charges stop growing with your portfolio.
Pros
Cons
Best for
Questrade
Canada's biggest independent broker, now genuinely commission-free — with a 1.5% currency spread as the sting in the tail.
Pros
Cons
Best for
Open an account with either
A demo account costs nothing and answers the platform question in ten minutes.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
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