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Head to head
LYNX or CapTrader? 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 friendliest front door to Interactive Brokers in the German-speaking market — and the most expensive one.
Interactive Brokers' market access wrapped in German regulation, German support and a German phone number.
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 CapTrader takes it, 4.2 against 4.1 out of 5. CapTrader is the cheaper of the two: a reference EUR 5,000 stock order costs €5.00 there against €7.00. CapTrader scores 81 against 80 out of 100 on the group index. Your account's protection depends on its legal entity. Both cover 11 of 14 asset classes. We rate platform and app at 4.3 out of 5 for both. Which one is right depends on which of these axes matters for your trading profile.
LYNXCapTraderLYNXCapTraderLYNXCapTraderLYNXCapTraderLYNXCapTraderUp 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 | 80 of 100 | 81 of 100 |
| Best for | German-speaking investors who want IBKR access without TWSOptions and futures tradersInvestors who value education and analysisGlobal stock pickers with larger order sizesPeople who want no minimum deposit | German-speaking options and futures tradersActive traders who want IBKR pricing with German supportMulti-currency and global stock investorsCompany accounts (Firmendepot) and trading GmbHsTraders who value a person on the phone |
| Regulation | AFMBaFinCBIFCA | BaFinCBIFCA |
| Top-tier licences | 4 — Better | 3 |
| Investor protection | £85,000 | £85,000 |
| Listed group | No | No |
| Banking licence | No | No |
| Segregated client accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | Yes | Yes |
| Audited financials | No | No |
| Disclosed regulatory actions | 1 | None |
| Founded | 2006 | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, NL | Düsseldorf, DE |
| Fees | 3.4 | 4.1 — Better |
| Safety & regulation | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Trading platform | 4.5 | 4.6 — Better |
| Product range | 4.5 | 4.7 — Better |
| Mobile app | 4.1 — Better | 4.0 |
| Research | 4.3 — Better | 4.0 |
| Customer support | 4.5 | 4.7 — Better |
| Deposit & withdrawal | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Account opening | 4.3 — Better | 4.0 |
| Education | 4.5 — Better | 4.2 |
| Reference order EUR 5,000 | €7.00 | €5.00 — Better |
| Minimum deposit | None — Better | €2,000 |
| Stocks (per order) | 0.14 % | 0.1 % — Better |
| US stocks | US$0.01/share | US$0.01/share |
| ETFs | 0.14 % | 0.1 % — Better |
| Options | €2 | €2 |
| Futures | €1.50 — Better | €2 |
| Crypto | Not offered | Not offered |
| Bonds (order) | 0.2 % | €8 — Better |
| Funds (order) | 0.2 % | n/a |
| EUR/USD spread | n/a | n/a |
| Index CFD spread | n/a | n/a |
| FX conversion | 0.005 % | 0.003 % — Better |
| Inactivity fee | n/a | None |
| Custody fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal fee | €1 | €1 |
| Deposit fee | free | free |
| Overnight financing | n/a | n/a |
| Other fees |
|
|
| Asset classes (of 14) | 11 | 11 |
| Exchanges | 100 | 160 — Better |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Warrants | Yes | Yes |
| Spread betting | No | No |
| Social trading | No | No |
| Platforms | LYNX+Trader Workstation (TWS)LYNX Trading AppInteractive Brokers APITWS Mosaic / Client Portal | Trader Workstation (TWS)CapTrader DesktopCapTrader Trading AppCapTrader Easy AppAgenaTrader (Andromeda)TradingViewTraderFox Trading-DeskIB API / FIX CTCI |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum leverage | 1:30 · Pro 1:200 | 1:30 · Pro 1:200 |
| Account opening | Fully online, no minimum deposit; typically 1–3 business days | Fully online; German tax ID plus ID and address verification. Usually 1–3 business days |
| Account types | EinzeldepotGemeinschaftsdepotFirmendepotMargin-Konto | Cash accountMargin accountFirmendepotFamiliendepot |
| Payment methods | Bank transferSEPA | Bank transferSEPA |
| Account currencies | EURUSDCHFGBPAUDCADJPYHKDSGDSEK+8 | EURUSDCHFGBPAUDCADJPYHKDSGDSEK+6 |
| Deposit time | SEPA 1–2 business days; international wire 1–4 business days | SEPA 1–2 business days; international wire 1–4 business days |
| Withdrawal time | 1–3 business days | 1–3 business days |
| Free withdrawals | 1/month | 1/month |
| Languages | GermanDutchEnglish | GermanEnglish |
| Channels | PhoneEmailTicket system | PhoneEmailLive chatTicket system |
| Availability | Monday to Thursday 08:00–20:00, Friday 08:00–18:00 CET; Interactive Brokers' English-language desk covers the remaining hours | Monday to Friday, 08:30–20:00 CET; Interactive Brokers emergency desks cover the remaining hours |
Editorial assessment based on the recorded data.
LYNX
The friendliest front door to Interactive Brokers in the German-speaking market — and the most expensive one.
Pros
Cons
Best for
CapTrader
Interactive Brokers' market access wrapped in German regulation, German support and a German phone number.
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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