Detailed comparison of all fees, features, and suitability — updated for 2026.
Bitvavo is the better choice for Krypto-Anleger, while Interactive Brokers wins for Professionals. Which one suits you depends on your strategy — the detailed comparison below shows every difference.
| Metric | Bitvavo | Interactive Brokers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order fee per trade | 0.25 € | 1.00 € | 0.75 € cheaper at Bitvavo |
| 10y savings plan cost @ €100/month | 30 € | 120 € | 90 € cheaper at Bitvavo |
| Interest on €10,000 cash (1 year) | — | 4.33 % = 433 € | +433 € more at Interactive Brokers / year |
| Available exchanges | 1 | 1 | identical |
| BMInsider rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 | +0.2 at Interactive Brokers |
All fees, products, and platform features compared side-by-side. The "Winner" column shows which broker leads in each category.
| Feature | Bitvavo | Interactive Brokers | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & Costs | |||
| Order Fee | 0.25 % | $0.005/Aktie (min $1) or Fixed $1 | Bitvavo |
| ETF Savings Plan Fee | - | - | Tie |
| Account Fee | 0€/Year | 0€/Year | Tie |
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | 0€ | Tie |
| Interest on Cash | 0% | bis 4.33% (USD) | Interactive Brokers |
| Product Range | |||
| Stocks | Interactive Brokers | ||
| ETFs | Interactive Brokers | ||
| Crypto | Tie | ||
| Options | Interactive Brokers | ||
| CFDs | Tie | ||
| Fractional Shares | Tie | ||
| Number of Exchanges | Krypto-Spot | 150+ Börsen in 33 Ländern | Tie |
| Platform & Tools | |||
| Mobile App | Tie | ||
| Desktop Platform | Interactive Brokers | ||
| Demo Account | Interactive Brokers | ||
| Security & Regulation | |||
| Regulated by | DNB · MiCA | SEC / FCA / BaFin | Tie |
| Deposit Protection | - | $500.000 (SIPC) | Tie |
| Founded | 2018 | 1978 | Tie |
| Overall Rating | |||
| Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Interactive Brokers |
Depending on your strategy and experience, one broker fits better. Here's how to decide:
Low barriers, simple app, demo account and no hidden costs — perfect to get started.
More about Interactive Brokers →Low per-order fees, many trading venues and derivatives access — important if you trade regularly.
More about Interactive Brokers →Free savings plans, interest on cash and no custody fee — what matters when you buy & hold.
More about Interactive Brokers →Bitvavo is the leading crypto exchange for price-conscious European investors. Regulated by the Dutch central bank (DNB) and fully MiCA-licensed since 2025 — at 0.25% spot fee, one of the cheapest EU options.
Particularly suitable for: Krypto-Anleger, Bitcoin-Käufer, HODL-Investoren.
Interactive Brokers is the professional's choice with access to 150+ exchanges, all product classes, and the lowest fees for active traders.
Particularly suitable for: Professionals, Active Traders, International Investors, Options Trading.
Bitvavo (Bitvavo B.V., MiCA + BaFin custody licence) and Interactive Brokers (IBKR Ireland Limited, CBI EU licence) are both Pan-EU platforms with complementary focus. Bitvavo offers 400+ spot coins at 0.15% maker / 0.25% taker, self-custody withdrawal, 30+ staking coins. IBKR offers ~150 markets, 33 countries, FX 0.002%, US options, futures, bonds, multi-currency margin — and since 2022 crypto via Paxos (only 4 coins).
Honest take: IBKR is the pick for global pro strategies. Bitvavo is the pick for crypto focus with self-custody and staking. Both have German/European regulation.
You want the broadest crypto range. Bitvavo 400+ coins. IBKR crypto only 4 coins (BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH).
You want crypto staking. Bitvavo 30+ staking coins (3–10% p.a.). IBKR no staking.
You want self-custody withdrawal. Bitvavo wallet withdrawal. IBKR crypto stays in the account.
You want lowest crypto fees. Bitvavo 0.15% maker. IBKR crypto ~0.18% commission via Paxos.
You want a slim mobile app without pro complexity. Bitvavo retail UX. IBKR TWS learning-intensive.
You need US options, futures, bonds. IBKR global multi-asset. Bitvavo only crypto + some stocks.
You use multi-currency margin. IBKR USD long + EUR short on one account. Bitvavo EUR only.
You need the tightest FX spreads. IBKR 0.002% on IDEAL-PRO — on $100k FX you save ~$700.
You trade via IBKR API. TWS API, FIX. Bitvavo has API but for crypto, not stocks.
You want ~150 markets in 33 countries. IBKR global. Bitvavo primarily EU.
Neither steuereinfach. Both gross; self-declaration in Anlage KAP/SO.
§23 EStG: Bitvavo spot 1 year tax-free. IBKR crypto via Paxos also §23-relevant.
Multi-currency tax at IBKR: FX movements are taxable.
Staking tax: Bitvavo 10-year speculation period.
Austria: Neither AT-steuereinfach.
Profile: 100 US stocks at $2 000, 12 US options, 10 crypto buys at €1 000, $30 000 FX carry.
| Item | IBKR Pro | Bitvavo |
|---|---|---|
| 100× US stock $2 000 | ≈€100 ($0.005/Sh) | not primary focus |
| 12× US options | ≈€10 | not offered |
| 10× €1 000 crypto | 10× ~€1.80 (Paxos) = €18 | 10× €2.50 (0.25%) = €25 |
| FX $30 000 | ≈€0.60 (0.002%) | n/a (EUR only) |
| Yearly cost | ≈€129 | ≈€25 (crypto only) |
IBKR Pro for multi-asset, Bitvavo only for crypto. Use complementarily — Bitvavo for 400+ coins + IBKR for classic wealth.
Pick: IBKR Pro.
Pick: Bitvavo.
Pick: Bitvavo. IBKR no staking.
Pick: IBKR. 0.002% FX.
Both in parallel.
Answers to the most common questions about Bitvavo vs Interactive Brokers.
For order fees, Bitvavo leads at 0.25 %, while Interactive Brokers charges $0.005/Aktie (min $1) oder Fixed $1. Note: with CFD brokers, spreads add hidden cost — the lower nominal price isn't always cheaper overall.
Bitvavo is regulated by DNB · MiCA, Interactive Brokers by SEC / FCA / BaFin. Both fall under EU oversight. Deposit protection: Bitvavo -, Interactive Brokers $500.000 (SIPC).
For German/Austrian customers, language, BaFin regulation and tax-simple status often matter most. Check the 'Regulated by' and 'Languages' rows — DACH-focused brokers usually have the edge.
Neither Bitvavo nor Interactive Brokers offers free ETF savings plans. If recurring investing matters, check a savings-plan-focused broker.
Both are covered under their home regulator's deposit protection. Bitvavo: -, Interactive Brokers: $500.000 (SIPC). Securities are held in segregated accounts and protected in case of broker insolvency.
Interactive Brokers leads on cash interest at 4.33%. Watch the conditions — some brokers require a paid plan or cap the amount.
Both offer native mobile apps with good app-store ratings. Which is better depends on your needs — try both with a demo account if available.
A second broker makes sense when one offers features the other lacks (e.g. options, crypto, more exchanges). A full switch is only worth it if the cost difference or missing features are significant.
Sign up with the broker that fits your strategy. Both are regulated and offer a demo account to test risk-free.
