Detailed comparison of all fees, features, and suitability — updated for 2026.
Interactive Brokers is the better choice for Professionals, while Scalable Capital wins for Savings Plan Investors. Which one suits you depends on your strategy — the detailed comparison below shows every difference.
| Metric | Interactive Brokers | Scalable Capital | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order fee per trade | 1.00 € | 0.99 € | 0.01 € cheaper at Scalable Capital |
| 10y savings plan cost @ €100/month | 120 € | 0 € | 120 € cheaper at Scalable Capital |
| Interest on €10,000 cash (1 year) | 4.33 % = 433 € | 2.60 % = 260 € | +173 € more at Interactive Brokers / year |
| Free ETF savings plans | 0 | 2.400 | +2.400 more at Scalable Capital |
| Available exchanges | 1 | 2 | +1 more at Scalable Capital |
| BMInsider rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 | +0.3 at Interactive Brokers |
All fees, products, and platform features compared side-by-side. The "Winner" column shows which broker leads in each category.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Scalable Capital | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & Costs | |||
| Order Fee | $0.005/Aktie (min $1) or Fixed $1 | 0.99€ or flat rate from 4.99€/Month | Scalable Capital |
| ETF Savings Plan Fee | - | 0€ | Scalable Capital |
| Account Fee | 0€/Year | 0€ (Free) / 4.99€/Mo (Plus) / 9.99€/Mo (Premium) | Tie |
| Minimum Deposit | 0€ | 0€ | Tie |
| Interest on Cash | bis 4.33% (USD) | 2.6% (Plus/Premium) | Interactive Brokers |
| Product Range | |||
| Stocks | Tie | ||
| ETFs | Tie | ||
| Crypto | Tie | ||
| Options | Interactive Brokers | ||
| CFDs | Tie | ||
| Fractional Shares | Tie | ||
| Number of Exchanges | 150+ Börsen in 33 Ländern | gettex, Xetra | Scalable Capital |
| Platform & Tools | |||
| Mobile App | Tie | ||
| Desktop Platform | Interactive Brokers | ||
| Demo Account | Interactive Brokers | ||
| Security & Regulation | |||
| Regulated by | SEC / FCA / BaFin | BaFin | Tie |
| Deposit Protection | $500.000 (SIPC) | 100.000€ | Tie |
| Founded | 1978 | 2014 | 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 Scalable Capital →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.
Scalable Capital offers a flat-rate model from €4.99/month for unlimited trades. With Xetra access and free savings plans, a good choice for active investors.
Particularly suitable for: Active Traders, Savings Plan Investors, Beginners.
Interactive Brokers (IBKR Ireland Limited, CBI EU licence) and Scalable Capital (founded 2014 Munich, BaFin, Baader Bank custody) are very different answers to the investment need. IBKR is the global pro platform: 150 markets in 33 countries, FX 0.002%, US options, futures, multi-currency margin, premium market data. Scalable is the DACH retail platform: 2 700+ ETFs savings-plan ready from €1, €0 commission from €250 PRIME volume, 2.6% cash interest via PRIME+ (€4.99/month).
Honest take: IBKR is the pick for pro strategies with multi-asset and FX. Scalable is the pick for DACH investors with savings-plan focus and cash yield.
You need US options, futures, bonds. IBKR CBOE options from $0.85, CME futures, bonds from 33 countries. Scalable has zero options, futures, international bonds.
You use multi-currency margin. IBKR USD long + EUR short on one account, FX 0.002%. Scalable EUR account, no genuine multi-currency margin.
You trade globally actively. IBKR ~150 markets. Scalable about 25 venues, primarily EU/US.
You need FIX API. IBKR offers TWS API, FIX, REST. Scalable has no professional trading API.
You want cheap FX conversion. IBKR 0.002%. Scalable USD stock buys go via Tradegate EUR routing with ~0.5% FX spread.
You want the German tax certificate. Scalable withholds 25% KESt automatically. IBKR provides only a German tax report (Excel) — you self-declare in Anlage KAP.
You want free ETF savings plans. Scalable 2 700+ ETFs from €1 free. IBKR has no classic savings plan — recurring buys are possible but with $1 min/trade.
You want cash interest. Scalable PRIME+ 2.6% p.a. on idle EUR cash. IBKR also pays interest on idle cash (variable, roughly ECB rate minus 0.5%, ~2.5% p.a.) but under more complex terms — only amounts above $10 000 receive interest.
You want crypto ETPs for inheritable crypto exposure. Scalable 30+ crypto ETPs as securities. IBKR crypto via Paxos only 4 coins, not as ETP.
You want a German app without pro complexity. Scalable app tailored for mobile-first retail. IBKR TWS is powerful but designed for pros — onboarding and UX are learning-intensive.
Germany — Scalable steuereinfach, IBKR not. Scalable withholds 25% KESt automatically. IBKR delivers tax report, you declare in Anlage KAP.
Multi-currency tax at IBKR: FX movements are taxable. Scalable EUR account: no FX tracking.
Austria — neither steuereinfach. Both via FinanzOnline E1kv.
Vorabpauschale 2026: Scalable books automatically. IBKR only flags.
Crypto tax: Scalable crypto ETPs §20 EStG (KESt). IBKR crypto via Paxos §23 EStG (1-year tax-free).
Profile: 12 monthly €300 savings plans, 50 PRIME ETF buys at €500, 10 US stock buys at $5 000, 5 US options, $50 000 FX carry, €5 000 idle EUR cash.
| Item | Scalable PRIME+ | IBKR Pro |
|---|---|---|
| 12× €300 savings plan | €0 | ≈$12 (~€11) |
| 50× PRIME ETF €500 | €0 | ≈€50 ($1 min × 50) |
| 10× $5 000 US stock | 10× €0.99 + FX 0.5% = ~€260 | ≈€25 ($0.005/Sh) |
| 5× US options | not offered | ≈€4 ($0.85) |
| $50 000 ↔ EUR FX | ~€125 (Tradegate 0.25%) | ≈€1 (0.002%) |
| Cash interest €5 000 | +€130 (2.6%) | €0 (below $10 000 min) |
| PRIME+ subscription | €59.88 | €0 |
| Net yearly cost | ≈€315 | ≈€91 |
IBKR Pro ~€224 cheaper on this profile — driven by FX spread and US stock commission. For pure DACH savings plans without US volume: Scalable PRIME+ unbeatable via cash interest and free savings plans.
Pick: Scalable PRIME+. Cash interest + €0 savings plans unbeatable.
Pick: IBKR Pro. Scalable has no derivatives.
Pick: IBKR. 0.002% FX advantage on large amounts.
Pick: Scalable. 30+ crypto ETPs vs IBKR 4 coins.
Pick: IBKR. 150 markets vs Scalable ~25 venues.
Answers to the most common questions about Interactive Brokers vs Scalable Capital.
For order fees, Scalable Capital leads at 0.99€ oder Flatrate ab 4.99€/Monat, 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.
Interactive Brokers is regulated by SEC / FCA / BaFin, Scalable Capital by BaFin. Both fall under EU oversight. Deposit protection: Interactive Brokers $500.000 (SIPC), Scalable Capital 100.000€.
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.
Scalable Capital offers free ETF savings plans from 1€. If a savings plan matters to you, that's a clear edge.
Both are covered under their home regulator's deposit protection. Interactive Brokers: $500.000 (SIPC), Scalable Capital: 100.000€. 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.
