What makes a good online broker
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Best Online Brokers of 2022: Our Top 5 Selections
To make it easier for investors to identify the best online brokers in 2022, we conducted a comprehensive analysis on their behalf. A total of 103 reputable brokerage platforms were selected and thoroughly evaluated. The comparison covered nearly every aspect of their services, with particular attention given to trading fees, security standards, platform quality, and the efficiency of deposit and withdrawal methods. Only providers that demonstrated strong performance across several key categories qualified for consideration among the top brokers. In short, we completed the detailed research so investors wouldn’t have to.
After completing this extensive review, five brokers stood out from the rest. All of them meet high standards and are strongly recommended. Without further delay, here are the leading online brokers for 2022:
Interactive Brokers ranks first among online brokers in 2022. It stands out for its competitive trading costs, extensive range of financial instruments, and powerful research tools.
DEGIRO comes in second place. The platform offers some of the lowest fees available, operates under strong regulatory oversight, and provides a simple and intuitive web and mobile trading experience.
Saxo Bank takes the third position. It is known for its advanced trading platform, high-quality market research, and wide selection of investment products.
XTB secures the fourth spot. The broker offers attractive forex and CFD pricing, commission-free trading on certain stocks and ETFs, quick and free deposit and withdrawal options, and a smooth account opening process.
Charles Schwab completes the list at number five. It provides commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs, excellent research resources, and highly regarded customer support.
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
What makes a good online broker? Surely, they need to provide great services in all areas. First of all, they need to offer fair fees and have a good safety score. Depositing and withdrawing funds should be either free or cheap and user-friendly. Great trading platforms, an easy account opening procedure and a wide range of products also weigh heavily in the scoring.
These features are easy to list, but hard to figure out. We are testing brokers based on close to 500 criteria with real accounts and real money. You can find all the criteria in our methodology.
And now, let’s see the best online brokers in 2022 one by one, starting with the winner, Interactive Brokers.
#1 Best stock broker
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers, one of the biggest US-based discount brokers, was founded in 1977. The broker is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including top-tier ones like the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Given that the broker has licenses from multiple top-tier regulators, Interactive Brokers is considered safe. The fact that it has a long track record and publicly disclosed financials while being listed on a stock exchange all point to IB being a safe service provider.
Interactive Brokers recently launched a new app for global stock trading: read our review of IBKR GlobalTrader.
In addition, Interactive Brokers also has an app you can use for ESG investing: read our review of IMPACT by Interactive Brokers.
Recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Complicated account opening process |
| • Wide range of products | • Complex desktop trading platform |
| • Many great research tools | • Understaffed customer service |
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#1 Interactive Brokers
Fees
Interactive Brokers has low trading fees and the best margin rates in the industry. For US clients, stock and ETF trading is free if they choose the Lite plan.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • None |
| • Free stock and ETF trading for US clients | |
| • Low margin rates |
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
All commissions, spreads and financing rates (if applicable) for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
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#1 Interactive Brokers
Mobile trading platform
The Interactive Brokers mobile trading platform boasts a lot of functions and a useful chatbot, but its user interface could be better.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Two-step (safer) login | • Minor technical glitches |
| • Good variety of order types | |
| • Price alerts |
Best stock brokers – Interactive Brokers mobile trading platform
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#1 Interactive Brokers
Deposit and withdrawal
Interactive Brokers offers several account base currencies and one free withdrawal per month. The main drawback is that you can only use bank transfer.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • Several account base currencies | |
| • First withdrawal free each month |
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
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#2 Best online broker
DEGIRO
DEGIRO is a German-Dutch online discount broker. It was established in 2008 by former employees of another brokerage company in the Netherlands. DEGIRO merged with flatexDEGIRO Bank AG in early 2021, creating the biggest online execution-only broker in Europe with its own banking license.
Check out our DEGIRO review tailored to the needs of beginner investors and traders.
DEGIRO is regulated by top-tier financial authorities such as the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, or BaFin) in Germany.
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.
Disclaimer for UK clients: Deemed authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The nature and extent of consumer protections may differ from those applicable to firms based in the UK. Details of the Temporary Permissions Regime, which allows EEA-based firms to operate in the UK for a limited period while seeking full authorisation, are available on the FCA’s website.
Recommended for traders and investors looking for execution only
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • One of the lowest fees on the market | • Forex not available |
| • Regulated by top-tier authorities | • Limited research tools |
| • Easy-to-use web and mobile platform | • No credit/debit card deposit |
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#2 DEGIRO
Fees
DEGIRO has low trading fees for all asset classes. Non-trading fees are also low, as there are no inactivity or withdrawal fees. On the negative side, trading US options or futures will come with a €5 monthly fee. If you need currency conversion, a 0.25% fee will apply.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fund fees | • €5 monthly fee for trading US derivatives (options and futures) |
| • No inactivity fee | • 0.25% FX conversion fee |
| • Low stock and ETF fees |
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
All commissions, spreads and financing rates (if applicable) for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
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#2 DEGIRO
Mobile trading platform
DEGIRO’s mobile app has a basic but good design and is pretty straightforward to use.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No price alerts |
| • Two-step (safer) login | |
| • Touch/Face ID login |
Best online brokers in 2022 – DEGIRO trading platform
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#2 DEGIRO
Deposit and withdrawal
DEGIRO deposits and withdrawals are free of charge via bank transfer. A big drawback though is that you can’t deposit funds using a credit or debit card.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free withdrawal | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • No deposit fee | |
| • Several account base currencies |
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
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#3 Best online broker
Saxo Bank
Saxo Bank, a Danish investment bank founded in 1992, provides online trading and investment services. The company is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the Danish Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Saxo Bank is a global service provider and as such it operates a number of separate legal entities in different regions of the world. The services offered by the various entities may differ slightly, especially with respect to fees and product portfolios. In this review, we tested Saxo Markets UK.
Being regulated by top-tier financial authorities, having a long track record and a banking background are all good signs for Saxo Bank’s safety.
HEADS UP: Recent issues with account opening – Saxo Bank seems to have a delay in sending you a crucial URL needed to start your account opening. For more info, see Saxo Bank account opening issues in the review’s ‘Account opening’ chapter. Don’t want to wait to open an account? Check out some Saxo Bank alternatives.
Recommended for investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Great trading platform | • High bond, options and futures fees |
| • Outstanding research | • High minimum deposit |
| • Broad product portfolio | • Lacks live chat and 24/7 availability |
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#3 Saxo Bank
Fees
Saxo Bank has overall average trading and non-trading fees, but the structure is quite mixed, with great differences between the fees for various asset classes.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex fees | • Inactivity fee |
| • Low fund fees | • Custody fee |
| • No withdrawal fee | • High fees for options and futures |
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
All commissions, spreads and financing rates (if applicable) for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
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#3 Saxo Bank
Mobile trading platform
Saxo Bank’s user-friendly mobile app has the same look and very similar functionalities as the web platform.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • None |
| • Two-step (safer) login | |
| • Good search function |
Best online brokers in 2022 – Saxo Bank trading platform
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#3 Saxo Bank
Deposit and withdrawal
Saxo Bank provides multiple deposit and withdrawal options free of charge, on a user-friendly interface.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Electronic wallets not available |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
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#4 Best online broker
XTB
XTB is a global CFD broker with headquarters in London and Warsaw, founded in 2002. The company is regulated by several financial authorities worldwide, including the top-tier UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In addition, XTB is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, and as such is required to regularly disclose its financials.
XTB is considered safe because it has a long track record, is listed on a stock exchange and publishes its financial statements transparently.
HEADS UP: Recent feedback about deposit and withdrawal – The details of depositing by wire transfer might be unclear for some of our users according to recent feedback we received. If you have problems, head to the ‘Deposit and withdrawal’ section of the review, where we explain how to make a free wire deposit to your XTB account under the section’s ‘Deposit and fees and options’ heading.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Recommended for forex and cfd traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal service
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex CFD fees, commission-free stocks/ETFs for some | • Product portfolio limited mostly to CFDs |
| • Free and fast deposit and withdrawal | • Limited fundamental data |
| • Easy and fast account opening | • Inactivity fee charged |
76% of retail CFD accounts lose money
#4 XTB
Fees
Forex fees are low, in many cases there’s no withdrawal fee, and some clients are eligible for free stock and ETF trading. However, there’s an inactivity fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free stocks/ETFs up to €100k monthly volume | • Inactivity fee |
| • Low forex and stock index CFD fees | |
| • Most bank transfer withdrawals are free |
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
All commissions, spreads and financing rates (if applicable) for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
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#4 XTB
Mobile trading platform
The XTB mobile trading app has a good search function and a modern design. On the other hand, there is no two-step authentication.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Price alerts | |
| • Modern design |
Best online brokers in 2022 – XTB trading platform
76% of retail CFD accounts lose money
#4 XTB
Deposit and withdrawal
XTB deposits and withdrawals are fast, mostly free and can be done via several channels.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Few minor account currencies accepted |
| • Deposits/withdrawals are mostly free | |
| • E-wallets available |
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
76% of retail CFD accounts lose money
#5 Best online broker
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab is a US discount broker that was founded in 1971 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
It is regulated by several top-tier financial authorities, such as the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research, low fees and great customer service
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free stock and ETF trading | • High fees for some mutual funds |
| • Outstanding research | • Only US/Canada markets available |
| • Great customer service |
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#5 Charles Schwab
Fees
Charles Schwab offers free trading for stocks and ETFs, as well as some mutual funds and bonds, while non-trading fees are low. On the negative side, some fund fees are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free stock and ETF trading | • High fees for non-free mutual funds |
| • Free trading for some funds/bonds | |
| • Low non-trading fees |
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
All commissions, spreads and financing rates (if applicable) for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
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#5 Charles Schwab
Mobile trading platform
Charles Schwab offers a great mobile trading platform with order confirmation and biometric login. In functionality and design, it is very similar to the web trading platform.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No price alerts |
| • Touch/Face ID login | |
| • Order confirmation |
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#5 Charles Schwab
Deposit and withdrawal
Funding your account is easy and user-friendly at Charles Schwab and there is no deposit fee. However, you can only use bank transfer and there is a high fee for wire withdrawals.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • High fee for wire (bank transfer) withdrawals |
| • User-friendly | |
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
How the Top 5 Brokers Were Selected
Now that you’ve seen the top five brokers on the list, you may be wondering how this ranking was created. Let’s briefly walk through the key points behind the selection process.
Are these brokers trustworthy?
Yes. All of the brokers included are considered legitimate and operate under the supervision of at least one leading financial regulator. This means they meet established regulatory standards and are not fraudulent platforms.
How were the best online brokers chosen?
To determine the top platforms, an extensive evaluation process was carried out using more than 500 different criteria. The testing was conducted with real trading accounts and actual funds to ensure accurate, practical insights. To keep things simple and clear, we highlight only the five most important factors used in the assessment.
Best online brokers in 2022
What makes a good online broker
The 5 most important criteria for the best online brokers in 2022
| Interactive Brokers | Interactive Brokers is a US discount broker. It is listed on a stock exchange and regulated by several authorities, including top-tier ones like the FCA and the SEC. | Visit broker |
| Alpaca Trading | Alpaca Securities LLC is US-based broker providing commission-free API stock trading. The company is regulated by the top-tier SEC and FINRA: | Visit broker |
| TradeStation Global | TradeStation Global is an introducing broker of Interactive Brokers. This practically means that assets and cash are held with Interactive Brokers, but services like fees and customer support are provided by TradeStation Global. TradeStation Global is regulated by the top-tier UK FCA. | Visit broker |
| Zacks Trade | Zacks Trade is a US discount broker that also allows international clients to open an account. Zacks Trade is a division of LBMZ Securities, which is regulated by SEC and FINRA. Customers are protected by the SIPC scheme, up to $500,000 (including a $250,000 limit for cash). | Visit broker |
| Saxo Bank | Saxo Bank is a Danish investment bank. It is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the top-tier UK FCA. | Visit broker |
Best online brokers in 2022
Bottom line
These were the details, now let’s zoom out. Here are the best online brokers in 2022:
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
Interactive Brokers is our winner, selected the best online broker in 2022. Low trading fees. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
All of these brokers are a great choice and score high in terms of safety. Pick the winner, or any of the runners-up, and take the next step in your trading journey. Let us know what you think in the comments section.
Still unsure? For a tailored recommendation, check out our broker finder tool. If you enter the name of your country, it will show only the brokers that are relevant to you. Want more details? Compare brokers with the help of this detailed comparison table.