FlowBank vs Interactive Brokers

FlowBank or Interactive Brokers – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare FlowBank and Interactive Brokers in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

FlowBank vs Interactive Brokers Comparison Table 2025
FlowBank Interactive Brokers
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4
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4.3
FlowBank is ranked #91 among CFD brokers. Interactive Brokers is ranked #36 among CFD brokers.
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FlowBank has closed or no longer accepts UK clients.
FlowBank is a regulated bank and trading broker with a wide range of instruments including forex, funds, cryptos and thousands of stocks, that offers direct and high-leverage CFD trading on the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms. Traders benefit from ultra-tight spreads, low or no commissions and a free stock joining bonus. 		Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
Pros
  • Registered bank with regulatory oversight from FINMA
  • Demo account with a quick sign-up process
  • MT4 integration for desktop, web and mobile
  • No minimum deposit for traders on a budget
  • Full range of investments with 4500+ assets including crypto derivatives
  • Wide range of account base currencies catering to global traders
  • IBKR is one of the most respected and trusted brokerages and is regulated by top-tier authorities, so you can have confidence in the integrity and security of your trading account.
  • The TWS platform has clearly been built for intermediate and advanced traders and comes with over 100 order types and a reliable real-time market data feed that rarely goes offline.
  • The new IBKR Desktop platform takes the best of TWS while adding bespoke tools like Option Lattice and Screeners with MultiSort to create a genuinely impressive trading experience for traders at every level.
  • There's a vast library of free or paid third-party research subscriptions catering to all types of traders, plus you can enjoy commission reimbursements from IBKR if you subscribe to Toggle AI.
  • IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.
  • While primarily geared towards experienced traders, IBKR has made moves to broaden its appeal in recent years, reducing its minimum deposit from $10,000 to $0.
  • With low commissions, tight spreads and a transparent fee structure, IBKR delivers a cost-effective environment for short-term traders.
Cons
  • Limited deposit options apart from wire transfer and bank cards
  • No copy trading service for aspiring traders
  • TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.
  • IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
  • Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
  • You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
FCA Regulated
No Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Stocks, ETFs, Funds, Commodities, Cryptos Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots $100
Regulator
FINMA FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App

The FlowBank trading app offers advanced technical and fundamental analysis features, over 50 forex pairs, plus instant and pending orders. Traders can download the app to Apple and Android devices.

The IBKR Mobile app, available on both iOS and Android devices, makes your phone a powerful gateway to your IBKR accounts, offering you the freedom to keep an eye on portfolios, initiate trades, and dive into real-time quotes and charts, all while managing your account activities on the fly. This app stands out for its intuitive design, making it especially welcoming for those just starting their trading journey, providing a smoother and more accessible experience than the more complex TWS platform.
iOS App Rating
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4.3
Android App Rating
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4.5
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
1.55 - 2.59%
MetaTrader 4
Yes No
MetaTrader 5
Yes No
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
No Yes
OmniTrader
No Yes
TradingView
No No
Autochartist
No No
eSignal
No Yes
Trading Central
No Yes
STP Account
Yes Yes
ECN Account
Yes No
DMA Account
Yes Yes
MAM Account
No Yes
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No Yes
Robo Advisor
No Yes
Negative Balance Protection
No Yes
Market Maker
Yes No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader Capitalise.ai & TWS API
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
Trade Signals
MetaTrader
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
Yes No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No Yes
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0 $0
Islamic Account
No No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • ZAR
  • TRY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
  • PLN
  • CZK
  • AED
  • HUF
  • THB
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • INR
  • JPY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • AED
  • HUF
Commodities
  • Oil
  • Natural Gas
  • Coffee
  • Cocoa
  • Soybeans
  • Sugar
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Zinc
  • Aluminium
  • Natural Gas
  • Soybeans
  • Lead
  • Precious Metals
  • Lean Hogs
CFD
Trade 4500+ CFDs with tight spreads and no commission except stocks. Choose between 4 different trading platforms and apps, including MT4, MT5 and proprietary options. The broker also sometimes offer joining promotions. Over 8,000 CFDs are offered on a vast array of instruments, encompassing stocks, indices, forex, and commodities. Moreover, the TWS platform lends itself to seasoned traders, offering a comprehensive selection of over 100 order types and algorithms, alongside premium market data sourced from reputable sources such as Reuters and Dow Jones.
Leverage
1:200 1:50
FTSE Spread
1.0 0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread<
0.7 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Oil Spread
0.03 0.25-0.85
Stocks Spread
0.02¢ commission 0.003
Forex
Trade 50+ major, minor and exotic pairs with spreads form 0.5 pips, no commissions and leverage up to 1:200. Importantly, the heavily regulated broker also provides a relatively secure forex trading environment. IBKR presents an extensive range of over 100 major, minor, and exotic forex pairs, surpassing the offerings of nearly all leading alternatives, though not CMC Markets. Forex trading occurs over multiple platforms and boasts institutional-grade spreads starting from 0.1 pips and 20 complex order types, including brackets, scale, and one-cancels-all (OCA) orders.
Assets
50+ 100+
GBPUSD Spread
From 0.0 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURUSD Spread
From 0.0 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURGBP Spread
From 0.0 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Cryptocurrency
Speculate on crypto markets via 10 crypto/USD pairs as well as ETPs, ETNs, ETF, tracker certificates and closed-end funds. This range of derivatives offer diversified exposure to digital markets that aren't found at many alternatives. IBKR lets you purchase and hold Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin at competitive commission rates and without needing a crypto wallet. Additionally, there is a range of other diverse assets to explore, such as crypto indices like the NYSE Bitcoin Index, as well as futures contracts like the BAKKT Bitcoin Futures.
Spread
From 0.3 0.12%-0.18%
Coins
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • BCH
  • LTC
  • EOS
  • XLM
  • NEO
  • DOGE
  • UNI
  • LINK
  • BTC
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • XRP
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
FlowBank Interactive Brokers
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