Betterment
Interactive Investor
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Overview
Betterment was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while Interactive Investor was established in 1995 and is based in UK. Betterment holds licences including Unregulated, while Interactive Investor is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Betterment serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Interactive Investor has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Betterment and $1 at Interactive Investor.
| Feature | Betterment | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Regulation | Unregulated | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Founded | 2008 | 1995 |
| Country | USA | UK |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Betterment and Interactive Investor, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Betterment has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $1 at Interactive Investor). Betterment charges withdrawal fees while Interactive Investor does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Interactive Investor applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Betterment does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | Betterment | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Betterment offers MT5, cTrader, while Interactive Investor supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. Interactive Investor edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Betterment | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Mac,iPhone,iPad,WEB,Desktop | Web Trader, ProTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Betterment and Interactive Investor compare. Betterment runs regular live webinars; Interactive Investor does not. Both provide video tutorials. Betterment publishes daily market commentary; Interactive Investor does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Betterment maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Betterment scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Betterment | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Betterment accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Interactive Investor supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Betterment | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Betterment and Interactive Investor offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Betterment | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |