Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
iFOREX vs Smartbroker
Where iFOREX and Smartbroker differ
| Compare |  iFOREX |  Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds, Metals |
| Regulators | CySEC, BVI FSC | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) |
| Platforms | IFOREX App | Web, App |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $15 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 80% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No broker deposit fee; $20 EEA wire withdrawal fee may apply | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:30 EU, 1:400 offshore | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.25% |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Smartbroker scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only iFOREX offers CySEC, BVI FSC.
- Regulators: only Smartbroker offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- iFOREX is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only iFOREX offers Forex, CFDs.
- Markets: only Smartbroker offers Bonds, Funds, Metals.
- Platforms: only iFOREX offers IFOREX App.
- Platforms: only Smartbroker offers Web, App.
- Support channels: only Smartbroker offers Email, Phone.
- Features: only iFOREX offers Demo account.
Our verdict on each
iFOREX
iFOREX suits European traders who want forex, CFDs, crypto, shares and ETFs in a single commission-free account, and who put regulation and predictable costs above a small opening deposit. The EU entity sits under CySEC, with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 for accounts taken there.
Smartbroker
Smartbroker runs a European brokerage with a €0 account fee and a €0 minimum deposit, which puts it at 1 on the site for deposit levels. It suits investors who want stocks, ETFs, funds and crypto in one account and would rather not pay a monthly charge.
Score breakdown
| Area | iFOREX | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Opening deposit of $100 and inactivity charge of $15 sit above the site medians of €4.64 and €0. | 9.5Higher |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.2HigherLow-fees model across stocks, etfs and crypto, supervised by BaFin and Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and reachable on email, phone and help centre. |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.5 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | iFOREX | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 141 of 471 | 60 of 471 |
Licences and countries
| Country | iFOREX | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | CySEC 143/11 | Not confirmed |
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 391200N0BYCZF2F43264 |
| Virgin Islands, British | Not confirmed |
Feature by feature
| Markets | iFOREX | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Where these facts come from
iFOREX
- iforex.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- play.google.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- myfxbook.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingfinder.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- custommapposter.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Smartbroker
- smartbrokerplus.de: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | iFOREX | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile appCovers more | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Legal entity | iCFD Limited | Smartbroker AG |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Germany |
| Founded | 1996 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | iFOREX | Smartbroker | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $15above the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 80%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.25%below the median | 3% |
Median across 91 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
iFOREX
Pros
- Stock trade fee of $0, ranking 1 of 161 brands on that cost.
- Regulated by CySEC and BVI FSC, with iCFD Limited as the named EU entity.
- EU investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 for accounts taken in the EU.
Cons
- Minimum deposit of $100 ranks 148 of 213, so the entry point is high.
- Support runs on help centre only.
- Inactivity fee of $15 ranks 42 of 56.
Smartbroker
Pros
- Account fee of €0, matching the $0 account fee at eToro and sitting at 1 among 138 brands on account fee.
- Nothing to pay to open, with a minimum deposit of €0 against a site median of €4.64.
- One account covers stocks, etfs and crypto.
Cons
- Protection is limited to what the scheme pays, listed as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so larger balances rely on your own holdings.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre only, with no live chat listed.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and crypto, with no forex, options or futures listed.
Who each suits
iFOREX
Who it suits
- Traders who want stocks, etfs and forex in a single account and can fund $100, while Vantage opens at $5.
- EU clients who prefer CySEC oversight and EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 to the route run by the BVI FSC.
- Savers happy to work from iFOREX App and practise on a demo account first.
Who should look elsewhere
- Small starters: CFI opens at $0 and Vantage at $5, both below iFOREX's $100.
- Broader market seekers: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, adding futures to iFOREX's stocks, etfs and forex.
- Traders who want phone or chat support, since support runs on help centre only.
Smartbroker
Who it suits
- European investors who want a German-regulated account holding stocks, etfs and crypto under one roof.
- Anyone with spare cash to park while they decide, with 2.25% on the daily deposit account.
- People who trade away from a desk, since access runs through Web and App.
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage, if you would rather start against a published floor of $5 than an open entry of €0.
- eToro, if your trading runs past the stocks, etfs and crypto list here and you want to weigh its range against Smartbroker's.
- Anyone holding a large cash balance, since protection is listed as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Country by country
| Country | iFOREX | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
Questions about each
iFOREX
What does it cost to trade a stock?+
The stock trade fee is $0. iFOREX runs a commission free pricing model, so there is no per-trade commission layered on top, and the account covers stocks, etfs and forex. The cost side of the ledger is the deposit and any inactivity charge, not the trade itself.
How much do I need to deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That puts iFOREX towards the dearer end of the field: it ranks 148 of 213 brands on minimum deposit. CFI opens at $0 and Vantage at $5, so a lighter entry is available elsewhere.
Smartbroker
What does Smartbroker charge to hold an account?+
The account fee is €0, so there is no monthly charge for keeping the account open. Entry is also open, with a minimum deposit of €0. Trading costs still apply on individual orders, and the pricing page is where per-trade charges are set out.
Is my money protected at Smartbroker?+
Smartbroker is regulated by BaFin and Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), and the listed investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000. The German regulator supervises the firm, while the compensation scheme pays out on eligible balances up to the stated limit.