Freedom24 vs IQ Broker (2026)
We compared Freedom24 and IQ Broker on 5 scored categories and more than 40 data points: costs, regulation, platforms, markets, account opening and the countries each broker accepts. Freedom24 wins, but IQ Broker is ahead in trading costs, platforms & tools and ease of use.
By Broksal Team, investing in forex and CFD markets since 2017. Updated . How we test
Advertiser disclosure
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Commissions do not affect our rankings. The order reflects the editorial opinion of our authors, and the facts we publish about regulation, fees and country availability come from the brokers' own documents and independent sources.
Our verdict
Freedom24 wins on overall score
Freedom24 takes this comparison with an overall score of 4.3 against 4.1. It is ahead on regulation & safety and range of markets. IQ Broker wins on trading costs, platforms & tools and ease of use. IQ Broker wins more categories, but the margins decide: Freedom24 leads regulation & safety by 0.9 points (4.5 vs 3.6), and that category carries 30% of the overall score. 25 countries can open an account with both.
Freedom24 does not offer CFDs, so this is really a choice between leveraged trading and investing in real assets.
Winner in each category
Safety & regulation
Freedom24
Freedom24 scores 4.5 vs 3.6 for safety.
Cheaper EUR/USD trade
Tie
Freedom24 does not offer forex. IQ Broker publishes only a minimum spread (from 0.8 pips).
Platforms & tools
IQ Broker
IQ Broker scores 4.6 vs 4.2.
Range of markets
Freedom24
Freedom24 scores 4.6 vs 4.0.
Ease of use
IQ Broker
IQ Broker scores 4.9 vs 4.3.
Lower minimum deposit
Freedom24
Freedom24: €0. IQ Broker: $10.
Available in more countries
IQ Broker
Freedom24 accepts 31 countries, IQ Broker 163.
Scorecard
Each category is scored out of 5; the overall score weights them by importance (methodology).
Freedom24IQ BrokerFees and trading costs
Published fees, checked 6 October 2026. Sources: EU Personal Finance – Freedom24 review; BrokerAnalysis – IQ Broker fees. A tick marks the better value.
| Feature | Freedom24 | IQ Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Account compared | Smart plan (stocks & ETFs) | Standard |
| EUR/USD spread | Not offeredno forex or CFDs | from 0.8 pipsminimum only; average not published |
| Commission | — | None (in the spread) |
| Cost of 1 lot EUR/USDRound turn, spread + commission | — | — |
| Cost of 0.1 lot EUR/USD | — | — |
| Stock commission | €0.02 per share, minimum €2 per order (Smart plan) | — |
| Minimum deposit | €0✓ | $10 |
| Withdrawal | €7 | First withdrawal each month free; bank wires carry a fee |
| Inactivity fee | None✓ | €10/month after 90 days without logging in |
| Currency conversion | See fee plan | Not separately published |
Freedom24 fees in brief
Freedom24 charges commissions according to the chosen fee plan, made of a percentage of trade value plus a fixed fee per order. Check the current plan table before choosing, because plans change.
IQ Broker fees in brief
CFD costs are built into the spread, with overnight funding on leveraged positions. An inactivity fee is charged after a period without trading.
Safety and regulation
Who regulates each broker and how its company is run. The safety score carries 30% of the overall score.
| Feature | Freedom24 | IQ Broker |
|---|---|---|
| FoundedLonger track record wins | 2008✓ | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Publicly listedListed companies publish audited results | Parent Freedom Holding Corp. on Nasdaq (FRHC)✓ | Private |
| Regulators | CySEC (licence 275/15) | CySEC (licence 247/14) |
| Regulated entities | 1 | 2 |
| Offshore entity for some countriesOffshore clients get weaker protection | No✓ | Yes |
| Retail CFD accounts losing moneyLowest figure the broker publishes; shown for transparency, not scored | No CFDs | Not published |
Freedom24: regulated entities
- Freedom Finance Europe LtdCySEC (licence 275/15)
Freedom Finance Europe Ltd is regulated by CySEC and belongs to Freedom Holding Corp., which is listed on Nasdaq. Eligible clients are covered by the Cyprus Investor Compensation Fund.
IQ Broker: regulated entities
- IQ Option Europe LtdCySEC (licence 247/14)
- IQ Broker international entityOffshore entity
EEA clients trade with IQ Option Europe Ltd under CySEC supervision, with ESMA leverage limits and negative balance protection. Outside the EEA, clients are served by an offshore entity, so protection is weaker.
Platforms and apps
What you trade on. Click a screenshot to enlarge it.
| Feature | Freedom24 | IQ Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Freedom24 web platform, Freedom24 mobile app | IQ Broker web platform, Desktop app, Mobile app |
| MetaTrader 4 | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 | No | No |
| cTrader | No | No |
| TradingView | No | No |
| Own platform | Yes | Yes |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Platform score | 4.2 | 4.6✓ |
| Ease of use score | 4.3 | 4.9✓ |
Freedom24 in pictures
Freedom24 uses its own web and mobile platform with an IPO section, options chains and a watchlist-based layout. It is built for investing rather than short-term leveraged trading.
IQ Broker in pictures
IQ Broker's own platform is the main reason to choose it: clear charts, multi-chart layouts and quick order entry that a beginner can learn in minutes. It lacks MetaTrader, automated trading and in-depth research.
Markets you can trade
“Real asset” means you own the shares, ETFs or coins, or trade exchange-listed options and futures. “CFD” means you only trade the price.
| Feature | Freedom24 | IQ Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Forex | No | CFD✓ |
| Stock indices | No | CFD✓ |
| Commodities | No | CFD✓ |
| Stocks | Real asset | CFD |
| ETFs | Real asset | CFD |
| Crypto | No | CFD✓ |
| Options | Real asset✓ | No |
| Futures | Real asset✓ | No |
| Bonds | Real asset✓ | No |
| Asset classes | 5 of 9 | 6 of 9✓ |
| CFDs offered | No | Yes |
Freedom24 lists: Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, IPO access.
IQ Broker lists: Forex CFDs, Stock CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Commodity CFDs, Index & ETF CFDs.
Opening an account, funding and support
How the first steps compare.
| Feature | Freedom24 | IQ Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Opening an account | Online for residents of the EEA and Switzerland, with ID and proof of address. There is no minimum deposit. | Quick sign-up with email. You must verify your identity before your first withdrawal. The minimum deposit is $10 and the demo account is reloadable. |
| Deposits & withdrawals | Bank transfer and other methods depending on your country. Withdrawals cost €7. | Cards, e-wallets and bank transfer depending on your region. Reports say the first withdrawal each month is free and bank wires carry a fee. |
| Customer support | Personal account managers and local offices in around 10 European countries, including Greece, Poland, Germany and Spain. | In-app chat and email. |
Where each broker accepts clients
The best broker is one that will open an account for you. Counts are based on each broker's published country lists.
| Feature | Freedom24 | IQ Broker |
|---|---|---|
| EU & EEA | 30 of 30✓ | 25 of 30 |
| United Kingdom | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
| Gulf & Middle East | 0 of 14 | 13 of 14✓ |
| Rest of Europe | 1 of 15 | 9 of 15✓ |
| Africa | 0 of 49 | 42 of 49✓ |
| Asia | 0 of 39 | 30 of 39✓ |
| Americas | 0 of 35 | 31 of 35✓ |
| Oceania | 0 of 14 | 13 of 14✓ |
| All countries | 31 of 197 | 163 of 197✓ |
Only Freedom24 (6)
🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇨🇭 Switzerland
Only IQ Broker (138)
🇩🇿 Algeria, 🇦🇩 Andorra, 🇦🇴 Angola, 🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇦🇲 Armenia, 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan, 🇧🇸 Bahamas, 🇧🇭 Bahrain, 🇧🇩 Bangladesh, 🇧🇧 Barbados, 🇧🇿 Belize, 🇧🇯 Benin, 🇧🇹 Bhutan, 🇧🇴 Bolivia, 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina, 🇧🇼 Botswana, 🇧🇷 Brazil and 120 more
Both available in 25 countries. Find your country's ranking
Pros and cons
Freedom24
Pros
- CySEC regulated, part of a Nasdaq-listed group
- Access to US and European exchanges plus options and IPOs
- Cyprus Investor Compensation Fund cover up to €20,000
- Offices with local-language support in several EU countries
Cons
- Does not offer CFDs or forex trading
- Open only to EEA and Swiss residents
- Fee plans are harder to compare than flat per-trade pricing
IQ Broker
Pros
- $10 minimum deposit and a reloadable demo account
- Very easy proprietary platform on web, desktop and mobile
- CySEC regulated entity for EEA clients
Cons
- No MetaTrader, limited research tools
- Not available in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and several EU countries
- Clients outside the EEA are served by a lightly regulated entity
Which one should you choose?
Choose Freedom24 if…
- Best for: European investors who want real shares, options and IPOs instead of CFDs
- regulation & safety and range of markets matter most to you
- CySEC regulated, part of a Nasdaq-listed group
- Access to US and European exchanges plus options and IPOs
Skip Freedom24 if…
- you want CFDs or forex (not offered)
- you live outside the EEA or Switzerland
- you place many small orders, where minimum commissions add up
Choose IQ Broker if…
- Best for: Beginners who want a very simple app and a small first deposit
- trading costs, platforms & tools and ease of use matter most to you
- $10 minimum deposit and a reloadable demo account
- Very easy proprietary platform on web, desktop and mobile
Skip IQ Broker if…
- you live in the UK, US, Canada, Australia or another excluded country
- you live outside the EEA and would be served by the offshore entity, which has regulator alerts in Malaysia, Singapore and India
- you want MetaTrader or detailed research
Freedom24 vs IQ Broker: questions
Is Freedom24 better than IQ Broker?
Freedom24 wins our comparison with an overall score of 4.3 out of 5 against 4.1 for IQ Broker, and it comes out ahead in 2 of 5 categories (regulation & safety and range of markets). IQ Broker is still the better choice if trading costs, platforms & tools and ease of use matter most to you.
Which is cheaper, Freedom24 or IQ Broker?
Freedom24 and IQ Broker does not publish an average EUR/USD spread or does not offer forex, so the costs cannot be compared on the same trade. Compare the fee summaries above instead.
Is Freedom24 or IQ Broker safer?
Freedom24 scores 4.5 and IQ Broker 3.6 for regulation and safety. Freedom24 is regulated by CySEC (licence 275/15); IQ Broker by CySEC (licence 247/14). Freedom24 is publicly listed.
Which has the lower minimum deposit?
Freedom24: €0. IQ Broker: $10.
Can I open accounts with both Freedom24 and IQ Broker?
Residents of 25 countries can open an account with both. 6 countries are served only by Freedom24 and 138 only by IQ Broker. Your country's ranking shows which brokers accept you.
Do Freedom24 and IQ Broker offer MetaTrader?
Freedom24: no (Freedom24 web platform, Freedom24 mobile app). IQ Broker: no (IQ Broker web platform, Desktop app, Mobile app).
More comparisons
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Each broker publishes its own current loss percentage on its website.