Which broker is better for North Macedonia traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For retail traders in North Macedonia, choosing between EasyMarkets (overall score 3.4/5) and Interactive Brokers (overall score 3.3/5) depends on your trading style and experience. EasyMarkets is a user-friendly broker with fixed spreads, no hidden fees, and support for local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. Interactive Brokers, on the other hand, is a global powerhouse offering advanced trading platforms, low variable spreads, and access to multiple asset classes. Both brokers accept clients from North Macedonia and operate under international regulation, though not directly supervised by the local financial regulator. This comparison will help you decide which broker suits your needs—whether you are a beginner looking for simplicity or an experienced trader seeking cost efficiency. We evaluate trading costs, platforms, regulation, deposit options, and support specifically for traders in North Macedonia.
| Instrument | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Interactive Brokers |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Interactive Brokers |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Interactive Brokers |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Interactive Brokers |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $25 | $0 | Interactive Brokers |
When comparing trading costs for North Macedonia traders, EasyMarkets offers fixed spreads starting from 1.0 pips on major forex pairs, with no commission on standard accounts. This is ideal for traders who prefer predictable costs, especially with smaller volumes. Interactive Brokers provides variable spreads that can be as low as 0.1 pips but charges a commission per trade (e.g., $2 per lot). For high-volume traders in North Macedonia, Interactive Brokers’ lower spreads can significantly reduce costs, while EasyMarkets’ fixed spreads suit those who trade infrequently or with smaller capital. Always consider your average trade size and frequency when evaluating costs.
| Account Type | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $25 | $0 |
| Entity / Asset | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| North Macedonia (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:100 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:100 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Asset Class | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | EasyMarkets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | EasyMarkets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | EasyMarkets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | 1,700+ | Interactive Brokers |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Platform | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✗ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✓ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
EasyMarkets provides its proprietary web-based platform and mobile app, which are intuitive and beginner-friendly, with features like deal cancellation and guaranteed stop loss. Interactive Brokers offers the advanced Trader Workstation (TWS) and IBKR Mobile, packed with professional tools, charting, and algorithmic trading capabilities. For North Macedonia traders, EasyMarkets’ simplicity is better for those new to forex, while Interactive Brokers caters to experienced traders needing deep analysis and automation. Both platforms are available in English and support local internet connections.
| Factor | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Interactive Brokers |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | EasyMarkets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
EasyMarkets provides instant execution with no requotes and guaranteed stop loss, which is ideal for retail traders in North Macedonia who want certainty. Interactive Brokers uses market execution with low latency, suitable for high-frequency traders. EasyMarkets’ execution is more beginner-friendly, while Interactive Brokers offers faster fills for experienced traders. Both brokers maintain reliable order processing for North Macedonia internet connections.
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
EasyMarkets is regulated by CySEC (Cyprus) and ASIC (Australia), while Interactive Brokers holds licenses from the FCA (UK), SEC (US), and other top-tier regulators. Neither broker is directly regulated by the local financial regulator in North Macedonia. This means North Macedonia traders benefit from international regulatory standards, including client fund segregation and negative balance protection, but lack local oversight. EasyMarkets’ simpler structure may appeal to risk-averse beginners, while Interactive Brokers’ multi-jurisdictional regulation offers broader investor protection for advanced traders.
| Payment Method | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✗ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✗ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | Cards 1-2 business days; e-wallets instant-1 business day; bank wire 3-10 business days; overall back-office processing within 1 business day (24h) | 1 to 4 business days |
For North Macedonia traders, both EasyMarkets and Interactive Brokers support convenient deposit methods including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. EasyMarkets also accepts credit/debit cards and local bank transfers, with minimum deposits starting at $100. Interactive Brokers requires a higher minimum deposit (typically $1,000 for margin accounts) but offers the same e-wallet and crypto options. USDT TRC20 is especially useful for fast, low-cost transfers. Withdrawals are processed within 1-3 business days for both brokers, though Interactive Brokers may charge fees for certain methods. Always check current processing times and fees on each broker’s website.
| Islamic Account Feature | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✗ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both EasyMarkets and Interactive Brokers offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Muslim traders in North Macedonia who wish to trade without earning or paying interest overnight. EasyMarkets provides dedicated Islamic accounts with no swap fees on all instruments, while Interactive Brokers offers swap-free accounts upon request, with conditions varying by asset class. North Macedonia traders should confirm eligibility and any administrative fees before opening an Islamic account. These accounts comply with Sharia law and are available to residents of North Macedonia.
| Support Feature | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | EasyMarkets |
EasyMarkets offers 24/5 multilingual customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with quick response times for North Macedonia traders. Interactive Brokers provides 24/5 support through phone and email, but response times can be slower for retail clients. EasyMarkets’ support is more accessible for beginners, while Interactive Brokers’ knowledge base is extensive. Both brokers offer support in English, but EasyMarkets may have limited local language assistance.
| Mobile Feature | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✓ | Interactive Brokers |
| Resource | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | EasyMarkets |
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
Choose Interactive Brokers if you...
For retail traders in North Macedonia, the choice between EasyMarkets and Interactive Brokers ultimately depends on your trading experience and goals. EasyMarkets (score 3.4/5) is the better option for beginners seeking simplicity, fixed costs, and local payment support including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. Interactive Brokers (score 3.3/5) suits advanced traders who need low spreads, professional tools, and multi-asset access. While neither broker is regulated by the local financial regulator, both offer strong international oversight. Consider your trading volume, platform needs, and deposit preferences before deciding. For most North Macedonia retail traders, EasyMarkets offers a more accessible starting point.