Which broker is better for Norway traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Norway traders comparing EasyMarkets vs Interactive Brokers face distinct choices. EasyMarkets, rated 3.4/5, targets retail traders with fixed spreads and a user-friendly web platform. Interactive Brokers, rated 3.3/5, caters to professionals with advanced tools and lower variable costs. In Norway, local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 are crucial—EasyMarkets supports all, while Interactive Brokers only accepts bank transfers. The local financial regulator does not directly oversee either broker, so traders must rely on offshore regulation. For retail Norwegians seeking simplicity and accessible deposits, EasyMarkets wins; for volume traders needing deep liquidity, Interactive Brokers is better. This comparison covers spreads, platforms, regulation, and local payment options to help you decide.
| 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 |
For Norway traders, trading costs differ significantly. EasyMarkets offers fixed spreads averaging 1.5 pips on EUR/USD, suitable for small lots but expensive for scalpers. Interactive Brokers provides variable spreads as low as 0.1 pips for high-volume traders, but charges commissions per trade. A Norway trader executing 10 standard lots monthly will pay about $150 in spreads with EasyMarkets vs $50 with Interactive Brokers (including commissions). Retail traders with lower volume may prefer EasyMarkets’ predictable costs, while active traders benefit from Interactive Brokers’ lower per-trade expenses.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Norway (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 a proprietary web-based platform with one-click trading and risk management tools like dealCancellation, ideal for Norway retail traders seeking simplicity. Interactive Brokers offers Trader Workstation (TWS) and IBKR Mobile, packed with advanced charting, algorithmic trading, and global market access. Norway traders who need multi-asset exposure (stocks, ETFs, futures) will prefer Interactive Brokers, while those focused on forex and simplicity choose EasyMarkets. Both platforms are available in English, with no Norwegian language support.
| 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 uses market execution with no requotes, but fixed spreads can widen during news events. Interactive Brokers offers direct market access (DMA) with ultra-fast execution and low latency, ideal for Norway scalpers. EasyMarkets’ execution is reliable for retail traders, while Interactive Brokers excels for high-frequency strategies.
| 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), offering client fund segregation and negative balance protection. Interactive Brokers is regulated by the SEC, CFTC, and FCA, providing top-tier oversight but no specific Norwegian license. The local financial regulator in Norway does not directly oversee either broker, so Norway traders must rely on these offshore protections. Interactive Brokers’ regulation is more robust for large accounts, while EasyMarkets’ CySEC license ensures basic safety for retail clients.
| 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 |
Norway traders can deposit at EasyMarkets via Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20—all popular locally. Minimum deposit is $100, and e-wallet withdrawals are processed within 24 hours. Interactive Brokers only accepts Bank Transfer for deposits/withdrawals, with a minimum of $0 but slower processing (1-3 business days). For Norway traders preferring instant, low-cost payments, EasyMarkets is far more convenient. USDT TRC20 is a unique option at EasyMarkets, appealing to crypto-savvy users. Interactive Brokers lacks these modern methods, making it less accessible for retail Norwegians.
| 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 Norway Muslim traders. EasyMarkets provides them automatically upon request with no extra fees, covering all forex pairs. Interactive Brokers requires a formal application and may restrict swap-free status to certain instruments like major forex pairs. Norway traders should check each broker’s policy for holding positions overnight. EasyMarkets is more straightforward for Islamic account setup.
| 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 live chat, email, and phone support in English, with response times under 5 minutes. Interactive Brokers provides 24/7 support via phone and ticket system, but wait times can exceed 30 minutes. For Norway traders, EasyMarkets’ quicker support is better for urgent issues. Neither broker offers Norwegian language support.
| 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 Norway traders, EasyMarkets (3.4/5) is the better choice for retail users due to its fixed spreads, local payment methods like Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20, and simpler platform. Interactive Brokers (3.3/5) suits professionals with lower costs and superior regulation, but lacks Norwegian-friendly deposit options. The local financial regulator does not oversee either, so traders must accept offshore oversight. If you value convenience and predictable costs, choose EasyMarkets; for deep liquidity and advanced tools, go with Interactive Brokers.