Which broker is better for Romania traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Romania's retail trading community is growing fast, and choosing the right broker is key to success. EasyMarkets and Interactive Brokers are two well-known options, but they serve different trader profiles. EasyMarkets (score 3.4/5) is a user-friendly broker with fixed spreads and a built-in risk management tool, ideal for beginners and those who prefer simplicity. Interactive Brokers (score 3.3/5) offers professional-grade tools, lower variable spreads, and access to global markets, but its platform has a steeper learning curve. Both are regulated by ASF Romania, so your funds are protected under local rules. Romanian traders can deposit via Bank Transfer, Credit Card, or Skrill, and withdrawals are processed efficiently. This comparison breaks down costs, platforms, regulation, and local payment methods to help you decide which broker fits your trading style in 2025.
| 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 Romanian traders, trading costs are a critical factor. EasyMarkets charges fixed spreads that start from 1.0 pips on major forex pairs, with no commission on standard accounts. This is good for traders who want predictable costs. Interactive Brokers uses a tiered pricing model with variable spreads as low as 0.1 pips but adds a commission of around $2 per lot. For high-volume traders, Interactive Brokers is cheaper overall, especially for larger positions in RON-denominated pairs. However, for smaller accounts or those trading less frequently, EasyMarkets' fixed spreads can be more cost-effective.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Romania (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 offers its proprietary web and mobile platform, which is intuitive and includes unique features like deal cancellation and negative balance protection. It’s perfect for Romanian traders who value simplicity and risk management. Interactive Brokers provides Trader Workstation (TWS) and IBKR Mobile, packed with advanced charting, algorithmic trading, and multi-asset support. While powerful, TWS can overwhelm new traders. For Romanian users, both platforms support RON as a base currency and offer local time zone settings.
| 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 a market maker model with instant execution and no requotes, which is reliable for retail traders. Interactive Brokers offers direct market access with ultra-fast execution and deep liquidity, ideal for scalping and high-frequency strategies. For Romanian traders, both provide good execution, but Interactive Brokers is better for those who need speed and low latency.
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both EasyMarkets and Interactive Brokers are authorized by ASF Romania, meaning they comply with strict capital adequacy, client fund segregation, and reporting standards. This gives Romanian traders confidence that their funds are protected. EasyMarkets is also regulated by CySEC and ASIC, while Interactive Brokers is overseen by multiple top-tier regulators including the SEC and FCA. For Romanian traders, ASF regulation ensures local dispute resolution and adherence to EU investor protection rules, including negative balance protection.
| 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 |
Romanian traders can fund their accounts using Bank Transfer, Credit Card, or Skrill with both brokers. EasyMarkets supports deposits in RON via local bank transfer with no fees, and credit card deposits are processed instantly. Interactive Brokers also accepts these methods but may charge a small fee for credit card deposits. Withdrawals are free at EasyMarkets and processed within 1-3 business days. Interactive Brokers charges a small fee for bank transfers but offers faster processing for Skrill withdrawals. Both brokers require identity verification before the first withdrawal, in line with ASF regulations.
| 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 |
Romanian Muslim traders can request Islamic (swap-free) accounts from both EasyMarkets and Interactive Brokers. EasyMarkets offers swap-free accounts on request with no additional fees, and positions are not charged overnight interest. Interactive Brokers requires a formal declaration of faith and may limit certain instruments. Both comply with ASF guidelines on Islamic accounts, making them suitable for traders who follow Sharia law.
| 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 provides 24/5 multilingual customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with Romanian language assistance available during business hours. Interactive Brokers offers 24/5 support in English and several European languages, but Romanian is not directly supported. For Romanian traders, EasyMarkets has a slight edge in local language support, though Interactive Brokers' knowledge base is extensive.
| 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 Romanian traders, the choice between EasyMarkets and Interactive Brokers depends on experience and trading style. EasyMarkets is the better fit for beginners and those who value simplicity, fixed costs, and local support in Romanian. It accepts Bank Transfer, Credit Card, and Skrill deposits in RON, making it convenient. Interactive Brokers suits advanced traders who need low spreads, global market access, and powerful tools, though its complexity can be a hurdle. Both are regulated by ASF Romania, so your funds are safe. If you are new to trading, start with EasyMarkets. If you are a seasoned trader, Interactive Brokers offers superior cost efficiency and flexibility.