FBS vs Interactive Brokers - Fees Review included
Which broker is better FBS or Interactive Brokers? Our expert assessment conducted according to TU’s own methodology showed that FBS is one of the top brokers in the financial market with the TU Overall Score of 7.33 out of 10. Interactive Brokers is one of the top brokers in the financial market with the TU Overall Score of 7.45 out of 10. Find out more about TU Overall Score.
| Feature | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Overall |
4.3 |
4.9 |
4.6 |
5 |
|
3.9 |
4.9 |
|
4.1 |
5 |
|
Investment Instruments |
4.7 |
4.2 |
Platforms and Charting Tools |
4.5 |
5 |
Deposit and Withdrawal |
4.2 |
4.1 |
Research |
3.9 |
4.7 |
Education |
4.2 |
4.5 |
Support |
3.9 |
4.2 |
Bonuses |
5 |
3.1 |
|
|
|
FBS vs Interactive Brokers: Pros and Cons
FBS (fbs.com) is an international broker operating in 190 countries. The brokerage company has been on the market for over 10 years, and during this time it has earned about 40 international awards. It is regulated by the CySEC under license number 331/17 and provides flexible conditions for Forex trading. FBS is especially popular in Asian countries such as India, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The biggest international broker
| FBS | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Pros | A large selection of trading instruments | Access to 135 markets in 33 countries |
| Copyt trading platform | 30.000+ trading instruments | |
| $140 no-deposit bonus (not available for EU clients) | Regulated in the US, UK and 8 other countries | |
| Crypto account | Advanced trading platform | |
| Free stocks for registration | ||
| Low fees | ||
| Low margin rates | ||
| Nasdaq Listed company | ||
| 25 supported account currencies | ||
| Overall Cons | Hihg trading fees | long and complex registration procedure |
| Slow exacution speed |
FBS vs Interactive Brokers: Safety and Regulation
| FBS | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
Max. Regulation Level |
Tier-1 |
Tier-1 |
Investor protection |
€20,000 |
$500,000 £85,000 |
FCA UK Regulation |
No |
Yes |
FINRA (U.S) |
No |
Yes |
BaFin (Germany) |
No |
No |
ASIC (Australia) |
No |
Yes |
CFTC (U.S) |
No |
Yes |
MAS |
No |
Yes |
FSCA SA |
No |
No |
BVI FSC |
No |
No |
VFSC |
No |
No |
FSA (Seychelles) |
No |
No |
FBS vs Interactive Brokers: Trading Conditions
| Trading Conditions | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit |
$1 |
$0 |
Trading Platforms |
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, FBS Trader |
IB Trader Workstation, IBKR GlobalTrader, Client Portal |
Max Leverage (Futures) |
401769 |
1-50 |
Supported Markets |
Forex, CFDs on stocks, indices, metals, energies, crypto |
Stocks, Forex, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Stock options, Commodity Futures, Currency futures, Cryptocurrencies, Robo-portfolios, hedge funds |
Trading assets |
200+ |
30000+ |
Trading Accounts |
Standard, Cent, ECN, Micro, Zero Spread, Copy Trade |
Cash account, margin account |
Base Account Currencies |
EUR, USD |
USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CZK, DKK, HKD, HUF, ILS, JPY, MXN, NZD, NOK, PLN, SGD, SEK, CHF, CNH |
FBS vs Interactive Brokers: Fees
| FBS | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
Standard acc. spread EUR/USD, min pips |
0,7 |
0,2 |
Standard acc. spread EUR/USD, max pips |
1,3 |
0,8 |
ECN Commission |
2 |
|
ECN Spread EUR/USD |
0,2 |
|
Deposit fee, % |
No |
No |
Withdrawal fee, % |
No |
Yes |
Withdrawal fee, USD |
No |
Yes |
Inactivity fee, $ |
No |
No |
A conversion fee may be applied as withdrawals and deposits are conducted in USD. Any other currency will have to be converted.
FBS vs Interactive Brokers: Trading Assets
| Asset Name | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Overall |
200+ |
30000+ |
Forex |
Yes |
Yes |
Stocks |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Metals |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Cryptocurrencies |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Energy |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Indices |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
ETFs |
No |
Yes |
Bonds |
No |
Yes |
Mutual funds |
No |
Yes |
Stock options |
No |
Yes |
Futures Trading |
No |
Yes |
Binary Options |
No |
No |
FBS or Interactive Brokers: Investment Programs
| Asset Name | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Copy Trading |
Yes |
No |
MAM/PAMM |
Yes |
No |
Managed Accounts |
No |
No |
Other |
No |
Robo-portfolios, hedge funds, Bonds |
Trading Platforms: Interactive Brokers or FBS
| FBS | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
MT4 |
Yes |
No |
MT5 |
Yes |
No |
cTrader |
No |
No |
Appropriate platform |
FBSTrader |
IB Trader Workstation, IBKR GlobalTrader, Client Portal |
Others |
No |
No |
|
|
|
FBS vs Interactive Brokers: Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
| FBS | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
Bank Wire |
Yes |
Yes |
Bank Card |
Yes |
Yes |
Neteller |
Yes |
Yes |
BTC |
No |
No |
Wise |
No |
No |
Payoneer |
No |
No |
USDT |
No |
No |
FBS vs Interactive Brokers: Research
| Research Type | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
News Feed |
Yes |
Yes |
Fundamental Data |
Yes |
Yes |
Chart Analysis |
Yes |
Yes |
Trading Ideas |
Yes |
No |
E-Mail Reports |
Yes |
Yes |
FBS vs Interactive Brokers: Education
| Education Type | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Demo-account/Paper Trading |
Yes |
Yes |
Webinars |
Yes |
Yes |
Articles |
Yes |
Yes |
Videos |
Yes |
Yes |
Cent account |
Yes |
No |
Interactive Brokers vs FBS: Support
| Support Features | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Working Days |
24/5 |
24/5 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Phone |
Yes |
Yes |
Online chat |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
FB Messenger |
Community forum, Software bug reports |
FBS vs Interactive Brokers: Forex Bonuses and Promo
| Promo | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Forex Bonus |
$140 no deposit bonus, up to 100% deposit bonus (Bonuses are not available for EU and UK clients) |
No |
Affiliate Program |
As Referrer you can earn up to USD 1000 of IBKR stock. The Refer a Friend program allows eligible IBKR clients to refer people to IBKR for a flat fee payment. Residents of Japan, Spain and Israel are not eligible to participate in the program. |
|
Other Promos |
By activating the option in the personal account, a trader can receive a cashback of up to $15 per lot |
|
|
|
|
Top 5 Reviews on Interactive Brokers
-
Comment
What stands out for me with Interactive Brokers is their mobile app. I use the IBKR Mobile app a lot when I’m not at my desk, and it offers pretty much the same experience as the desktop version. The ability to trade everything from stocks to options while on the go is a huge plus. It also has features for international trading, which makes it easy for me to handle trades across multiple markets. The app’s interface is straightforward and user-friendly, allowing me to monitor my portfolio, execute trades, and even access research tools seamlessly. While it might lack some advanced charting features, it’s still one of the most versatile apps I’ve used, especially for global traders like me
-
Comment
I am a client of interactivebrokers and I have never faced any problems during the whole time. I am completely satisfied with the service: the staff is always friendly, responsive and ready to help, which really leaves a good impression. Special thanks to the operators - their attentive attitude to people creates a feeling of care and support. It is a pleasure to work with a company that values its customers and does everything for comfortable service!
-
Comment
As far as my experience is concerned with Interactive Brokers, the thing I love most is the sheer variety of markets available. The GlobalTrader app lets me trade in over 90 different markets, which is super convenient for someone like me who likes to diversify. The interface might feel overwhelming at first, especially on Trader Workstation, but once you get the hang of it, it’s extremely powerful. I also appreciate the competitive pricing and order options that help keep my trading costs low.
-
Comment
Interactive brokers offer a huge variety of trading instruments, which is certainly pleasing. The opportunities for trading and diversification here are excellent. However, there is one minus - the website interface is only partially translated into other languages, and it is a bit disappointing. It would be more convenient if the whole platform was available in different languages, especially for traders who do not speak English.
-
Comment
Interactive Brokers provides access to 135 markets from 33 countries, which is a huge advantage. This allows traders to easily diversify their portfolios and find opportunities around the world. I am very pleased with this broad coverage and the ability to trade in a multitude of international markets.
Top 5 Reviews on FBS
-
Comment
Broker FBS provides access to trading on more than 150 markets, including forex, indices, metals, and futures contracts. The minimum deposit is $5, making FBS accessible for beginner traders. Leverage goes up to 1:3000, and the minimum spread on major currency pairs starts from 0.7 pips. Trading platforms available include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and FBS Trader, with a minimum trade size of 0.01 lots.
-
Comment
I've been working with FBS for over six months. Withdrawals to a card usually take up to 48 hours, and fees depend on the chosen method. On the Pro account, spreads start from 0.5 pips but can widen during news releases. The company is regulated by the IFSC — not the strictest regulator, but it's something.
-
Comment
I occasionally use copy trading from FBS. It’s convenient that you can start with just $1. However, when choosing a trader, it’s important to carefully analyze their statistics — not all of them trade consistently. On the plus side, there’s automation; on the downside, the search filters are limited.
-
Comment
I started working with FBS because of the wide variety of account types. The conditions vary: for example, the Cent account requires just a $1 minimum deposit, while the ECN account starts at $1000. Each account suits a different trading strategy. The key is to carefully review the spreads and commissions before opening an account.
-
Comment
I did not get the answer I was seeking or I might have read a different thing online, I really can’t say because when I contacted the FBS support team. After trying the live chat option to no avail, I decided to try the Telegram channel. Initially, it was supposed to be a bot but I got a message that an agent would join. When I asked for the accounts available and features and the ideal one for Forex I got a long message which I did not understand (I was expecting a list of accounts and their features). Later the agent said they only offer standard accounts.
FAQs
What should I start Forex trading with?
It is desirable for novice traders to explore trading using a demo account to learn the market and how to work on the trading platform without the risk of suffering losses. At the same time, it is advisable to review the educational materials of the broker, learn trading basics. Then you can deposit the minimum required amount to perform a small number of transactions. If you manage to close several months in a row in the black, without substantial drawdowns on the account, then you can try increasing your deposit. Also trying to copy trades automatically is a good option for a start.
What amount should I start trading with?
The minimum deposit of $10 may be enough to trade on the cent account. However, for trading on Standard/ECT accounts, experts recommend starting with at least $200-500. With this amount, you can use not a very big leverage. Remember, getting carried away with the margin is the main cause of losses among beginners.
What should I take into consideration when choosing a broker?
Experts recommend looking at the broker’s reliability first and foremost. The other important features include basic trading conditions, commissions and fees, customer reviews. If brokers are approximately the same in terms of basic criteria, you need to choose based on your experience and tasks. One broker may be good for professionals and another – for novice traders.
Is it possible to be scammed by a broker with a license from a reputable regulator?
In theory, yes. But in practice, it takes so much time and money to comply with the requirements of reputable regulators that it is not worth it for scammers to bother obtaining a legitimate license.
Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.