Traders Union has analyzed financial markets for over 14 years, evaluating brokers based on 250+ transparent criteria, including security, regulation, and trading conditions. Our expert team of over 50 professionals regularly updates a Watch List of 500+ brokers to provide users with data-driven insights. While our research is based on objective data, we recommend that users perform independent due diligence and consult official regulatory sources before making any financial decisions.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial policies.
Interactive Brokers Pros & Cons
- extensive and free educational resources through the IBKR Campus;
- access to160markets in 36 countries and territories;
- trading in stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, funds and more from a single unified platform.
- Support service does not work on Saturday;
Interactive Brokers is among the best-known global online brokers. Based in the US, it has been operating since 1977. Interactive Brokers allows clients to trade products from 160 exchanges including stocks, option, currencies, bonds, funds and more from a single unified platform. The company is regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the UK Financial Regulatory Authority (FCA, 208159), and other international financial regulation commissions. Interactive Brokers has earned recognition as a top broker, garnering multiple awards and accolades from respected industry sources such as Barron's, Investopedia, Stockbrokers.com,and many others. Also, the broker is popular in other countries. Here you can read reviews of Interactive Brokers in Canada, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland.
TU Expert Verdict
Interactive Brokers is a reliable and well-established choice. I’ve reviewed its features, tested its services, and found that traders generally report positive results. It offers stable performance, dependable execution, and overall solid quality for everyday trading.
Interactive Brokers User Reviews
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5-star
21%
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4-star
33%
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3-star
45%
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2-star
2%
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1-star
0%
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Commissions and Fees
Score:We evaluate brokers' fees and spreads by assessing the costs associated with Standard and ECN/Raw spread accounts, including commissions and spreads. Additionally, our evaluation considers extra fees such as deposit/withdrawal charges and inactivity fees. Learn the assessment criteria9 /10The trading and non-trading commissions of Interactive Brokers have been analyzed and rated as having Low fees, with a fees score of 9/10. Additionally, these commissions were compared with those of the top two competitors, OANDA and FOREX.com, to provide the most comprehensive information.
- Low Forex trading fees
- Tight EUR/USD market spread
- No inactivity fee
- No deposit fee
- Withdrawal fee applies
Trading Fees and Spread
Below, we evaluated and compared the trading commissions of Interactive Brokers with those of two competitors. We focused on the spreads and other transaction fees directly associated with executing trades (e.g commission per lot on an ECN account). This comparison aimed to provide a clear understanding of the cost efficiency of each broker.
Standard Account Spread
For Standard accounts, Interactive Brokers’s commissions are part of the floating spread, which varies with market conditions. Typical values are provided, but during high volatility, the spread may exceed these.
Interactive Brokers Standard spreads Interactive Brokers OANDA FOREX.com EUR/USD min, pips 0.2 0.1 0.7 EUR/USD max, pips 0.8 0.5 1.2 GPB/USD min, pips 0.5 0.1 0.9 GPB/USD max, pips 1.5 0.5 1.4 RAW/ECN Account Commission And Spread
The spread on ECN/RAW accounts is market-based and fluctuates, with average values given during active hours. It may vary during volatility spikes. A commission per lot is also charged.
Interactive Brokers RAW/ECN spreads Interactive Brokers OANDA FOREX.com Commission ($ per lot) The commission is the fee charged by the broker for trading one standard forex lot (100,000 units of the base currency). 2 3.5 5 EUR/USD avg spread 0.2 0.15 0.2 GBP/USD avg spread 0.3 0.2 0.4 Non-Trading Fees
We conducted a detailed analysis of the non-trading fees associated with Interactive Brokers. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the additional costs that may impact traders beyond regular trading activities.
Interactive Brokers Non-Trading Fees Interactive Brokers OANDA FOREX.com Deposit fee, % The indicated amount does not include possible fees from payment systems and banks. 0 0 0 Withdrawal fee, % The indicated amount does not include possible fees from payment systems and banks. Yes0 0 Withdrawal fee, USD The indicated amount does not include possible fees from payment systems and banks. Yes0-15 0 Inactivity fee ($, per month) 0 0 15 -
Is Interactive Brokers Safe?
Score:We evaluate brokers' safety based on several key criteria. The highest value is placed on regulation, especially Tier 1 regulation, which ensures adherence to stringent standards set by top financial authorities like the FCA in the UK, CFTC in the US, CySEc and BaFin (EU) or ASIC (Australia). High scores are also given for participation in investor protection funds, which safeguard clients' funds in case of broker insolvency. Learn the assessment criteria10 /10Interactive Brokers has a safety score of 10/10, which corresponds to a High security level. The safest brokers are those with Tier-1 regulation, a long history (over 10 years in the market), and participation in investor compensation schemes.
- Tier-1 regulated
- Negative balance protection
- Regulated in the UK
- Track record over 48 years
- Strict requirements and extensive documentation to open an account
Interactive Brokers Regulators and Investor Protection Abbreviation Full Name Country of regulation Investor Protection Fund Regulation Level FCA UK
Full Name Financial Conduct Authority Country of regulation United Kingdom Investor Protection Fund Up to £85,000 Regulation Level Tier-1 ASIC
Full Name Australian Securities and Investments Commission Country of regulation Australia Investor Protection Fund No specific fund but has stringent consumer protection Regulation Level Tier-1 NFA
Full Name National Futures Association Country of regulation United States Investor Protection Fund No specific fund Regulation Level Tier-1 CFTC
Full Name Commodity Futures Trading Commission Country of regulation United States Investor Protection Fund No specific fund Regulation Level Tier-1
DFSA Full Name Dubai Financial Services Authority Country of regulation Dubai Investor Protection Fund No specific fund Regulation Level Tier-2 CIRO
Full Name Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada Country of regulation Canada Investor Protection Fund CAD 1,000,000 Regulation Level Tier-1 MAS
Full Name Monetary Authority of Singapore Country of regulation Singapore Investor Protection Fund No specific fund Regulation Level Tier-1
Sebi Full Name Securities and Exchange Board of India Country of regulation India Investor Protection Fund No specific fund Regulation Level Tier-2 SEC
Full Name Securities and Exchange Commission Country of regulation United States Investor Protection Fund Up to $500,000 for SIPA members Regulation Level Tier-1 FINRA
Full Name Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Country of regulation United States Investor Protection Fund No specific fund Regulation Level Tier-1
CBI (Central Bank of Ireland) Full Name Central Bank of Ireland Country of regulation Ireland Investor Protection Fund Up to €20,000 Regulation Level Tier-1 Interactive Brokers Security Factors Foundation date 1978 Negative balance protection YesVerification (KYC) Yes -
Account Types
Score:We evaluate a broker’s account offering by analyzing the range and suitability of available account types and how effectively they cater to different trader profiles and strategies. Our assessment covers the diversity of account options — including Standard, ECN/Raw, Cent, Swap-Free (Islamic), and VIP accounts — as well as the flexibility of trading conditions provided. Learn the assessment criteria.6.8 /10Interactive Brokers offers the following account options: Demo, Standard, ECN/Raw spread, Managed.
However, it does not provide a Cent account, which can be a disadvantage for beginners looking to practice with minimal risk.
- Demo account
- Low minimum deposit
- Standard account with balanced trading conditions
- No VIP account option
- Micro lots are not available
Interactive Brokers account types vs top competitors Interactive Brokers Plus500 OANDA Standard YesYesYesECN/Raw spread YesNoYesDemo YesYesYesCent NoNoNoMicro NoNoYesSwap Free NoNoYesVIP NoNoNoManaged YesNoNoInteractive Brokers accounts trading conditions
Types of accounts:
Account Type Description INDIVIDUAL Account owned and used by a single person. JOINT Account owned and used by two people. IRA Individual Retirement Account. See IRA Account Information. UGMA/UTMA Account for a Custodian of a minor who is a US resident. In addition, Interactive Brokers offers a Paper Trading account Paper trading lets clients use the full range of trading facilities in a simulated environment using real market conditions. Clients can use this environment to learn trading features such as order types without risk, learn market dynamics in new exchanges and products, and simulate and test trading strategies. When clients use a paper trading account, they have limited access to Client Portal functions. Paper trading accounts are created within 24 hours under normal business circumstances.
All new clients automatically receive a paper trading account with 1,000,000 USD of paper trading Equity with Loan Value, and this equity will fluctuate as if the trades had executed in the real market.
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Deposit and Withdrawal
Score:This section assesses the efficiency, speed, and affordability of brokers’ transaction processes, focusing on available methods, currencies, and fees. For further details, please refer to our data-focused methodology6 /10Interactive Brokers received a Medium score for the efficiency and convenience of its deposit and withdrawal processes.
Interactive Brokers provides a reasonable range of deposit and withdrawal options with moderate fees, in line with industry standards.
- Minimum deposit below industry average
- Low minimum withdrawal requirement
- Wise transfers supported
- No deposit fee
- BTC payments not accepted
- Withdrawal fee applies
- USDT payments not accepted
What are Interactive Brokers deposit and withdrawal options?
Interactive Brokers provides a basic range of deposit and withdrawal options, covering essential methods in line with industry standards. This set of options is sufficient for most traders, with available methods Bank Wire, Wise.
Interactive Brokers Deposit and Withdrawal Methods vs Competitors Interactive Brokers Plus500 OANDA Bank Wire YesYesYesBank card NoYesYesPayPal NoYesYesWise YesNoNoBTC NoNoYesWhat are Interactive Brokers base account currencies?
A wide range of base account currencies minimizes the need for currency conversion, potentially reducing transaction costs. Interactive Brokers supports the following base account currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD, CHF, NZD, CZK, DKK, HKD, HUF, ILS, MXN, NOK, PLN, SGD, SEK, CNH.
What are Interactive Brokers's minimum deposit and withdrawal amounts?
The minimum deposit on Interactive Brokers is $0, while the minimum withdrawal amount is $0. These minimums may vary depending on the chosen account type and payment method. For specific details, please contact Interactive Brokers’s support team.
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Markets and Tradable Assets
Score:The evaluation in this section is based on the TU methodology and reflects the total number and variety of tradable assets offered by the broker, including Forex currency pairs. It also considers the availability of passive income tools such as PAMM accounts, copy trading, and similar services. All information is obtained from publicly available sources and may change. Learn the assessment criteria9 /10Interactive Brokers offers a wider selection of trading assets than the market average, with over 30000 tradable assets available, including 100 currency pairs.
- Crypto trading
- Indices trading
- Passive income with bonds
- Copy trading not available
Supported markets vs top competitors
We have compared the range of assets and markets supported by Interactive Brokers with its competitors, making it easier for you to find the perfect fit.
Interactive Brokers Plus500 OANDA Currency pairs 100 60 68 Total tradable assets The total tradable assets listed include all available instruments, including CFDs. Due to regional restrictions, certain CFDs may not be offered in some countries. For example, cryptocurrency CFDs are banned in the UK, and the U.S. has restrictions on CFDs. 30000 2800 129 Stocks YesYesYesCommodity futures YesYesYesCrypto Cryptocurrency CFDs are restricted or prohibited in certain regions due to regulatory limitations. These include the United Kingdom, China, Egypt, the United States and Canada. YesYesYesStock indices YesYesYesOptions YesYesNoInvestment options
We also explored the trading assets and products Interactive Brokers offers for beginner traders and investors who prefer not to engage in active trading.
Interactive Brokers Plus500 OANDA Bonds YesNoYesETFs YesYesNoCopy trading NoNoYesPAMM investing NoNoNoManaged accounts YesNoNo -
Trading Account Opening
Score:We evaluated Trading Account Opening at Interactive Brokers by testing the registration process under real conditions, including opening an account and funding it with the minimum required deposit (but no less than $100). Our assessment considered whether onboarding was fully online, the average registration time, the speed of KYC verification, and how quickly traders could activate their accounts. Learn the assessment criteria.8 /10We successfully registered an account with Interactive Brokers in 30 minutes. The KYC verification was completed within 3 business days. The minimum deposit amount at Interactive Brokers is $0. This is one of the most accessible and hassle-free onboarding procedures on the market.
- Fully online account opening process
- Low minimum deposit requirement
- Account approval may require extra time depending on the documentation.
- Registration process may take longer than expected
Interactive Brokers account opening Interactive Brokers Plus500 OANDA Online Registration YesYesYesMinimum deposit $0 $100 $0 Mandatory KYC YesYesYesRegistration time (min) 30 10 KYC time (days) 3 3 3 Is Interactive Brokers available in my country?
If you are a citizen of United States, the broker accepts clients from your country.
Please note that availability may vary due to regulatory requirements, so we recommend confirming directly with the broker for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Account opening details
Open a trading account to become a client of the company and start trading with Interactive Brokers. Read more about the registration and functionality in your personal account below.
To get a rebate, register on the Traders Union website, follow the referral link to the broker's page, and click on the "Open an account" button.
Choose the account that fits you.
Complete the application to open an account. Enter your email address, full name, country of residence, and create a password to enter.
The next step is registration confirmation. Find a letter from the broker in your mailbox and click the "Confirm Application" button.
To complete your registration, enter your login and password in the appropriate input.
Now select the structure of the account you wish to open.
Fill out the profile fields, including contact information, personal information, identification, professional experience, source of wealth, account information, and confidential matters.
All fields are mandatory. After you specify all the data requested by the broker, your application shall be sent for consideration. This procedure takes several days, so you won't be able to start trading immediately.
If your application is approved, you’ll get access to your personal account, where the following functions are available:
- Depositing and withdrawing funds..
- All your accounts that you manage..
Additionally, you now have access to:
- training materials;
- quick connection to customer support;
- statistics for the members of the referral program.
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Trading platforms & tools
Score:This section evaluates the quality and variety of trading platforms offered by the broker. It considers supported platforms, core features, device compatibility, and the availability of tools for automation, analysis, and different trading styles. Learn the assessment criteria8 /10Interactive Brokers received a score of 8/10, indicating a strong offering in terms of trading platforms and tools. The broker provides broad access to popular platforms and supports a variety of features designed to enhance both manual and automated trading.
- Trading bots (EAs) allowed
- One-click trading
- API access for automated trading
- Proprietary platform with unique features
- No access to MetaTrader
- No access to Free VPS
- No access to cTrader and its advanced tools.
Supported trading platforms
Interactive Brokers supports the following trading platforms: TradingView, Proprietary platform, WebTrader. This selection covers the basic needs of most retail traders. We also compared Interactive Brokers’s platform availability with that of top competitors to assess its relative market position.
Interactive Brokers Plus500 OANDA MT4 NoNoYesMT5 NoNoYescTrader NoNoNoTradingView YesYesYesProprietary platform YesYesYesNinjaTrader NoNoNoWebTrader YesYesYesKey Interactive Brokers’s trading platform features
We also evaluated whether Interactive Brokers offers essential trading features that enhance user experience, accommodate various trading styles, and improve overall functionality.
Supported features 2FA YesAlerts YesTrading bots (EAs) YesOne-click trading YesScalping YesSupported indicators 219 Tradable assets 30000 Additional trading tools
Interactive Brokers offers several additional features designed to enhance the trading experience. These tools provide greater automation, deliver advanced market insights, and help improve trade execution.
Interactive Brokers trading tools vs competitors Interactive Brokers Plus500 OANDA Trading Central Trading Central is a leading provider of investment research and financial market commentary. Integration with Trading Central offers traders advanced analytics, trading signals, and expert market insights, aiding in more informed decision-making. YesNoNoAPI YesNoYesFree VPS NoNoYesStrategy (EA) builder A Strategy or EA builder is a tool that allows traders to create and test their own automated trading strategies without requiring programming skills. NoNoYesAutochartist Autochartist is a market scanning tool that identifies trading opportunities by analyzing chart patterns and key price levels. NoNoYes -
Mobile Apps
Score:This section assesses the quality and functionality of the broker’s mobile trading apps. It takes into account app ratings, number of downloads, platform features such as two-factor authentication (2FA), mobile alerts, and technical indicators, ensuring traders can manage positions and monitor markets effectively from their smartphones. Learn the assessment criteria7.5 /10Interactive Brokers supports mobile trading, offering dedicated apps for both iOS and Android. Interactive Brokers received a score of 7.5/10 in this section, indicating a generally acceptable mobile trading experience.
- Indicators supported
- Strong Android user ratings, currently at 4.8/5
- Supports mobile 2FA
- Mobile alerts not supported
We compared Interactive Brokers with two top competitors by mobile downloads, app ratings, 2FA support, indicators, and trading alerts.
Interactive Brokers Plus500 OANDA Total downloads The parameter reflects the combined number of installations from both the Apple App Store and Google Play. It serves as an approximate indicator of the broker’s mobile trading app popularity and user adoption across platforms. 1,000,000 10,000,000 1,000,000 App Store score App store scores reflect the average user ratings of the broker’s mobile applications on the Apple App Store and Google Play. These ratings indicate user satisfaction based on criteria such as usability, stability, performance, and overall experience. 4.6 4.7 4.8 Google Play score 4.8 4.4 3.4 Mob. 2FA YesYesYesMob. Indicators YesYesYesMob. Alerts NoYesYes -
Customer Support
Score:We evaluated Customer Support at Interactive Brokers by opening a real account funded with the minimum required deposit (no less than $100) and contacting support to measure response time under real conditions. Our assessment considered contact channels, response speed, multilingual support, and availability hours. Learn the assessment criteria6.5 /10Customer support at Interactive Brokers is available, but response speed and service quality may vary. Some requests are handled efficiently, while others may require follow-ups.
During testing, response times were moderate, and communication depended on the complexity of the request. Interactive Brokers provides basic support functionality but does not stand out in overall service performance.
InformationThe company offers online chat services to current clients 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday, and from 1 to 7 PM Eastern Time on Sundays in the US.
Contacts Foundation date 1978 Registration address One Pickwick Plaza, Greenwich, CT 06830 USA Regulation SEC, FINRA, SIPC, FCA, NSE, BSE, SEBI, SEHK, HKFE, IIROC, ASIC, CFTC, NFA Licence number:
208159, 453554, CMS100917Official site https://www.interactivebrokers.co.uk/ Contacts 00800-42-276537,+41-41-726-9500, +44 207-710-5695
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Interactive Brokers Video Guides
FAQs
How safe is Interactive Brokers in terms of regulation and investor protection?
Interactive Brokers has a safety score of 10/10 and is described as having a high security level, supported by multiple Tier-1 regulators such as the FCA (UK), ASIC, NFA, MAS, SEC, FINRA, CIRO, and the Central Bank of Ireland. Investor protection schemes mentioned include up to £85,000 under the UK FCA, CAD 1,000,000 under CIRO, up to €20,000 under the Central Bank of Ireland, and up to $500,000 for SIPA members under SEC oversight, and the broker also provides negative balance protection and mandatory KYC. The company was founded in 1978, indicating a long operational history, while some regulators listed do not have specific investor compensation funds noted in this section.
What do reviews say about Interactive Brokers’ commissions and fees?
According to this section, Interactive Brokers’ overall fee level is rated 9/10, with low forex trading fees, tight EUR/USD spreads, and no deposit or inactivity fees. For Standard accounts, EUR/USD spreads typically range from 0.2 to 0.8 pips and GBP/USD from 0.5 to 1.5 pips, while RAW/ECN accounts show an average EUR/USD spread of 0.2 pips and GBP/USD of 0.3 pips plus a $2 per lot commission. A withdrawal fee is indicated, but the exact amount is not specified in the review.
What types of trading accounts does Interactive Brokers offer and how are they reviewed?
Interactive Brokers provides Demo, Standard, ECN/Raw spread, and Managed accounts, but does not offer Cent, Micro, Swap Free, or VIP accounts, and this mix is rated with a safety score of 6.8/10. The broker is noted for a low minimum deposit, demo access, and tight-spread ECN accounts, while the absence of Cent and VIP accounts is highlighted as a disadvantage. Additional structures such as Individual, Joint, IRA, and UGMA/UTMA accounts, plus a paper trading account with simulated $1,000,000 equity, are also described in this section.
What feedback is available on the range of markets and tradable assets at Interactive Brokers?
This section states that Interactive Brokers offers over 30,000 tradable assets, including 100 currency pairs, and receives a markets and assets safety score of 9/10. Available instruments include stocks, commodity futures, cryptocurrencies, stock indices, options, bonds, ETFs, and managed accounts, while copy trading and PAMM investing are not supported. The review notes that this asset selection is wider than the market average but does not provide detailed user comments on specific instruments.
How do reviews describe the account opening process at Interactive Brokers?
The account opening process at Interactive Brokers is fully online, with a minimum deposit of $0, and is rated with a safety score of 8/10 in this section. Registration took 30 minutes and KYC verification 3 business days in the described test, and the review notes that approval may take several days depending on documentation. The steps include completing detailed personal and financial information, confirming registration by email, and then gaining access to funding, withdrawals, training materials, and support once the application is approved.
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