Interactive Brokers Review 2025
Overall Score
According to our idea, the TU Overall Score indicator should answer the biggest question of all: “Can I trust this broker with my money?”. The scores range within 0.01 – 9.99 (the higher the indicator the more trust the broker has). More details
Brief Look at Interactive Brokers
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.
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
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extensive and free educational resources through the IBKR Campus;
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access to160markets in 36 countries and territories;
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trading in stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, funds and more from a single unified platform.
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Support service does not work on Saturday;
Interactive Brokers Key Parameters Evaluation
According to our idea, the TU Overall Score indicator should answer the biggest question of all: “Can I trust this broker with my money?”. The scores range within 0.01 – 9.99 (the higher the indicator the more trust the broker has). More details
Summary
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. A high percentage of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Interactive Brokers trading parameters | |
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Trading platform | Desktop: IBKR Desktop, Trader Workstation; Mobile: IBKR Mobile, IBKR GlobalTrader Web-based: Client Portal |
Accounts | Real, Demo |
Account currency | IBKR Offers 100+ Currency Pairs On 26 Currencies USD, AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, CNH, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HUF, ILS, JPY, KRW,1 MXN, MYR,1 NOK, NZD, PLN, SAR, SEK, SGD, TRY, TWD1 and ZAR. |
Replenishment / Withdrawal | Bank Transfer (SEPA), US ACH Transfer, Direct Debit/Electronic Clearinghouse (ACH), Cheque, Canadian ETF Transfer, BACS / GIRO / ACH |
Minimum deposit | No |
Leverage | Depending on the asset |
PAMM-accounts | No |
Min Order | 0.01 lot |
Spread | From 0 pips |
Instruments | Stocks, options, futures, currency, metals, bonds, ETF, mutual funds, CFD, EPF, Robo-portfolios, hedge funds, forecast contracts (Product availability is dependent on IBKR affiliate and client country of residence) |
Margin Call / Stop Out | Depending on the asset |
Liquidity provider | n/a |
Mobile trading | Yes |
Affiliate program | Yes |
Orders execution | Instant Execution |
Trading features | Options, trading, CFD, ETF, EPF |
Contests and bonuses | No |
Interactive Brokers is militantly developing, offering services to investors regardless of their trading experience. For this purpose, the broker doesn’t ask for a fixed minimum deposit but has margin requirements for accounts of various structures to make trading financially safe. The size of the leverage and Margin call and Stop out levels depends directly on the asset that the client is trading.
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Trading Account Opening
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.
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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.
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Choose the account that fits you.
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Complete the application to open an account. Enter your email address, full name, country of residence, and create a password to enter.
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The next step is registration confirmation. Find a letter from the broker in your mailbox and click the "Confirm Application" button.
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To complete your registration, enter your login and password in the appropriate input.
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Now select the structure of the account you wish to open.
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Fill out the profile fields, including contact information, personal information, identification, professional experience, source of wealth, account information, and confidential matters.
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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.
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If your application is approved, you’ll get access to your personal account, where the following functions are available:
1. Depositing and withdrawing funds.
2. 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.
Can Interactive Brokers be trusted and safe?
Interactive 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.
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
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Tier-1 regulated
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Negative balance protection
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Regulated in the UK
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Track record over 47 years
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Strict requirements and extensive documentation to open an account
Interactive Brokers Security Factors | |
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Foundation date | 1978 |
Negative balance protection | Yes |
Verification (KYC) | Yes |
Commissions and Fees
The trading and non-trading commissions of broker Interactive Brokers have been analyzed and rated as Low with a fees score of 9/10. Additionally, these commissions were compared with those of the top two competitors, FxPro and Dukascopy, to provide the most comprehensive information.
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
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Low Forex trading fees
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Tight EUR/USD market spread
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No inactivity fee
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No deposit fee
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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 | FxPro | Dukascopy | |
---|---|---|---|
EUR/USD min, pips | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.1 |
EUR/USD max, pips | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 |
GPB/USD min, pips | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.1 |
GPB/USD max, pips | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.5 |
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 | FxPro | Dukascopy | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | 2 |
EUR/USD avg spread | 0.2 | 0,2 | 0.3 |
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 | FxPro | Dukascopy | |
---|---|---|---|
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.
|
Yes | 0 | 0-2,5 |
Withdrawal fee, USD, %
The indicated amount does not include possible fees from payment
systems and banks.
|
Yes | 0 | 0-2,5 |
Inactivity fee ($, per month) | 0 | 15 | 8,33 |
Account Types
Interactive Brokers offers Standard and ECN accounts, along with a demo (paper trading) account for risk-free practice. This selection caters to most traders, especially those seeking direct market access. However, the broker does not provide Swap-Free (Islamic), Micro, or Cent accounts, which may limit options for traders requiring interest-free trading or those operating with very small volumes.
Available account types | |||
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Standard
A general trading account suitable for most traders, offering access
to a variety of markets with standard spreads and conditions.
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Yes | ECN
Provides direct market access with raw spreads and low latency
execution. Typically requires a commission per trade instead of a
spread markup. Suitable for high-frequency and professional traders.
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Yes |
Swap Free
Eliminates overnight interest (swap) charges. Designed for traders
following Islamic finance principles.
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Yes | Micro
Trading with micro-lots (0.01 lot = 1,000 units). Reduced capital
requirements and risk. Ideal for beginners and strategy testing.
Availability and conditions vary by broker.
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Yes |
Cent
Operates with cent-denominated balances (1 USD = 100 cents) for
trading micro-lots (0.01 lot = 1,000 units). Suitable for beginners
and low-risk strategies.
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No | Demo
Enables risk-free trading with virtual funds. Conditions may vary by
broker.
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Yes |
VIP
Offers premium services, lower fees, and dedicated support.
Requirements vary by broker.
|
No | Managed
A professional handles trading on behalf of the investor. Risks and
fees depend on the provider.
|
Yes |
Available account types | |||
---|---|---|---|
Standard
A general trading account suitable for most traders, offering access
to
a variety of markets with standard spreads and conditions.
|
Yes | ||
ECN
Provides direct market access with raw spreads and low latency
execution. Typically requires a commission per trade instead of a
spread
markup. Suitable for high-frequency and professional traders.
|
No | ||
Swap Free
Eliminates overnight interest (swap) charges. Designed for traders
following Islamic finance principles.
|
Yes | ||
Micro
Trading with micro-lots (0.01 lot = 1,000 units). Reduced capital
requirements and risk. Ideal for beginners and strategy testing.
Availability and conditions vary by broker.
|
Yes | ||
Cent
Operates with cent-denominated balances (1 USD = 100 cents) for
trading micro-lots (0.01 lot = 1,000 units). Suitable for beginners
and low-risk strategies.
|
No | ||
Demo
Enables risk-free trading with virtual funds. Conditions may vary by
broker.
|
Yes | ||
VIP
Offers premium services, lower fees, and dedicated support.
Requirements vary by broker.
|
No | ||
Managed
A professional handles trading on behalf of the investor. Risks and
fees depend on the provider.
|
Yes |
Account Type | Description |
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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.
Deposit and Withdrawal
Interactive Brokers received a Low score for the efficiency and convenience of its deposit and withdrawal processes.
Interactive Brokers offers limited payment options and accessibility, which may impact its competitiveness.
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
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No deposit fee
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Bank wire transfers available
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Minimum deposit below industry average
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Low minimum withdrawal requirement
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BTC payments not accepted
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Withdrawal fee applies
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No bank card option
What are Interactive Brokers deposit and withdrawal options?
Interactive Brokers offers a limited selection of deposit and withdrawal methods, including Bank Wire, Wise. This limitation may restrict flexibility for users, making Interactive Brokers less competitive for those seeking diverse payment options.
Interactive Brokers | FxPro | Dukascopy | |
---|---|---|---|
Bank card | No | Yes | Yes |
PayPal | No | Yes | No |
Wise | Yes | No | No |
BTC | No | No | Yes |
Does Interactive Brokers Charge Deposit and Withdrawal Fees?
Interactive Brokers does not charge deposit fees; however, withdrawal fees may apply. This means that while adding funds is free, withdrawals may incur costs. To provide a clear understanding of the fee structure, We compared Interactive Brokers's deposit and withdrawal fees with those of two competitors.
Interactive Brokers | FxPro | Dukascopy | |
---|---|---|---|
Deposit fee, % | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Withdrawal fee, % | Yes | 0 | 0-2,5 |
Withdrawal fee, USD | Yes | 0 | 0-2,5 |
What are Interactive Brokers base account currencies? Base account currencies are the primary currencies in which trading accounts are denominated. They determine the currency used for deposits, withdrawals, and calculating account balances.Using a base currency that matches a trader's local currency can help avoid unnecessary conversion fees.
A wide range of base account currencies minimizes the need for currency conversion, potentially reducing transaction costs for clients worldwide. Interactive Brokers supports the following base account currencies:
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.
Investment Options
Interactive Brokers is an automated electronic global broker. Investments are possible by investing in stocks, bonds, and ETFs, earning dividends from them, or subsequent sales at a higher price. Interactive Brokers provides individual and institutional investors with access to investment products across 160 exchanges from a single unified platform, including stocks, options, currencies, bonds, funds and more. Investors can fund and trade accounts in up to 28 currencies and use powerful trading platforms and tools. In addition, there are many services and features that cater to investors of all abilities worldwide. Examples include:
Overnight Trading Hours: This service currently lists over 10,000 US stocks and ETFs plus US Equity Index Options. Clients can now also trade US Treasuries, global corporate bonds, UK gilts, and European government bonds for 22 hours per day.
MultiSort Screener: Clients can easily find stocks that best match their strategies across a universe of over 70,000 stocks worldwide.MultiSort enables users to sort data using multiple factors simultaneously. This is essential for traders and investors who need to evaluate diverse information, such as fundamental data, past performance, and technical indicators. MultiSort makes it easy to input multiple preferences and quickly returns the most relevant results.
Option Lattice: Option Lattice is a graphical options chain display highlighting potential outliers in key metrics, such as Implied Volatility, Open Interest, Volume, or Last Price. Users can easily switch between categories for a comprehensive view and look back at the historical performance of the underlying for a more informed analysis.
Fractional Shares Trading: With fractional shares investors can divide investments among more stocks to achieve a more diversified portfolio, and put small cash balances to work quickly to maximize potential returns.
Interest on Instantly Available Cash: Clients can earn up to 3.83% on uninvested cash balances above USD 10,000.
Fundamentals Explorer: Free fundamentals data for over 30,000 companies worldwide.
Options Wizard: Helps investors learn about and start trading options.
PortfolioAnalyst: This free tool for clients and non-clients allows investors to consolidate, track, and analyzetheir portfolios. Recently added features include Retirement Planner to help investors better understand their retirement outlook and a Budgeting Tool which tracks and categorizes spending to help a client budget more effectively.
AI-powered News Summaries: Eligible clients can access concise summaries of news articles, streamlining insights from leading providers and making it easier for investors to stay informed; currently only available for eligible clients of the Interactive Brokers affiliates in Canada, the UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and Japan
Important!
If you are a large investor and plan on investments over $10,000, contact us at vip-invest@tradersunion.com or by
the feedback form on our website. Our professional team will take you through all
the intricacies of the deal and all the steps from signing
up to withdrawal of profits.
Interactive Brokers affiliate program
Commercial referral program. The partner's challenge is to attract new customers using a unique link, and the partner shall get a fixed amount of $200 for each client attracted.
Referral program with extras. The partner's challenge is the same as in the commercial referral program. The only difference is that now the referrer (partner) gets a percentage of the trading commission that the client invited pays to the broker. Payments are made for 3 years.
There is no need to be a client of Interactive Brokers or be an active trader to participate in the affiliate programs. It is enough to meet the broker's requirements for partners.
Customer Support
Information
The 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.
Education
Information
IBKR believes that well-informed traders have the best chance for success. That’s
why it remains dedicated to ramping up traders' knowledge of markets and IBKR tools
to aid them on their investment journey.
The redesigned IBKR Campus continues to include courses, webinars, podcasts, and market commentaries to help investors learn about trading, financial markets, and Interactive Brokers' trading tools. There is improved site design and navigation to easily find all trading education features, better performance and overall site speed, live tickers and stock charting, and an updated Traders’ Glossary search. As part of Traders’ Insight, clients can watch or read market commentary and analysis from nearly 100 industry pros.
There is an IBKR Quant Blog for quantitative professionals with an interest in programming, deep learning, API, AI, blockchain and other transformative technologies. There is a podcast series featuring discussions on topics that impact global markets and trading, including Spanish-language content; additionally, there is a “Cents of Security” channel aimed at enabling financial literacy amongst the younger generation. For Traders’ Academy, there are now 110 total English and 15 international courses (representing 9 international languages). That includes 43 new or updated courses and 15 courses have been added from CME.
Information available in the Education Section | Information not on the Interactive Brokers website |
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IBKR Desktop (13 lessons so far) | Forex Analysis |
ForecastEx | |
World Map Screener | |
Introduction to Growth | |
Introduction to Dividends | |
Getting Started at IBKR | |
Discover Tool (6 lessons each describing a third-party software/tool) | |
Introduction to Growth Investing | |
Options Essentials | |
Retirement | |
Introduction to Momentum Investing |
We highly recommend you use the IBKR trial version to test your knowledge in practice without financial risk.
TU Expert Advice: Is Interactive Brokers Worth the Try?
During its cooperation with Traders Union the Interactive Brokers investment company proved itself as a reliable partner, which faithfully fulfills its obligations to us. The broker provides clients with a wide range of services, allowing them to engage in both active trading and investments. At the same time, the broker charges a fee for an inactive account, and that's not convenient for passive investors.
Despite the lack of a minimum deposit, Interactive Brokers is focused on working with professional market participants. The US and Canadian investors are the main target audiences of the company. Interactive Brokers customer support will help you resolve claims made to the company.
You can find all the information about trading conditions and the specifics of various trading instruments on the broker's website. Before opening an account with this broker, we strongly recommend you to read about all trading conditions in detail, as well as reviews of other clients about cooperation with Interactive Brokers.
Latest Interactive Brokers News

Interactive Brokers (IBKR), the largest brokerage firm in the United States, has introduced a unique opportunity for its American clients — trading
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Team that worked on the article
Oleg Tkachenko is an economic analyst and risk manager having more than 14 years of experience in working with systemically important banks, investment companies, and analytical platforms. He has been a Traders Union analyst since 2018. His primary specialties are analysis and prediction of price tendencies in the Forex, stock, commodity, and cryptocurrency markets, as well as the development of trading strategies and individual risk management systems. He also analyzes nonstandard investing markets and studies trading psychology.
Dr. BJ Johnson is a PhD in English Language and an editor with over 15 years of experience. He earned his degree in English Language in the U.S and the UK. In 2020, Dr. Johnson joined the Traders Union team. Since then, he has created over 100 exclusive articles and edited over 300 articles of other authors.
Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO).
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