Interactive Brokers Review 2025

Trust

Interactive Brokers Regulators

In our reviews, we examine the regulatory status of each entity operated by a broker. This allows us to compare the different levels of client protection. We rank regulators using a three-tier system, where Tier-1 licensing reflects the highest level of regulation.

Here are my findings on the various entities of Interactive Brokers:

• Interactive Brokers LLC is regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). We rate the SEC and CFTC as Tier 1 regulators.
• Interactive Brokers Canada Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), formerly IIROC. We rate CIRO as a Tier 1 regulator.
• Interactive Brokers (UK) Limited (IBUK) is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), register entry number 208159. We rate FCA as a Tier 1 regulator.
• Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited (DIFC Branch) is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) register number F008423 and DIFC registration number CL8717. We rate DFSA as a Tier 2 regulator.
• Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI), reference number C423427. We rate CBI as a Tier 2 regulator.
• Interactive Brokers India Pvt. Ltd. is registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Registration No. INZ000217730. We rate SEBI as a Tier 2 regulator.
• Interactive Brokers Securities Japan Inc. is a member of the Japan Securities Dealers Association (JSDA). We rate JSDA as a Tier 2 regulator.
• Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). We rate SFC as a Tier 2 regulator.
• Interactive Brokers Singapore Pte. Ltd. is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), license number CMS100917. We rate MAS as a Tier 2 regulator.
• Interactive Brokers Australia Pty. Ltd. is licensed and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), AFSL number 453554. We rate ASIC as a Tier 1 regulator.

How Interactive Brokers Protects You

Brokers operate multiple entities to serve clients globally, yet regulatory protections vary by jurisdiction. Some regulators enforce strict financial standards, while others are more lenient. Traders should understand the protection offered by the entity where they intend to open an account.

• Segregation of Client Funds. Interactive Brokers ensures that all client funds are held in segregated bank accounts, separate from the firm’s corporate capital. This practice eliminates the risk of accounting errors and protects client assets across all of its entities.
• Negative Balance Protection. This safety mechanism removes the risk of trading losses exceeding the account balance. In other words, the losses you incur from trading are capped at the amount you have put in your trading account. This is especially important in volatile markets. All Interactive Brokers entities provide negative balance protection.
• Compensation Scheme. A compensation scheme protects retail traders against the broker’s liabilities in the unlikely event that the company becomes insolvent. Clients of the UK entity benefit from account insurance of up to £85,000 via the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and clients of the EU entity are covered by CySEC ICF up to €20,000.
• Maximum Leverage. Capping the maximum leverage restricts the extent of market exposure to retail traders. The higher the leverage, the higher the potential profits and losses. UK clients have access to maximum leverage of 1:30.

Stability and Transparency

In my tests for the Trust category, we also cover factors relating to stability and transparency. Here, we focus on the broker’s operating history, size, and overall credibility.

Interactive Brokers boasts an exceptional 47-year track record in the financial industry. As a publicly traded company listed on the Nasdaq with a market capitalization exceeding $100 billion, it is required to publish regular financial reports. This transparency provides investors and clients with valuable insight into the firm’s financial strength and long-term stability.

In my research, Interactive Brokers showed a high level of transparency in its regulatory status, fees, and general background information. The materials are readily available on the website.

Interactive Brokers lists its regulatory status at the footer of each page. The Pricing menu in the horizontal navigation clearly outlines all costs, such as commissions and margin interest rates. Traders can find the Client Agreements in the accounts section of the website.

Is Interactive Brokers Safe to Trade With?

To conclude, I rate Interactive Brokers as highly trustworthy and stable due to the following factors:

• Regulated by multiple top-tier agencies worldwide
• Almost 50 years of operating history
• Publicly traded company valued at over $100 billion
• High level of transparency
• $18.5 billion in equity capital

Fees

Interactive Brokers Trading Fees

Interactive Brokers Spreads

I tested spreads at Interactive Brokers on 31 July 2025 during the London open and shortly after the New York open—periods known for peak market liquidity and typically the tightest spreads.

My live tests reveal that most instruments at Interactive Brokers offer significantly tighter spreads than the industry average, highlighting the platform’s highly competitive pricing.

Spreads on pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/JPY were especially low. The main outlier was the Dow Jones 30 index, which showed wider-than-average spreads, possibly due to heightened market volatility at the time.

Commissions

Interactive Brokers offers low, volume-based commissions across forex, share CFDs, gold, indices, and crude oil. Fees are tiered, with higher trading volumes earning lower rates. Minimum charges apply, and pricing varies by asset type, as detailed below.

Forex

1 basis point=0.0001

IBKR offers tiered forex commissions from 0.20 to 0.08 basis points based on monthly trade volume, with minimum commissions from $1.00 to $2.00.

United States Share CFDs

U.S. share CFD commissions range from $0.0050 to $0.0030 per share, with a $1.00 minimum (reduced to $0.65 for high volumes).

Gold

1 basis point=0.0001

Gold CFD fees range from 1.5 to 0.7 basis points, depending on trade size.

Indices and Crude Oil

Index and crude oil CFDs are charged at 0.005% (Dow 30, DAX 40) and 0.015% (WTI), each with a $1.00 minimum per order.

Interactive Brokers Swap Fees

The table below outlines the Swap Long and Swap Short rates, which represent the overnight cost or credit for holding a long (buy) or short (sell) position on a full-sized contract. In forex, this is 100,000 units of the base currency; for gold, it’s 100 ounces. The data was collected on 30 July 2025.

Based on these results, I rate the swap fees at Interactive Brokers as competitive within the industry.

Interactive Brokers Non-Trading Fees

​​Interactive Brokers does not charge deposit, withdrawal, or inactivity fees. This gives traders the freedom to manage their funds without incurring extra costs and allows infrequent traders to keep their accounts open without penalty.

Are Interactive Brokers’ Fees Competitive?

Interactive Brokers has built a reputation for being highly competitive when it comes to fees, and I found this true in my tests. The spreads, commissions, and margin interest rates are among the most favorable in the industry. The broker offers:

• Rock bottom spreads
• Low commissions
• Competitive overnight swap fees
• No deposit or withdrawal fees
• No inactivity fee

Platforms and Tools

Client Portal

The Interactive Brokers Client Portal is a secure, web-based platform that lets traders and investors easily access and manage their accounts from any browser. Its intuitive dashboard provides a real-time overview of your portfolio, including performance, positions, available cash, and key notifications.

You can track essential metrics like net liquidation value, P&L, and buying power at a glance, and quickly place or manage trades using the slide-out trade ticket from any page. The portal also offers robust reporting tools, portfolio analysis, integrated charting, market research, and watchlists. Additionally, it provides easy account management features such as deposits and withdrawals, making it a convenient all-in-one solution.

IBKR Desktop

IBKR Desktop is a powerful yet user-friendly trading platform designed to meet the needs of traders at all experience levels.

The platform gives access to stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, and funds from a single screen. IBKR Desktop combines advanced technology with a smooth, intuitive interface.

Traders benefit from a suite of sophisticated tools, including customizable charting with over 100 indicators, the MultiSort Screener for scanning over 70,000 stocks, and real-time portfolio monitoring with detailed margin and P&L data.

Features like synchronized watchlists, Rapid Order Entry, and built-in risk management tools streamline trading.

IBKR Desktop also features customizable layouts and multi-monitor support, allowing traders to design an efficient workspace tailored to their unique needs.

Trader Workstation (TWS)

Trader Workstation (TWS) is Interactive Brokers’ flagship desktop platform, built for active, experienced traders and institutions who demand speed, flexibility, and access to global markets.

TWS offers two main views:

• Mosaic – a customizable workspace ideal for streamlined order management, charting, and portfolio tracking.
• Classic TWS – designed for advanced users who want direct access to advanced order types, algos, and cutting-edge trading tools.

Trader Workstation (TWS) offers robust charting, including:

• 100+ technical indicators, diverse time frames from intraday to monthly.
• 16+ chart types, including candlestick, bar, line, Heikin Ashi, Renko, and Point & Figure.
• 50+ drawing tools like trend lines and Fibonacci retracements.

The platform supports multiple chart layouts and saving templates for efficient workflow.

TWS offers a comprehensive selection of order types to suit different trading strategies, including:

• Basic order types like market, limit, and stop-loss orders.
• Advanced order types such as limit if touched, market if touched, trailing stops, and basket orders.

Traders can also access professional-grade tools, including market scanners, real-time news, premium research, and customizable watchlists. They can monitor account balances, P&L, and margin requirements in real time, set alerts based on key metrics, and evaluate performance through detailed trade reports. The Risk Navigator offers a dynamic, real-time view of market risk across asset classes.

The Trader Workstation (TWS) platform features integrated real-time news feeds from leading financial sources, including Dow Jones Newswires, Reuters, and Bloomberg. Traders are updated with the latest market headlines, analyst reports, and company announcements directly within the interface.

GlobalTrader Mobile App

IBKR GlobalTrader is a user-friendly mobile app that enables investors to trade stocks, ETFs, and options across more than 90 global stock markets. It supports fractional shares, allowing users to start investing with as little as $1, making it easy to build a diversified portfolio regardless of stock price. In my view, this is a great resource for beginners as they can make live trades while keeping their risk limited.

The app also allows trading in US stocks and select ETFs like QQQ and SPY around the clock, five days a week. Options trading is available with intuitive tools like the Options Chain and Options Wizard to assist with strategy selection. Users can deposit and trade in up to 28 currencies and easily convert funds with a single tap.

IBKR Mobile App

The IBKR Mobile app is a feature-rich trading platform built for experienced traders seeking advanced tools, order types, and real-time data while on the go. It supports trading in stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, and funds, bringing the power of Interactive Brokers’ desktop Trader Workstation (TWS) to mobile devices.

The app features professional-grade tools, including institutional research and strategy aids such as the Option Spread Grid and Options Wizard. Charting is robust, offering 16 chart types, 12 time frames, 100+ technical indicators, and over 50 drawing tools. IBKR Mobile also features built-in two-factor authentication with biometric login options on supported devices.

IBKR Platforms and Apps: My Key Takeaways

Interactive Brokers effectively serves traders across all experience levels. The IBKR GlobalTrader Mobile App stands out for its intuitive interface, offering fractional investing, multi-currency support, and round-the-clock access to key U.S. markets.

Meanwhile, IBKR Mobile and TWS provide professional-grade tools, comprehensive asset coverage, and in-depth analytics, making them suitable for serious and institutional traders. Together, IBKR’s platforms provide one of the most versatile and complete trading environments available.

Interactive Brokers Order Execution Model

Interactive Brokers uses the Direct Market Access (DMA) execution model, where CFD orders are immediately hedged in the underlying physical market. This means the CFD trade is executed at the exact price of the hedge, ensuring direct market exposure and transparent pricing.

Tradable Instruments

I rated Interactive Brokers as particularly strong in CFDs on forex, shares, and indices, while noting that there is room for improvement in the range of commodity CFDs.

What are CFDs?

A Contract for Difference (CFD) is an agreement specifying that the buyer must pay the seller the difference between an asset’s current value and its value at the time the contract was initiated. Like futures and other derivative financial instruments, CFDs allow traders to speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset.

What Can You Trade with Interactive Brokers?

To better illustrate the range of instruments available at Interactive Brokers, the following tables show samples from various asset classes:

Interactive Brokers Instruments: My Key Takeaways

Overall, Interactive Brokers provides an impressive selection of instruments spanning all asset classes and global markets. Although the variety of commodity CFDs is relatively limited, traders have access to a wide array of commodities through the futures market.

Customer Support

Interactive Brokers Customer Support Test

Clients can contact IBKR’s customer service from Sunday afternoon to Friday evening, New York time, with no support available on Saturdays. When reaching out via phone or chat, users must navigate through several prompts before connecting to a representative, which, from my experience, can be time-consuming.

I assessed the support by asking a range of questions, from simple to complex, such as about one-click trading on the TWS platform and how to calculate overnight swap fees. While some responses came from knowledgeable industry experts, the experience occasionally felt similar to dealing with a standard call center.

Deposit and Withdrawal

How Do You Deposit Money with Interactive Brokers

The deposit methods are wire transfer, ACH (bank transfer), Wise, and check. All these options are fee-free and typically credited to your account by the next business day. Please note that credit/debit cards are not accepted for deposits.

How Do You Withdraw Money from Interactive Brokers

Withdrawals can be made via wire transfer and ACH, both of which are fee-free and typically processed within one business day. Interactive Brokers allows one free withdrawal per account per calendar month; additional withdrawals within the same month may incur fees, depending on the currency and withdrawal method.

Account Types and Terms

How to Open an Account with Interactive Brokers

To open an individual account with Interactive Brokers UK, applicants must provide personal and financial details, including their full name, address, citizenship, country of birth, phone number, date of birth, marital status, number of dependents, and tax residency.

They are also required to submit their Social Security number and proof of identification, such as a passport, driver’s license, national ID card, or alien registration card. Additionally, applicants must disclose their employment status and the source of their wealth.

What Account Types Interactive Brokers Offers

Interactive Brokers offers a wide range of account types to suit both individual and professional clients. Options include Individual, Joint, Trust, ISA, and SIPP accounts, as well as specialized accounts for advisors, money managers, family offices, proprietary trading groups, brokers, and administrators.

Clients select one base currency for their account, which is used in reporting and margin calculations, but can also hold and trade in other currencies. Some regions have currency restrictions, and the base currency can be changed at any time via the Client Portal.

Demo Account

Interactive Brokers provides a free simulated account with a $1 million virtual balance, accessible across all its platforms, including the Client Portal, Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, and the GlobalTrader app. After gaining experience with the demo, users can seamlessly transition to a live trading account.

Islamic Account

Interactive Brokers does not offer a swap-free Islamic account.

What is CFD Leverage?

One key reason traders are drawn to the forex and CFD markets is the high level of available leverage. Leverage allows you to control larger positions by using borrowed funds, enabling you to trade beyond the limits of your account balance.

At Interactive Brokers UK, CFD traders can access leverage of up to 1:30. This means a trader with a $1,000 account balance can control positions worth up to $30,000 in the market.

Leverage is often referred to as a “double-edged sword” because it can magnify both gains and losses. While it has the potential to boost profits, traders should be aware that it equally increases the risk of significant losses.

Leverage varies by asset class, as illustrated in the following table:

Interactive Brokers Restricted Countries

Interactive Brokers serves clients in over 220 countries globally. It restricts account openings mainly due to U.S. sanctions. Commonly restricted countries include North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Crimea, and Belarus.

Research

A cornerstone of IBKR’s research ecosystem, Traders’ Insight delivers timely market commentary and actionable analysis. This resource features articles, blogs, and videos by both IBKR’s in-house analysts and external industry professionals, whose expertise spans equities, options, fixed income, forex, and cryptocurrencies.

Integrated News and Research Tools

IBKR incorporates advanced research functionalities within its trading platforms, including IBKR Desktop and Trader Workstation. The News & Research interface combines real-time news from over 60 top-tier sources, including Dow Jones, Bloomberg, and Morningstar. Users can customize their dashboards to track daily market overviews or news related to specific watchlists.

Fundamentals Explorer

IBKR’s Fundamentals Explorer provides comprehensive company analysis for fundamental investors. It aggregates company profiles, financial ratios, key historical data, analyst ratings, and ownership statistics. This enables users to conduct in-depth research on individual securities or industries, supporting more informed investment decisions by drawing on financial metrics and industry comparisons.

Market Scanners

IBKR provides powerful market scanners designed to help traders identify trading opportunities across global markets in real time. The scanners can filter stocks, options, futures, and other instruments based on customizable criteria such as price, volume, percentage change, volatility, and technical indicators.

IBKR Podcast

The IBKR Podcast offers market commentary and in-depth discussions on current events, asset classes, investment strategies, and the broader financial landscape. Episodes feature Interactive Brokers employees, researchers, and professionals from across the financial sector. Recent topics include interviews with notable industry figures. The podcast is updated frequently and serves as a convenient way to stay informed about current market themes.

Interactive Brokers Research: My Key Takeaways

Interactive Brokers delivers institutional-level research and analysis through a comprehensive array of resources. The combination of proprietary commentary, integrated news feeds, and robust analytical tools provides timely, relevant, and actionable insights.

Education

Traders’ Academy

The Traders’ Academy offers free, structured online courses that cover a broad spectrum of finance and trading topics. The curriculum ranges from beginner-friendly introductions to forex, stocks, options, and futures to advanced lessons in technical analysis and market strategies. Lessons often incorporate both video and text to reinforce learning.

Users can find practical platform walkthroughs, like how to use IBKR Desktop or the Client Portal, as well as courses on asset classes, order types, and the mechanics of global financial markets. Learners can easily select topics that match their interests and trading goals.

Quant Blog

The Quant Blog, tailored for quantitative traders, explores topics such as trading models, data science applications in finance, risk management, and backtesting strategies. The blog addresses both coding and non-coding aspects of quant trading, offering insights from industry professionals, platform partners, and guest experts.

Webinars

Webinars feature presentations by seasoned IBKR analysts, industry guest speakers, and partners from leading financial institutions. The live sessions cover a diverse range of subjects, from platform tutorials and software demonstrations to in-depth explorations of specific trading strategies.

Webinars are an excellent resource for learning, as attendees can interact with experts and ask questions in real time. Recorded webinars are archived on the IBKR Campus, allowing you to revisit topics on demand.

The Bottom Line

Interactive Brokers stands out as one of the largest and most reliable brokers globally, earning a top-tier trust rating based on our review criteria, which include regulation, financial strength, and transparency.

Forex and CFD traders can benefit from a highly competitive environment with tight spreads as low as 0.1 pip and real-time quotes sourced from 17 of the world’s largest FX dealers, ensuring deep liquidity. Traders can access over 100 currency pairs with low, transparent commissions. In my tests, Interactive Brokers consistently delivered some of the lowest prices in the industry.

The flagship Trader Workstation (TWS) platform is packed with professional-grade tools, which may present a steeper learning curve for newcomers. However, Interactive Brokers has made strides in improving accessibility for beginners with intuitive options like IBKR Desktop and the GlobalTrader mobile app.

Customer support remains an area for improvement, particularly when it comes to response times and ease of reaching a live representative. While the overall selection of tradable instruments is excellent, coverage in certain categories, like commodity CFDs, could be expanded. The funding and withdrawal process would also benefit from support for a broader range of payment methods.

With ultra-competitive pricing, advanced platforms, access to global markets, and high-quality research tools, Interactive Brokers is an exceptional choice for intermediate, advanced, and professional traders.

FAQ