Overview
Established in 1978, Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a globally recognised brokerage. Its headquarters are situated in Greenwich, Connecticut, in the United States. Reputed widely for its state-of-the-art trading platforms, vast market coverage, and competitive rates, Interactive Brokers is geared towards professional traders and institutional investors. It caters to both endpoints simultaneously. Around 150 markets are available for trading in 33 countries, making the service diversified for internationally traded financial instruments.
- Founded
- 1978
- Headquarters
- United States
- Address
- 20 Fenchurch Street, Floor 12, London EC3M 3BY, UK Floor 5, Unit 507, Index Tower, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates One Pickwick Plaza, Greenwich, CT 06830 USA Suite 1512, Two Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong SAR 1800 McGill College Avenue, Suite 2106, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3J6, Canada 502/A, Times Square, Andheri Kurla Road, Andheri East, Mumbai 400059, India North Dock One, 91/92 North Wall Quay, Dublin 1 D01 H7V7, Ireland Kasumigaseki Building 25F, 2-5 Kasumigaseki 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-6025 Japan Level 11, 175 Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia #40-02A, Asia Square Tower 1, 8 Marina View, Singapore 018960
- Website
- www.interactivebrokers.com
Strengths and watchouts
- The broker is very well regulated around the world
- They have an excellent physical presence
- IB has one of the longest histories in the business
- Service available in a lot of countries worldwide
- Negative Balance protection may not always apply worldwide
Safety and regulation
Besides the company's strict compliance and safety standards, the following are regulatory management bodies that have spotted Interactive Brokers as a firm worth vouching for: Client funds are maintained within a segregated account, and the company also offers a secondary insurance of extra SIPC to protect the clients' investments.
- US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- The Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Between 70% and 85% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with most regulated providers — the exact figure for any specific broker is published on that broker's own website. Consider whether you understand how these instruments work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money.
Markets available
- Stocks
- Options
- Futures
- Forex
- ETFs
- Bonds
- Cryptocurrency
Account types
| Account | Min deposit | Commission | Leverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Not verified | 0.0 | 1:1 to 1:78 |
Fees and costs
As expected, Interactive Brokers is known for pricing transparently and competently:
Trading platforms
- Trader Workstation (TWS)
This is a complete desktop-based platform with a lot of intricate functionalities in graphing and analysis.
desktop - IBKR Mobile
Comprehensive mobile trading app
mobile - IBKR WebTrader
Streamlined web-based platform
desktopweb - API and FIX CTCI
Designed for algorithmic and institutional traders.
web
Customer support
- Phone
- India: 91-22-61289888 Japan: 81 03-4590-0711
- Hours
- from Sunday afternoon through Friday evening - chat, phone, and contact form
Deposits and withdrawals
- Bank transfers
- ACH
- SEPA
- and wire transfers
How we reviewed this broker
Each broker review documents the broker's claimed regulators, cross-references them against the public registers (FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSCA, BCC and others), and notes any divergence. Where a regulator has issued a public advisory, the URL is cited inline so a reader can verify it directly. Tradable instruments, account types, and fees are sourced from the broker's published disclosures or documented as unavailable. The full scoring methodology is public.
Read the full methodology →Focused research pages
- RegulationInteractive Brokers regulation and safety checks
- Account openingInteractive Brokers minimum deposit and account-opening checks
- Minimum depositInteractive Brokers minimum deposit and funding threshold checks
- Company backgroundInteractive Brokers company background and entity checks
- RatingInteractive Brokers rating context and methodology checks
- SafetyInteractive Brokers safety, funds protection and entity checks
- Pros and consInteractive Brokers pros, cons and trade-off checks
- FeesInteractive Brokers fees, minimum deposit and cost checks
- MarketsInteractive Brokers markets and product availability checks
- Public reputationInteractive Brokers public reviews and reputation checks
- Bond accessInteractive Brokers bond access and fixed-income checks
- SIPPInteractive Brokers SIPP account research checklist
- FundingInteractive Brokers deposits, withdrawals and funding checks
- SupportInteractive Brokers customer support and contact checks
Frequently asked questions
Do Interactive Brokers come regulated anywhere?
Interactive Brokers is supervised by leading authorities such as SEC, CFTC, FCA, ASIC, and several others within corporate regulation. Global regulatory standards are strictly followed.
What trading platforms are available with Interactive Brokers?
Interactive Brokers offers a robust collection of platforms, including Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Mobile, IBKR WebTrader, and API-based trading for algorithmic and institutional traders.
How much is required to be deposited to start an account?
The minimum deposit starts at $0 for IBKR Lite accounts in the US, while it varies for other account types and regions worldwide.
What is the highest leverage provided by Interactive Brokers?
For forex, Interactive Brokers offers leverage up to 1:50. Leverage for other asset classes may be lower depending on regulatory requirements.
Where this broker is ranked
- Use case · ranked #1Best Online BrokersBest Overall Online Broker
- Asset class · ranked #1Best Stock BrokersBest Overall Stock Broker
- Platform · ranked #1Best Trading PlatformsBest Overall Trading Platform for Multi-Asset Users
- Use case · ranked #2Best Brokers for Swing TradingBest for Multi-Asset Swing
- Region · ranked #2Best Brokers in LatviaBest for Latvia Multi-Asset
- Use case · ranked #3Best Brokers for Day TradingBest for Multi-Asset Day Traders
- Asset class · ranked #3Best Forex BrokersBest for Advanced Traders
- Platform · ranked #4Best Mobile Trading Apps and Forex Trading AppsBest Mobile App for Multi-Asset
Related comparisons
- Compare with RobinhoodInteractive Brokers vs RobinhoodInteractive Brokers and Robinhood are both researched by self-directed investors, but they serve different comparison questions. This page contrasts the current InvestorTrip rows without making country-specific tax, account-wrapper or availability claims.
- Compare with SaxoInteractive Brokers vs SaxoInteractive Brokers and Saxo are both multi-asset broker choices for investors who want more than a simple single-market trading app. This page compares the public InvestorTrip rows side by side, without making a country-specific availability or tax-wrapper claim.
Reader reviews
Haluk Karacabey
Feb 10, 2025
Advantages: - Offers some of the most competitive spreads for traders - Provides outstanding access to live market data, though it requires a subscription - Features impressive margin rates - Delivers reliable trade execution - Continuously innovates to stay ahead - Customer service has seen significant improvements - Professional client support, including a chat option - Allows for overnight trading when activated Drawbacks: - The trading platform uses outdated technology - Requires a steep learning curve to master - The web interface occasionally logs users out unexpectedly - May not be ideal for beginners or all trader types - Costs can accumulate if not monitored carefully
Lukas
Feb 10, 2025
The platform offers a wide range of products and consistently enhances its trading app. It includes all the essential features and tools I require. This service truly meets all my individual trading requirements in an exceptional manner!
MdNazmul Islam
Feb 10, 2025
I recently set up an ISA account with Interactive Brokers, aiming to diversify my investments across various ETFs and funds. Unfortunately, I was quite let down by the limited range of products available through this account. Their platform only supports ETFs that comply with UCITS regulations, which means many well-known and diverse ETFs from other markets are off the table. Additionally, they don’t provide access to any funds like index or mutual funds within the ISA. When I reached out to their customer service for clarification on whether it was possible to trade other ETFs or funds in my ISA, the experience was far from satisfactory. I was left waiting on hold for an extended period, and when I finally connected with a representative, they seemed to lack a basic understanding of investment options. They couldn’t clarify the reasons behind these limitations or suggest any viable alternatives. Instead, they directed me to their FAQs or website, which didn’t resolve my concerns. Overall, I feel like my experience with Interactive Brokers has been a waste of both time and money. I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone looking to invest in a broad spectrum of ETFs and funds through an ISA. The customer service is lacking, and the investment choices are too restricted. I'm now on the hunt for a different broker that can provide more flexibility and better support.
Showing 1–3 of 10 reviews