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Match Me

Interactive Brokers Review

Emily Watson

Written by

Emily Watson
David Okonjo

Fact Checked by

David Okonjo

Updated

Jan 4, 2026
Broker review header

4.9

Trust Score: 4.9/100

Based on regulatory status, company history, and financial transparency

  • Global Access: 150 Markets, 33 Countries
  • IBKR Lite: Commission-Free US Stocks
  • Publicly Traded (NASDAQ: IBKR)
  • Top-Tier Regulation (SEC, FCA, ASIC)
  • 4.83% Interest on Idle Cash (USD)

Founded

1978

Headquarters

Greenwich, CT, USA

Stock Symbol

Why choose Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the premier choice for professional and active traders in 2026. With direct access to 150+ global markets and the IBKR Lite (zero commission) option for US clients, it offers unmatched depth and low costs.

Pros

  • Unbeatable market access
  • Rock bottom commissions
  • Safe (Publicly traded)

Cons

  • Complex for beginners
  • TWS platform has steep learning curve
Interactive Brokers logo

Interactive Brokers

Save Wishlist's

Popular choice

Min Deposit:

$0

Inactivity Fee:

No

Regulated:

No

Visit Interactive Brokers

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Commission-based spot forex. Extremely competitive.

InstrumentStandardRaw/Pro
EUR/USD-0.1 pips ($2-4 comm)
GBP/USD-0.2 pips
USD/JPY-0.1 pips

Inactivity

Free (previously charged)

Withdrawal

1 Free/mo

Non-trading fees

Inactivity fee: No.

Regulated everywhere. One of the safest brokers in the world.

Regulatory Status

RegulatorCountryTier
SEC/CFTCUSA1
FCAUK1
ASICAustralia1
SFCHong Kong1

Safety Features

Segregated AccountsYes
Negative Balance ProtectionNo
Investor ProtectionSIPC ($500k) for US.

Is regulated?

Yes, heavily regulated.

Find your safe broker

Compare Regionally

Bankwire focused.

Deposit Options

MethodProcessing TimeFeeMin. Deposit
Wire1-3 DaysFree$0
CheckSlowFree$0

Withdrawal Options

MethodProcessing TimeFeeMin. Withdrawal
Wire1-2 Days1 Free/mo$0

Base Currencies

USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, CAD, JPY, AUD, NZD, HKD

Pro, Lite (US only).

Account Types

Account TypeMin. DepositKey Features
IBKR Pro$0
  • • SmartRouting
  • • Best Execution
IBKR Lite$0
  • • Commission Free Stocks (US)

Verification Steps

  • Time to open: 1-3 Days
  • Demo Account: Yes
  • Islamic Account: No
Open Account

IBKR Mobile is powerful but complex.

Interactive Brokers mobile app screenshot 1
Interactive Brokers mobile app screenshot 2
Interactive Brokers mobile app screenshot 3

App Features

  • Options Chain
  • Scanner
  • BookTrader

Trader Workstation (TWS).

Interactive Brokers desktop platform screenshot

Supported Platforms

  • TWS: The gold standard for pros.

Interactive Brokers offers unmatched global access. You can trade stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, and funds on over 150 markets in 33 countries. It is the ultimate platform for multi-asset diversification.

Available Instruments

Forex Pairs100
Indices50
Stocks30000
Commodities200
Cryptos15
ETFs10000

Leverage Limits

InstrumentMax Leverage
Forex50:1 (US) / 40:1 (Intl)
Indices20:1
Stocks5:1 (Reg T) / 6:1 (Portfolio Margin)
Crypto1:1

Got Questions?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Interactive Brokers is one of the safest brokers in the world. It is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: IBKR) with over $10 billion in equity capital and is regulated by top-tier authorities globally.

IBKR Lite is a pricing plan for US clients that offers unlimited commission-free trades on US listed stocks and ETFs, with no account minimums.

Yes, Interactive Brokers accepts clients from over 200 countries and territories.

There is $0 minimum deposit to open an account, making it accessible to everyone.

Yes, IBKR pays highly competitive interest rates (up to ~4.83% USD) on instantly available cash balances for accounts with NAV > $100k.

Yes, unlike many brokers offering only CFDs, IBKR offers direct access to the interbank forex market with real ECN execution.

Trader Workstation (TWS) is a professional grade platform and has a steep learning curve. However, IBKR also offers a user-friendly Mobile App and GlobalTrader app for beginners.

No, Interactive Brokers eliminated monthly inactivity fees for all accounts in 2021.

Yes, US clients can trade major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Crypto trading is also becoming available in other regions.

Yes, you can buy fractional shares of eligible US and European stocks and ETFs.
Emily Watson

Emily Watson

Cryptocurrency • Fintech • Blockchain

Author of this review

Emily is a blockchain technology expert and fintech journalist. She bridges the gap between traditional finance and emerging technologies, reviewing crypto CFD offerings and evaluating broker innovation in the digital asset space.

Crypto & Fintech Editor — Everything you find on BrokerAnalysis is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback.

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Risk Warning: Forex/CFD trading involves significant risk. 68-80% of retail accounts lose money.|Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn commissions from listed partners.|Not Advice: For educational purposes only.

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