Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is one of the world’s most respected and powerful multi-asset trading platforms, catering to retail, professional, and institutional clients. Founded in 1978 and publicly listed on the NASDAQ, Interactive Brokers is regulated by top-tier authorities including the SEC, CFTC, FCA, ASIC, IIROC, and SFC. It offers access to 150+ global markets across stocks, forex, futures, options, ETFs, bonds, and cryptocurrencies—making it the go-to broker for advanced traders and active investors.

This Interactive Brokers review explores its regulation, fees, tools, and suitability for traders and investors in 2025.

Key Features

Interactive Brokers provides unmatched global market access, advanced platforms, and institutional-grade tools.

• Trading Platforms:
  • Trader Workstation (TWS) – advanced desktop platform
  • Client Portal (web-based)
  • IBKR Mobile for Android and iOS
  • APIs for algorithmic and automated trading
• Markets Offered:
  • Stocks, forex, options, futures, bonds, ETFs, metals, and cryptocurrencies
  • 150+ exchanges in over 33 countries
• Account Types:
  • Individual, joint, corporate, institutional, IRA, and trust accounts
• Leverage:
  • Margin trading available – rates vary by region and asset
• Minimum Deposit:
  • No minimum deposit required for IBKR Lite, $10,000+ for some institutional accounts

Regulation and Security

IBKR is one of the most highly regulated brokers in the world, offering industry-leading client protections.

• SEC & CFTC (United States)
• FCA (UK) – FRN 208159
• ASIC (Australia) – AFSL 453554
• IIROC (Canada)
• SFC (Hong Kong)
• MAS (Singapore)
• Publicly listed on NASDAQ (ticker: IBKR)
• Client fund segregation and SIPC protection (up to $500,000 for US clients)
• Multi-layered data encryption and secure login options

Pricing and Costs

Interactive Brokers offers ultra-low commissions, raw spreads, and tiered or fixed pricing models, depending on the market.

• Forex Spreads:
  • As low as 0.1 pips, with tiered commissions from $2 per lot
• Stock Commissions:
  • $0.005 per share (tiered) or flat-rate options
• Options/Futures:
  • Competitive, exchange-based commissions
• No inactivity fee
• Low financing rates – some of the lowest in the industry
• Deposit/Withdrawal Fees:
  • One free withdrawal per month, fees apply beyond that

Educational Resources and Customer Support

IBKR offers extensive self-education materials, interactive webinars, and research tools for both retail and institutional users.

• Education:
  • IBKR Campus, Trader’s Academy, live and recorded webinars
  • Options and futures strategy guides, trading simulations
• Market Research:
  • Free and premium sources including Morningstar, Reuters, Refinitiv
  • Advanced screeners and real-time analytics
• Customer Support:
  • 24/5 multilingual support via phone, chat, and email
  • Some delays reported during high-volume market periods

Risk Management Tools

Interactive Brokers excels in professional-grade risk tools and real-time margin monitoring.

• PortfolioAnalyst for real-time tracking
• Customisable alerts, margin reports, and heatmaps
• Built-in risk metrics for portfolio and strategy evaluation
• Advanced order types: GSLOs, bracket orders, OCO, and TWAP/VWAP
• Regulatory leverage limits enforced by jurisdiction

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Top-tier global regulation and decades-long reputation
• Access to 150+ markets and asset classes
• Extremely low trading costs and deep liquidity
• Powerful TWS platform and APIs for automation
• No minimum deposit (IBKR Lite)

Cons

• Complex interface not ideal for beginners
• Steep learning curve for TWS users
• No MT4/MT5 support
• Fees apply for some research/data feeds
• Account approval process can be slow for new users

Conclusion: Is Interactive Brokers the Right Choice?

Interactive Brokers is arguably the best broker for professional and active traders, offering elite-level execution, regulatory oversight, and multi-asset access. While the Trader Workstation platform may be intimidating to beginners, its depth of tools and customisation is unmatched.

For experienced traders, hedge funds, or serious investors, IBKR is the gold standard. Beginners may find AvaTrade or FXFlat more approachable due to simpler interfaces.