scambrokersreview.com| Regulation | FCA, ASIC, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, MAS, SFC Hong Kong |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Min. Deposit | USD 0 |
| Platforms | IBKR Trader Workstation, IBKR Mobile, API |
| Spread From | 0.2 pips (avg) |
Overview
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the gold standard for professional and institutional traders. Founded in 1978, it is one of the largest online brokers globally with over USD 12 trillion in annual trading volume. IBKR offers access to over 150 markets across 33 countries.
Regulation and Safety
Interactive Brokers is regulated by virtually every major financial authority: FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), SEC and FINRA (USA), CFTC (USA), MAS (Singapore), SFC (Hong Kong), and others. The parent company, Interactive Brokers Group, is publicly listed on NASDAQ. Client assets exceeding USD 11 billion are segregated.
Trading Conditions
IBKR offers some of the lowest margin rates in the industry and competitive forex commissions from 0.08 to 0.20 basis points times trade value. The Fixed pricing option offers spreads as low as 0.2 pips on EUR/USD. The platform is sophisticated and not beginner-friendly, but unmatched for professional use.
Pros and Cons
- Regulated by every major financial authority
- Lowest margin rates in the industry
- Access to stocks, ETFs, options, forex, futures in one account
- Professional-grade Trader Workstation platform
- Publicly listed company with full transparency
- Platform is complex and not beginner-friendly
- IBKR Lite not available outside USA
- Inactivity fees for smaller accounts
- Some account types require minimum USD 110k balance
Verdict
Interactive Brokers is the best choice for professional traders, active investors, and institutions who need access to multiple asset classes with the tightest spreads and margins. It is not recommended for beginners due to its platform complexity, but for experienced traders it is unmatched.
