Interactive Brokers review
Interactive Brokers (NASDAQ: IBKR) is a US-based, publicly traded broker founded in 1978 by Thomas Peterffy. It is a full-service, multi-asset platform covering stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs, with CFDs offered as one additional product line rather than the core business. In the US it is regulated by the SEC, FINRA and the CFTC, with SIPC coverage on securities; CFDs are not available to US, Canadian or Hong Kong clients. Outside the US, CFDs and other derivatives are offered through separately regulated non-US entities, including Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited under the FCA, alongside licences from ASIC, IIROC/CIRO, MAS and roughly a dozen other regulators.
Interactive Brokers key facts
- Website: www.interactivebrokers.com
- Category: Full-service multi-asset broker (stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, funds, CFDs)
- Founded: 1978
- Headquarters: Greenwich, Connecticut, US
- Public status: Nasdaq-listed (IBKR), S&P 500 constituent since Aug 2025
- Regulation: SEC, FINRA, CFTC (US); FCA, ASIC, IIROC/CIRO, MAS and more abroad
- Platforms: Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, Client Portal, IBKR Mobile
- CFD availability: Non-US clients only; not offered in US, Canada or Hong Kong
- Minimum deposit: $0
- CEO: Thomas Peterffy
- FYI Score: 95.4/100 (ranked #3 of the 136 CFD brokers we track)
Regulation & structure
- Publicly traded on Nasdaq (IBKR) under SEC, FINRA and CFTC oversight in the US, with SIPC protection on securities.
- Outside the US, products including CFDs are offered through separately regulated subsidiaries, such as Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited under the FCA.
- Holds additional licences from ASIC (Australia), IIROC/CIRO (Canada), MAS (Singapore) and other regulators across roughly a dozen jurisdictions.
- CFDs are not offered to US, Canadian or Hong Kong residents.
Markets & CFDs
- Access to 8,500+ tradeable symbols across 170+ markets in 36 countries: stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs.
- CFDs are available to non-US clients as one instrument type among many, rather than IBKR's core product.
- 90+ forex currency pairs, tradeable as spot or CFDs depending on jurisdiction.
- Crypto access is via spot custody (through partners including Paxos and Zero Hash), not CFDs.
Fees & account structure
- IBKR Lite (commission-free US stock/ETF trades) and IBKR Pro (per-share or tiered commissions, tighter execution) account tiers.
- No minimum deposit and no account minimum for most account types.
- Forex/CFD commissions from around 0.2 basis points, with a roughly $2 minimum per order.
- No inactivity fee and no monthly account fee.
Platforms & tools
- Trader Workstation (TWS): a professional-grade desktop platform with a steep learning curve.
- IBKR Desktop and Client Portal offer simplified desktop and browser alternatives.
- IBKR Mobile and IBKR GlobalTrader apps, plus API access for automated and algorithmic trading.
- Research from 70+ third-party providers and Traders' Academy education content.
Markets
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Platforms
Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, Client Portal, IBKR Mobile, IBKR GlobalTrader
Who Interactive Brokers is for
As a client, best for active or professional multi-asset traders who want one account across stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and (outside the US) CFDs, at low costs. Less suited to casual traders — the platform is powerful but complex, and CFDs are a peripheral, non-US product.
Pros
- Extremely broad regulation (SEC, FINRA and CFTC in the US, plus FCA, ASIC, IIROC/CIRO, MAS and more abroad) and public-company transparency as a Nasdaq-listed, S&P 500 firm.
- One account can span stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and, outside the US, CFDs, rather than requiring a separate broker per asset class.
- No minimum deposit, no inactivity fee, and margin/commission rates consistently rated among the lowest in the industry.
- Institutional-grade tools (TWS, API access, deep third-party research) not typically found at retail-first CFD brokers.
Cons
- CFDs are a small part of a much larger business; traders who want a CFD-focused platform may find TWS's breadth more than they need.
- CFDs are not available to US, Canadian or Hong Kong residents, and jurisdiction determines which entity, regulator and product set apply.
- Forex/CFD trades carry a per-order minimum commission (around $2), which is comparatively expensive for very small position sizes.
- TWS has a steep learning curve, and IBKR does not offer MetaTrader or copy trading, unlike most retail CFD brokers.
Interactive Brokers FAQ
Does Interactive Brokers offer CFDs?
Yes, but only to clients outside the US, Canada and Hong Kong. CFDs are offered through non-US IBKR entities, such as Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited, which is regulated by the FCA. In the US, IBKR's core products are stocks, options, futures, forex and bonds rather than CFDs.
Is Interactive Brokers regulated?
Yes. In the US it is regulated by the SEC, FINRA and the CFTC, with SIPC coverage on securities. It also holds licences from the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), IIROC/CIRO (Canada), MAS (Singapore) and other regulators through its international subsidiaries, reflecting operations across roughly a dozen jurisdictions.
How much does it cost to open an account?
There is no minimum deposit. Costs instead come from IBKR's fee structure: IBKR Lite offers commission-free US stock and ETF trades, while IBKR Pro charges per-share or tiered commissions for tighter execution; forex and CFD trades carry a small per-order commission.
Is Interactive Brokers good for beginners?
Not particularly. Its flagship Trader Workstation platform is powerful but has a steep learning curve, and IBKR does not offer MetaTrader or copy trading. It is generally better suited to active, experienced or professional traders and investors than to CFD beginners looking for a simple app.
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