# Interactive Brokers

Low-cost global broker with access to stocks, options, futures and FX on 160+ markets

Source page: https://trust.chartnaut.com/brokers/interactive-brokers  
Website: https://www.interactivebrokers.com  
Type: CFD & forex, Stocks & ETFs, Options, Futures, Crypto  
Founded: 1978  
Based in: —  
Minimum deposit: None  
Markets: Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Bonds  
Platforms: TradingView, Trader Workstation, Own platform / app  
Deposits and withdrawals: Bank transfer, Wise

## Overview

Interactive Brokers, or IBKR, is the broker people graduate to when they want everything in one account: stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and funds across more than 160 markets. It's been around since 1978 and suits active traders and long-term investors who don't mind a busy interface. Interactive Brokers LLC is regulated in the US by the SEC, FINRA, the CFTC and the NFA, with separate entities under the FCA in the UK, ASIC in Australia, the SFC in Hong Kong and MAS in Singapore.

### Accounts and costs

There's no minimum to open a cash account, though a margin account needs $2,000. **IBKR Lite** gives US clients $0 commissions on US-listed stocks and ETFs. **IBKR Pro** charges fixed or tiered commissions, with US shares from $0.005 each and a minimum per order. Margin loans start around 4.38% and uninvested USD cash earns interest. Forex leverage tops out around 1:50 depending on the entity. Fractional shares and retirement accounts like IRAs and UK SIPPs are available.

### Platforms and markets

**Trader Workstation** is the flagship desktop platform, packed with scanners, market depth and SmartRouting, but it takes time to learn. Client Portal, IBKR Desktop and IBKR Mobile are the lighter options. You can also trade from TradingView or build your own tools on the IBKR APIs. There's free paper trading to practise. Crypto and CFDs are offered too, depending on where you live.

### Money in and out

Funding is by bank wire, ACH or other local bank transfers, and IBKR doesn't charge for deposits. Card deposits aren't accepted and cash is refused. Your first withdrawal each month is free, with a fee after that, around $10 for USD. Withdrawals usually go back the same way the money came in.

## Good

- Huge market range: stocks, options, futures, FX, bonds and funds across 160+ markets
- No account minimum for cash accounts
- IBKR Lite has $0 commissions on US stocks and ETFs
- Low margin rates and interest paid on uninvested cash
- Trader Workstation, APIs and a TradingView connection for active traders
- Regulated in the US, UK, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore

## Watch for

- Trader Workstation has a steep learning curve
- Only one free withdrawal a month
- No card deposits, funding is by bank transfer
- Customer service can be slow for smaller accounts
- No MetaTrader support

## Regulation

- SEC / FINRA: Interactive Brokers LLC, licence CRD 36418
- CFTC / NFA: Interactive Brokers LLC
- FCA: Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited, licence 208159
- ASIC: entity not stated, licence AFSL 453554
- SFC: Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited
- MAS: Interactive Brokers Singapore Pte. Ltd., licence CMS100917

- API trading: yes
- Demo account: yes
- Fractional shares: yes
- Tax-advantaged accounts: yes

## Accounts and costs

| Account | Min deposit | Pricing | Max leverage |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| IBKR Lite | None | $0 commissions on US exchange-listed stocks and ETFs | — |
| IBKR Pro | None | Fixed or tiered commissions, US stocks from $0.005 per share with a minimum per order | Up to 1:50 on forex depending on entity; margin accounts need $2,000 |

## What traders say

Checked 2026-10-06.

- Trustpilot: 3.2 / 5 from 5,399 reviews (https://www.trustpilot.com/review/interactivebrokers.com)
- Forex Peace Army: no score (https://www.forexpeacearmy.com/forex-reviews/113/interactivebrokers-stock-broker)
- Sitejabber: 1.8 / 5 from 8 reviews (https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/interactivebrokers.com)
- Myfxbook: no score (https://www.myfxbook.com/reviews/brokers/interactive-brokers/133,1)
- TradingView: no score (https://www.tradingview.com/broker/IBKR/reviews/)
- ConsumerAffairs: no score (https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/interactive-brokers.html)
- BBB complaints: no score (https://www.bbb.org/us/ct/greenwich/profile/commodity-broker/interactive-brokers-llc-0111-87001772/complaints)
- Reddit: no score (https://www.reddit.com/r/interactivebrokers/comments/1sgv3xt/long_term_users_of_interactive_brokers_how_has/)

Interactive Brokers gets two very different reviews depending on where you look. On Trustpilot it holds 3.2 from about 5,400 reviews, and the small Sitejabber page shows 1.8 from 8. Reddit, where many active traders discuss it, is far kinder about the product itself. The pattern across sites is consistent: people like the prices and market access and dislike the support and the compliance holds on their money.

### What traders like

- **Low costs.** Reddit users and TradingView reviewers often name low commissions, margin rates and currency conversion as the reason they stay.
- **Market access.** Many say no other broker gives them as many exchanges and products from one account, which matters most to traders outside the US.
- **Trust in the firm.** Several Reddit users point to IBKR being listed, long established and heavily regulated, and say they would rather put up with the interface than use a smaller broker.
- **Tools for advanced traders.** Options and futures traders praise TWS and the API.

### Common complaints

- **Customer service.** The most common complaint on Trustpilot, Sitejabber and BBB is slow ticket replies, long phone holds and generic answers.
- **Withdrawals and frozen accounts.** Several reviewers on Reddit, BBB and Forex Peace Army describe withdrawals stuck under review, wires rejected without a clear reason, or accounts restricted for months. Bogleheads users say deposits can only be withdrawn to the originating bank for a period after deposit.
- **Hard to use.** Many Reddit users call the apps cluttered, and some say TWS or the desktop app crashed at bad moments.
- **Account opening.** Some new clients, especially in Europe, say they could not get into their account after funding it.

### Recently

- **July 2026:** recent Trustpilot reviews were dominated by customer service complaints, and IBKR expanded its crypto offering on 14 July. No other dated reviews from the last 90 days are in the evidence.

### Where this comes from

- [Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/interactivebrokers.com): IBKR's main review page.
- [Forex Peace Army](https://www.forexpeacearmy.com/forex-reviews/113/interactivebrokers-stock-broker): trader reviews.
- [Sitejabber](https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/interactivebrokers.com): a handful of customer reviews.
- [Myfxbook](https://www.myfxbook.com/reviews/brokers/interactive-brokers/133,1): trader reviews.
- [TradingView](https://www.tradingview.com/broker/IBKR/reviews/): reviews from verified TradingView users.
- [ConsumerAffairs](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/interactive-brokers.html): US customer reviews.
- [BBB complaints](https://www.bbb.org/us/ct/greenwich/profile/commodity-broker/interactive-brokers-llc-0111-87001772/complaints): formal complaints, including frozen accounts.
- [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/interactivebrokers/comments/1sgv3xt/long_term_users_of_interactive_brokers_how_has/): long-term users describing their experience.

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Information gathered from public sources (company websites, regulator registers, third-party review sites). Ratings are quoted from those sources and are not the opinion of Chartnaut.com. Not financial advice. Trading carries a high risk of loss. Questions or corrections: help@chartnaut.com. Methodology: https://trust.chartnaut.com/methodology