Interactive Brokers — where it wins, where it loses
Interactive Brokers wins on entry cost. No column in our set puts it behind the field. Its cost per ten lots is not confirmed, so it is left out of the cost ordering rather than estimated.
Column by column
The split
Two lists, no averaging. A broker that takes a column outright appears on the left of it; one that gets beaten on a column appears on the right. Nothing is scored into a single number, because a single number hides which side you actually care about.
Wins on
- entry cost
Loses on
No column in this set puts Interactive Brokers behind the field.
Cost per 10 lots is the EUR/USD spread cost of ten round-turn standard lots at the figure above, commission excluded. Where a broker publishes a "from" spread rather than an average, the comparison inherits that limitation — see the unconfirmed list further down.
Licensing
Which entity, which regulator, which number
Tier decides how much weight a licence carries in any safety column. Each row links to the page it was read from.
| Regulator | Number | Jurisdiction | Tier | Entity | Read from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Conduct Authority (UK) | 208159 | GB | Tier 1 | entity not examined | register.fca.org.uk |
| Securities and Exchange Commission (US) | 8-47257 | US | Tier 1 | entity not examined | sec.gov |
Checkable
Facts the comparison runs on
On the record
- Interactive Brokers traces its origins to 1978 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.
- Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker IBKR and is a component of the S&P 500.
- ASIC's media release dated 20 September 2023 states that Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 166 929 568) paid a $832,500 penalty to comply with an infringement notice from the Market Disciplinary Panel; ASIC reports the MDP findings and notes that compliance with the notice is not an admission of guilt or liability (https://www.asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2023-releases/23-255mr-interactive-brokers-pays-832-500-penalty-for-negligent-and-reckless-conduct).
- Interactive Brokers: deposit as advertised by the firm, 2026-10 (https://www.interactivebrokers.co.uk/en/accounts/required-minimums.php)
- Interactive Brokers: software as advertised by the firm, 2026-10 (https://www.interactivebrokers.co.uk/en/trading/trading-platforms.php)
| Trading since | not verified |
|---|---|
| Base | not verified |
| Minimum to open | None (as advertised by Interactive Brokers, 2026-10 · source) |
| Leverage cap | not examined |
| EUR/USD | not verified |
| Terminals | Proprietary desktop platform, Proprietary web platform |
| Account tiers | IBKR Account (Individual/Joint), Free Trial |
| Markets | not verified |
| Record confidence | high |
| Matchup-ready | no — too many gaps to run a fair head-to-head |
Excluded from the maths
Not verified
Not verified
Every input above traces to a source we can re-open. Nothing about Interactive Brokers is carried on the broker's word alone.
Costs less
Who beats Interactive Brokers on price
Tickmill
$10.00 per 10 lots · wins on headline spread, platform choice
Eightcap
$10.00 per 10 lots · wins on regulatory reach
JustMarkets
$30.00 per 10 lots · wins on headline spread
CMC Markets
$50.00 per 10 lots · wins on headline spread, no minimum deposit, regulatory reach, platform choice
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money. Verify every figure with the broker before opening an account.