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
Accounts and costs
What each account needs to open and what you pay to trade on it.
| 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 |
Regulation
Which entity holds which licence. Your protection depends on the entity you open an account with.
Platforms and markets
Platforms
Markets
Deposits and withdrawals
- Methods
- Bank transfer, Wise
- Minimum deposit
- None
What traders say
Scores from the sites traders use, and our summary of what they're saying, checked 6 October 2026.
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: IBKR's main review page.
Forex Peace Army: trader reviews.
Sitejabber: a handful of customer reviews.
Myfxbook: trader reviews.
TradingView: reviews from verified TradingView users.
ConsumerAffairs: US customer reviews.
BBB complaints: formal complaints, including frozen accounts.
Reddit: long-term users describing their experience.
Verified reviews
Reviews from traders who've connected an account at Interactive Brokers to Chartnaut, so you know they actually traded there. Opening soon.