Updated October 23, 2026

Interactive Brokers review covers a discount broker with global reach, low commissions and a professional-grade platform. This page sets out how the pricing tiers actually work, what the non-commission fees cost and who the broker fits. Updated September 2026.

Interactive Brokers review 2026

Interactive Brokers at a glance

• Regulators: SEC and CFTC in the US, plus regulators worldwide

• Reach: licensed to offer services in 220 countries as of the 2023 figure on the broker's site

• Stock commission: free on Lite, 1 dollar minimum on Fixed, from 0.0035 per share on Tiered

• Options: 0.65 dollars per contract on Lite with a 1 dollar minimum

• Futures: varies by contract, up to 5 dollars per contract on crypto futures

• Forex: no spread markup, commission from 0.2 basis points

• Cryptocurrency: 0.18 percent of traded value, falling with volume

• Bonds: corporate from 0.1 percent of face value, treasuries from 0.002 percent

• Margin interest: 6.57 percent per year under 100,000 dollars borrowed

• Withdrawals: first each month free, small fee after that

• Market data: minimum 500 dollar balance to maintain a subscription

Is Interactive Brokers safe to trade with

Regulation is about as strong as it gets. The SEC and CFTC supervise the US entity, and the broker is regulated across the markets it serves. Account security uses two-step verification, so a stolen password alone does not grant access. Critical servers are not connected to the internet, which removes the main attack surface, and firewalls protect the servers that are.

Interactive Brokers Commission Fees

Is Interactive Brokers Safe to Trade With?

Is Interactive Brokers Safe to Trade With?

Combined, that puts Interactive Brokers among the most trustworthy retail brokers available. The risk you carry here is market risk, not counterparty risk.

How the commission structure works

IBKR is a discount broker in the literal sense: it charges a small amount per trade and adds no markup to the spread, so you see the same prices professionals see. The complication is that there are three pricing models and the right one depends entirely on how you trade.

• Lite: no commission on stock trades. The catch is execution quality, since orders may not always receive the best available fill.

• Fixed: 1 dollar minimum per trade with a flat per-share rate, and best execution.

• Tiered: from 0.0035 per share, so 3.50 dollars per 1,000 shares, falling as volume rises, with best execution.

Third-party fees sit on top of all three and are outside the broker's control: regulators charge 0.000008 per share on transactions plus 0.000145 per share on sales. Those numbers are small individually and matter at volume.

Options, futures and other markets

Options cost 0.65 dollars per contract on Lite with a 1 dollar minimum; Pro accounts offer tiered alternatives. Futures commissions differ per contract, with Tiered usually cheaper than Fixed, and cryptocurrency futures cost more, up to 5 dollars per contract. Check the specific contract before assuming a rate.

Forex carries no spread markup at all, with commission from 0.2 basis points of trade value. Watch the minimum commission per order if you trade small currency amounts, since it can dominate the cost. Cryptocurrency costs 0.18 percent of traded value with a minimum, falling with volume. Corporate bonds start at 0.1 percent of face value and treasury bills and notes at 0.002 percent.

The fees people forget

Two non-commission costs matter more than the headline rates for many accounts.

IB Stock Commissions

IB Stock Commissions

IB Stock Commissions

Margin interest applies whenever you hold a leveraged position overnight. Below 100,000 dollars of borrowed funds the rate is 6.57 percent per year, pro-rated to the time held. On the other side, IBKR pays interest on your cash balances, which most brokers do not, so idle cash is not wasted.

Market data fees buy live quotes, and each data source sets its own subscription price which the broker passes through. Some are waived if you trade enough. If you follow many markets these add up quickly, so check the total subscription cost against how much you actually use.

What you can trade

All the commonly traded assets at lower commissions than most competitors, plus metals and Event Contracts. An Event Contract is a digital option where you pick Yes or No on an outcome: a correct call pays the fixed contract value, an incorrect one settles at zero and you lose the price paid. Mutual funds and hedge funds are available for investing, and CFDs are offered in regions where they are legal, including the United Kingdom.

Deposits and withdrawals

• Direct ACH bank transfer: 1 day

• Connect your bank via ACH: up to 4 days

• Bank wire: usually 1 day

• Online bill payment: up to 6 days

• Mobile check deposit by scan: up to 6 days to clear

• Mailed check: postal time plus up to 6 days

• Wise Balance transfer: instant, requires a Wise account

IBKR charges no deposit fees, though your bank might. Withdrawals go through the Client Portal under Transfer & Pay, by ACH, check or bank wire. The first withdrawal each month is free and subsequent ones carry a small fee, so consolidate withdrawals rather than taking money out weekly.

IB Options Pricing

IB Options Pricing

Account types

Individual investors choose between IBKR Lite for no or low commissions and IBKR Pro with Fixed or Tiered pricing and best execution. Joint, trust and IRA accounts are available. Beyond retail, the broker serves advisors, family offices, small businesses, money managers, proprietary trading groups, hedge and mutual funds and institutional investors, which explains the platform's depth.

IB Futures Commission Costs

IB Futures Commission Costs

Who Interactive Brokers suits

• Active traders who will use Tiered pricing and care about execution quality

• Anyone trading multiple asset classes or multiple countries from one account

• Traders holding cash balances, since IBKR pays interest on them

• Less suitable for complete beginners, since the platform and fee structure both assume knowledge

Interactive Brokers gives you institutional pricing and access with a learning curve to match. Compare it with other providers in our broker hub, and Charles Schwab review covers a simpler alternative for US investors.

Interactive Brokers review: frequently asked questions

Which pricing tier should I choose?

Lite if you trade occasionally and accept that execution may not be optimal. Fixed for a predictable 1 dollar minimum with best execution. Tiered if you trade volume, starting at 0.0035 per share and falling from there.

Interactive Brokers Forex, Crypto, and Bond Commissions

Interactive Brokers Forex, Crypto, and Bond Commissions

Interactive Brokers Forex, Crypto, and Bond Commissions

Is Interactive Brokers regulated?

Yes, by the SEC and CFTC in the United States and by regulators in the other markets it serves.

What does margin cost?

6.57 percent per year on borrowed funds below 100,000 dollars, pro-rated to how long you hold the position. IBKR also pays interest on your cash balances.

Interactive Brokers Trading Products

Interactive Brokers Trading Products

Interactive Brokers Non-Commission Fees

Are there withdrawal fees?

The first withdrawal each month is free. Each additional one carries a small fee, so batch them rather than withdrawing frequently.

Interactive Brokers Account Types

Interactive Brokers Deposit and Withdrawal Methods

Interactive Brokers Deposit and Withdrawal Methods

What are Event Contracts?

Digital options where you choose Yes or No on an outcome. A correct call pays the fixed contract value; an incorrect one settles at zero and you lose what you paid.

Do I need a minimum balance?

Not to open an account, but individual clients need at least 500 dollars to maintain a market data subscription.

Interactive Brokers Mobile App

Interactive Brokers Client Portal Review

IB Trader Workstation (TWS) Review

Interactive Brokers Trading Platform and App