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Interactive Brokers vs IG : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers

VS
IG

IG

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Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

Market maker

ECN

Years of Existence / Established Year

1993

1974

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

3.12M

313,000 customers


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Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

SEC, FINRA, NYSE, FCA, FINMA, CFTC, MAS, SFC, CBI, IIROC, JFSA, MiFiD

NFA CFTC FCA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Best Online Broker for Advanced Traders in 2024, Professional Trading 2024, #1 Best Online Broker in 2023, Best for Advanced Traders, Best Online Broker in 2024, Best Stock Broker for International Trading

Best Multi platform provider - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024 Best Finance App - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024 Best platform for active trader - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2022

Security Measures

SIPC

FSCS

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Yes


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Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

150 Markets including Forecast and event contracts, Spot currencies,US spot Gold, Hedge funds

17,000 + markets

Currency Pairs

Yes

Yes

Commodities

No

Yes

Indices

No

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

Yes

CFDs

No

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Yes

Options

Yes

Yes

Futures

Yes

Yes

Bonds

Yes

Yes

Mutual Funds

Yes

Yes

Fractional Shares

No

No

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

No

Yes

Precious Metals

Yes

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

No

Yes

Equities

No

Yes


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Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

Yes

MT4

No

Yes

MT5

No

No

cTrader

No

No

Social Trading

No

Yes

Copy Trading

Yes

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

IBKR global Trader, Client Portal, Desktop, Mobile, Trader workstation, APIs, Forecast Trader, IMPACT

ProReal Time APIs L2 dealer

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Yes


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Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Individual, Joint, Trust, IRA and UGMA/UTMA Accounts, Non-Professional Advisor Accounts, Family Office Accounts, Small Business Accounts, Advisor Accounts, Money Manager Accounts, Broker & FCM Accounts, Proprietary Trading Group Accounts, Hedge Fund & Mutual Fund Accounts, Compliance Officers, Administrators, Institutional Hedge Fund Investors

Leveraged Accounts Spread betting account CFD accountNon-Leveraged Account Share dealing account ISA account IG smart portfolio account IG smart ISA portfolio account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Yes

No

Minimum Deposit

$0

$50

Leverage Available

10:1 to 50:1

200:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

EUR 5,000,000

Trade size vary on each asset

Commission (per account type)

$0

Starting from 0.1

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginner to advanced traders

Beginners


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Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

ACH transfer, Link a new bank account, Bank wire, Transfer from wise balance, Scan a check , Mail a check, SEPA

Bank transfers Card FPS in Hong Kong dollars Funding on IG mobile app Wise

Withdrawal Methods

ACH, Check, Direct debit, Transfer to wise balance, Canadian ETF transfer, SEPA

Card Bank transfer

Other E-Wallets Supported

No

No


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Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

Yes

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Traders' Academy (Online Courses), IBKR Webinars, Market Insights and Analysis, Trader's University (Video Tutorials), IBKR Quant Blog (Quantitative Trading), Customer Education (Trading Guides)

Trade analytics tools Seminars & webinars


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Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

IBKR Lite: Commission-free U.S. stocks, ETFs, and specific mutual funds, IBKR Pro: $0.005 per share, minimum $1 per trade

US shares 0 to 50 - commission free 50+ trades - $5Other shares Germany - 0.1% UK - 0.1% Ireland - 0.1%

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Fixed spread

Variable

Per Lot Fees

NA

NA

Options Contract Fees

$0.65/contract

NA

Futures Contract Fees

$0.85

NA

Markup Fees on Spread

$1.50

NA

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

NA

Vary for each asset

Maximum Leverage

50:1

200:1


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Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$0

$12/month after 24 months of no trading activity

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

NA

NA

Advisory Fees

It depends up on the account type

NA

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

over $10 million free

Yes

Statement or Document Fee

NA

$50

Account Opening Fee

$0

$0

Account Maintenance Fee

$0

$0

Deposit Fee

$0

Free for Wire & check deposits

Currency Conversion Fee

$0.03

0.5% - CFDs and share dealing accounts 0.7% - international shares

Withdrawal Fee

$10 outgoing wire transfer fee

Wire transfer - $25


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Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Yes


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Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday Overnight trading hours: 8:00 PM ET - 3:50 AM ET, Sunday through Friday

Forex Monday 00:00 - Friday 22:00 GMT (International times may vary)UK shares (LSE): 08.00-16.30 (London time) US shares: 09.30-16.00 (New York time) European shares: vary on relevant exchanges


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Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

24/7

24x5 support

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Phone: 1 (888) 919-0022, E-mail: [email protected], Live chat

Call +44 (20) 7633 5430 Email: [email protected] 10AM to 7PM whatsapp channel support (Monday to Friday)

Support Languages

33

8


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Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Greenwich, Connecticut

IG Cannon Bridge House 25 Dowgate Hill London EC4R 2YA

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

No

No


At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.
Interactive Brokers is known for competitive pricing on basic trades, especially for beginners. However, IG fee structure, though slightly higher, covers a broader range of services, making it more suitable for active traders.
The account creation flow at Interactive Brokers is modern and app-driven, making it seamless for new users. IG , however, leans toward traditional processes with forms and verifications that take more time.
New traders may find Interactive Brokers interface more welcoming, while IG appeals to experienced users looking for tools like heatmaps, screeners, and market sentiment overlays.
For market veterans, Interactive Brokers brings the tools they need. New investors might find IG more approachable and cost-effective.