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Interactive Brokers vs Plus500 : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers

VS
Plus500

Plus500

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Broker Overview

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

Market maker

Market maker

Years of Existence / Established Year

1993

2008

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

3.12M

20 Million


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Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

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

FCA, CYSEC, ASIC, FMA, FSCA, FSP, ISA, FSA, MAS, DFSA, FSA, SCB

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 in Class for Trust Score 2024, GLOBAL TRADING ADVFN International Financial Awards

Security Measures

SIPC

Anti-Money Laundering

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

2800+

Currency Pairs

Yes

No

Commodities

No

No

Indices

No

No

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

No

CFDs

No

Yes

ETFs

Yes

No

Stocks

Yes

No

Options

Yes

Yes

Futures

Yes

Yes

Bonds

Yes

No

Mutual Funds

Yes

No

Fractional Shares

No

No

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

No

No

Precious Metals

Yes

No

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

No

No

Equities

No

No


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Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

Yes

MT4

No

No

MT5

No

No

cTrader

No

No

Social Trading

No

No

Copy Trading

Yes

No

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

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

Mobile and web trading platform

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

Retail Account & Demo Account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Yes

No

Minimum Deposit

$0

$100

Leverage Available

10:1 to 50:1

1:30

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

EUR 5,000,000

Depends on the asset type

Commission (per account type)

$0

$0

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

Beginner to advanced traders

Experienced traders


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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

Credit, Debit, Master card, Bank transfer, e-wallets

Withdrawal Methods

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

Credit, Debit, Master card, Bank transfer, e-wallets

Other E-Wallets Supported

No

PayPal, Skrill


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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)

Trading Academy Online Courses, Market News and Analysis, Webinars, Trading Guides and eBooks, Video Tutorials, Trader's Guide Beginner's Guide


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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

Commission-$0

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

NA

Maximum Leverage

50:1

1:30


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Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$0

$10 per month inactive for three months

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

NA

Account Opening Fee

$0

NA

Account Maintenance Fee

$0

NA

Deposit Fee

$0

$0

Currency Conversion Fee

$0.03

0.70%

Withdrawal Fee

$10 outgoing wire transfer fee

$0


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Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

No

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

No


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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

Depends on the instrument offer


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Customer Support

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

24/7

24/7

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

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

Call +65 6320 1111 or +65 6320 1119, Email to Plus500's customer support, Live chat

Support Languages

33

32+


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Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Greenwich, Connecticut

Menachem Begin 125 Tel Aviv, Israel.

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 stands out for its zero-commission trading model, appealing to cost-conscious investors. In contrast, Plus500 offers more comprehensive services with slightly higher fees, especially for advanced tools and asset classes.
Account approval at Interactive Brokers is usually completed within hours, often with automated ID checks. Plus500 might take longer due to manual reviews, but provides in-depth onboarding support along the way.
Interactive Brokers integrates well with algorithmic trading tools and third-party plugins. In contrast, Plus500 emphasizes educational content and built-in research features within its platform.
Interactive Brokers supports complex strategies and asset diversity, while Plus500 offers clarity and low-cost access for short-term holders.