Global multi-asset broker with access to 150+ exchanges; EEA clients are onboarded by Interactive Brokers Ireland.
- Headquarters
United States- Founded
- 1978
- Type
- Multi-asset brokers
- Licences on record
- 9 (2 European)
- EU client entity
- Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (Central Bank of Ireland)
- Platforms
- IBKR Trader Workstation, Own platform
- Products
- Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Forex, CFDs, Bonds, Funds
- Website
- interactivebrokers.com
Strengths
- Access to around 150 markets and exchanges worldwide from one account
- Very low costs for many products and competitive margin rates
- Nasdaq-listed group with a strong capital base
- Shares, ETFs, options, futures, forex, bonds, funds and CFDs
Watch-outs
- Trader Workstation is powerful but complex
- Market-data subscriptions cost extra
- Customer service is mostly self-service
Overview
Interactive Brokers was founded in 1978 by Thomas Peterffy and is listed on Nasdaq. It is the go-to broker for many professional and semi-professional traders thanks to its breadth and low costs.
Which entity serves you
EEA residents are onboarded by Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland; UK residents by Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited. ESMA protections apply to retail CFD trading, and Irish investor compensation to eligible claims. Many introducing brokers – such as LYNX and CapTrader – offer IBKR accounts with local-language service.
Platforms and products
Trader Workstation (desktop), IBKR Desktop, Client Portal, IBKR Mobile and APIs. Products span shares, ETFs, options, futures, forex, bonds, funds and CFDs.
Our view
Unmatched breadth for the price, with a high Protection Score. Beginners may find it intimidating; long-term investors wanting simplicity may prefer a neobroker.
Licences on record
Brands often operate several companies. The one that onboards you depends on where you live, and that company's regulator decides your protection. Confirm the entity on the official register before you deposit.
| Regulator | Jurisdiction | Type | Check it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Bank of Ireland Central Bank of Ireland |  Ireland |
EU/EEA – passportable | Official register |
| FCA Financial Conduct Authority |  United Kingdom |
UK | Official register |
| SEC / FINRA U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission / FINRA | United States |
Non-European | Official register |
| CFTC / NFA Commodity Futures Trading Commission / National Futures Association | United States |
Non-European | Official register |
| ASIC Australian Securities and Investments Commission |  Australia |
Non-European | Regulator website |
| SFC Securities and Futures Commission (Hong Kong) |  Hong Kong |
Non-European | Regulator website |
| MAS Monetary Authority of Singapore |  Singapore |
Non-European | Regulator website |
| FSA Japan Financial Services Agency (Japan) |  Japan |
Non-European | Regulator website |
| CIRO Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization |  Canada |
Non-European | Regulator website |
What protection would you get?
If you are a retail client of Interactive Brokers's European entity, these safeguards apply by law. Which one applies to you depends on the entity you sign with.
- Investor compensation: 90% of the loss, up to €20,000 per investor – Investor Compensation Company DAC (ICCL)
- Leverage for retail clients: capped at 30:1 on major currency pairs, down to 2:1 on crypto. Details
- Negative balance protection: you cannot lose more than the money in your account.
- Margin close-out: positions are closed when equity falls to 50% of required margin.
- Complaints: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman
- Best forex brokers in Ireland
- Investor compensation: Up to £85,000 per person per firm for investments – Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
- Leverage for retail clients: capped at 30:1 on major currency pairs, down to 2:1 on crypto. Details
- Negative balance protection: you cannot lose more than the money in your account.
- Margin close-out: positions are closed when equity falls to 50% of required margin.
- Complaints: Financial Ombudsman Service
- Best forex brokers in United Kingdom
Verify Interactive Brokers yourself
- Find the exact company name in the footer of the website and in the client agreement you are asked to sign.
- Search that name on the register of the regulator listed for your country (links above). Make sure the register shows the same website domain.
- Check warning lists for look-alike names: IOSCO I-SCAN covers alerts from regulators worldwide.
- Never download remote-access software or move money because someone "from the broker" phoned you. How clone-firm scams work.
Protection Score breakdown
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Holds at least one European licence (EU/EEA, UK or Swiss) | +40 |
| ESMA/FCA retail protections available (leverage caps, negative balance protection, compensation scheme) | +15 |
| Supervised in 8 strong jurisdictions | +12 |
| Publicly listed group (audited public accounts) | +8 |
| Operating for 48 years | +7 |
| Total | 82/100 |
The score measures structural protection from licences and corporate facts, not costs, service or platform quality. A high score does not mean a firm is right for you. Methodology.
Trader experiences
No verified experiences yet. Have you used Interactive Brokers? Share what happened with deposits, withdrawals, execution and support.
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About this data
Profile type: reviewed profile. Licence data is from our research and has not yet been re-checked against every register; confirm it on the official register before relying on it. Last updated 30 September 2026.
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