Barclays
Interactive Brokers
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Overview
Barclays was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while Interactive Brokers was established in 1977 and is based in United States. Barclays holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Interactive Brokers is regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL: 453554) and is a participant of ASX among others. Barclays serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Interactive Brokers has 1,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Barclays and $1 at Interactive Brokers.
| Feature | Barclays | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) | the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL: 453554) and is a participant of ASX, ASX 24 and Chi-X Australia. Is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and Member - Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA register entry number 208159. Is regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). Is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI, reference number C423427). Is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Hungary (Magyar Nemzeti Bank) under no. H-EN-III-623/2020. Is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Is a member of NSE, BSE, SEBI. Regn. No. SEBI Registration No. INZ000217730; NSDL: IN-DP-NSDL-301-2008. CIN-U67120MH2007FTC170004. Is regulated by Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Registration No.187). Is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Licence No. CMS100917). |
| Founded | 2011 | 1977 |
| Country | United Kingdom | United States |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 1,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Barclays and Interactive Brokers, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $1 at Interactive Brokers). Interactive Brokers charges withdrawal fees while Barclays does not, giving Barclays an edge for frequent withdrawers. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | Barclays | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Barclays offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Interactive Brokers supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Interactive Brokers supports social and copy trading features, which Barclays does not offer. Interactive Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Barclays | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Desktop, Tablet & Mobile apps | Web Trader, NinjaTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Barclays and Interactive Brokers compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | Barclays | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Barclays accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Interactive Brokers supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Barclays | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Barclays and Interactive Brokers offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Barclays | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |