Circle Markets
Interactive Brokers
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Overview
Circle Markets was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while Interactive Brokers was established in 1977 and is based in United States. Circle Markets holds licences including Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), 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. Circle Markets serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Interactive Brokers has 1,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Circle Markets and $1 at Interactive Brokers.
| Feature | Circle Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Regulation | Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) | 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 | 2007 | 1977 |
| Country | New Zealand | United States |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 1,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Circle Markets and Interactive Brokers, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Interactive Brokers has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $100 at Circle Markets). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Circle Markets charges deposit fees; Interactive Brokers does not. Overall, Interactive Brokers scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Circle Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Circle Markets 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 Circle Markets does not offer. Interactive Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Circle Markets | 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 Circle Markets 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. Interactive Brokers scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Circle Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Circle Markets 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 | Circle Markets | 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 Circle Markets 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 | Circle Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |