Interactive Brokers
Interactive Investor
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Overview
Interactive Brokers was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in United States, while Interactive Investor was established in 1995 and is based in UK. Interactive Brokers holds licences including 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, while Interactive Investor is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Interactive Brokers serves 1,000,000+ clients worldwide; Interactive Investor has 10,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $1.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $1 |
| Regulation | 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). | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Founded | 1977 | 1995 |
| Country | United States | UK |
| Clients | 1,000,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Interactive Brokers and Interactive Investor, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $1. Interactive Brokers charges withdrawal fees while Interactive Investor does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Interactive Investor applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Interactive Brokers does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Interactive Brokers offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform, while Interactive Investor supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. Interactive Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Web Trader, NinjaTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | Web Trader, ProTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Interactive Brokers and Interactive Investor compare. Interactive Brokers runs regular live webinars; Interactive Investor does not. Both provide video tutorials. Interactive Brokers publishes daily market commentary; Interactive Investor does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Interactive Brokers maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Interactive Brokers scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Interactive Brokers accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Interactive Investor supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Interactive Brokers and Interactive Investor 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 | Interactive Brokers | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |