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Interactive Brokers logo

Interactive Brokers

8.9/10

the share centre

7.4/10
9/10RegulationWinner10/10
10/10WinnerFees0/10
10/10WinnerPlatforms9/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research4/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Interactive Brokers was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in United States, while the share centre was established in 2019 and is based in Bulgaria. 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 the share centre is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Interactive Brokers serves 1,000,000+ clients worldwide; the share centre has 60,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Interactive Brokers and $250 at the share centre.

Interactive Brokers wins this category
FeatureInteractive Brokersthe share centre
Min. Deposit$1$250
Regulationthe 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), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F322
Founded19772019
CountryUnited StatesBulgaria
Clients1,000,000+60,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Interactive Brokers and the share centre, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Interactive Brokers has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at the share centre). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. the share centre applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Interactive Brokers does not. the share centre charges deposit fees; Interactive Brokers does not. Overall, Interactive Brokers scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Interactive Brokers wins this category
FeatureInteractive Brokersthe share centre
Min. Deposit$1$250
Withdrawal FeesYesYes
Inactivity FeesNoYes
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesYesYes

Platforms

Interactive Brokers offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform, while the share centre 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.

Interactive Brokers wins this category
FeatureInteractive Brokersthe share centre
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsWeb Trader, NinjaTrader, Tablet & Mobile appsMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, 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 the share centre compare. Interactive Brokers runs regular live webinars; the share centre does not. Both provide video tutorials. Interactive Brokers publishes daily market commentary; the share centre 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.

Interactive Brokers wins this category
FeatureInteractive Brokersthe share centre
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesNo
Weekly WebinarsYesNo
Daily CommentaryYesNo
Trading CentralYesNo
AutochartistYesYes

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 the share centre supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). the share centre uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. the share centre scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

the share centre wins this category
FeatureInteractive Brokersthe share centre
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoYes
SkrillNoYes
NetellerNoYes

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 the share centre offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Interactive Brokers supports 2 languages and the share centre supports 8, giving the share centre broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureInteractive Brokersthe share centre
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic