Interactive Brokers
Zerodha
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Overview
Interactive Brokers was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in United States, while Zerodha was established in 2010 and is based in India. 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 Zerodha is regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) among others. Interactive Brokers serves 1,000,000+ clients worldwide; Zerodha has 1,500,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Interactive Brokers and $0 at Zerodha.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $0 |
| 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). | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Member of the Bombay Stock Exchange |
| Founded | 1977 | 2010 |
| Country | United States | India |
| Clients | 1,000,000+ | 1,500,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Interactive Brokers and Zerodha, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Zerodha has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $1 at Interactive Brokers). Interactive Brokers charges withdrawal fees while Zerodha does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Zerodha charges deposit fees; Interactive Brokers does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $0 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | Yes |
Platforms
Interactive Brokers offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform, while Zerodha supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Interactive Brokers supports social and copy trading features, which Zerodha does not offer. Interactive Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| 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, 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 Zerodha 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 | Interactive Brokers | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
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 Zerodha supports 1 (bank transfer). Interactive Brokers uniquely supports credit/debit card among the two brokers. Interactive Brokers scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | No |
| 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 Zerodha offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Interactive Brokers supports 2 languages and Zerodha supports 13, giving Zerodha broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, Turkce |