Interactive Investor
Virtual Brokers
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
Interactive Investor was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in UK, while Virtual Brokers was established in 2008 and is based in Canada. Interactive Investor holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Virtual Brokers is regulated by The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) among others. Interactive Investor serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Virtual Brokers has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Interactive Investor and $1000 at Virtual Brokers.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $1000 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) |
| Founded | 1995 | 2008 |
| Country | UK | Canada |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Interactive Investor and Virtual Brokers, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Interactive Investor has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $1000 at Virtual Brokers). Virtual Brokers charges withdrawal fees while Interactive Investor does not, giving Interactive Investor an edge for frequent withdrawers. Interactive Investor applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Virtual Brokers does not. Virtual Brokers charges deposit fees; Interactive Investor does not. Overall, Interactive Investor scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $1000 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Interactive Investor offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Virtual Brokers 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. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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, ProTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4,Desktop,iPhone/iOS |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Interactive Investor and Virtual Brokers compare. Virtual Brokers runs regular live webinars; Interactive Investor does not. Both provide video tutorials. Virtual Brokers publishes daily market commentary; Interactive Investor does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Virtual Brokers maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Virtual Brokers scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Interactive Investor accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Virtual Brokers supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | Virtual 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 Interactive Investor and Virtual 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 | Interactive Investor | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |