Interactive Brokers Review 2026

Last updated: February 2026 · Professional Trading

4.6

★★★★½

out of 5

⚡ Quick Verdict

Interactive Brokers is the ceiling — if you need global market access, ultra-low margin rates, or algorithmic trading capabilities, there's no better choice. The complexity is worth it for sophisticated traders who use what it offers.

Open IBKR Account →

CommissionsIBKR Lite: free. IBKR Pro: $0.65/contract

Min. Deposit$0

Account TypesIndividual, IRA, Trust, LLC, Institutional

Regulated ByFINRA / SIPC / FCA (global)

Best ForProfessional traders, global market access, algorithmic trading, large margin positions

Who Is Interactive Brokers For?

Professional and institutional traders, international investors, algorithmic traders, and anyone who needs global market access or is carrying large margin positions where rate differences matter.

Pros and Cons

✅ Pros

+ Access to 150+ global markets and exchanges

+ Industry-lowest margin rates (5.33% for $100K+)

+ Most comprehensive options strategy tools available

+ Fractional shares on thousands of US stocks

+ Strong API for algorithmic trading

+ IBKR Lite for casual traders, Pro for active

⚠️ Cons

− Interface is complex and intimidating for beginners

− IBKR Pro commissions are confusing to understand

− Customer service is slow for retail accounts

− Minimum activity fees can apply

− Mobile app lags behind desktop

Commissions & Fees

IBKR Lite: free. IBKR Pro: $0.65/contract

IBKR Lite is commission-free. Pro has the lowest margin rates in the industry.

Interactive Brokers in Depth

Interactive Brokers has been the professional trader's broker since 1978. The platform's breadth is unmatched: 150+ global exchanges, forex, futures, bonds, and options all in a single account. The Trader Workstation (TWS) is the most powerful desktop trading platform available to retail traders, with strategy builder, risk navigator, and options analytics tools that rival institutional systems. IBKR's margin rates are consistently 2-3x lower than competitors — on a $500K margin balance, this saves thousands per year. The IBKR Lite tier (commission-free, simplified interface) makes the broker accessible to casual investors who still want the underlying infrastructure quality.

Ready to open a Interactive Brokers account?

Takes about 5 minutes. No minimum deposit required on most accounts.

Open IBKR Account →