IBKR Comparison

Low Margin.
High Interest.
Global Access. Competitive Execution.

No Compromise.

Most brokers make you trade one of these for another, a low rate but cash earning nothing, global reach but higher costs. With Interactive Brokers (IBKR) you get them all at once.

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See How Your Broker Compares

USD 4.38%

Low Margin Rates

One of the lowest margin loan rates among major US brokers, vs 10-12% at most. Save more than /yr on a $300K balance.See how much you could save on your margin balance.

Compare Margin Rates

USD 3.38%

Interest on Cash

On qualifying uninvested cash,
vs ~0.01% at most brokers

Compare Interest Rates

175+

Global Markets

Access stocks, options, futures, bonds, funds and currencies across 175+ markets worldwide.

Global Markets

Competition
On Every Order

Many Firms Compete for Your Orders

Competition and smart order routing help get the best available execution price.

Best Execution

Best execution applies to IBKR Pro. IBKR Lite offers commission-free US stocks and ETFs.

Compare IBKR With Your Broker

IBKR Schwab Fidelity E*TRADE Robinhood tastytrade TradeStation
Stock and ETF commission $0Lite, low tiered on Pro $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 commissionPlus $0.0008/share clearing fee $0 commissionPlus up to $0.003/share clearing (US)
Interest on uninvested cash Up to 3.38%IBKR Pro, on cash above $10K; full rate at NAV ≥ $100K 0.01% APYUninvested brokerage cash 3.49%SPAXX money market fund 7-day yield, Oct 7, 2026 0.01% APYBank Deposit Program under $500K; 0.05%–0.15% above 3.60% APY with Gold$5/month subscription; no non-Gold rate published Not verified 0.15%On cash above $100K, non-IRA accounts
Margin rate @ $300KMargin rate As low as 4.38%IBKR Pro, blended across tiers; Lite IBKR Pro, blended across tiers 10.325%@ $300K 10.325%@ $300K 10.70%@ $300K 4.75%@ $300K 9.00%@ $300K 11.00%@ $300K
FX conversion 0.08–0.20 bpsManual spot FX, $2 min; auto-conversion 3 bps 20–100 bpsSchwab Global Account 20–100 bps MarkupRate not published n/a n/a n/a
Direct international access 175+ markets40 countries 12 foreign equity marketsOnline via Global Account; 30+ countries in total 25 foreign equity marketsOnline, 16 currencies ADRs and OTC only US stocks and ADRsPlus some Canadian and Israeli stocks US Only US Only
How your order is filled Market competesIBKR Pro SmartRouting, no PFOF PFOF PFOFEquities, since April 2026 PFOF PFOF PFOF Smart or direct routing; PFOF on some routes
Product breadth Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, funds, currenciesPlus crypto, prediction markets and spot gold Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, funds, currenciesCrypto in phased rollout Stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, funds, cryptoNo futures Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, funds, crypto Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, crypto, event contractsNo bonds or funds Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, cryptoPlus Treasuries and event contracts; currencies via tastyfx Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, fundsBonds via trade desk; availability varies
Account protection SIPC + $30M excessPer account, $900K cash; $150M aggregate SIPC+Excess coverage, $600M aggregate SIPC+$1.9M cash per client; $1B aggregate SIPC+$1.9M cash per client; $1B aggregate SIPC + $50M excessPer customer, $1.9M cash; $1B aggregate SIPC + $37.5M excessPer customer through Apex, $900K cash; $150M aggregate SIPC + $24.5M excessPer account, $900K cash; $200M aggregate

Prefer the whole field?

Metric IBKR Schwab Fidelity E*TRADE Robinhood tastytrade TradeStation
Cost
Stock and ETF commission $0 (Lite)Pro: $0.0005–$0.0035/share tiered ($0.35 min) or $0.005/share fixed ($1 min) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 commissionPlus $0.0008/share clearing $0 commissionPlus $0–$0.003/share clearing
Margin rate @ $300KMargin rate As low as 4.38%IBKR Pro, blended across tiers; Lite IBKR Pro, tiered by balance 10.325%@ $300K 10.325%@ $300K 10.70%@ $300K 4.75%@ $300K 9.00%@ $300K 11.00%@ $300K
Interest on uninvested cash Up to 3.38%Pro, on cash above $10,000; full rate at NAV of $100,000+ 0.01% APY 3.49%SPAXX money market fund 7-day yield, Oct 7, 2026 0.01% APYBank Deposit Program under $500K; 0.05% to $1M; 0.15% at $1M+ 3.60% APY with Gold$5/month; no non-Gold rate published Not verified 0.15%On cash above $100K, non-IRA accounts
Options per contract $0.15–$0.65 tieredPro; Lite $0.65; $1 order minimum $0.65 $0.65$0 buy-to-close at ≤ $0.65 premium $0.65$0.50 with 30+ trades/quarter $0.00 $1.00 open$0 close; $10/leg cap; plus $0.10 clearing $0–$0.80US single-leg, by monthly volume; plus $0.025 clearing
Futures per contract $0.25–$0.85 tieredPro; $0.85 fixed and Lite; micros priced separately $2.25 Not offered $1.50 $0.75$0.50 with Gold; plus exchange and regulatory fees $1.00$0.75 micros; plus $0.30 clearing $0.50–$1.75By volume; micros $0.25–$0.50; plus up to $0.10 clearing
FX conversion 0.08–0.20 bpsManual spot FX, $2 minimum at base tier; auto-conversion ±3 bps 20–100 bpsSchwab Global Account 20–100 bps MarkupRate not published n/a n/a n/aNo conversion service found
Access
Direct international market access 175+ markets / 40 countriesAssets in 29 currencies 12 foreign equity marketsOnline via Global Account; 30+ countries in total 25 foreign equity marketsOnline, 16 currencies ADRs and OTC only US stocks and ADRsPlus some Canadian and Israeli stocks US Only US Only
Product range Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, funds, currencies, crypto, prediction markets, spot goldAdditional products beyond the categories shown Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, funds, currenciesBitcoin and ether in phased rollout via separate account Stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, funds, cryptoNo futures; physical metals are ordered by phone Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, funds, crypto Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, crypto, event contractsNo bonds or funds Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, crypto, Treasuries, event contractscurrencies via tastyfx Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, funds, bonds
Fractional shares 10,500+ US stocks and ETFsPlus eligible Canadian and European stocks 500 US stocks and ETFs$1 minimum 7000+ US stocks and ETFs$1 minimum Phased rollout, S&P 100 first$5 minimum Eligible NMS stocks over $1 and ≥ $25M market cap$1 minimum Stocks and ETFsCount not verified Not verified
Overnight US stock and ETF trading 10,000+Sun–Thu, 8:00 PM – 3:50 AM ET 1,300+24/5, on thinkorswim only NoExtended hours to 8:00 PM ET AvailableSun–Thu, 8:00 PM – 4:00 AM ET Select stocks and ETFs24 Hour Market S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 stocks, select ETFs24/5 No overnight session foundExtended hours 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM ET
Tools and Execution
How is your order filled IBKR SmartRoutingSM across competing venues; no PFOFIBKR Pro; IBKR Lite includes PFOF PFOF External routingEquity PFOF since April 2026 PFOF PFOF PFOF Smart or direct routing; PFOF on some routes
Trading platforms and API access Web, desktop and mobile; Web, TWS and FIX APIs Web, desktop and mobile; Trader API Web, desktop and mobile; no public retail trading API found Web, desktop and mobile; trading API Web and mobile; Legend (browser-based desktop); crypto trading API + MCP Web, desktop and mobile; Open APIRead and write Web, desktop and mobile; trading API
Connect your AI assistant ChatGPT, Claude, Grok and Perplexity via MCPAutonomous trading with AI-assisted execution or AI drafts orders; you review and submit Custom AI apps via Trader API can place ordersNo official MCP found No official MCP or public trading API found Custom API apps can place ordersNo official MCP found Official MCPTrades in a separate account; per-trade approval on by default, can be waived Official MCP (self-hosted)Order entry requires a dry run Official MCP for Claude and ChatGPTConfirms each order
Trust
Account protection SIPC + $30M excess per account$900K cash sublimit; $150M aggregate SIPC + excess$600M aggregate SIPC + excess$1.9M cash; $1B aggregate SIPC + excess$1.9M cash per client; $1B aggregate SIPC + $50M excess/customer$1.9M cash; $1B aggregate SIPC + $37.5M excess/customer through Apex$900K cash; $150M aggregate SIPC + $24.5M excess/account$900K cash; $200M aggregate

Competitor values are taken from each firm's own current published disclosures and regulatory filings at the same balance or tier shown, as of October 8, 2026, and are subject to change. Cells marked Not verified are those for which no current broker-owned disclosure could be located. Bank-sweep APYs, broker credit interest and money market fund yields are different products; money market funds are not FDIC-insured. Rates are variable and change frequently.

Estimate Your Potential Savings by Switching Brokers

Compare margin loan costs and interest earned on cash to estimate potential annual savings.

Calculate Your Potential Savings

Estimated Annual Difference

/ yr

Margin financing savings (% blended vs %)

Cash yield gain (% effective vs %)

Estimated total

Illustrative calculation only. Actual interest varies. Rates are subject to change.

What Clients Say

  1. 5 stars Mar 10, 2026

    I have been using Interactive Brokers for over 5 years now, and it has to offer a lot. Diversity of markets and instruments, as well as the multiple platforms for every preference.

  2. 5 stars Apr 17, 2026

    What makes the experience great is that IBKR provides a highly functional and globally accessible platform that anyone can use. The company is doing an excellent job with their customer support services.

  3. 5 stars Jan 1, 2026

    Very good investment platform, very easy to use and a lot of financial instruments available, and the customer service works very well and they are very professional as well.

  4. 5 stars Apr 17, 2026

    I love the IBKR platform, everything is very easy to understand and monitor and if you have any question, replies are always easy to understand and actionable, no matter if you use ticket or live chat.

  5. 5 stars Nov 11, 2025

    Interactive Brokers platform is FANTASTIC. Super user friendly, intuitive and low cost. The reporting system is superb. Other trading platforms should learn how to create a digital platform that has a customer at its forefront.

How to Transfer Your Brokerage Account to Interactive Brokers

1

Open Your Account

Online, in minutes.

2

Request a Transfer

Positions move in kind, no selling, no tax event for standard transfers.

3

Trade

Most transfers settle in days, with guided support for complex ones.

Before You Move Your Portfolio,
Know How It’s Protected.

Your assets at IBKR are covered by SIPC and, above that, excess protection through Lloyd's.

Trusted by over

5 Million

clients worldwide

Executing more than

4 Million

trades daily

Nasdaq-listed

IBKR

Member of the

S&P 500

Client assets over

$964 Billion

Total Equity

$23 Billion

Up to

$30 Million

in account protection coverage

Nearly

50 Years

of Innovation

Keep More of What You Earn

The longer you wait, the more it costs you. Open an account in minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Commissions are only one part of brokerage costs. Consider margin financing rates, interest on qualifying uninvested cash, currency conversion costs, order routing, available investments and access to international markets. The tables above compare these factors for Interactive Brokers and the selected brokers.

IBKR Lite offers commission-free trading of eligible US stocks and ETFs. IBKR Pro uses a different commission schedule and includes smart order routing without payment for order flow. Margin pricing and eligibility for the cash interest rates shown also depend on the account offering. Review the relevant row and disclosure for each comparison rather than assuming that every displayed rate applies to both offerings.

No. Interest on brokerage cash balances, bank-sweep annual percentage yields and money market fund yields come from different products and use different terms. Money market funds are not FDIC-insured bank deposits. Check the product description, balance requirements and measurement basis alongside the quoted rate.

The estimator illustrates potential differences in margin financing costs and interest on qualifying cash using the balances you enter. Its comparison baseline uses rates described in the calculator notes, not necessarily the rates at your present broker. Results are illustrative, rates may change and actual savings may differ.

The competitor comparison uses each firm's published disclosures and regulatory filings at the balance or pricing tier indicated, as of October 8, 2026. Rates, fees and eligibility can change. The comparison methodology and limitations are documented in the disclosures below.

Disclosures

Testimonials may not reflect the experience of all users and are not indicative of future performance or success. No compensation was provided by Interactive Brokers in connection with user reviews. In some cases, reviews have been abbreviated for length; any edits are limited to truncation and/or minor grammatical, spelling, or formatting corrections that do not alter the reviewer's intended meaning. Showing selected 5-star reviews.

  1. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on USD margin loan balances for IBKR Pro as of September 21, 2026. Interactive Brokers calculates the interest charged on margin loans using the applicable rates for each interest rate tier listed on its website. Learn more about margin loan rates.
  2. Restrictions apply. See additional information on interest rates. Credit interest rate as of September 21, 2026.
  3. IBKR Lite provides commission-free trades in US exchange-listed stocks and ETFs. For complete information, see ibkr.com/commissions.
  4. Competitor data was collected from each firm's own current published disclosures and regulatory filings, including Rule 606 order-routing reports filed with FINRA, as of October 8, 2026, at the same balance or tier stated. Competitor offerings, rates and fees are subject to change without notice and services vary by firm. A $0 commission does not mean the same thing at every firm; clearing fees and exclusions commonly apply to OTC, sub-dollar, foreign-market, direct-routed and broker-assisted transactions. Bank-sweep APYs, broker credit interest and money market fund yields are different products, and money market funds are not FDIC-insured bank deposits. Account-protection limits differ by asset type, and aggregate limits are shared across a firm's customers. Values shown as "Not verified" are those for which no current broker-owned disclosure could be located. Sources: schwab.com, fidelity.com, us.etrade.com, robinhood.com, tastytrade.com, tradestation.com, finra.org.
    • INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC IS A MEMBER OF NFA AND IS SUBJECT TO NFA'S REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AND EXAMINATIONS. HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT NFA DOES NOT HAVE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY OVER UNDERLYING OR SPOT VIRTUAL CURRENCY PRODUCTS OR TRANSACTIONS OR VIRTUAL CURRENCY EXCHANGES, CUSTODIANS OR MARKETS.
    • Trading in digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, is especially risky and is only for individuals with a high risk tolerance and the financial ability to sustain losses. For more information about the risks surrounding the trading of Digital Assets please see the "Disclosure of Risks of Trading Digital Assets".
    • IB is not party to any transactions in digital assets and does not custody digital assets on your behalf. All digital asset transactions occur on the Paxos Trust Company ("Paxos") or zerohash llc ("zerohash") exchanges. Any positions in digital assets are custodied solely with Paxos or zerohash and held in an account in your name outside of IB.
    • Digital assets held with Paxos or zerohash are not protected by SIPC.
    • For more information about eligibility to trade digital assets with Paxos or zerohash, please see the FAQ.
    • zerohash llc and zerohash liquidity services llc are licensed to engage in Virtual Currency Business Activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services.
  6. Fractional shares available for purchase as of January 23, 2026. Source: Bankrate
  7. Savings estimates are illustrative only and assume the stated balances are held for a full year at the rates shown in the comparison above. Margin figures use IBKR Pro's published tiered schedule, so the effective rate on a blended balance may differ from the lowest advertised rate. Cash figures reflect that IBKR Pro pays credit interest on qualifying balances above USD 10,000 when NAV exceeds USD 100,000. Rates are variable and change frequently. This is not a quote and not a guarantee of savings. Compared with competitor margin rate of (%, ) and cash rate of (%) in IBKR's published rate comparisons.
  8. Participation in the Insured Bank Deposit Sweep Program required; restrictions apply.
  9. For additional information and the latest quarterly metrics for Interactive Brokers Group and its affiliates, visit Quarterly Earnings on Investor Relations. The number of client accounts displayed includes all account types across all IBG affiliates.

AI Integration is not available in IN or JP.

Please keep in mind that there are material risks to autonomous AI trading, described in Autonomous Trading Risk Disclosure, especially agents placing orders you did not intend or that are erroneous or out of line with your trading wishes. Although these risks can never be eliminated, IB's integration is designed to limit the types of products your AI provider can trade, slow the speed of the orders it submits and give you the ability to control how much of your account you let the AI trade. If you link an AI provider, including browser-based and similar agents, you are providing those AI agents with full control of your account, without any controls or limits.

Eligible clients may authorize a third-party AI platform to connect to their IBKR account. IBKR is not affiliated with, does not control or endorse, and does not review the output of any AI platform, and does not provide investment advice through them. AI can make errors and may submit unintended orders. You are responsible for all orders submitted by your account. Trading involves risk of loss, and for some products losses may exceed your investment. See Terms.

Interactive Brokers does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the data and information provided through the AI service that you choose independently

Information provided using AI integration is not investment advice or a recommendation from Interactive Brokers.

All trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.