Compare Brokers
We help you pick the best broker for your needs with our broker comparison tool. Select 2 brokers and see exactly what makes them different.
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Interactive Brokers
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Plus500US
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Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a leading brokerage offering access to over 170 markets in 40 countries and a range of investment services. With 40+ years in the industry, this Nasdaq-listed company follows strict regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, making it a trusted global trading broker. | Plus500US, a broker since 2021 in the US, is authorized by the CFTC and NFA. It offers futures trading in forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and interest rates. Sign-up takes 10 minutes with a $100 minimum deposit ($200 by wire transfer). The web platform is simple, enhancing its services for US traders. | |
| Instruments | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies | Futures on Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Agriculture, Forex, Interest rates, Energy, Equity Index future contracts |
| Demo Account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Trading Platforms | Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower | WebTrader, App |
| Payment Methods | ACH Transfer, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service, Cheque, TransferWise, Wire Transfer | ACH Transfer, Apple Pay, Debit Card, Google Wallet, Mastercard, Visa, Wire Transfer |
| Minimum Trade | $100 | Variable |
| Regulator | SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS | CFTC, NFA |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF | USD |
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| Mobile Apps | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| App Review | The IBKR Mobile app for iOS and Android allows you to access your IBKR accounts, monitor portfolios, execute trades, and view real-time quotes and charts. Its user-friendly design is ideal for new traders, offering a simpler experience compared to the more complex TWS platform. | |
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| Margin Trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Margin Rate | 1.55 - 2.59% | |
| Account Types | STP, DMA, MAM, Demat | |
| AI / Machine Learning | ✓ | ✗ |
| Robo Advisor | ✓ | ✗ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Market Maker | ✗ | ✓ |
| P2P Trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Spot Trading | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Trading | Capitalise.ai, TWS API | |
| Copy Trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Social Trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| VPS Hosting | ✗ | ✗ |
| Tournaments | ✗ | ✗ |
| Demo Competitions | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ethical Investing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custodial Account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✗ | ✗ |
| Inactivity Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Islamic Account | ✗ | ✗ |
Forex Trading | ||
IBKR offers more than 100 major, minor, and exotic forex pairs, more than almost any other option except CMC Markets. Forex trading is available on multiple platforms with institutional-grade spreads starting from 0.1 pips and over 100 complex order types, like brackets, scale, and one-cancels-all (OCA) orders. | Plus500 US provides futures trading on 13 currency pairs, including popular ones like EUR/USD and GBP/USD. Trading margins are competitive, and the educational resources effectively explain forex futures for beginners. | |
| GBPUSD Spread | 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value | |
| EURUSD Spread | 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value | 0.75 |
| EURGBP Spread | 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value | |
| Assets | 100+ | 13 |
Cryptocurrency Trading | ||
IBKR allows you to buy and retain Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin with low commission fees and no need for a crypto wallet. You can also explore additional assets such as crypto indices, including the NYSE Bitcoin Index, and futures contracts like the BAKKT Bitcoin Futures. | Plus500's Micro-Bitcoin and Micro-Ethereum futures offer a basic introduction to crypto trading by allowing trades on the two most widely recognized digital assets. However, it's important to note that these derivative contracts don't permit direct crypto ownership, they simply allow for price speculation. | |
| Crypto Spread | 0.12%-0.18% | |
| Crypto Coins | BTC, LTC, ETH, XRP | MicroBitcoin, MicroEthereum |
| Crypto Lending | ✗ | ✗ |
| Crypto Mining | ✗ | ✗ |
| Crypto Staking | ✗ | ✗ |
| Auto Market Maker | ✗ | ✗ |