Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team

ActivTrades vs Interactive Brokers

ActivTrades scores 9.4 and Interactive Brokers 9.6 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.

ActivTrades

9.4/10

Facts checked September 29, 2026.

Interactive Brokers

9.6/10

Facts checked September 26, 2026.

Where ActivTrades and Interactive Brokers differ

ActivTrades vs Interactive Brokers
Compare
ActivTradesActivTrades
ReviewVisitVisit
Interactive BrokersInteractive Brokers
ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives
MarketsStocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, BondsBonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks
RegulatorsFCA, SCB, CMVM, FSC, BACENSEC, FCA, SIPC
Investor protectionFSCS up to GBP 85,000SIPC up to USD 500,000
PlatformsActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingViewClient Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation
Interest on cash3.3%3.38%Higher
Account fee$0Not confirmed
Retail accounts that lose money84%Not confirmed
Currency conversion fee0.5%Not confirmed
Margin rateNot confirmed4.38%
Options contract feeNot confirmed$0.65
Deposit and withdrawal feesFree deposits and withdrawalsNot confirmed
Account typesNot confirmedISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate

Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0).

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.

Key differences

  • Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.4.
  • Regulators: only ActivTrades offers SCB, CMVM, FSC.
  • Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, SIPC.
  • Markets: only ActivTrades offers CFDs, Crypto.
  • Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Funds, Futures, Options.
  • Platforms: only ActivTrades offers ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
  • Platforms: only Interactive Brokers offers Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile.
  • Interest on cash is higher at Interactive Brokers: 3.38% vs 3.3%.
  • Features: only ActivTrades offers Crypto, Demo account.
  • Pricing model: only Interactive Brokers offers Low fees.

Our verdict on each

ActivTrades

ActivTrades suits active share and CFD traders who want broad market access with commission free dealing and flexible platform choice for everyday orders. Minimum deposit sits at $0, stock trade fee sits at $0 and retail accounts that lose money sit at 84%, so careful risk controls remain essential.

Read the full ActivTrades review

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers suits investors who want a single account across ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint and corporate holdings, with stocks, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures behind it. It ranks 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit at $0, and stock trades are charged at $0.

Read the full Interactive Brokers review

Score breakdown

ActivTrades vs Interactive Brokers
AreaActivTradesInteractive Brokers
Cost9.3Account fee sits at $0 so holding costs stay contained9.3Stock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65.
Offer9.6Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex across shares and leveraged products9.6Account types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex.
Trust9.5Oversight includes FCA, SCB and CMVM with FCA cover for reassurance9.8Higher

A third option

Nexo has interest on cash at 13%, against 3.3% for ActivTrades and 3.38% for Interactive Brokers.

Nexo review

What we checked

ActivTrades

  • activtrades.com: 12 facts, checked September 28, 2026
  • help.activtrades.com: 1 fact, checked September 29, 2026

Interactive Brokers

  • interactivebrokers.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • brokersway.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • toponlineforexbrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • euinvestinghub.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
  • eupersonalfinance.eu: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026

How they place

ActivTrades vs Interactive Brokers
RankingActivTradesInteractive Brokers
Stock and ETF brokers1 of 49035 of 490
Forex brokers1 of 14713 of 147
Low-spread forex brokers1 of 14511 of 145

Every fact side by side

ActivTrades vs Interactive Brokers
FactActivTradesInteractive Brokers
FeaturesCrypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers moreFractional shares, Mobile app
Pricing modelCommission freeCommission free, Low feesCovers more
Legal entityNot confirmedINTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC
HeadquartersNot confirmedUnited States
FoundedNot confirmed1978
Support channelsNot confirmedHelp centre, Community

Robo-advisors

ActivTrades vs Interactive Brokers
FactActivTradesInteractive Brokers
Portfolio typesNot confirmedETF

Where each stands against the rest

ActivTrades vs Interactive Brokers
FactActivTradesInteractive BrokersMedian
Minimum deposit$0below the median$0below the median$10
Stock trade fee$0at the median$0at the median$0
Account fee$0at the medianNot confirmed$0
Retail accounts that lose money84%highest quarterNot confirmed70.375%
Currency conversion fee0.5%above the medianNot confirmed0.4%
Margin rateNot confirmed4.38%below the median8.79%

Median across 99 listed brokers.

Pros and cons

ActivTrades

Pros

  • Stock trade fee sits at $0 for share dealing under commission free
  • Minimum deposit sits at $0, below eToro at $50
  • Funding terms read Free deposits and withdrawals for deposits and withdrawals

Cons

  • Retail accounts that lose money sit at 84%, above the CFD median at 72.05%
  • Currency conversion on funding costs 0.5% for balances held in other currencies
  • Cash interest sits at 3.3%, which limits appeal for cash heavy portfolios

Interactive Brokers

Pros

  • A stock trade costs $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, the pairing behind rank 1 of 161 on stock trade fees among the brokers tracked here.
  • The account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira, so an ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint or corporate account all sit under a single provider.
  • bonds, etfs and forex puts stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures on the same account, with a margin rate of 4.38% for geared positions.

Cons

  • Support runs on help centre and community, so a phone line and live chat sit outside the offer.
  • bonds, etfs and forex covers shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures but leaves out crypto and CFDs, which eToro lists in stocks, etfs and forex.
  • An options contract costs $0.65 against a stock trade at $0, so options strategies pay a visible premium per contract.

Who each suits

ActivTrades

Who it suits

  • New traders starting modestly with entry at $0 and practice via crypto, demo account and fractional shares
  • Share traders wanting dealing at $0 across stocks, ETFs and forex with platform choice
  • CFD traders wanting structured support via email, chat and phone where funding reads Free deposits and withdrawals

Who should look elsewhere

  • Traders wanting crypto led dealing with very low cash entry may prefer Kraken at $1
  • Traders wanting social and copy features may prefer eToro despite higher entry at $50

Interactive Brokers

Who it suits

  • Investors holding money across several wrappers, since the account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira.
  • Traders who want options, futures, forex and bonds alongside shares on a single account, per bonds, etfs and forex.
  • Anyone starting with a small balance: the minimum deposit is $0 and fractional shares appear in the feature list (fractional shares and mobile app).

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone who trades crypto or CFDs, since bonds, etfs and forex leaves both out while eToro lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
  • Readers who want a stated entry figure as a signal of the provider's target size, since Vantage publishes $5 where this broker's minimum is $0.

Questions about each

ActivTrades

What does ActivTrades charge for stock trades?+

Stock trade fee sits at $0 for share dealing. The pricing model is described by commission free, which helps keep ticket costs predictable for equity orders. Spreads and conversion charges can still apply on leveraged trades, so review order previews and statements before dealing.

Is ActivTrades regulated and safe?+

Oversight comes via FCA, SCB and CMVM, including FCA cover alongside other regional entities. Eligible balances carry protection at FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Protection applies under scheme rules and by entity, so confirm which entity serves your account during signup and keep account records.

Interactive Brokers

What does it cost to trade shares?+

A stock trade is charged at $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so opening an account and dealing in shares carry no charge. The money sits in derivatives and leverage instead, where an options contract costs $0.65 and the margin rate is listed at 4.38%.

Is my money protected?+

The regulatory list runs to SEC, FCA and SIPC, and investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The UK entry is the FCA under licence 208159, while the US side names the SEC and the SIPC membership SIPC member 53615. The protection figure describes the scheme stated for the account and says nothing about how a trade performs.

Other options to compare

Other matchups

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers

Higher score in this comparison

9.6/10See alternatives

Your cookie choices

We use necessary cookies to make this site work. With your permission, analytics cookies help us understand usage and marketing cookies support advertising.

You can reject non-essential cookies and still use the site. Change your choices anytime in Cookie settings.

Cookie policy
Cookie settings