Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
BMO InvestorLine vs Interactive Brokers
Where BMO InvestorLine and Interactive Brokers differ
| Compare |  BMO InvestorLine |  Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | CA$0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, StocksCovers more |
| Margin rate | 8.75% | 4.38%Lower |
| Options contract fee | CA$0.90 | $0.65 |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | CA$0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | CA$0 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | SEC, FCA, SIPC |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.4% to 1.6% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | $0 EFT, $10 wire | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation |
| Account types | Not confirmed | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.38% |
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Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.4.
- Founded is lower at Interactive Brokers: 1978 vs 1988.
- Margin rate is lower at Interactive Brokers: 4.38% vs 8.75%.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Forex, Futures.
- Support channels: only BMO InvestorLine offers Phone, Chat.
- Support channels: only Interactive Brokers offers Help centre, Community.
- Features: only BMO InvestorLine offers Options.
- Features: only Interactive Brokers offers Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only Interactive Brokers offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
BMO InvestorLine
BMO InvestorLine suits Canadian investors who want a bank-backed broker without account or inactivity charges, trading stocks and ETFs commission free. What sets it apart is the pairing of a CAD 0 stock trade fee with a CAD 0 account fee, though currency conversion and options add cost.
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.
Score breakdown
| Area | BMO InvestorLine | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Commission-free stock and ETF trades, no account fee and no inactivity fee, with options and margin priced separately at CAD 0.90 and 8.75%. | 9.3HigherStock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.6HigherAccount types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. |
| Trust | 9.6 | 9.8Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | BMO InvestorLine | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 43 of 490 | 35 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 13 of 103 | 7 of 103 |
| Margin trading brokers | 6 of 22 | 4 of 22 |
What each covers
| Markets | BMO InvestorLine | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | BMO InvestorLine | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | FCA 208159 |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 53615 |
Where these facts come from
BMO InvestorLine
- finder.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- newsroom.bmo.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- hellosafe.ca: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- stockwatch.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- wowa.ca: 1 fact, checked September 26, 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
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BMO InvestorLine | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app, Options | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | 1988 | 1978Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat | Help centre, Community |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | BMO InvestorLine | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BMO InvestorLine | Interactive Brokers | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $10 |
| Account fee | CA$0below the median | Not confirmed | CA$60 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.4% to 1.6%at the median | Not confirmed | 0.4 |
| Margin rate | 8.75%below the median | 4.38%below the median | 8.79% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.38%above the median | 3% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
BMO InvestorLine
Pros
- Stock and ETF trades cost CAD 0 and the account fee is CAD 0, so holding a portfolio costs nothing.
- The inactivity fee is CAD 0, so an untouched account is not charged.
- Support runs on phone and chat, giving a phone line and live chat.
Cons
- Margin borrowing is priced at 8.75%, so a leveraged position carries a borrowing cost.
- Options contracts carry a fee of CAD 0.90 each.
- Currency conversion is the hidden cost, at 0.4% to 1.6%, and deposits and withdrawals run $0 EFT, $10 wire.
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
BMO InvestorLine
Who it suits
- Investors who want a long term stock, ETF, bond and fund portfolio without a standing account charge.
- Traders who mainly trade Canadian equities and want phone and chat support for questions.
- Anyone already inside a bank relationship who values a long operating history.
Who should look elsewhere
- Day traders who live in currencies other than the Canadian dollar and would feel the 0.4% to 1.6% on every conversion.
- Options buyers who place frequent contracts and would pay CAD 0.90 each time.
- Leveraged traders, because margin costs 8.75%.
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
BMO InvestorLine
How much does it cost to open and hold a BMO InvestorLine account?+
The account fee is CAD 0 and the inactivity fee is CAD 0, so there is no standing or dormant charge on the account. Stock and ETF trades themselves cost CAD 0. The costs that do appear are on currency conversion, options and margin.
What does it cost to trade a stock or an ETF?+
Stock and ETF trades are commission free, priced at CAD 0. The platform is listed as a commission-free model. Costs appear elsewhere: currency conversion at 0.4% to 1.6%, options at CAD 0.90 per contract, and margin at 8.75%.
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.
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