Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FOREX.com vs Interactive Brokers
Where FOREX.com and Interactive Brokers differ
| Compare |  FOREX.com |  Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks |
| Regulators | FCA, NFA/CFTC, ASIC | SEC, FCA, SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74% | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | 1.2% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| 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% |
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 9.1.
- Regulators: only FOREX.com offers NFA/CFTC, ASIC.
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, SIPC.
- FOREX.com is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Interactive Brokers: $0 vs $100.
- Markets: only FOREX.com offers CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Bonds, ETFs, Funds.
- Features: only FOREX.com offers Crypto, Demo account.
- Features: only Interactive Brokers offers Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only Interactive Brokers offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
FOREX.com
FOREX.com suits UK retail traders who want one commission-free account covering forex, CFDs and crypto under a named UK regulator. The trade-off is the price of entry: a $100 minimum deposit sits well above the €4.64 median across the brands compared here.
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 | FOREX.com | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.3Commission-free pricing with a 1.2% EUR/USD spread, though the $100 minimum deposit is steep against the €4.64 site median. | 9.3HigherStock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.6HigherAccount types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. |
| Trust | 9.8 | 9.8 |
What each covers
| Markets | FOREX.com | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | FOREX.com | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Forex brokers | 48 of 147 | 16 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 46 of 145 | 14 of 145 |
Sources behind this comparison
FOREX.com
- compareforexbrokers.com: 8 facts, 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 | FOREX.com | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile app | 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 | Not confirmed | 1978 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Help centre, Community |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | FOREX.com | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FOREX.com | Interactive Brokers | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100above the median | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74%above the median | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | 1.2%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38%below the median | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.625 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FOREX.com
Pros
- Commission-free pricing means the 1.2% EUR/USD spread is the cost you can actually see before you trade
- Regulated in the UK by the FCA, in the US by the NFA/CFTC and in Australia by the ASIC
- UK clients have investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the firm
Cons
- The $100 minimum deposit sits above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage, so entry is the main hurdle
- Retail accounts lose money at 74%, above the 70.15% median for the brands compared here
- The range stops at forex, CFDs and crypto, without the shares, ETFs and futures that appear in stocks, etfs and forex
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
FOREX.com
Who it suits
- UK retail traders who want one commission-free account across forex, CFDs and crypto
- Traders who want a demo account to size up the platform before funding the $100 deposit
- People who put weight on a named UK regulator and FSCS up to GBP 85,000
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with a small sum, since CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5 against a $100 entry here
- Share and ETF investors, because eToro's range runs to stocks, etfs and forex
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
FOREX.com
What does it cost to trade forex on FOREX.com?+
Pricing is commission-free, so the cost sits in the spread rather than a separate deal charge. The euro against the dollar carries a spread of 1.2%, and that figure is the one to watch if you trade often or in size. The commission-free model runs across the account, not on one pair alone.
How much do I need to deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That is a clear step up from the €4.64 median across the brands compared here, and well above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage. Plan the funding before you open, because the threshold applies at the account level.
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 vs Nexo
- FOREX.com vs iFOREX
- FOREX.com vs Charles Schwab
- FOREX.com vs Ally Bank
- FOREX.com vs OANDA
- FOREX.com vs Markets.com
- FOREX.com vs IC Markets
- FOREX.com vs Trade Nation
- FOREX.com vs FXOpen
- FOREX.com vs PU Prime
- FOREX.com vs Hfm Partners
- FOREX.com vs LiteFinance
- FOREX.com vs Lime Financial
- FOREX.com vs tastytrade
- FOREX.com vs FXTM
- FOREX.com vs tastyfx
- FOREX.com vs Zacks Trade
- FOREX.com vs ActivTrades
- FOREX.com vs XTB
- FOREX.com vs NAGA
- Interactive Brokers vs UNest
- Interactive Brokers vs eToro
- Interactive Brokers vs Mintos
- FOREX.com vs Bitpanda
- Interactive Brokers vs Revolut
- FOREX.com vs Robinhood
- Interactive Brokers vs S Broker
- FOREX.com vs Kraken
- Interactive Brokers vs EBC Financial Group