Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FXTM vs Interactive Brokers
FXTM vs Interactive Brokers: the differences
| Compare | FXTM ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Futures, Crypto, Bonds, Metals | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks |
| Regulators | FCA, CySEC | SEC, FCA, SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | Desktop, Mobile App, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $5 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 88% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit fees; withdrawal fees vary by method | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:2000 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.38% |
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Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only FXTM offers CySEC.
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, SIPC.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Interactive Brokers: $0 vs $10.
- Markets: only FXTM offers CFDs, Crypto, Metals.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Funds, Options.
- Platforms: only FXTM offers Desktop, Mobile App, MetaTrader 4.
- Platforms: only Interactive Brokers offers Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile.
- Support channels: only Interactive Brokers offers Community.
- Features: only FXTM offers Demo account, Copy trading, Crypto.
Our verdict on each
FXTM
FXTM suits traders who want forex, CFDs, futures, crypto and shares under one account, with retail leverage of 1:2000 and dual regulation behind the money. Costs are the compromise: entry is light, but support runs on help centre only, and a dormant account is charged rather than left free.
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 | FXTM | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Entry costs are light, with a $10 starting deposit and No deposit fees; withdrawal fees vary by method, though dormant accounts pay $5. | 9.3HigherStock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.6HigherAccount types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.8Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | FXTM | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | FCA 208159 | |
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 53615 |
How they place
| Ranking | FXTM | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 59 of 490 | 35 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 27 of 147 | 13 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 25 of 145 | 11 of 145 |
| Futures trading platforms | 14 of 83 | 8 of 83 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FXTM | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app, Crypto | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free, Low fees |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1978 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | FXTM | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FXTM | Interactive Brokers | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10at the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $5above the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 88%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 70.375% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38%below the median | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.59 |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FXTM
Pros
- One account spans stocks, etfs and forex.
- The FCA and CySEC both appear under FCA and CySEC, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 for UK clients.
- Trading runs on Desktop, Mobile App and MetaTrader 4, and demo account, copy trading and mobile app adds a demo account and copy trading.
Cons
- Dormant balances are charged $5, a cost active traders never meet.
- Support runs on help centre only.
- Leverage of 1:2000 magnifies losses, and 88% of retail accounts lose money.
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
FXTM
Who it suits
- Traders who want forex, CFDs, futures, crypto and shares in one place from a $10 start.
- Newcomers who want a demo account and copy trading through demo account, copy trading and mobile app.
- Clients who want regulation in the UK and Cyprus under FCA and CySEC.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to open with nothing: CFI has a $0 minimum.
- Traders focused on shares, ETFs and crypto rather than bonds and metals: eToro's markets are stocks, etfs and forex.
- Small accounts wanting a cheaper opening: Vantage starts at $5.
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
FXTM
What does it cost to open and keep an FXTM account?+
Opening an account starts at $10, and the deposit and withdrawal terms read No deposit fees; withdrawal fees vary by method. The fee to watch is the inactivity charge of $5, which bites once an account sits idle, so running costs stay low only while you keep trading.
Is my money protected at FXTM?+
FXTM is regulated by the FCA and CySEC, and the investor protection stated is FSCS up to GBP 85,000. That cover sits with the regulated entity holding the account, so check which one your account is opened with before treating the protection as your own.
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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