Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Interactive Brokers vs M1
Where Interactive Brokers and M1 differ
| Compare |  Interactive Brokers |  M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto |
| Regulators | SEC, FCA, SIPCCovers more | SIPC |
| Margin rate | 4.38%Lower | 5.9% |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Interest on cash | 3.38%Higher | 3.35% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | Up to 50% of portfolio value |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0), Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, FCA.
- Founded is lower at Interactive Brokers: 1978 vs 2015.
- Interactive Brokers is licensed in 1 more country.
- Margin rate is lower at Interactive Brokers: 4.38% vs 5.9%.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Bonds, Forex, Funds.
- Markets: only M1 offers Crypto.
- Account types: only Interactive Brokers offers ISA, SIPP, Corporate.
- Account types: only M1 offers Roth IRA.
- Interest on cash is higher at Interactive Brokers: 3.38% vs 3.35%.
Our verdict on each
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.
M1
M1 is a low-cost brokerage built for retirement savers and small investors who want shares, ETFs and crypto in a single account. Stock trades run at $0 and it places 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, though the managed portfolios want $10,000 to start.
Score breakdown
| Area | Interactive Brokers | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Stock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. | 9.5Higher |
| Offer | 9.6HigherAccount types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. | 9.0Costs carry the offer: 0% management fee, $0 stock trades and a $0 minimum deposit. |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 8.6 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Interactive Brokers | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 44 of 471 | 145 of 471 |
| Margin trading brokers | 4 of 22 | 16 of 22 |
| Robo-advisors | 11 of 151 | 55 of 151 |
Also worth a look
Nexo has margin rate at 1.9%, against 4.38% for Interactive Brokers and 5.9% for M1.
Nexo reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Legal entity | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC | M1 FINANCE LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1978Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $10,000 |
| Portfolio types | ETF | ETF, Cash, CryptoCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | M1 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 4.38%below the median | 5.9%below the median | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | 3.38%above the median | 3.35%above the median | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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.
M1
Pros
- Placing 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, so an account opens without a funding hurdle.
- Placing 1 of 161 brands on stock trade fees, with a stock trade costing $0.
- Uninvested cash earns 3.35%, and Pie portfolios mix etf, cash and crypto.
Cons
- Margin borrowing at 5.9% can cost more over a held position than the $0 trade fee saves.
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone or live chat listed.
- Managed portfolios want $10,000 to start, well above the $0 brokerage entry point.
Who each suits
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.
M1
Who it suits
- Self-directed investors who want to trade shares and ETFs without a per-trade charge.
- Retirement savers, since accounts include ira, roth ira and joint.
- People who want crypto alongside equities in the same account, under stocks, etfs and crypto.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who need forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and M1 stops at stocks, etfs and crypto.
- Readers who want a wider asset list in the same app, because CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Managed portfolio buyers starting below $10,000, a floor that sits well above the $5 deposit Vantage asks to open an account.
Country by country
| Country | Interactive Brokers | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
M1
What does it cost to trade shares at M1?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the account opens with a $0 minimum deposit, so there is no per-trade commission and no funding hurdle. The running cost sits in the spread and in currency conversion when shares priced in dollars are bought. Margin borrowing is charged at 5.9% and is the line most likely to run up a bill.
Is my money protected at M1?+
Protection runs through the scheme listed as SIPC, with cover stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. It is the only regulator on file, so there is a single scheme to claim against and a single register to check. The membership record reads SIPC member 69670. The stated figure is a ceiling on the payout, not a stand-in for the balance itself.
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