Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Interactive Brokers vs Markets.com
Where Interactive Brokers and Markets.com differ
| Compare |  Interactive Brokers |  Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $100 |
| Markets | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds, Spread betting |
| Regulators | SEC, FCA, SIPC | CySEC, FCA, FSCA, ASIC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation | Web Platform, Mobile App, MT4, MT5 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.4% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.6% |
| Margin rate | 4.38% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | no deposit or withdrawal fees |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 3.38% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.5.
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, SIPC.
- Regulators: only Markets.com offers CySEC, FSCA, ASIC.
- Markets.com is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Interactive Brokers: $0 vs $100.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Funds, Futures, Options.
- Markets: only Markets.com offers CFDs, Crypto, Spread betting.
- Platforms: only Interactive Brokers offers Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile.
- Platforms: only Markets.com offers Web Platform, Mobile App, MT4.
- Support channels: only Interactive Brokers offers Community.
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.
Markets.com
Markets.com suits retail traders who want stocks, forex, cfds, crypto and spread betting under a single account with no commission charged on share dealing. Stock trades carry fees of $0 and the account fee is $0, though the $100 minimum deposit and an inactivity charge of $10 are the figures to weigh.
Score breakdown
| Area | Interactive Brokers | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. | 8.9Commission-free model: stock trades at fees of $0, account fee of $0, currency conversion of 0.6%. |
| Offer | 9.6Account types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. | 9.7Higher |
| Trust | 9.8 | 9.9Higher |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Interactive Brokers | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Spread betting | No | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | Interactive Brokers | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | FCA 208159 | FCA 481853 |
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| South Africa | Not confirmed | |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 53615 | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Interactive Brokers | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 35 of 490 | 40 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 13 of 147 | 16 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 11 of 145 | 14 of 145 |
Where these facts come from
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
Markets.com
- markets.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingfinder.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wecomparebrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- commodity.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- investingreviews.co.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Mobile app, Copy trading, Demo account, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC | Finalto Financial Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1978 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ETF | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Markets.com | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $100above the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10above the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.4%above the median | 70.375% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.6%above the median | 0.4% |
Median across 99 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.
Markets.com
Pros
- Stock trades carry fees of $0 on a commission-free model, so placing a share trade is not chargeable
- The account fee is $0, which ranks Markets.com at 1 of 138 brands on that measure
- Deposits and withdrawals carry no deposit or withdrawal fees, so moving money on and off the account stays cheap
Cons
- An inactivity charge of $10 catches dormant balances, placing Markets.com at 35 of 56 brands on that measure
- The minimum deposit of $100 is heavy, ranking at 148 of 213 brands, so a smaller opening balance rules it out
- A currency conversion fee of 0.6% sits on top of the commission-free model, so currency trades cost more than the share trades priced at $0
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.
Markets.com
Who it suits
- Retail traders who want stocks, forex, cfds, crypto and spread betting inside a single account
- Investors who trade often enough to clear the $100 minimum and steer clear of the $10 inactivity charge
- UK residents who want the account run by Finalto Financial Services Limited under the FCA
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone opening with a small balance, since the $100 minimum deposit compares with a site median of €4.64 while CFI takes $0 and Vantage takes $5
- Long term holders of an idle balance, because an inactivity charge of $10 applies
- Traders who mainly want forex and the lowest way in, since CFI and Vantage set minimum deposits at $0 and $5
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.
Markets.com
Does Markets.com charge commission on shares?+
The pricing model is commission-free, and stock trades carry fees of $0 on the trade itself. Currency conversion of 0.6% and an inactivity charge of $10 sit outside that figure, so regular traders should build both into the running cost.
Is there a monthly or annual account fee?+
Fees run $0 on the account, which ranks Markets.com at 1 out of 138 brands on that measure. Deposits and withdrawals carry no deposit or withdrawal fees as well, so funding the account and taking money back out stay clear of extra charges.
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