Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Interactive Brokers vs PU Prime
Interactive Brokers vs PU Prime: the differences
| Compare |  Interactive Brokers |  PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $50 |
| Markets | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals |
| Regulators | SEC, FCA, SIPCCovers more | SIPC |
| Platforms | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation | MT4, MT5, PU Web Trader, PU Prime mobile App |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | 4.38% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:1000 |
| Interest on cash | 3.38% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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 8.8.
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, FCA.
- Interactive Brokers is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Interactive Brokers: $0 vs $50.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Bonds, Funds, Futures.
- Markets: only PU Prime offers CFDs, Metals.
- Platforms: only Interactive Brokers offers Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile.
- Platforms: only PU Prime offers MT4, MT5, PU Web Trader.
- Support channels: only Interactive Brokers offers Community.
- Features: only Interactive Brokers offers Fractional shares.
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.
PU Prime
PU Prime is a US broker for beginners who want forex, CFDs and metals on MT4, MT5 or the PU Prime app, with copy trading and a demo account on the same platform. Its $50 entry sits above lighter $0 and $5 floors, and money is held under SIPC cover.
Score breakdown
| Area | Interactive Brokers | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. | 8.7 |
| Offer | 9.6HigherAccount types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. | 9.2 |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 8.6 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Interactive Brokers | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 44 of 471 | 182 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 16 of 147 | 79 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 14 of 145 | 77 of 145 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Interactive Brokers | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 53615 | SIPC SIPC member 3337 |
| United Kingdom | FCA 208159 | Not confirmed |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Interactive Brokers | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Sources behind this comparison
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
PU Prime
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- myfxbook.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- scribehow.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- kenmacro.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- puprimepartners.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC | TD PRIME SERVICES LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1978 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ETF | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | PU Prime | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $50above the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | 4.38%below the median | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | 3.38%above the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 135 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.
PU Prime
Pros
- Covers forex, CFDs, metals, stocks and ETFs in one account (stocks, etfs and forex)
- Pick from MT4, MT5, PU Web Trader or the PU Prime mobile app (MT4, MT5 and PU Web Trader)
- A demo account and copy trading sit alongside the live accounts (demo account, copy trading and mobile app)
Cons
- The $50 entry is above the $0 and $5 starting points in this comparison
- Support runs through a help centre only, per help centre
- Retail trading losses run high across the site at 70.15%, so leverage of 1:1000 carries real risk
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.
PU Prime
Who it suits
- Beginners building a first account on forex or CFDs
- Traders who want copy trading alongside manual deals
- Anyone happy to hold money with a US SIPC member rather than a UK or EU regulated firm
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, if a $0 entry point matters more than US regulation
- eToro, if a wider market spread including crypto and futures fits a long term investor better
- Vantage, if a $5 floor suits a smaller first deposit
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.
PU Prime
What is the minimum deposit at PU Prime?+
The stated entry point is $50 for a new account. That sits above the $0 and $5 starting points in this comparison, so a first deposit has to be larger here than with either.
Is PU Prime regulated and is my money protected?+
Protection runs through SIPC up to USD 500,000, listed under SIPC. The membership is recorded as SIPC member 3337, so the holding company can be traced against a public register rather than a claim on the website.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Interactive Brokers vs Nexo
- Interactive Brokers vs Charles Schwab
- Interactive Brokers vs TradeStation
- Interactive Brokers vs Trading 212
- Interactive Brokers vs SogoTrade
- Interactive Brokers vs Firstrade
- Interactive Brokers vs Lightspeed Financial
- Interactive Brokers vs Wealthsimple
- Interactive Brokers vs quantfury
- Interactive Brokers vs IG
- Interactive Brokers vs tastytrade
- Interactive Brokers vs AJ Bell
- Interactive Brokers vs Scalable Capital
- Interactive Brokers vs VT Markets
- Interactive Brokers vs Public
- Interactive Brokers vs M1
- Interactive Brokers vs ActivTrades
- Interactive Brokers vs XTB
- Interactive Brokers vs NAGA
- Interactive Brokers vs UNest
- Interactive Brokers vs eToro
- Interactive Brokers vs Mintos
- Interactive Brokers vs Revolut
- Interactive Brokers vs Robinhood
- Interactive Brokers vs S Broker
- Interactive Brokers vs Kraken
- Interactive Brokers vs EBC Financial Group