Interactive Brokers Review
Pro-grade platform with access to 170+ global markets. Independent Interactive Brokers review: 4.7/5 for brokerage. Best for Professional and global traders.
By Michael Hewitt, Founder & Editor-in-Chief. Rates last checked September 7, 2026.
Our verdict
Interactive Brokers is for professional and global traders: IBKR Lite trades U.S. stocks and ETFs for $0 with no minimums, and the platform reaches 170+ markets in 34 countries. Margin rates start as low as about 4.13% on IBKR Pro. What holds it back is a steep Trader Workstation learning curve and Pro pricing that can be complex for casual investors.
Skip it if you want a simple app for occasional investing and don't want to learn a pro platform.
About Interactive Brokers
Pro-grade platform with access to 170+ global markets. Interactive Brokers is offered by Interactive Brokers LLC. Our editorial rating is 4.7 out of 5.
Best for: Professional and global traders.
Editorial grade: A+ (composite score 94/100).
Highlights
- IBKR Lite: $0 commissions on U.S. stocks/ETFs, no account minimums
- Access to 170+ markets in 34 countries and 29 currencies
- Industry-lowest margin interest rates (as low as ~4.13% on IBKR Pro)
What we like
- Best-in-class order execution and price improvement
- Trader Workstation (TWS) is an institutional-grade platform
- Stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, mutual funds, crypto
- Taxable, IRA, Roth IRA, SEP, SIMPLE, and trust accounts
Where it falls short
- Steep learning curve for Trader Workstation
- Tiered pricing (IBKR Pro) can be complex for casual investors
Fees, minimums, and rates
Monthly fee: $0 (Lite) / tiered (Pro). Minimum to open: $0. Rates and fees last checked on September 7, 2026.
How we reviewed it
This is a desk review: we have not opened an account with Interactive Brokers LLC. It is built from Interactive Brokers LLC's published rates, fee schedule and terms and from the public complaint record, and compared with the other products in the Brokerage shortlist. Our brokerage and robo-advisor reviews weight costs and fees (25%), platform and tools (20%), asset selection (15%), account types (10%), education and research (10%), customer support (10%), and trust and safety (10%). The rubric is the same for every brand.
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Read our full editorial methodology for how we review products.