Trading environment
Slippage, stability, execution and pricing anomalies
Public review signals
Interactive Brokers is a global multi-asset brokerage group whose roots date to 1977 and whose electronic brokerage business began in 1993. Market access, products, pricing, funding methods and investor protection depend on the client contracting entity.
Interactive Brokers is a global multi-asset brokerage group whose roots date to 1977 and whose electronic brokerage business began in 1993. Market access, products, pricing, funding methods and investor protection depend on the client contracting entity.
Five web-reputation dimensions plus one objective regulatory dimension for Interactive Brokers
Slippage, stability, execution and pricing anomalies
Public review signalsFunding speed, withdrawals, checks and payment methods
Public review signalsResponse time, expertise and complaint handling
Public review signalsSpreads, commissions, swaps and hidden charges
Public review signalsPromotion terms, sales pressure and return claims
Public review signalsLicence quality, jurisdiction breadth and regulatory diversification
Objective regulatory factsSales conduct is the strongest review-based dimension; Deposits & withdrawals is the weakest. Regulation & compliance is scored independently from verified licence facts.
| Dimension | Score | related mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Trading environment | 3.7 | 553 |
| Deposits & withdrawals | 1.4 | 101 |
| Customer service | 2.5 | 263 |
| Trading costs | 3.4 | 120 |
| Sales conduct | 4.2 | 46 |
| Regulation & compliance | 9.9 | 12 |
Official support channels include authenticated live chat, secure Message Center tickets and regional telephone support. IBKR does not support general account service through an open commercial email address. Telephone coverage is generally continuous from Sunday afternoon to Friday evening United States Eastern time, while local desks, languages and holiday hours vary.
Eligibility, products, currencies and the contracting entity are determined by residence, tax status and onboarding. Sanctioned jurisdictions, high-risk locations and restricted persons are not accepted, and products such as CFDs, cryptocurrencies, IBKR Lite, retirement accounts and leveraged foreign exchange are not offered in every country.
Regulators
United States · SEC
Eligible securities accounts are protected by SIPC up to USD 500,000, including a USD 250,000 cash sublimit. IBKR also discloses excess SIPC insurance through Lloyds with a USD 30 million per-account limit, including USD 900,000 cash, and a USD 150 million aggregate limit. Futures and futures options are excluded, and market losses are not covered.
Eligible securities accounts are protected by SIPC up to USD 500,000, including a USD 250,000 cash sublimit. IBKR also discloses excess SIPC insurance through Lloyds with a USD 30 million per-account limit, including USD 900,000 cash, and a USD 150 million aggregate limit. Futures and futures options are excluded, and market losses are not covered.
FINRA identifies the firm as an active broker-dealer. IBKR states that client securities and cash are segregated daily. The entity is also registered with the CFTC and is an NFA member.
Official record ↗Canada · CIRO
Eligible property held by an insolvent CIRO member can qualify for CIPF protection. CIPF publishes separate CAD 1 million limits for combined general accounts, combined registered retirement accounts and combined registered education savings plans; eligibility and account grouping rules apply.
Eligible property held by an insolvent CIRO member can qualify for CIPF protection. CIPF publishes separate CAD 1 million limits for combined general accounts, combined registered retirement accounts and combined registered education savings plans; eligibility and account grouping rules apply.
CIRO lists the firm as a regulated investment dealer and marketplace participant.
Official record ↗United Kingdom · FCA
IBKR states that FSCS protection applies only in limited circumstances. Some products and custody arrangements are carried or cleared by Interactive Brokers LLC and may instead fall within the applicable SIPC scope. FSCS investment protection can be up to GBP 85,000 for an eligible claim against a failed firm.
IBKR states that FSCS protection applies only in limited circumstances. Some products and custody arrangements are carried or cleared by Interactive Brokers LLC and may instead fall within the applicable SIPC scope. FSCS investment protection can be up to GBP 85,000 for an eligible claim against a failed firm.
The United Kingdom company is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Protection must be checked against the specific product, custody chain and contracting entity.
Official record ↗Ireland and the European Economic Area · CBI
Eligible private clients may qualify for the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme, which covers 90% of the net loss up to EUR 20,000 when an investment firm cannot return client assets. Professional and institutional clients are generally excluded, and market losses are not covered.
Eligible private clients may qualify for the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme, which covers 90% of the net loss up to EUR 20,000 when an investment firm cannot return client assets. Professional and institutional clients are generally excluded, and market losses are not covered.
The entity is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and serves eligible clients in Ireland and the European Economic Area.
Official record ↗Australia · ASIC
Client money is held in segregated accounts under Australian law. IBKR warns that the custody arrangement can affect eligibility under the National Guarantee Fund, so no universal compensation amount is represented for every account or product.
Client money is held in segregated accounts under Australian law. IBKR warns that the custody arrangement can affect eligibility under the National Guarantee Fund, so no universal compensation amount is represented for every account or product.
The Australian entity holds Australian Financial Services Licence 453554.
Official record ↗Hong Kong · SFC
Eligible losses caused by the default of an intermediary in relation to Hong Kong exchange-traded securities or futures can fall within the Investor Compensation Fund, with separate HKD 500,000 limits for securities and futures. Overseas products, ordinary market losses and ineligible arrangements are not covered.
Eligible losses caused by the default of an intermediary in relation to Hong Kong exchange-traded securities or futures can fall within the Investor Compensation Fund, with separate HKD 500,000 limits for securities and futures. Overseas products, ordinary market losses and ineligible arrangements are not covered.
The SFC public record identifies licence CE ADI249 for regulated activities including dealing in securities, futures contracts and leveraged foreign exchange trading.
Official record ↗India · SEBI
Client assets are subject to SEBI, exchange and depository rules. No single universal compensation amount was stated in the reviewed official record, so the applicable protection must be checked by market, product and claim type.
Client assets are subject to SEBI, exchange and depository rules. No single universal compensation amount was stated in the reviewed official record, so the applicable protection must be checked by market, product and claim type.
SEBI shows registration INZ000217730 as perpetual. The entity also discloses NSDL depository-participant registration IN-DP-602-2021.
Official record ↗Japan · JFSA
Customer assets are segregated. The entity is a Japan Investor Protection Fund member, and eligible claims can be compensated up to JPY 10 million if a member cannot return customer assets. Certain securities carried by Interactive Brokers LLC may instead be within SIPC scope.
Customer assets are segregated. The entity is a Japan Investor Protection Fund member, and eligible claims can be compensated up to JPY 10 million if a member cannot return customer assets. Certain securities carried by Interactive Brokers LLC may instead be within SIPC scope.
The JFSA list identifies the firm as Financial Instruments Business Operator No. 187.
Official record ↗Singapore · MAS
Client money is held in designated segregated accounts under Singapore rules. IBKR states that certain securities held through Interactive Brokers LLC may be protected by SIPC, but it does not state a fixed Singapore compensation amount for all accounts.
Client money is held in designated segregated accounts under Singapore rules. IBKR states that certain securities held through Interactive Brokers LLC may be protected by SIPC, but it does not state a fixed Singapore compensation amount for all accounts.
MAS lists the entity as a Capital Markets Services licensee for securities, collective investment schemes, listed and over-the-counter derivatives, leveraged foreign exchange, product financing and custody.
Official record ↗Securities, futures, options, foreign exchange, CFDs and margin trading can cause substantial losses, including losses greater than the initial investment. Real-time liquidation can occur without a traditional margin call. Investor-compensation schemes address eligible intermediary failure, not ordinary market loss, product performance or every client asset.
| Method | Minimum | Processing | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank wire transferAED · AUD · CAD · CHF · CNH · CZK · DKK · EUR · GBP · HKD · HUF · INR · ILS · JPY · MXN · NOK · NZD · PLN · SEK · SGD · TRY · USD · ZAR | No minimum | Arrival can range from immedi… | IBKR does not publish an incoming wir… |
| United States ACH or direct bank transferUSD | No minimum | The first deposit is generall… | Usually free* |
| Local bank transfer, SEPA, BACS or supported low-value networkAUD · CAD · CHF · EUR · GBP · HKD · JPY · SGD · USD | Shown by currency and contracting… | Processing and withdrawal hol… | Usually free* |
| Method | Minimum | Processing | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank wire or supported electronic withdrawalAED · AUD · CAD · CHF · CNH · CZK · DKK · EUR · GBP · HKD · HUF · INR · ILS · JPY · MXN · NOK · NZD · PLN · SEK · SGD · TRY · USD · ZAR | No minimum | IBKR processing cutoffs and b… | Usually free* |
| United States ACH withdrawalUSD | No minimum | Bank-network timing varies. A… | Usually free* |
Accounts or cards must be in the client’s name. Availability, limits and checks depend on the contracting entity.
Active offers and promotions from Interactive Brokers
The current landing page states one USD 1 IBKR share for each USD 300 of qualifying deposit, up to USD 1,000. The linked terms dated 29 May 2026 instead state one share for each USD 100. Because the two official pages conflict, applicants should rely on the enrolment terms presented when opening the account; both sources cap the share award at USD 1,000.
An eligible client can refer a new individual or joint-account client. IBKR advertises a USD 200 reward for the referrer and up to USD 1,000 in IBKR shares for the referred client, subject to funding, holding, residence and account-type rules.
Eligibility: The referrer generally needs an individual or joint account with at least USD 2,000 net liquidation value and one securities trade. The referred client must use the referral link, fund at least USD 10,000 within 30 days and maintain the qualifying balance for one year. Tax-deferred, adviser, hedge-fund and institutional accounts are excluded. Residence exclusions include Japan, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Poland, mainland China and Israel; the linked terms also state that residents of India and Canada cannot receive IBKR shares.
Official terms ↗Last verified: Jul 29, 2026
Company participation and regulatory verification are displayed separately.
Company access allows replies and verified change requests. It cannot edit user ratings, remove reviews or directly change TraderVote regulatory scores.
From 2,450 verified traders
No reviews yet.