A US multi-asset broker (IBKR) with licensed companies in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, Singapore and Dubai. This profile covers its forex and CFD offer only, which is priced as a raw interbank spread plus a separate commission.
Facts last checked 20 October 2026. Always confirm on the regulator’s register. How we review brokers
Get an email when Interactive Brokers's licence or key facts change.
Key facts
Founded
Not yet checked
Headquarters
Greenwich, Connecticut, United States
Minimum deposit
$0
Max. retail leverage
1:30 on major pairs for CFDs (UK, EU, Australia)
Cheapest cost per lot
Not yet checked
Regulators
CFTC / NFA (United States), CIRO (Canada), FCA (United Kingdom), Central Bank of Ireland (European Union), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), DFSA (Dubai (DIFC), UAE)
✓SIPC (US, securities only); FSCS in limited circumstances (UK); Irish Investor Compensation Scheme (Ireland); CIPF (Canada)What this means
Regulation and entities
Your protection depends on which company holds your account, and that depends on where you live. Each row is one licensed company. What regulation means
Before you deposit: search the licence number on the register, then check that the website and phone number listed there match the ones you are using. How to check a licence
Websites
Official websites
✓interactivebrokers.com
✓interactivebrokers.co.uk
✓interactivebrokers.ie
✓interactivebrokers.com.au
✓interactivebrokers.ca
✓interactivebrokers.com.sg
✓ibkr.com
Type the address yourself or use a bookmark. Check it matches the website listed for the firm on the regulator’s register.
Watch out for look-alike sites
These addresses have used Interactive Brokers’s name but are not run by it:
✗interactivebrokers.ltd(not official)
✗interactivebrokers.limited(not official)
✗interactivebrokers.legal(not official)
A clone firm copies a real broker’s name, licence number and branding to take deposits. The register shows the genuine firm, so the surest check is the contact details: if the website, email or phone number you were given is not the one on the register, treat it as a clone. Check a broker step by step
Accounts and costs
Account types and costs not yet checked.
Cost per lot = typical EUR/USD spread × $10 + round-turn commission, for one standard lot (100,000 units) in busy hours. Swap and other fees are extra. Trading costs explained
Leverage and margin
Leverage lets you open a position bigger than your deposit, so losses grow as fast as gains. The caps below are the most Interactive Brokers allows; you can always use less.
Margin level = equity ÷ used margin × 100. Without negative balance protection, a fast market can gap past the stop-out and leave you owing money. Work out your margin level
Licensed in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and Singapore, all strict regulators
Spot forex priced at the quoted interbank spread plus a published commission (0.20 basis points of trade value at the first tier)
No account minimum and no inactivity fee
Watch out for
Spot forex commission has a minimum of USD 2.00 per order, so very small trades cost more in percentage terms.
UK accounts are cleared and carried by Interactive Brokers LLC in the US for most products; IBKR says products are only covered by the UK FSCS in limited circumstances.
Margin accounts can go negative; IBKR's own disclosures say losses may exceed your original investment
IBKR also names companies in Hong Kong, Japan and India; we did not confirm those licences on 2026-10-20 and this profile does not cover them.
Overview
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a US broker best known for stocks, options and futures. This profile covers only its forex and CFD offer. Spot forex is traded on the same account as everything else, and CFDs on forex, indices, metals and shares are issued by IBKR’s European companies for clients outside the US and Canada.
Regulation and safety
We checked these on the regulators’ registers on 20 October 2026: Interactive Brokers LLC (NFA member, NFA ID 0258600), Interactive Brokers Canada Inc. (CIRO investment dealer), Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited (FCA 208159), Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (Central Bank of Ireland C423427), Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd (ASIC AFSL 453554), Interactive Brokers Singapore Pte. Ltd. (MAS capital markets services licensee) and the UK company’s Dubai branch (DFSA F008423, arranging only). IBKR also has companies in Hong Kong, Japan and India that we did not check.
The company you join decides your protection. IBKR’s UK site says accounts are cleared and carried by Interactive Brokers LLC for most products, and are covered by the UK FSCS only in limited circumstances. The FCA has warned about clone firms using IBKR’s name with email domains such as interactivebrokers.ltd and interactivebrokers.legal. See forex broker regulation and forex broker scams.
Costs
IBKR passes through the bid and ask it receives from large FX dealers, with displayed spreads as small as 0.1 pip, and charges a separate commission. At the first tier this is 0.20 basis points of trade value, with a minimum of USD 2.00 per order. On a 100,000 EUR/USD trade that is about $2.25 a side. The rate falls to 0.08 basis points above $5 billion of monthly volume. IBKR does not publish typical spreads, so we have not listed any. Overnight positions in spot forex are financed at IBKR’s interest rates. The trading costs guide shows how to compare a commission account with a spread-only one.
Platforms and tools
Trading is through Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, the web Client Portal and the IBKR Mobile app, with APIs for automated trading. MetaTrader is not offered, so if you rely on MT4 or MT5 robots see MT4 vs MT5 before you decide.
Deposits and withdrawals
Accounts are funded by bank transfer from an account in your own name. IBKR lists no account minimum and no inactivity fee.
Who it may suit
The set-up fits traders who want forex alongside shares and futures in one account, and who trade in sizes large enough that the USD 2 minimum commission is not a large share of the cost. Beginners who want a simple spread-only MetaTrader account may find the platforms complex. Try the paper trading account first, or read our demo account guide.
How to open an account
The steps as we checked them. Never deposit until you have confirmed the licence.
Check which company you will join
UK residents join Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited, EEA residents Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, Australians Interactive Brokers Australia, Canadians Interactive Brokers Canada, Singaporeans Interactive Brokers Singapore and US residents Interactive Brokers LLC. The company is named in your account documents.
Apply online
Give your personal and tax details, financial information and trading experience. IBKR uses this to decide which products and margin you can have.
Ask for forex and CFD permissions
Trading permissions are set per product. Add currencies (and CFDs, where offered) during the application or later in Client Portal.
Verify your identity
Upload ID and proof of address if the electronic checks are not enough.
Fund by bank transfer
There is no account minimum. Send money from a bank account in your own name.
Practise on paper trading first
IBKR offers a paper trading account so you can test TWS or the mobile app before you trade live.
What changed on this profile
Profile published. Licences checked on the NFA BASIC, CIRO, FCA, Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC (AFS licensee data), MAS and DFSA registers.
Interactive Brokers: common questions
Is Interactive Brokers regulated?
Yes. Interactive Brokers LLC is an NFA member futures commission merchant (NFA ID 0258600), Interactive Brokers Canada is a CIRO investment dealer, the UK company is FCA-authorised (208159), the Irish company is authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland (C423427), the Australian company holds AFSL 453554 and the Singapore company holds a MAS capital markets services licence. We checked each on 20 October 2026.
Which Interactive Brokers company will I join?
It depends on where you live: the UK company for UK residents, the Irish company for the EEA, and local companies in Australia, Canada, Singapore and the US. Check the name on your account documents.
What is the minimum deposit?
IBKR's required minimums page lists an account minimum of USD 0 and no inactivity fee for individual accounts.
Can I lose more than I deposit?
On a margin account, yes: IBKR's disclosures say losses may exceed your original investment. Retail CFD clients in the UK and EU have negative balance protection under local rules. Leverage magnifies losses either way.
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This profile is factual information, not a recommendation or financial advice. Trading leveraged products such as forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money rapidly, and most retail accounts lose money. Read the full disclaimer.
