Interactive Brokers Review 2026
The full Interactive Brokers write-up for Australia traders: the kitchen inspection, the ingredient costs, the bill, and our straight verdict.
Regulation in Australia
| Regulator | ASIC ASIC, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) |
| Licence Number | 453554 |
| Regulated Entity | Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd |
| Max Leverage (Forex) | 1:30 |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| EUR/USD Spread | From 0.2 pips |
| Instruments | 150,000+ |
| Platforms | Trader Workstation, Client Portal, IBKR Mobile |
| Copy Trading | ✗ |
| Real Stocks | ✓ |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee |
| Verify on ASIC register → | 453554 |
Verdict
Cooks under ASIC (licence 453554). Cover charge $0. In Australia, forex leverage is capped at 1:30.
About Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers opened its doors in 1978 out of a kitchen in Greenwich, CT, USA. Its menu runs to 150,000 tradeable instruments, forex pairs alongside CFDs on stocks, indices and commodities. Interactive Brokers trades publicly on the NASDAQ:IBKR. It holds licences across several jurisdictions, with the head licence carried by Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd under ASIC.
In Australia, Interactive Brokers serves as Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd, cleared by ASIC under licence number 453554. Under ASIC house rules, Australia traders are poured no more than 1:30 leverage on forex pairs.
Trading Platforms
Pros
- ASIC regulated, licence 453554
- 150,000+ instruments to trade
- Negative balance protection in Australia
- Platforms: Trader Workstation, Client Portal, IBKR Mobile
- Real stock ownership (not CFD)
- Founded in 1978 (48 years operating)
- 150,000+ instruments, one of the widest menus reviewed
Cons
- No inactivity fee
- 76% of retail clients burn their fingers
- CFDs only, you trade the price, you never own the dish
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Interactive Brokers regulated?
Yes. Interactive Brokers is authorised by ASIC, issued to the entity Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd, an authorisation you can look up for yourself on the official ASIC public register.
What is the minimum deposit for Interactive Brokers in Australia?
The cover charge is $0, the smallest amount Australia traders need to open a live account with Interactive Brokers under ASIC rules.
What leverage does Interactive Brokers offer in Australia?
In Australia, ASIC rules cap Interactive Brokers at 1:30 on forex pairs. A larger pour is sometimes available through offshore-regulated entities, with thinner protection to match.
Is Interactive Brokers safe to trade with?
The kitchen passes inspection: Interactive Brokers cooks under ASIC. A tier-1 regulator insists on segregated client money, negative balance protection and independent audits, while lighter offshore regimes offer weaker cover and often no compensation scheme. That does not make trading risk-free, so check which entity holds your account and what protections actually apply before you deposit.
Reader Comments
Loading comments...