Interactive Brokers Review 2026
The full Interactive Brokers write-up for United States traders: the kitchen inspection, the ingredient costs, the bill, and our straight verdict.
Regulation in United States
| Regulator | FINRA, FINRA |
| Licence Number | 0258597 |
| Regulated Entity | Interactive Brokers LLC |
| Max Leverage (Forex) | 1:50 |
| 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 |
Verdict
Cooks under FINRA (licence 0258597). Cover charge $0. In United States, forex leverage is capped at 1:50.
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 LLC under FINRA.
In United States, Interactive Brokers serves as Interactive Brokers LLC, cleared by FINRA under licence number 0258597. Under FINRA house rules, United States traders are poured no more than 1:50 leverage on forex pairs.
Trading Platforms
Pros
- FINRA regulated, licence 0258597
- 150,000+ instruments to trade
- Negative balance protection in United States
- 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 FINRA, issued to the entity Interactive Brokers LLC, an authorisation you can look up for yourself on the official FINRA public register.
What is the minimum deposit for Interactive Brokers in United States?
The cover charge is $0, the smallest amount United States traders need to open a live account with Interactive Brokers under FINRA rules.
What leverage does Interactive Brokers offer in United States?
In United States, FINRA rules cap Interactive Brokers at 1:50 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 FINRA. 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.
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