General stock and ETF brokers
Broker Review
Interactive Brokers
The Interactive Brokers platform dates to 1977 and is connected to Thomas Peterffy. Today it connects individual traders to roughly 170 markets through a single multi-currency account, giving it a materially different operating model from a conventional all-purpose broker. Any valuation belongs to the listed company or parent rather than automatically to the product brand. Approximately $40.4 billion as of August 2026.
Strengths
- Connects individual traders to roughly 170 markets through a single multi-currency account
Drawbacks
- At Interactive Brokers, the feature set that distinguishes Interactive Brokers can add complexity, service charges or eligibility rules that a buy-and-hold customer may never use
Profile
What you can trade
Stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, funds, metals, event contracts and crypto access across approximately 170 markets.
Account types
Individual, joint, trust, IRA, UGMA/UTMA, family adviser, small-business, proprietary, adviser, broker and institutional structures, with cash, Reg T or portfolio margin. The registration structure reflects the fact that the service connects individual traders to roughly 170 markets through a single multi-currency account.
Platform
Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, Client Portal, IBKR Mobile, GlobalTrader, IMPACT and APIs. The resulting workflow is tailored to a business that connects individual traders to roughly 170 markets through a single multi-currency account.
Who it suits
Best suited to Interactive Brokers customers whose principal requirement is the capability described in this profile, rather than investors choosing a broker only because of a zero-commission headline.
Where it is offered
Interactive Brokers serves U.S. residents and customers in more than 200 countries and territories through separately regulated affiliates; the instruments and protections depend on the entity carrying the account.
Regulation and sources
Official website: https://interactivebrokers.com/ Regulatory status should be verified through FINRA BrokerCheck, SEC/IAPD, NFA BASIC, state regulators or applicable alternative-asset disclosures. Last verified: 2026-08-11.