FBS vs Interactive Brokers

FBS vs Interactive Brokers Comparison Table 2024
FBS Interactive Brokers
4.3
4.3

FBS is an award-winning forex and CFD broker based in Cyprus. The broker has a strong global reputation with authorization from the CySEC and ASIC, amongst others regulators. The brand has 17 million clients in over 190 countries, attracted by a diverse range of markets and the reputable MetaTrader platforms.

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage for experienced traders, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.

Customer Reviews
4
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Comment by Reviewer
"FBS is a great choice for traders of all experience levels and budgets with various account types, plus MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 access. That said, the broker's Cent account and intensive forex course will be particularly beneficial for beginners." "Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."
Pros
  • There’s a great choice of account types for short-term traders including crypto, cent and ECN options, with decent forex spreads at 0.7 pips
  • FBS maintains its position as a trusted European broker with top-tier licenses, several awards and negative balance protection for clients
  • The MetaTrader terminals deliver a comprehensive day trading environment at FBS, including up to 21 timeframes and 6 pending orders
  • The commission-free payment methods and low minimum deposits make the broker ideal for beginners or those on a lower budget
  • The broker’s NDD technology ensures fast order execution within 0.4 seconds and no requotes
  • There’s a comprehensive learning section with tailored courses, webinars and trade ideas
  • IBKR is one of the most respected and trusted brokerages and is regulated by top-tier authorities, so you can have confidence in the integrity and security of your trading account.
  • The TWS platform has clearly been built for intermediate and advanced traders and comes with over 100 order types and a reliable real-time market data feed that rarely goes offline.
  • The new IBKR Desktop platform takes the best of TWS while adding bespoke tools like Option Lattice and Screeners with MultiSort to create a genuinely impressive trading experience for day traders at every level.
  • There's a vast library of free or paid third-party research subscriptions catering to all types of traders, plus you can enjoy commission reimbursements from IBKR if you subscribe to Toggle AI.
  • IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries.
  • While primarily geared towards experienced traders, IBKR has made moves to broaden its appeal in recent years, reducing its minimum deposit from $10,000 to $0.
  • With low commissions, tight spreads and a transparent fee structure, IBKR delivers a cost-effective environment for short-term traders.
Cons
  • There’s no copy trading solution which would offer an alternative way to trade and is offered at many top competitors like Skilling
  • Account availability, platform access and market coverage all vary by jurisdiction
  • There's a limited range of assets overall, including only 35+ currency pairs
  • TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.
  • IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
  • Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
  • You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
Awards
  • Best Customer Service Broker WBO 2022
  • Most Reliable Forex Broker MENA 2020
  • Best Social Trading Application MENA 2020
  • Best Mobile Trading Platform Asia 2020
  • Best FX Broker Europe 2019
  • Most Transparent Forex Broker 2018
  • Best Forex Broker Asia 2018
  • Best Safety of Client Funds Asia 2015
Instruments
CFDs, forex, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$5 $0
Trading Platforms
  • MT4
  • MT5
  • Trader Workstation (TWS)
  • IBKR Desktop
  • GlobalTrader
  • Mobile
  • Client Portal
  • AlgoTrader
  • OmniTrader
  • eSignal
  • TradingCentral
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots $100
Regulator
ASIC, CySEC, FSC, FSCA FCA, SEC, FINRA, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
1.55 - 2.59%
STP Account
Yes Yes
ECN Account
Yes No
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
No Yes
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No Yes
Robo Advisor
No Yes
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
App Review

The FBS Trader app allows clients to manage their finances and speculate on 44 forex pairs, among other assets. Instant deposits are available, as well as one-click trading. Users can also conduct technical analysis via interactive charting with multiple indicators. The app is free to download from the respective app stores.

The IBKR Mobile app, available on both iOS and Android devices, makes your phone a powerful gateway to your IBKR accounts, offering you the freedom to keep an eye on portfolios, initiate trades, and dive into real-time quotes and charts, all while managing your account activities on the fly. This app stands out for its intuitive design, making it especially welcoming for those just starting their trading journey, providing a smoother and more accessible experience than the more complex TWS platform.

Android App Rating
4.9
4.5
iOS App Rating
4.6
4.3
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader Capitalise.ai & TWS API
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
Trade Signals
MT4 & MT5
VPS Hosting
Yes No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
Yes No
Ethical Investing
No Yes
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0
Islamic Account
Yes No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • INR
  • JPY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • AED
  • HUF
Stock Exchanges
Commodities
CFD Trading
You can go long or short on a decent suite of financial markets with leveraged CFDs. Users can choose between three reliable platforms with over 50 indicators and charting tools, plus fast market execution from 0.3 seconds. Over 8,000 CFDs are offered on a vast array of instruments, encompassing stocks, indices, forex, and commodities. Moreover, the TWS platform lends itself to seasoned day traders, offering a comprehensive selection of over 100 order types and algorithms, alongside premium market data sourced from reputable sources such as Reuters and Dow Jones.
Leverage
1:30 (EU & Restricted Countries), 1:3000 (Global) 1:50
FTSE Spread
From 0.0 0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread
From 0.6 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Oil Spread
From 0.0 0.25-0.85
Stocks Spread
Variable 0.003
Forex Trading
FBS offers a below-average range of 35+ majors, minors and exotics. That said, spreads are fairly competitive, averaging 0.7 pips for EUR/USD in the Standard account. There’s also an excellent range of forex market resources and tools on offer, including calculators and an intensive forex course. IBKR presents an extensive range of over 100 major, minor, and exotic forex pairs, surpassing the offerings of nearly all leading alternatives, though not CMC Markets. Forex trading occurs over multiple platforms and boasts institutional-grade spreads starting from 0.1 pips and 20 complex order types, including brackets, scale, and one-cancels-all (OCA) orders.
Forex App

The FBS Trader app allows clients to manage their finances and speculate on 44 forex pairs, among other assets. Instant deposits are available, as well as one-click trading. Users can also conduct technical analysis via interactive charting with multiple indicators. The app is free to download from the respective app stores.

GBPUSD Spread
From 0.6 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURUSD Spread
From 0.5 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURGBP Spread
From 2.1 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Assets
36 100+
Cryptocurrency
FBS offers trading on crypto/metal, crypto/crypto or crypto/fiat pairs, making the broker a great pick for traders looking to diversify their digital asset portfolios. Spreads are also decent, averaging around 20.0 for BTC/USD. IBKR lets you purchase and hold Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin at competitive commission rates and without needing a crypto wallet. Additionally, there is a range of other diverse assets to explore, such as crypto indices like the NYSE Bitcoin Index, as well as futures contracts like the BAKKT Bitcoin Futures.
Spread
Floating 0.12%-0.18%
Coins
  • ADA
  • ALG
  • AVA
  • BAT
  • BCH
  • BNB
  • BTC
  • DOG
  • DOT
  • DSH
  • EOS
  • ETC
  • ETH
  • FIL
  • IOT
  • LNK
  • LTC
  • MKR
  • MTC
  • NEO
  • OMG
  • SHB
  • SOL
  • TRX
  • UNI
  • VEC
  • XLM
  • XMR
  • XRPZEC
  • BTC
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • XRP
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
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