FXCM vs Interactive Brokers

FXCM vs Interactive Brokers Comparison Table 2023
FXCM Interactive Brokers
3.5
4.3

Interactive Brokers is #1 in our CFD broker rankings.

United States Flag Traders from US not accepted
United States Flag Traders from US accepted

FXCM is a respected forex and CFD broker, established since 1999. The British-headquartered broker has won multiple awards and operates in various jurisdictions, including the UK and Australia. With zero commissions, over 400 assets, and a range of analysis tools, FXCM is a popular choice. The broker is also FCA regulated and authorized in Australia and South Africa.

Interactive Brokers is a leading global brokerage that provides access to a comprehensive offering of stocks as well as forex, futures, metals, bonds and cryptos. The firm has over 40 years experience in the online trading industry and is heavily regulated by SEC, FCA, IIROC, and SFC. Day traders can use the proprietary Trader Workstation and can access powerful tools and data feeds as well as comprehensive educational resources.

Comment by Reviewer
"FXCM is a top pick for traders deploying automated trading strategies, with four powerful platforms, strategy backtesting and algo trading through APIs. The broker is also great for active traders, with discounted spreads and low to zero commissions on popular assets." "Experienced day traders seeking a regulated broker with sophisticated trading software and very low fees should look at IB. Their range of stocks also can't be beaten."
Pros
  • A choice for 4 powerful platforms including MT4, Capitalise.AI and the broker's proprietary solution
  • Premium support and custom solutions in the Active Trader professional account
  • Excellent trading tools including a market scanner, forex signals and access to reputable research site, eFXplus
  • Strong selection of educational materials including a new trader guide, market outlook reports and free webinars
  • Impressive global regulatory status with 4 reputable licenses with the FCA, ASIC, CySEC and FSCA
  • A range of funding methods including bank cards, Apple Pay and PayPal, with instant processing times
  • Gives day traders unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries
  • Direct market access, including to the FTSE 100 index, the CAC 40 and Germany’s DAX 40
  • Proprietary Trader Workstation comes with powerful tools and charting capabilities
  • Regulated by some of the world's most reputable bodies including in US
  • You have a reliable real-time market data feed, that rarely goes offline
  • Diverse payment options and account currencies
  • Commission reimbursement with Toggle AI
  • Low commissions and tight spreads
Cons
  • Live chat support is unreliable
  • Not the widest range of assets or trading vehicles
  • Due to the pricing structure, this firm can be more expensive for aggressive traders who trade over $100,000 shares a day
  • Platform and web interface are complex and difficult for beginners to pick up
  • Accessing products like CFDs is not straightforward compared to competitors
  • The TWS platform falls short in terms of technical charting
  • Mediocre customer support
Instruments
Stocks, Spreadbetting, CFD, Forex, Crypto Stocks, Futures, E-minis, Options, CFD, Forex, Crypto, Exchange Linked Warrants
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$50 $0
Trading Platforms
  • MT4
  • TradingView
  • eSignal
  • AlgoTrader
  • OmniTrader
  • eSignal
  • TradingCentral
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
Variable $100
Regulator
FCA, CySEC, ASIC. SEC, FCA, IIROC, SFC
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
1.55 - 2.59%
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
Yes Yes
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No Yes
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes No
Market Maker
Yes No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
No Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS and Android iOS, Android & Windows
Auto Trading
Capitalise.ai & TWS API
Copy Trading
Yes No
Copy Trading Platform
FXCM offers social and copy trading on forex, CFDs and cryptos through the hugely popular ZuluTrade platform. The sign-up process is quick and you can track your performance in real-time.
Social Trading
Yes No
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
Yes No
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0
Islamic Account
No No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • ZAR
  • CHF
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • INR
  • JPY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • HUF
Stock Exchanges
Commodities
CFD Trading
Trade a range of CFD instruments on one of FXCM's multi-asset platforms with fast execution and zero/positive slippage. Daily market analysis can also be used to inform trading decisions. Trade leveraged CFDs on thousands of global stocks as well as 13 global indices, 80+ forex pairs, and London gold and silver. Leverage is available in line with regulatory requirements.
Leverage
1:30 1:50
FTSE Spread
1.18 pts var* 0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread
0.5 pips* Commission (.20 pts x trade value)
Oil Spread
0.05 (var)* N/A
Stocks Spread
0.2% Var* From 0.003 per share, variable
Forex Trading
Access over 40 currency pairs with no commissions and low spreads from 0.78 pips for EUR/USD. Forex can also be traded 24/5 on a choice of reliable platforms. Trade 85 major, minor and exotic forex pairs via CFDs on IB's FXTrader platform with tight spreads and low commissions, or trade forex on the spot market. They offer more FX assets than almost any competitor.
GBPUSD Spread
0.5 pips var* Commission (.20 pts x trade value)
EURUSD Spread
0.2 pips var* Commission (.20 pts x trade value)
EURGBP Spread
0.5 pips var* Commission (.20 pts x trade value)
Assets
40 70+
Currency Indices
  • JPY
Cryptocurrency
Trade some of world's most popular digital coins with zero commission and leverage up to 1:4. FXCM also stands out for its crypto major basket which offers exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash in one trade. Buy and hold Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and Litecoin with low commissions of 0.12%–0.18%. Fees are low and the broker offers a secure environment to invest in digital assets.
Spread
Variable Variable
Coins
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • BTC
  • BTC
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • XRP
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
More Comparisons
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Interactive Brokers
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