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Best Brokers That Pay Interest On Uninvested Cash 2026

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Written By
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Written By
James Barra
Head of Content and Media Lead
James is Head of Content and a brokerage expert with a background in financial services. A former management consultant, he's worked on major operational transformation programmes at top European banks. A trusted industry name, James's work at DayTrading.com has been cited in publications like Business Insider.
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Edited By
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Tobias Robinson
CEO and Head of Broker Testing Panel
Tobias is the CEO of DayTrading.com, an active investor, and a brokerage expert. He has over 30 years of experience in financial services, including supervising the reviews of hundreds of trading brokers, and contributing via CySEC to the regulatory response to digital options and CFD trading in Europe. Tobias' expertise make him a trusted voice in the industry, where he's been quoted in various financial organizations and outlets, including the Nasdaq.
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Fact Checked By
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Fact Checked By
Jemma Grist
Broker Analyst and Editor
Jemma is a writer, editor and fact-checker focused on retail trading and investing. Jemma brings a unique perspective to the forex, stock, and cryptocurrency markets and works across several investment websites as a researcher and broker analyst.
Updated

An increasing number of brokers are paying interest on uninvested cash balances, incentivising clients to keep their funds in trading accounts until they decide to trade. Discover the top brokers offering interest on idle funds in April 2026.

Best Brokers That Pay Interest On Cash

These are the top 3 day trading brokers paying interest on uninvested cash:

Your capital is at risk. Trade only with funds you can afford to lose.
Tested with a live trading account
Accept traders from United States

Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons

  1. Interactive Brokers - Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to over 170 markets across 40 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.
  2. eToro USA - eToro is a social investing platform that offers short-term and long-term trading on stocks, ETFs, options and crypto. The broker is well-known for its user-friendly community-centred platform and competitive fees. With FINRA and SIPC oversight and millions of users across the world, eToro is still one of the most respected brands in the industry. eToro securities trading is offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc.
  3. Moomoo - Moomoo is an SEC-regulated app-based investment platform that offers a straightforward and affordable way to invest in Chinese, Hong Kong, Singaporean, Australian and US stocks, ETFs and other assets. Margin trading is available and the brand offers a zero-deposit account as well as several bonuses.

Best Brokers That Pay Interest On Uninvested Cash 2026 Comparison

Compare the interest rates available at different brokers side-by-side. Note this table shows the maximum rates, with some brokers offering different amounts depending on your account and balance.

Best Brokers That Pay Interest On Uninvested Cash 2026 Comparison
Broker Interest Rate Minimum Deposit Markets Platforms Regulators
Interactive Brokers USD: 3.14%, GBP: 3.24% $0 Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS
eToro USA USD: 4.05% $100 Stocks, Options, ETFs, Crypto eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader SEC, FINRA
Moomoo USD: 3.35% $0 Stocks, Options, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs Desktop Platform, Mobile App SEC, FINRA, SIPC, MAS, SFC, ASIC, FMA, CIRO, CIPF, JFSA, SC

Interactive Brokers

"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."

Christian Harris Christian Harris, Reviewer

Interactive Brokers Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsStocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies
RegulatorSEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS
PlatformsTrader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade$100
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Pros

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.

Cons

  • 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.
  • IBKR was fined $11.8m by the US OFAC in 2025 for providing services in sanctioned jurisdictions. It was also fined $125k by FINRA in 2025 for municipal bond disclosure failures.
  • 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.

eToro USA

"eToro remains a top pick for traders looking for leading social investing and copy trading services. With a low deposit, zero commissions and an intuitive platform, the broker will meet the needs of newer day traders."

Jemma Grist Jemma Grist, Reviewer

eToro USA Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsStocks, Options, ETFs, Crypto
RegulatorSEC, FINRA
PlatformseToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader
Minimum Deposit$100
Minimum Trade$10
Account CurrenciesUSD

Pros

  • The online broker offers an intuitive social investment network with straightforward copy trading on cryptos
  • eToro USA Securities is a trustworthy, SEC-regulated broker that is a member of FINRA and SIPC
  • The broker's Academy offers comprehensive learning materials for beginners to advanced-level investors

Cons

  • Average fees may cut into the profit margins of day traders
  • There's no MetaTrader 4 platform integration for traders who are accustomed to using third-party charting tools
  • There's a narrower range of day trading instruments available compared to competitors, with only stocks, ETFs and cryptos

Moomoo

"Moomoo remains an excellent choice for new and intermediate stock traders who want to build a diverse investment portfolio. What really stands out is the broker's user-friendly app and the low trading fees."

Jemma Grist Jemma Grist, Reviewer

Moomoo Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsStocks, Options, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs
RegulatorSEC, FINRA, SIPC, MAS, SFC, ASIC, FMA, CIRO, CIPF, JFSA, SC
PlatformsDesktop Platform, Mobile App
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade$0
Account CurrenciesUSD, HKD, SGD

Pros

  • There are reduced options contract fees from $0.65 to $0
  • The Moomoo AI assistant, found in the desktop software and app, provides genuinely useful market insights to inform active traders
  • Moomoo is a Member of FINRA and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), adding another level of security for prospective clients

Cons

  • There is no phone or live chat support - common options at most other brokers
  • There is no negative balance protection, which is a common safety feature at top-tier-regulated brokers
  • It's a shame that there is no 2 factor authentication (2FA), despite the other security features on offer

Visual showing traders can earn interest while identifying day trading opportunities

Higher interest rates are forcing brokers to think differently. The last few years have seen interest rates across the US and UK floating around 5% and 4.5% in the Eurozone.

When you can make this without lifting a finger, day trading returns have to be higher to make it a worthwhile activity. And uninvested cash in trading accounts making zero is a lost opportunity.

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James Barra
Author

FAQ

Which Broker Pays The Highest Interest On Uninvested Cash?

We’ve listed the brokers paying the highest interest on uninvested cash, with XTB standing after recently introducing a 4.5% rate on all balances.

However, we don’t recommend choosing a day trading broker solely based on how much interest they’re paying on unused funds. Equally important is the quality of their trading environment, which our ratings take into account.

What Is The Minimum Balance I Need In My Trading Account To Earn Interest?

This varies by online broker. Some brokerages cater to traders with modest balances, notably CMC Markets, paying interest on balances from just $0.01. Other trading platforms cater to investors with higher account balances, notably Saxo, paying interest on $10,000+.

It’s important to consider the amount you plan to leave in your trading account to get the best rate. For example, XTB pays 5+% interest on all balances, while eToro only pays 5% interest on balances of 50k+.

What Do You Need To Do To Earn Interest In A Brokerage Account?

Other than meeting the minimum deposit requirements – mostly nothing. The majority of brokerages automatically pay interest on uninvested cash as long as it is held in the correct account.

For example, Interactive Brokers pays cash on securities accounts only, not commodities accounts. Alternatively, eToro requires traders to hold a Club Member account and switch on ‘Interest on Balance’ in their profile settings.

When Do Brokers Pay Interest On Unused Balances?

Most brokers pay interest monthly, with the interest calculated daily. This means you can add cash to your account on any day throughout the month, and your interest will be calculated from that day.

Platforms generally specify a day of the month that the interest will be paid. For example, XTB pays interest on the 5th working day of the month.

Can Brokers Change Interest Rates?

Yes, the interest rate can change. Brokers decide their interest rates based on government interest rate benchmarks, which will fluctuate depending on the economic environment.

Almost every day trading broker we examined confirmed that interest rates are subject to change with varying frequencies. For example, XTB recalculates their interest rates daily, while at eToro it’s quarterly.

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