IQ Option vs Interactive Brokers

IQ Option vs Interactive Brokers Comparison Table 2024
IQ Option Interactive Brokers
4
4.3

IQ Option is a trusted broker with multi-asset trading on its user-friendly proprietary platform. The broker provides trading on forex, stocks, cryptos, indices, commodities and ETFs with competitive fees and a good suite of extra features and educational content. You can also open an account with just $10.

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.

RISK WARNING: YOUR CAPITAL MIGHT BE AT RISK
Customer Reviews
5
4
Comment by Reviewer
"IQ Option is a good broker for beginners with a slick platform and low minimum investment. New users can also open an account in three easy steps." "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
  • User-friendly platform for beginners
  • Excellent range of payment methods
  • Reliable 24/7 multilingual support
  • Access to IQ Option community
  • High payouts on binary options
  • iOS & Android compatible app
  • 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
  • €10 inactivity fee after 90 days
  • No MetaTrader 4 integration
  • 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
  • Most Trusted Broker 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 - BinaryOptions.net
  • Best Binary Broker 2021 - DayTrading.com
Instruments
CFD, Forex, Crypto, Stocks, Digital Options Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$10 $0
Trading Platforms
  • Own
  • Trader Workstation (TWS)
  • IBKR Desktop
  • GlobalTrader
  • Mobile
  • Client Portal
  • AlgoTrader
  • OmniTrader
  • eSignal
  • TradingCentral
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.001 Lots $100
Regulator
FCA, SEC, FINRA, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
0.2% 1.55 - 2.59%
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
No 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
Yes No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
No Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS, Android and Windows iOS & Android
App Review

IQ Option provide a superbly easy to use mobile app. Offering forex trading, plus some bespoke trading instruments of their own, IQ deliver a slick, secure platform for shorter term trades. Recent upgrades have also synchronised the look and feel of both the web trader and mobile platform, making switching between the two, seamless.

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
4.2
4.5
iOS App Rating
4.3
4.3
Auto Trading
Capitalise.ai & TWS API
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
Yes No
Demo Competitions
No 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
  • GBP
  • ZAR
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • INR
  • JPY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • AED
  • HUF
Stock Exchanges
Commodities
CFD Trading
IQ Option deals primarily in CFDs, which are available on stocks, forex, cryptocurrencies and several other markets. The leverage available is in line with EU restrictions, to a maximum of 1:30 on major forex pairs but with less available on more volatile assets. Trades are commission-free with floating spreads and clients can use the award-winning platform. 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
1:500 1:50
FTSE Spread
0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread
1 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Oil Spread
2.3 0.25-0.85
Stocks Spread
2 0.003
Forex Trading
IQ Option offers CFD trading on 24 forex assets, including major pairs and some minors. EU traders can access a maximum of 1:30 leverage in line with local regulations. The broker offers commission-free trades but spreads are on the high side so the brand does not excel in this area. 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

IQ Option provide a superbly easy to use mobile app. Offering forex trading, plus some bespoke trading instruments of their own, IQ deliver a slick, secure platform for shorter term trades. Recent upgrades have synchronised the look and feel of both the Webtrader and mobile platform, making switching between the two, seamless. Try it out via the free demo account.

GBPUSD Spread
5 pips 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURUSD Spread
14 pips 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURGBP Spread
15 pips 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Assets
60+ 100+
Cryptocurrency
IQ Option is a leading crypto broker. They offer multipliers and a huge range of digital currency markets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano. Leverage of up to 1:2 is available with a variable spread and no commission. Newer traders will also rate the intuitive trading software. 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
BTC 7%, ETH 12% (Var) 0.12%-0.18%
Coins
  • BTC
  • TRX
  • XRP
  • BCH
  • ETH
  • EOS
  • OMG
  • ETC
  • QTUM
  • ZEC
  • LTC
  • DASH
  • BTC
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • XRP
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
Binary Options
IQ Option is a top-rated binary options and digital trading broker. Trade on a user-friendly platform with a low starting deposit. Simply decide whether the price of an asset will go up or down to win a predetermined payout up to 90%+. Binary options trading not offered
Payout
91%
Ladder Options
Yes No
Boundary Options
Yes No
RISK WARNING: YOUR CAPITAL MIGHT BE AT RISK
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