Two established brokers clash over regulation, costs, and platform choices. The tension centers on trust and access to an expansive instrument universe.
Interactive Brokers edges ADS Securities on editorial score (4.6 vs 4.3). It also offers far broader instrument coverage with 17,000 instruments versus ADS's 200.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose ADS Securities if…
Choose ADS Securities if you want MT4 and MT5 support. You also benefit from 24/5 live chat.
Choose Interactive Brokers if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you want investor compensation scheme coverage. You also get negative balance protection.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0.20 pips vs 0.50 pips for ADS Securities, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.6/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 |
Pros
FSRA (ADGM) and FCA dual regulation, institutional-grade UAE framework
Institutional prime brokerage liquidity for tight spreads
Multi-asset including equities and fixed income
FIX API available for algorithmic and professional clients
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ADS Securities | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: ADS Securities rates 4.3/5 and Interactive Brokers rates 4.6/5. Interactive Brokers has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Interactive Brokers starts from 0.2 pips, tighter than ADS Securities's 0.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit, while ADS Securities requires at least $2000. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ADS Securities and Interactive Brokers hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
Interactive Brokers stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
ADS Securities lists maximum leverage of 200:1, while Interactive Brokers lists up to 50:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Interactive Brokers charges $2 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for ADS Securities are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
ADS Securities supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. ADS Securities has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS).
Interactive Brokers benefits from a broad regulator base including NFA, FCA, ASIC, MFSA, and more.
Interactive Brokers provides extensive markets (17,000 instruments) and the TWS platform for active trading.
Interactive Brokers is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.20 pips.
ADS Securities wins for platform choice with MT4/MT5 and proprietary web/mobile.
Interactive Brokers offers $0 min deposit and strong protection, aiding beginners.
Interactive Brokers leads with 17,000 instruments vs ADS's 200.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 1978 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Greenwich, United States |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $2,000 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | 0.2 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $2/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 0.4 pips |
| Max Leverage | 200:1 | 50:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card | Bank transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | First withdrawal/month free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSRA FCA | IIROC DFSA FCA JFSA CNB CMVM CNV ASIC AMF SEC MFSA SFC SEBI CBI CMF NFA FSC FINRA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 | Trader Workstation (TWS) Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Available to US residents
Lowest margin rates in industry
150+ global markets
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
$2,000 minimum deposit, not accessible to entry-level retail traders
Primary focus on institutional and HNW clients; limited retail tools
Less suitable for traders seeking educational support or copy trading
No negative balance protection
No investor compensation scheme
Cons
Steeper learning curve on TWS
No MT4 / MT5
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
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