Two brokers with strengths face off on regulation, costs, and platform choice. FXOpen emphasizes ECN pricing and MT4/MT5 access, while Interactive Brokers offers broad global markets and a proprietary platform.
Interactive Brokers edges FXOpen on the editorial score, reflecting a higher overall rating across trust, fees, platforms, and support.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose FXOpen if…
Choose FXOpen if you want MT4/MT5 and cTrader access with ECN pricing.
Choose Interactive Brokers if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you need global market access and a proprietary platform.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
FXOpen offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.20 pips for Interactive Brokers, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.6/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Pros
FCA, CySEC, and ASIC triple regulation
$3 round-turn ECN commission, one of the lowest in retail forex
Early cTrader adopter with mature integration
MT4, MT5, and cTrader all available
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | FXOpen | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: FXOpen rates 4.2/5 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.
FXOpen starts from 0 pips, tighter than Interactive Brokers's 0.2 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit, while FXOpen requires at least $100. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both FXOpen 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.
For beginners, two factors stand out: Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
FXOpen lists maximum leverage of 500:1, 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, lower than FXOpen's $3 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
FXOpen supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile. FXOpen has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS) and Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Interactive Brokers wins for safety and regulation with broader regulator coverage including NFA and FCA.
FXOpen wins for active traders due to ECN pricing and low $3/lot commissions.
Interactive Brokers is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($2/lot).
FXOpen wins for platform choice with MT4/MT5 and cTrader support.
FXOpen is best for beginners because of a low $100 deposit and popular platforms.
Interactive Brokers dominates instrument variety with 17,000+ markets.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.6 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2003 | 1978 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Greenwich, United States |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips▼ lower | 0.2 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $3/lot | $2/lot▼ lower |
|---|
| 0.3 pips▼ lower | 0.4 pips |
| Max Leverage | 500:1 | 50:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerCrypto | Bank transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerCrypto | Bank transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | First withdrawal/month free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC | FCA ASIC JFSA IIROC DFSA CNB CMVM CNV AMF SEC MFSA SFC SEBI CBI CMF NFA FSC FINRA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | Trader Workstation (TWS) Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
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
$100 minimum deposit on ECN accounts
Less brand recognition than larger competitors
Customer support coverage narrower than global tier-1 brokers
No proprietary platform
No phone support
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.
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