A head-to-head comparison of Interactive Brokers and RoboForex across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Listed broker with global market access, lowest financing rates we benchmark, and the powerful TWS workstation.
IFSC Belize-regulated broker with a genuine ECN/STP execution model, multiple platform options including cTrader, and a broad 12,000+ instrument range that goes beyond most forex-focused competitors.
Interactive Brokers comes out ahead with an editorial score of 4.6/5 compared to RoboForex's 4/5.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
RoboForex offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.2 pips for Interactive Brokers, reducing trading costs.
Interactive Brokers has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Both brokers offer equivalent trading costs across spreads, commissions, and account types.
RoboForex offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, a proprietary platform.
Interactive Brokers edges out RoboForex with a higher editorial score (4.6/5 vs 4/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 3.6 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Founded | 1978 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Greenwich, United States | Belize City, Belize |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $10 |
| Spreads from | 0.2 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | $2/lot | $20/lot |
| Max leverage | 50:1 | 2000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | First withdrawal/month free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMF SEC FINRA ASIC JFSA SEBI AMF SFC DFSA CMVM NFA IIROC CNV FSC CBI CNB MFSA | FSCA CySEC IFSC |
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile Trader Workstation (TWS) | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader Proprietary Web/Mobile |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Interactive Brokers | Visit RoboForex |
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
Pros
12,000+ instruments including real stocks and ETFs
cTrader available with full Level II and cAlgo
Multiple account types from Cent to ECN
R Trader proprietary platform with built-in analytics
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
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
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Steeper learning curve on TWS
No MT4 / MT5
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Cons
Primary entity uses IFSC Belize - offshore, limited protection
ECN commission of $20 round-turn is higher than IC Markets ($7)
Very high leverage (2000:1) amplifies risk significantly
No top-tier regulatory licence
No investor compensation scheme
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Fail |
| 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Interactive Brokers ranks higher with a score of 4.6/5 vs 4/5 for RoboForex. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Interactive Brokers and RoboForex may each suit different trader profiles.
RoboForex offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Interactive Brokers's spreads from 0.2 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Interactive Brokers has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while RoboForex requires at least $10. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Interactive Brokers holds top-tier regulation (FCA, CMF, SEC), providing stronger investor protections. RoboForex may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Always verify regulatory status with the broker directly before depositing funds.
For beginners: Interactive Brokers has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Interactive Brokers offers maximum leverage of 50:1, while RoboForex offers up to 2000:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Interactive Brokers charges $2 per lot, lower than RoboForex's $20 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Interactive Brokers supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, Trader Workstation (TWS) and RoboForex offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Proprietary Web/Mobile; both support Proprietary Web/Mobile; Interactive Brokers exclusively offers Trader Workstation (TWS); RoboForex exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader.
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