Interactive Brokers vs Skilling Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of Interactive Brokers and Skilling across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Score 4.6 / 5
2 bonusesListed broker with global market access, lowest financing rates we benchmark, and the powerful TWS workstation.
VS
Modern Swedish-founded broker with CySEC and FCA regulation, a visually polished proprietary platform, and cTrader for advanced traders - well-positioned for EU retail clients seeking a contemporary alternative to legacy MetaTrader brokers.
Our Verdict
Interactive Brokers winsby 0.5 pts
Interactive Brokers edges ahead with a score of 4.6/5 vs Skilling's 4.1/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0.2 pips vs 0.7 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Best for active traders
Recommended
Interactive Brokers has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0.2 pips.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
Skilling offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 4, cTrader, Skilling Trader, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
Interactive Brokers edges out Skilling with a higher editorial score (4.6/5 vs 4.1/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
Interactive Brokers vs Skilling: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 1978 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Greenwich, United States | Valletta, Malta |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.2 pips | 0.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | $2/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 50:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | First withdrawal/month free | Free |
| Regulators | SEC FCA CMF ASIC JFSA SEBI AMF SFC FINRA DFSA CMVM NFA IIROC CNV FSC CBI CNB MFSA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile Trader Workstation (TWS) | MetaTrader 4 cTrader Skilling Trader |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Interactive Brokers | Visit Skilling |
Interactive Brokers vs Skilling Forex Broker Pros & Cons
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
Clean modern Skilling Trader platform - excellent UX for new-to-intermediate traders
cTrader available with raw spreads from 0.0 pips
CySEC and FCA regulation with EU and UK investor protections
Growing Latin American presence with local-language support
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
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
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Steeper learning curve on TWS
No MT4 / MT5
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Cons
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
Newer broker - less track record than IG or Pepperstone
Product range narrower than multi-asset brokers
No phone support
Interactive Brokers vs Skilling: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
1
Interactive Brokers
criteria win
2
Skilling
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Interactive Brokers vs Skilling: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Interactive Brokers ranks higher with a score of 4.6/5 vs 4.1/5 for Skilling. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Interactive Brokers and Skilling may each suit different trader profiles.
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads starting from 0.2 pips, compared to Skilling's spreads from 0.7 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 Skilling requires at least $100. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Interactive Brokers and Skilling hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
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 Skilling offers up to 500:1. 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 on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Interactive Brokers supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, Trader Workstation (TWS) and Skilling offers MetaTrader 4, cTrader, Skilling Trader; Interactive Brokers exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, Trader Workstation (TWS); Skilling exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, cTrader, Skilling Trader.
Ready to get started?
Open an account directly with the broker that suits you best.
Score 4.1 / 5
More Broker Comparisons
More Interactive Brokers comparisons
More Skilling comparisons
Personalised recommendation
Not sure which broker is right for you?
Answer 6 quick questions and we'll match you with the brokers that best fit your trading style, experience level, and country.
Find my broker