The comparison pits a veteran global broker with deep regulation and raw spreads against a US focused options specialist with capped commissions.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you want 17000 instruments and raw spreads. You also gain multilingual support.
Choose if…
Choose tastytrade if you trade US options with capped commissions. You avoid raw spreads and rely on options-focused tools.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.5 / 5 |
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: Interactive Brokers rates 4.6/5 and tastytrade rates 4.3/5. 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. Current spread data is not available for tastytrade. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date pricing.
Neither Interactive Brokers nor tastytrade requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both Interactive Brokers and tastytrade 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, Interactive Brokers provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
Interactive Brokers lists maximum leverage of 50:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
tastytrade charges $1 per lot, lower than Interactive Brokers's $2 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile, while tastytrade supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS).
Interactive Brokers offers spreads from 0.20 pips.
Interactive Brokers wins due to broader regulation and segregated funds.
Interactive Brokers wins for active traders with 17000 instruments and raw spreads.
Interactive Brokers is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available.
Interactive Brokers wins for platform choice with TWS and advanced tools.
tastytrade wins for beginners due to IB's steeper TWS learning curve.
Interactive Brokers offers more instruments with 17000 versus 10000.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5 | 4.7 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1978 | 2017 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Greenwich, United States | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.2 pips | N/A |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $2/lot | $1/lot▼ lower |
|---|
| 0.4 pips | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 50:1 | N/A |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferWire transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferWire transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | First withdrawal/month free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC JFSA AMF FCA DFSA CMF MFSA IIROC CBI CNB SEBI SFC NFA CMVM SEC CNV FSC FINRA | CFTC NFA |
|---|
| Platforms | Trader Workstation (TWS) Proprietary Web/Mobile | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Options commissions capped at $10/leg, major cost advantage for traders who size up
$0 to open options trades; $1/contract to close
Platform built natively for options: IVR, Greeks, curve tool, and multi-leg management all first-class
Futures and futures options on the same account as equity derivatives
No PFOF on options, exchange-routed for best execution
Part of IG Group (LSE-listed), institutional governance and financial stability
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
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
Cons
Steeper learning curve on TWS
No MT4 / MT5
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Cons
US-only, no international accounts
Options-first interface has a steep learning curve for equity-focused traders
No live chat support, phone and email only
Minimal fundamental research tools; no stock screener or analyst reports
Mobile app less appropriate for entering complex multi-leg strategies than the desktop platform
No negative balance protection
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
Support available in limited languages
Interactive Brokers wins overall with 4.6 vs 4.3 for tastytrade, thanks to stronger regulation and broader instrument access.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
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