A head-to-head comparison of Interactive Brokers and TPFx across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Listed broker with global market access, lowest financing rates we benchmark, and the powerful TWS workstation.
A fully BAPPEBTI-licensed and OJK-registered Indonesian broker, offering domestic traders compliant access to forex and commodity futures markets.
Interactive Brokers comes out ahead with an editorial score of 4.6/5 compared to TPFx's 3.7/5.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0.2 pips vs 1.5 pips for TPFx, reducing trading costs.
Interactive Brokers has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Interactive Brokers has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0.2 pips.
Both brokers offer an equivalent platform selection with similar exclusive and proprietary options.
Interactive Brokers edges out TPFx with a higher editorial score (4.6/5 vs 3.7/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 3.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 3.7 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 3.7 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 3.7 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5▲ | 3.7 / 5 |
| Founded | 1978 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Greenwich, United States | Jakarta, Indonesia |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $60 |
| Spreads from | 0.2 pips | 1.5 pips |
| Commission / lot | $2/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 50:1 | 100:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | First withdrawal/month free | Free |
| Regulators | SEC FINRA FCA CMF SEBI ASIC JFSA CMVM AMF SFC DFSA NFA IIROC CNV FSC CBI CNB MFSA | BAPPEBTI OJK |
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile Trader Workstation (TWS) | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Interactive Brokers | Visit TPFx |
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
BAPPEBTI-licensed and OJK-registered - full Indonesian regulatory compliance
OJK registration no. S-130/PM.02/2025 is publicly verifiable
Supports MetaTrader 5 alongside proprietary platform
Local Indonesian bank transfer funding with IDR accounts
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Cons
Steeper learning curve on TWS
No MT4 / MT5
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Cons
Only available to Indonesian residents - no international clients
Higher minimum deposit than some domestic peers
Narrow product range limited to forex and commodity futures
No top-tier regulatory licence
No negative balance protection
No investor compensation scheme
Limited charting capabilities
Support available in limited languages
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | TPFx |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| 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 | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Fail |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Interactive Brokers ranks higher with a score of 4.6/5 vs 3.7/5 for TPFx. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Interactive Brokers and TPFx may each suit different trader profiles.
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads starting from 0.2 pips, compared to TPFx's spreads from 1.5 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 TPFx requires at least $60. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Interactive Brokers holds top-tier regulation (SEC, FINRA, FCA), providing stronger investor protections. TPFx 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; Interactive Brokers offers negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Interactive Brokers offers maximum leverage of 50:1, while TPFx offers up to 100:1. 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 TPFx offers MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile; both support Proprietary Web/Mobile; Interactive Brokers exclusively offers Trader Workstation (TWS); TPFx exclusively offers MetaTrader 5.
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