This side-by-side comparison pits two established brokers against each other on regulation, costs, and platform options, with attention to instrument breadth and execution quality.
Interactive Brokers edges Windsor Brokers on editorial score and platform breadth, offering 17,000 instruments and a proprietary platform.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Interactive Brokers if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you want the broadest instrument universe and a proprietary trading platform that integrates advanced tools for active execution. You also gain access to top-tier regulation, robust client fund protection, and transparent pricing, with no minimum deposit.
Choose if…
Choose Windsor Brokers if you prioritize familiar MT4/MT5 platforms and a regulated EU-based framework with CySEC oversight. You access a straightforward ECN Zero style option on MT4/MT5, a modest minimum deposit, and 24/5 live support with multilingual help.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Windsor Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.20 pips for Interactive Brokers, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 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 | Windsor Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Interactive Brokers rates 4.6/5 versus 4/5 for Windsor Brokers. Interactive Brokers edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Windsor Brokers 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 Windsor Brokers requires at least $100. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Interactive Brokers holds top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC, JFSA), providing stronger investor protections. Windsor Brokers may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
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.
Interactive Brokers lists maximum leverage of 50:1, while Windsor Brokers lists up to 500:1. 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 Windsor Brokers's $8 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Windsor Brokers supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS) and Proprietary Web/Mobile. Windsor Brokers has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Interactive Brokers earns this for top-tier regulation and segregated client funds.
Interactive Brokers wins for active traders with 17,000 instruments and advanced tools.
Interactive Brokers is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($2/lot).
Windsor Brokers wins for platform choice due to MT4/MT5 availability.
Interactive Brokers wins for beginners with $0 minimum deposit.
Interactive Brokers wins for instrument variety with 17,000 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1978 | 1988 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Greenwich, United States | Nicosia, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.2 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $2/lot▼ lower | $8/lot |
|---|
| 0.4 pips▼ lower | 0.8 pips |
| Max Leverage | 50:1▲ higher | 500:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | First withdrawal/month free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC JFSA IIROC DFSA CNB CMVM CNV AMF SEC MFSA SFC SEBI CBI CMF NFA FSC FINRA | CySEC FSCA |
|---|
| Platforms | Trader Workstation (TWS) Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| 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
35+ years of continuous operation, one of the longest track records in retail forex
CySEC regulated with EU investor protections
ECN Zero account from 0.0 pips + $8 commission
Islamic swap-free accounts available
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
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
Platform limited to MT4 and MT5, no cTrader or proprietary option
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
ECN commission slightly above IC Markets and Pepperstone
No top-tier regulatory licence
Limited charting capabilities
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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