This comparison pits GO Markets against Interactive Brokers across regulation, platform breadth, and global reach. The axis of tension centers on cost and access for international equities.
Interactive Brokers edges GO Markets on editorial score and breadth of market access. GO Markets remains dual-regulated but has a narrower platform footprint.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose GO Markets if…
Choose GO Markets if you value negative balance protection.
Choose Interactive Brokers if…
Choose GO Markets if you value a compensation scheme. Choose Interactive Brokers if you want IPO access. Choose Interactive Brokers if you want 24/5 live chat and extended hours.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Interactive Brokers wins for low-cost trading with commission-free US stock trading under IBKR Lite.
| Editorial score | 3.5/ 5 | 4.8/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $200 | No minimum▼ lower |
| Spreads from | 0 pips▼ lower | 0.2 pips |
| Commission / lot | $5/lot | $2/lot▼ lower |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | GO Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Pass |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Pass |
| IPO access | Fail | Pass |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
Interactive Brokers is the stronger choice: it rates 4.8/5 versus 3.5/5 for GO Markets, a gap that reflects clear differences across regulation, fees, and platform quality in our review.
GO Markets lists tighter spreads from 0, compared with Interactive Brokers's 0.2. For stock trading, also factor in any per-trade or per-share commissions — spreads and commissions together determine the true cost per trade.
Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit, while GO Markets requires at least $200. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both GO Markets and Interactive Brokers 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, two factors stand out: Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and GO Markets provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
GO Markets lists maximum leverage of 500:1, while Interactive Brokers lists up to 1:4. 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 trade, lower than GO Markets's $5 per trade. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
GO Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile. GO Markets has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS) and Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Interactive Brokers offers commission-free stock trading while GO Markets does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
GO Markets scores higher on investor protection criteria, with compensation scheme coverage and segregated client funds. For stock investors, confirming compensation scheme coverage ensures your assets are protected up to a defined limit if the broker becomes insolvent.
Interactive Brokers wins safety and regulation due to extensive Tier 1 regulator coverage.
Interactive Brokers wins for long-term investors with fractional shares and dividend reinvestment.
Interactive Brokers wins for active traders with the powerful Trader Workstation and broad access.
GO Markets wins for beginners with familiar MT4/MT5 and cTrader platforms.
Interactive Brokers wins global market access with 150 exchanges.
| 0.5 pips |
| 0.4 pips▼ lower |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPayPal | Bank transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | First withdrawal/month free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | Yes |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | Yes |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | Yes |
|---|
| IPO access | No | Yes |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC CySEC FSC | FCA ASIC JFSA IIROC DFSA CNB CMVM CNV AMF SEC MFSA SFC SEBI CBI CMF NFA FSC FINRA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | Trader Workstation (TWS) Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.5 / 5
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