The matchup weighs cost against access, pitting Interactive Brokers' global reach and advanced tools against RoboForex's broad instrument range and real stock exposure.
Interactive Brokers is the editorial winner, supported by the highest score and access to 150 exchanges. RoboForex lags on regulation and IPO access.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose Interactive Brokers if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you want broad global access and commission-free US stock trading.
Choose RoboForex if…
Choose RoboForex if you prioritise real stock ownership and a wide instrument range on familiar platforms.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Interactive Brokers leads on cost with commission-free US stocks.
| Editorial score | 4.8/ 5 | 3.8/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $10 |
| Spreads from | 0.2 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
| Commission / lot | $2/lot▼ lower | $20/lot |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Pass | Fail |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Pass | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Pass | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Pass | Fail |
| IPO access | Pass | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Pass | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
Interactive Brokers is the stronger choice: it rates 4.8/5 versus 3.8/5 for RoboForex, a gap that reflects clear differences across regulation, fees, and platform quality in our review.
RoboForex 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 RoboForex requires at least $10. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Interactive Brokers holds top-tier regulation (JFSA, IIROC, DFSA), providing stronger investor protections. RoboForex 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 RoboForex provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Interactive Brokers lists maximum leverage of 1:4, while RoboForex lists up to 20:1. 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 trade, lower than RoboForex's $20 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.
Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile, while RoboForex supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS). RoboForex has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Interactive Brokers offers commission-free stock trading while RoboForex 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.
Interactive Brokers benefits from top-tier regulation.
Interactive Brokers supports fractional shares and DRIP.
Interactive Brokers offers powerful TWS for active traders.
RoboForex provides familiar platforms for beginners.
Interactive Brokers grants access to 150 exchanges.
| 0.4 pips▼ lower |
| 2 pips |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyPerfect MoneyCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyPerfect MoneyCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | First withdrawal/month free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | Yes | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | Yes | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | Yes | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | Yes | No |
|---|
| IPO access | Yes | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | JFSA IIROC DFSA FCA CNB CMVM CNV ASIC AMF SEC MFSA SFC SEBI CBI CMF NFA FSC FINRA | FSCA CySEC IFSC |
|---|
| Platforms | Trader Workstation (TWS) Proprietary Web/Mobile | cTrader MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses | 2 offers | None |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.8 / 5
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