United Kingdom
Australia
Singapore
Canada
Switzerland
Germany
activeBroker
- HQ
- Tel Aviv / London
- Fee
- No monthly
Interactive Brokers
The grown-up global broker. Ugly site, serious plumbing.
Rate this app
8.6Strong
AlternativesOur take
Desk verdict
The broker column’s control. eToro is the social alternative; IBKR is the actual one.
Interactive Brokers is a listed global broker, not a neobank. It sits in this register because ‘best account for US stocks from India/AU/UK’ queries land on digital-bank sites that cannot answer them.
Interactive Brokers lists Broker-dealer / FCM under SEC / FINRA / CFTC in United States. On safeguarding we currently write: SIPC up to $500k (US entity) · local schemes on other entities — not a bank. An AML programme is claimed. There is no IBAN-class local rail on the flags we store. We list 8 live markets on the product. As we score the sticker: monthly No inactivity on many accounts · commissions on trades; FX Institutional-grade FX; a reason people open it; ATM N/A. This desk would open it for: Investors who will tolerate TWS for cost and market access.
What it does well: Cost; Markets; Entity strength. What to watch: UX is a rite of passage; Not a spending account; Margin is a weapon. Desk score 8.6 / 10 (safety 9.0, fees 9.2, features 9.4, app 6.4). Last verified 2026-08-01. Headquartered in Greenwich, United States; founded 1978. None of this is advice — it is a file so you can read the entity before the card colour.
Best for: Investors who will tolerate TWS for cost and market access.
Pros
- +Cost
- +Markets
- +Entity strength
- +FX inside the broker
Cons
- −UX is a rite of passage
- −Not a spending account
- −Margin is a weapon
How it actually works
- Custody
- Safeguarded or partner-bank
- Local rails
- UPI / INR · ACH / USD · Faster Payments
- Built for
- Investing
- Settlement
- App-ledger instant; bank rails per corridor
- Review risk
- Fintech reviews can pause inbound while they check a transfer
- Pay surface
- No card rail listed
Safety
SIPC up to $500k (US entity) · local schemes on other entities — not a bank
- SEC / FINRA / CFTCBroker-dealer / FCM · United States
- FCA / MAS / othersLocal broker entities · Global
Fees
- Monthly
- No inactivity on many accounts · commissions on trades
- FX markup
- Institutional-grade FX; a reason people open it
- ATM
- N/A
Features
- –IBAN
- –Fee-free core
- ✓Multi-currency
- –Apple Pay
- –Google Pay
- –Virtual card
- –Physical card
- –Metal card
- –Crypto
- ✓Stocks
- –Business
- –Kids
- –Halal
- Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, FX, bonds
- Global market access
- Margin
- IBKR GlobalAnalyst
- API
Score
- Safety25%
- 9.0
- Fees20%
- 9.2
- Features15%
- 9.4
- App15%
- 6.4
- Global15%
- 9.4
- Support10%
- 6.8
Change log
Full logFees
US stock commissions still the NRI hook
Broker. Not a neobank. Custody is at the broker-dealer.
Fees
US stock commissions still the NRI hook
Broker. Not a neobank. Custody is at the broker-dealer.
FAQ
Is Interactive Brokers a bank?+–
Interactive Brokers is not a licensed deposit-taker in the classic sense. Treat the balance as a fintech ledger until you confirm the holder.
How is money protected?+–
SIPC up to $500k (US entity) · local schemes on other entities — not a bank
Where is Interactive Brokers available?+–
We list 8 market desks on the desk. Residency and onboarding rules still sit with Interactive Brokers.
Card and wallets?+–
No card rail listed
Ratings and reviews
4.0 / 5 from 2 published reviews on this desk.
Retail options
United States· 2026-08-27NeoBankDBTWS is a career. The mobile app is a brochure.
NRI desk
India· 2026-08-27Verified userUgly site, cheapest US stocks from India. This is plumbing, not a bank.
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