Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs ACY Securities, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Interactive Brokers, established in 1977, and ACY Securities, founded in 2011, stand as notable entities in the online brokerage industry. Interactive Brokers is publicly traded, allowing greater transparency, while ACY Securities remains privately owned. Neither of the two companies functions as a bank, ensuring they are focused solely on providing brokerage services. Interactive Brokers distinguishes itself with an impressive nine Tier-1 licenses, the highest level of regulatory trust, along with two additional Tier-2 licenses. This robust regulatory framework reflects its commitment to security and reliability. In contrast, ACY Securities holds a single Tier-1 license, lacking any Tier-2 validations, suggesting a less extensive regulatory backing.
The Trust Score provided by ForexBrokers.com further cements Interactive Brokers' reputation, as it achieves a perfect score of 99 out of 99, placing it firmly in the highly trusted category. Meanwhile, ACY Securities receives a Trust Score of 75, indicating an average level of risk. These scores reflect the brokers’ adherence to safety standards and reliability, informing potential users about the different levels of assurance they can expect. For traders seeking a highly trusted brokerage platform with extensive regulatory oversight, Interactive Brokers appears to hold the edge over ACY Securities.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Interactive Brokers and ACY Securities offer distinct approaches to commissions and fees for forex trading, appealing to various trader needs and preferences. Interactive Brokers is known for its competitive pricing with an average spread for EUR/USD at 0.19 pips and an all-in spread of 0.59 pips after commissions as of Q3 2024. They charge commissions starting at 0.2 basis points per side, with a $2 minimum fee per order ($4 round turn), making them a popular choice among active traders. Their approach includes aggregating prices from major interbank forex dealers without marking up the spread, charging between $16 and $40 per million for round turns. With a rating of 5 stars, Interactive Brokers ranks 2nd out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees, reflecting their strong offering in this category.
ACY Securities, on the other hand, provides versatile options tailored to different trading styles. Their Standard account, though commission-free, has wider spreads averaging 1.2 pips for EUR/USD as of September 2021, requiring a $50 deposit. The ProZero and Bespoke accounts offer tighter spreads, with average spreads of 0.25 pips, requiring minimum deposits of $200 and $10,000, respectively. Commissions for ProZero and Bespoke accounts are $6 and $5 per round turn, with reduced rates for Australian residents. ACY Securities holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks 21st out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, illustrating a solid yet slightly less competitive standing compared to Interactive Brokers.
The choice between Interactive Brokers and ACY Securities depends on individual trading volume and preferences. Interactive Brokers is ideal for active traders who might benefit from volume-based discounts, with costs potentially dropping significantly at higher trading volumes. Meanwhile, ACY Securities offers an attractive value with lower deposit requirements and competitive spreads for less intensive trading activities. Both brokers bring strong reputation and diverse pricing choices, providing valuable options for both novice and experienced forex traders.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.85 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and ACY Securities both offer diverse investment opportunities, but there are notable differences between the two. Interactive Brokers provides access to an impressive 8,500 tradeable symbols, significantly exceeding ACY Securities' 2,200 symbols. Both platforms support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, with Interactive Brokers offering 90 tradeable forex pairs compared to ACY Securities' 66 pairs. A standout feature for Interactive Brokers is its extensive range of exchange-traded securities, allowing clients to trade on both U.S. and international exchanges, a feature unavailable at ACY Securities.
For cryptocurrency enthusiasts, Interactive Brokers offers the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies beyond just derivatives, while ACY Securities is limited to derivatives only. On the other hand, ACY Securities scores with its copy trading option, a service not offered by Interactive Brokers. Overall, Interactive Brokers has been rated 5 stars for its range of investments, ranking first among 63 brokers, while ACY Securities received 4 stars, securing the 30th spot. These rankings highlight Interactive Brokers as the more comprehensive platform for diversified investments.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 66 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Interactive Brokers and ACY Securities both offer competitive trading platforms with distinct features suited for different types of traders. Interactive Brokers is known for its advanced proprietary platform, available as a desktop download and web-based application, providing a seamless trading experience for serious investors. Users benefit from a comprehensive suite of 85 drawing tools, the ability to trade directly from stock charts, and extensive watch list functionality with 659 customizable columns. While Interactive Brokers does not offer copy trading or compatibility with MetaTrader 4 and 5, it excels in technical analysis capabilities, earning a 5-star rating for its trading platforms and tools. It’s ranked 3rd out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's review, demonstrating its strong industry standing in this category.
ACY Securities also presents a noteworthy platform equipped with proprietary and Windows-downloadable options, along with user-favorite MetaTrader 4 and 5, catering to traders looking for diversified trading functionalities. It includes essential features such as a web-based platform and the ability to trade directly from stock charts. ACY Securities differs from Interactive Brokers by offering copy trading, appealing to those who prefer social trading aspects. However, the platform provides 15 drawing tools for charting and 7 columns for watch lists, which might suit less demanding traders. Rated 4 stars on ForexBrokers.com, and ranked 41st, ACY Securities offers a solid yet slightly more limited toolset compared to Interactive Brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and ACY Securities both provide comprehensive mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, equipped with essential features like stock and forex price alerts. Both platforms facilitate drawing trendlines and accessing multiple time frames on charts. However, Interactive Brokers shines with a significant number of technical studies, offering 97 options compared to ACY Securities' 30. While both allow watchlist creation with real-time quotes, only Interactive Brokers supports syncing these watchlists between mobile devices and online accounts. On the other hand, ACY Securities offers the convenience of auto-saving drawings on charts, a feature not available with Interactive Brokers.
In terms of user satisfaction and industry recognition, Interactive Brokers' mobile app is highly rated at five stars, securing the 4th position out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. ACY Securities holds a solid four-star rating, ranking 40th. This comparison highlights Interactive Brokers as a top choice for traders seeking high functionality with an emphasis on technical studies and seamless account integration, while ACY Securities caters well to users prioritizing ease of use and drawing features.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Interactive Brokers and ACY Securities both provide daily market commentary to keep investors informed. However, Interactive Brokers takes a lead as it offers forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, while ACY Securities does not. Interactive Brokers also stands out by providing a range of technical analysis tools, including those from Trading Central, which are absent in ACY Securities’ offerings. Additionally, sentiment-based trading tools are available with Interactive Brokers, alongside comprehensive market research from platforms like TipRanks and Acuity Trading, enhancing its research capabilities significantly.
Both platforms offer an economic calendar to track global economic events, ensuring traders are well-informed about market shifts. Interactive Brokers earns a five-star rating for research, ranking third among 63 brokers, reflecting its comprehensive offerings and superior tools. In contrast, ACY Securities, with a 3.5-star rating, ranks 45th, indicating room for improvement in its research options. Overall, Interactive Brokers emerges as a more resourceful choice for traders seeking detailed analysis and high-quality market insights.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Interactive Brokers and ACY Securities both offer a comprehensive range of materials catering to those interested in forex and CFDs. Both brokers provide at least ten educational pieces, such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, focusing on these subjects. They also host monthly educational webinars and maintain accessible archives of past sessions, offering a convenient way for learners to revisit valuable content. For beginners keen to dive into trading topics, both Interactive Brokers and ACY Securities deliver at least ten beginner-friendly educational videos. However, Interactive Brokers goes a step further by offering over ten advanced videos, which ACY Securities does not.
Interactive Brokers stands out with its investor dictionary containing over 50 investing terms, assisting newcomers in building a solid investment vocabulary. In contrast, ACY Securities does not offer a similar resource. As a result, Interactive Brokers has a stellar educational rating of five stars and ranks third among 63 brokers in the Education category on ForexBrokers.com. ACY Securities, on the other hand, receives a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 43rd in the same category. This makes Interactive Brokers a stronger contender for those seeking a more extensive educational foundation in the trading world.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Interactive Brokers is better than ACY Securities. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 |
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Interactive Brokers provides the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, while ACY Securities offers only cryptocurrency derivatives without the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency.
Interactive Brokers and ACY Securities both support ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing account funds, yet they differ as ACY Securities uniquely offers Skrill, Visa, and Mastercard services, while neither broker provides PayPal options.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.85 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | No |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | ACY Securities Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | ACY Securities Review |
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