Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs FXPrimus, 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, founded in 1977, stands out as a highly respected player in the online brokerage industry. With a perfect Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, it is widely considered to be a highly trusted firm. As a publicly traded company, Interactive Brokers is known for its transparency and reliability. It holds 9 Tier-1 licenses—considered the gold standard for regulatory trust—and 2 Tier-2 licenses, further cementing its status as a dependable choice for investors seeking a reputable platform.
Established in 2009, FXPrimus offers a different landscape for investors. While not publicly traded, it holds 1 Tier-1 license and has earned a Trust Score of 71, placing it in the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. Although FXPrimus is licensed and operates legally, its regulatory standing is less prestigious compared to Interactive Brokers. These factors contribute to a more moderate level of trust and underscore the importance of thorough research before choosing a broker that aligns with your risk tolerance and investment goals.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2009 |
| 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 is renowned for its highly competitive commissions and fees structure. However, exact comparison against other brokers like FXPrimus can be challenging since Interactive Brokers does not publicly share its average forex spreads. Despite that, data from Q3 2024 suggests that the EUR/USD spread can be as low as 0.19 pips at Interactive Brokers, translating to an all-in spread of 0.59 pips after accounting for commissions. Their forex trading commissions start at 0.2 basis points of the trade value with a minimum fee of $2 per order, which is a modest charge considering the industry standards. Notably, highly active traders may see this fee decrease to as low as 0.08 basis points.
When leveraging Interactive Brokers’ services, a transaction involving the buying and selling of $100,000 worth of EUR/USD would equate to approximately 0.40 pips in commission on top of the spread. This is considered a low commission rate, even though neither the IBKR Lite nor the IBKR Pro accounts offer commission-free forex trading. They charge a minimum of $2 per side, so smaller trades can incur steeper costs. The broker distinguishes itself by aggregating prices from 17 leading interbank forex dealers and charges commissions ranging from $16 to $40 per million round turn, offering a viable option for traders with significant volume.
On the other hand, FXPrimus does not make average spread data readily accessible, making detailed comparisons challenging. Rated at 4 stars for commissions and fees, FXPrimus is positioned at the 42nd spot among 63 brokers, as ranked by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Interactive Brokers boast a 5-star rating, ranking 2nd in the same category. These distinctions highlight the competitive edge Interactive Brokers holds in providing favorable commission structures, particularly appealing to active traders who can benefit from tiered discounts based on trading volume.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| 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.
When comparing the range of investments offered by Interactive Brokers and FXPrimus, it's clear that both platforms provide investors with opportunities in forex trading, available as both CFD and spot contracts. Interactive Brokers, however, stands out with a vast selection of 8,500 tradable symbols compared to FXPrimus's 140. This broader array includes 90 forex pairs, while FXPrimus offers 42. For those interested in exchange-traded securities, Interactive Brokers allows clients to purchase shares like Apple on U.S. exchanges and Vodafone on international exchanges, whereas FXPrimus does not provide the same access. Interactive Brokers also supports buying actual cryptocurrencies along with derivatives, whereas FXPrimus only offers the latter.
Interactive Brokers is ranked first in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com and boasts a 5-star rating, highlighting its comprehensive options for diverse trading needs. On the other hand, FXPrimus garners a rating of 3.5 stars and holds the 59th position in the same category, reflecting its comparatively limited scope of investment opportunities. Despite FXPrimus offering copy trading, the overall investment choices are considerably narrower than those at Interactive Brokers, making the latter a stronger choice for investors seeking extensive market access.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 140 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 42 |
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of Interactive Brokers and FXPrimus, both brokers offer a rich suite of features to enhance the trading experience, including access to proprietary platforms and the convenience of web-based and desktop platforms. Both provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing traders to practice without financial risk. However, FXPrimus has an edge with copy trading and integrates well-known platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5—features that Interactive Brokers lacks. Despite this, Interactive Brokers is renowned for its advanced charting options, offering significantly more drawing tools than FXPrimus, making it a strong choice for traders who prioritize in-depth analysis.
In terms of usability, Interactive Brokers impresses with 659 customizable watch list columns, a stark contrast to the seven offered by FXPrimus. This contributes to its stellar rating of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, alongside a high overall rank of third out of 63 brokers in this category. FXPrimus, while still providing solid services with a 4-star rating, is ranked 49th, highlighting a distinction in the depth and breadth of tools and resources available. Ultimately, Interactive Brokers is an ideal pick for traders seeking comprehensive and sophisticated tools, while FXPrimus may cater better to those who value familiar platforms and copy trading capabilities.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Both Interactive Brokers and FXPrimus offer mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, featuring essential functionalities such as real-time stock and forex price alerts. However, when comparing their mobile app features, Interactive Brokers stands out due to its superior offerings. One key advantage is the ability to sync watchlists across devices, ensuring seamless transitions between their app and online account, a feature not available with FXPrimus. Additionally, Interactive Brokers provides users with 97 technical studies for charting, significantly more than the 30 offered by FXPrimus. Both platforms allow trendline drawing and viewing of multiple time frames, though FXPrimus benefits from auto-saving chart drawings, unlike Interactive Brokers.
In terms of ratings, Interactive Brokers shines with a perfect five-star rating. It is ranked as the fourth-best mobile trading app among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, FXPrimus has a four-star rating and is positioned at 48th place. Both brokers offer the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, making them viable options for traders seeking mobile solutions; however, Interactive Brokers' advanced features and higher ratings present a compelling choice for those seeking a top-notch mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Interactive Brokers and FXPrimus both provide traders with daily market commentary and have an economic calendar to track global news events. However, Interactive Brokers stands out by offering forex news from esteemed providers like Bloomberg and Reuters, which is not available with FXPrimus. Additionally, Interactive Brokers provides advanced analytical tools such as Trading Central and Acuity Trading, along with sentiment analysis tools and market insights from TipRanks, all of which significantly enhance the trading experience. These features are notably absent from what FXPrimus offers, placing Interactive Brokers ahead in terms of comprehensive market research capabilities.
When it comes to ratings, Interactive Brokers excels with a 5-star mark for research, securing the impressive rank of 3rd out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, FXPrimus received a 3-star rating and is placed much lower, ranked 58th. This comparison highlights Interactive Brokers' superior research offerings and resources, making it a more attractive choice for traders seeking in-depth market analysis and insights.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 comparing the educational resources available for beginners, Interactive Brokers and FXPrimus both set a foundation with at least ten educational pieces focusing on forex or CFDs, alongside hosting regular webinars and maintaining archives for future learning. However, beginners looking to expand their knowledge might find Interactive Brokers more appealing, thanks to its extensive library including over ten beginner-focused videos, a feature FXPrimus lacks. This gap in beginner-targeted resources could be a deciding factor for new traders.
Interactive Brokers further stands out with its comprehensive educational offerings, which include over ten videos tailored for advanced traders and an investor dictionary defining over fifty trading terms. In contrast, FXPrimus does not offer these advanced video resources or an investor dictionary. These distinctions contribute to Interactive Brokers’ high education rating of five stars, earning it a commendable third place out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's ranking. FXPrimus, while still reliable, holds a three-star rating and ranks 51st, indicating room for improvement compared to its competitor.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 FXPrimus. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while FXPrimus finished with an overall rank of #53.
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
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Interactive Brokers allows investors to purchase both actual cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas FXPrimus only provides the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives without offering the actual cryptocurrencies.
When comparing deposit and withdrawal options between Interactive Brokers and FXPrimus, Interactive Brokers supports ACH, SEPA, and bank wire transfers but does not offer PayPal, Skrill, or card options, while FXPrimus provides Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire options but does not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transactions.
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 | FXPrimus | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 140 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 42 | |
| 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 | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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