Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs IUX, 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, has established itself as a leading online broker with a stellar reputation. With a Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, it ranks among the most reliable brokers available. Interactive Brokers is publicly traded, offering transparency that bolsters investor confidence. Holding 9 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, the company is recognized under stringent regulatory standards worldwide, ensuring a secure environment for investors.
On the other hand, IUX emerged in 2016 and is not publicly traded. This broker currently holds a Trust Score of 69, suggesting a high-risk investment according to ForexBrokers.com. While not devoid of regulatory approval, IUX holds 0 Tier-1 licenses and just 1 Tier-2 license, implying a lesser degree of regulatory oversight compared to its counterpart. As neither Interactive Brokers nor IUX operates as a bank, customers should consider their regulatory standings before choosing to invest.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Interactive Brokers and IUX offer different pricing models tailored to various trading needs. Interactive Brokers is particularly noted for its competitive forex trading fees, which start at 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) of the U.S. dollar trade value, with a minimum fee of $2 per order. This can reduce to 0.08 basis points for highly active traders. The broker charges between $16 and $40 per million round turn in forex and provides discounts for trading volumes exceeding $1 billion per month. Interactive Brokers aggregates prices from 17 major interbank forex dealers, aiming for optimal execution. It holds an impressive rating of 5 stars for commissions and fees, ranking #2 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, IUX provides pricing based on different account types. Their Standard and Standard+ accounts have a low entry barrier with a $10 minimum deposit, but they differ in terms of spreads and bonus promotions. For active traders, IUX offers Raw and Pro accounts with a $500 minimum deposit. The Raw account features tight spreads with a $6 commission per standard lot, while the Pro account offers lower spreads without an additional commission. With average spreads reaching 0.6 pips for the Raw account, IUX provides competitive pricing for smaller brokers but lacks the edge of industry leaders. It has a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, placing it at #49 out of 63 brokers in the same category.
In summary, Interactive Brokers excels for larger, high-volume traders seeking lower all-in costs, whereas IUX presents an appealing option for smaller-scale traders with varied account requirements. Both brokers offer strengths that cater to different types of traders, with Interactive Brokers leading in global pricing competitiveness and IUX providing versatile options for budget-conscious clients.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | 10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.6 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
Interactive Brokers and IUX both offer forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, but they differ significantly in the number of tradeable options available to investors. Interactive Brokers stands out with an extensive range of 8,500 tradeable symbols and 90 forex pairs, while IUX provides 152 symbols and 34 forex pairs. For investors interested in broad market access, Interactive Brokers shines with the ability to trade exchange-listed securities both in the U.S. and internationally, enabling investments in companies like Apple and Vodafone. In contrast, IUX offers access to international markets but not to U.S. exchange-traded securities.
Cryptocurrency investors will find more options with Interactive Brokers, which allows both the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives. IUX, on the other hand, only provides cryptocurrency derivative trading. While neither platform offers copy trading features, Interactive Brokers' broader range of investment opportunities is reflected in its high ratings, receiving 5 stars and being ranked first out of 63 in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, IUX garners 3.5 stars and ranks 60th, underscoring its more limited scope.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 152 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 34 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing Interactive Brokers and IUX, both platforms offer simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts and proprietary platforms, showing commitment to versatility and user-friendly experiences. Each broker provides a Windows-based desktop download trading platform and a web-based platform, offering convenient access from different devices. However, when it comes to specific trading tools, IUX supports MetaTrader 5 while Interactive Brokers does not. Neither broker features copy trading, DupliTrade, or ZuluTrade, ensuring that both are more tailored to traders who prefer executing their own strategies.
Interactive Brokers stands out with its extensive trading tools, offering 85 drawing tools for charting, while IUX provides 89. However, Interactive Brokers allows traders to customize watch lists extensively with 659 available columns compared to just 46 with IUX, showcasing its focus on flexibility and detailed data management. Rated 5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, Interactive Brokers ranks #3 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com in contrast to IUX’s 3.5-star rating and #59 ranking, underscoring Interactive Brokers' superior reputation in the trading community for platform quality and user experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 106 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 89 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 46 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and IUX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, providing easy access to your investments wherever you go. However, when it comes to features, Interactive Brokers pulls ahead with a higher rating of 5 stars compared to IUX's 3.5 stars. This is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Interactive Brokers ranks significantly higher at #4 out of 63, while IUX is positioned at #60. Interactive Brokers allows for price alerts on stocks and forex, offering convenience for active traders. In contrast, IUX lacks this feature, potentially leaving users at a disadvantage for timely decision-making. Additionally, Interactive Brokers supports watchlist symbol syncing with online accounts, adding one more layer of flexibility and integration that IUX does not provide.
When it comes to charting capabilities, both platforms allow viewing of various time frames, but Interactive Brokers permits trendline drawing on charts—a feature not found in IUX's app. Although IUX offers more technical studies with 106 options in comparison to Interactive Brokers' 97, the absence of trendline drawing could limit its appeal to technical analysts. Interestingly, IUX's app can auto-save drawings, a feature missing from Interactive Brokers' offering. Both apps allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, catering to those who want to keep a close eye on market movements. Overall, Interactive Brokers offers a more comprehensive mobile trading experience, making it a preferred choice for traders seeking functionality and ease of use.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 106 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of Interactive Brokers and IUX, Interactive Brokers clearly stands out as a more comprehensive choice. Interactive Brokers provides daily market commentary and access to high-quality forex news from renowned sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. They further enhance the trading experience with advanced technical analysis through Trading Central and sentiment-based trading tools, allowing investors to gauge market trends effectively. Additionally, Interactive Brokers enriches its platform with market insights from TipRanks and research tools from Acuity Trading. In contrast, IUX does not offer daily commentary or news from top-tier sources, nor does it provide advanced analysis tools or additional research features beyond a basic economic calendar.
Both brokers do offer an economic calendar, ensuring traders stay informed about global news events. However, in terms of overall research capabilities, Interactive Brokers significantly outpaces IUX. This is reflected in the rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Interactive Brokers holds a commendable #3 spot while IUX lags behind at #59 out of 63 brokers. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers is rated an impressive 5 stars for research, compared to IUX's more modest 3-star rating, showcasing Interactive Brokers as a leading choice for traders seeking extensive market research and analysis tools.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| 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 diving into the world of online trading, having access to educational resources is key, especially for beginners who are eager to learn. Interactive Brokers shines by offering extensive resources in forex and CFDs education, with over ten articles and materials dedicated to these topics. They're also proactive in hosting monthly educational webinars that are accessible and beneficial for clients, and they maintain a searchable archive for anyone looking to revisit these sessions. Additionally, they provide a comprehensive investor dictionary and a wide range of videos tailored to both new and advanced traders. In comparison, IUX doesn't offer the same level of resources. While it matches Interactive Brokers with beginner educational videos, it falls short in several other categories, such as forex education materials, webinars, and advanced trading videos.
Interactive Brokers earns a solid five-star rating for its educational offerings, standing out as the third-ranked broker in this category among 63 providers. They cater effectively to both beginner and seasoned traders through their extensive educational content. In contrast, IUX received a three-star rating and is ranked 59th by ForexBrokers.com for education. This highlights a significant difference in their ability to provide a supportive learning environment for newcomers. Choosing Interactive Brokers could be a more advantageous option for those who want to deepen their understanding and skillset in online trading.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 IUX. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while IUX finished with an overall rank of #63.
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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IUX
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| Trust Score | 99 | 69 |
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Interactive Brokers allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrency and offers cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas IUX only provides access to cryptocurrency derivatives without the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency.
Interactive Brokers supports ACH, SEPA, and bank wire transfers, but lacks PayPal, Skrill, and card options, whereas IUX offers Skrill, Visa, and Mastercard, but does not support ACH or SEPA, while both support bank wire transfers.
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 | IUX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 69 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 69 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 152 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 34 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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). |
| Cost | Interactive Brokers | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.6 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | 10 | |
| 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 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 46 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 106 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 89 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 106 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| 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 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IUX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 69 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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