Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs MultiBank, 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 prominent player in the online brokerage industry, known for its reliability and comprehensive license portfolio. With a Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers instills a high degree of confidence among users. This brokerage is publicly traded, enhancing its transparency and accountability. Despite not being a bank, Interactive Brokers holds an impressive nine Tier-1 licenses, reflecting the highest level of trust, along with two Tier-2 licenses, further solidifying its reputation as a secure choice for investors.
MultiBank, established in 2005, offers a notable presence in the financial market without being publicly traded. It holds a respectable Trust Score of 84 according to ForexBrokers.com, indicating a trusted standing. Although MultiBank is not a bank, it possesses three Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license, showcasing a commitment to maintaining a reputable regulatory framework. While not on par with Interactive Brokers in terms of trust ratings and licensing, MultiBank remains a viable option for traders seeking a trustworthy platform.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
MultiBank
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2005 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
When comparing the commissions and fees between Interactive Brokers and MultiBank, both offer distinct advantages depending on the trader's needs. Interactive Brokers is noted for its competitive pricing and earns a stellar 5-star rating for its cost structure. Ranked #2 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers excels by offering commissions as low as 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) of the U.S. dollar trade value for active traders, with a minimum charge of $2 per order. The typical spread for EUR/USD might average around 0.19 pips, with an effective all-in spread of 0.59 pips after commission. They aggregate pricing from 17 interbank dealers and provide discounts to active traders who meet certain monthly trading volumes.
MultiBank, on the other hand, structures its fees through three account types: Standard, Pro, and ECN. MultiBank rates at 4 stars and holds the 38th spot among 63 brokers for commissions and fees. Their Standard account is accessible with a $50 minimum deposit but comes with higher spreads. For lower spreads, traders can choose the Pro account with a $1,000 minimum deposit. The ECN account offers the most competitive spreads but requires a $10,000 minimum deposit, featuring a round-trip commission of $3 per trade. One thing to note is the $60 monthly inactivity fee charged if an account goes dormant for 90 days.
In summary, Interactive Brokers offers lower commission rates and a more cost-effective trading environment for active traders, with a top-tier industry ranking. MultiBank provides varied account options catering to different trader needs, although traders seeking the lowest costs might have to consider higher minimum deposits. Each broker has its strengths, making them suitable for different trading styles and experience levels.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
MultiBank
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| 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 | 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 MultiBank both offer forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, accommodating traders interested in currency markets. Interactive Brokers stands out with a much larger inventory, boasting 8,500 tradeable symbols compared to MultiBank's 1,042. This stark difference extends to forex pairs, where Interactive Brokers offers 90, while MultiBank provides 40. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers permits clients to purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, giving users access to shares like Apple and Vodafone, unlike MultiBank, which does not provide this service. Both brokers enable the purchase of actual cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, catering to digital currency enthusiasts.
An additional distinguishing factor is MultiBank's provision of copy trading, a feature absent in Interactive Brokers. Despite this, Interactive Brokers secures the top spot in the Range of Investments category as ranked by ForexBrokers.com, with a full five-star rating. This is largely due to its extensive range of tradeable assets and availability on global markets. In contrast, MultiBank receives a four-star rating, placing it at a respectable 37th out of 63 brokers, indicating a robust yet comparatively limited offering in its investment portfolio.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
MultiBank
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1042 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 40 |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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.
Interactive Brokers and MultiBank both offer a range of trading platforms and tools tailored to various trader needs. Interactive Brokers provides a proprietary platform available as a Windows-based application and a web-based interface, with the added benefit of paper trading for practice. MultiBank also offers its own proprietary platform accessible via Windows and web browsers, and it supports simulated trading for beginners. However, when it comes to additional platform options, MultiBank stands out with MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, both popular choices among forex traders. In contrast, Interactive Brokers does not support these MetaTrader platforms and also lacks copy trading features, which MultiBank offers.
Charting and analysis tools differ significantly between these brokers. Interactive Brokers impresses with a massive 659 fields for watch lists and 85 drawing tools for precise charting. MultiBank, while offering essential charting services, provides only 7 fields for watch lists and 17 drawing tools. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts. With these features in mind, Interactive Brokers earns a top rating of 5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, ranking 3rd among 63 brokers. MultiBank, though offering solid service, receives a 4-star rating and ranks 39th, indicating a strong yet slightly less comprehensive platform suite compared to Interactive Brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
MultiBank
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 38 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 17 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and MultiBank both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, allowing traders to stay connected on the move. While both platforms provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts and the ability to view multiple time frames on charts, they differ significantly in other areas. Interactive Brokers offers a watchlist syncing feature that keeps mobile and online accounts aligned, a capability absent from the MultiBank app. Additionally, those who rely on technical analysis may favor Interactive Brokers for its extensive library of 97 technical studies, compared to MultiBank's 30. Both apps support drawing trendlines on charts. However, only MultiBank auto-saves drawings, which might be a consideration for those who frequently annotate their analyses.
Interactive Brokers earns a higher mobile trading app rating of 5 stars, while MultiBank receives 4 stars, reflecting their overall user satisfaction and feature comprehensiveness. This distinction is further underscored in rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Interactive Brokers stands at an impressive #4 out of 63 brokers, contrasting with MultiBank's position at #41. Both platforms support the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, ensuring users have access to up-to-the-minute market data. Ultimately, the choice between these two apps may hinge on specific preferences for feature depth and synchronization capabilities.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
MultiBank
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 comparing the market research offerings of Interactive Brokers and MultiBank, Interactive Brokers clearly stands out with a more comprehensive suite of tools and resources. Users can benefit from daily market commentary, insights from top-tier forex news providers, and technical analysis tools from Trading Central. In addition, Interactive Brokers provides a sentiment-based trading tool and valuable research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading. Forex traders can stay informed with their global economic calendar, making it a well-rounded choice for anyone needing thorough market insights.
In contrast, while MultiBank does offer forex news from leading providers like Bloomberg and a global economic calendar, it lacks several key research features that Interactive Brokers provides. MultiBank does not offer Trading Central’s tools, sentiment-based trading insights, or resources from TipRanks and Acuity Trading. As a result, this difference in available tools reflects in their research ratings: Interactive Brokers impresses with a 5-star research rating and is ranked #3 by ForexBrokers.com, whereas MultiBank holds a 3.5-star rating and is ranked #49. For those seeking in-depth market research and tools, Interactive Brokers may be the more advantageous option.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
MultiBank
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
Interactive Brokers and MultiBank both provide educational resources for beginners interested in forex and CFD trading, but they differ significantly in the breadth and depth of their offerings. Interactive Brokers excels with over ten educational resources specifically focused on forex and CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. They also host monthly online webinars and provide access to a searchable archive of past sessions, which are not available with MultiBank. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers offers a comprehensive array of beginner and advanced trading videos, alongside an investor dictionary featuring over 50 terms, providing a well-rounded educational experience. In contrast, while MultiBank also offers a selection of beginner videos and educational content, it lacks advanced video resources, client webinars, and an investor dictionary, which limits its support for growing traders.
When evaluating their overall educational quality, Interactive Brokers shines with a 5-star rating, earning it the #3 spot among 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. MultiBank, on the other hand, receives a 3.5-star rating, placing it at #50, suggesting that while it meets basic needs, it may not be as comprehensive for those seeking in-depth learning opportunities. Overall, Interactive Brokers is a superior choice for beginners and experienced traders alike who are looking for a broad array of educational resources to enhance their trading knowledge.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
MultiBank
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 MultiBank. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while MultiBank finished with an overall rank of #40.
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
|
MultiBank
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 84 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Interactive Brokers and MultiBank provide options for purchasing delivered cryptocurrency and offer the capability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, catering to a range of investor preferences.
Interactive Brokers and MultiBank both offer ACH and SEPA transfers, as well as bank wires, for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but only MultiBank supports additional payment methods like Skrill, Visa, and Mastercard, while neither supports PayPal.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | MultiBank Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2005 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1042 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 40 | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 38 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 17 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | MultiBank Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | MultiBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | MultiBank Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill