Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs RoboForex, 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, stands as a veteran in the financial market and reflects its high reliability with a Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. It is publicly traded, lending transparency to its operations, and holds an impressive nine Tier-1 licenses. These licenses mark it as highly trusted, further supported by two Tier-2 licenses, reinforcing its reputation as a secure choice for investors.
Founded in 2009, RoboForex is a comparatively newer entrant, with a Trust Score of 73, suggesting it carries an average risk level according to ForexBrokers.com. Unlike Interactive Brokers, RoboForex is not publicly traded and operates with just one Tier-1 license, without any Tier-2 licenses. While it does operate legitimately, its regulatory standing might not provide the same level of assurance as other more established brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
When comparing the commission and fee structures between Interactive Brokers and RoboForex, Interactive Brokers stands out with its flexible pricing model. Although specific average spreads for forex are not published, data from Q3 2024 indicates that the EUR/USD pair had an average spread of 0.59 pips at Interactive Brokers after including the commission. Commissions begin at 0.2 basis points of the USD trade value, with a minimum of $2 per order, which can decrease for highly active traders. Interactive Brokers ranks #2 out of 63 brokers with an impressive five-star rating for its commissions and fees.
Interactive Brokers distinguishes itself by aggregating prices from 17 major interbank dealers and charging commissions per trade instead of marking up spreads. The forex trading commission ranges from $16 to $40 per million for a round turn. Additionally, active traders benefit from volume-based discounts, with the potential for even lower fees if high trading volumes are achieved. This structure provides transparency and cost efficiency, particularly for those executing large forex transactions. For highly active traders, the broker handles large orders on a Request For Quote basis to ensure optimal execution.
In contrast, RoboForex offers average spread rates of 1.3 pips for EUR/USD on its Procent and Pro accounts, reflecting a less competitive fee structure compared to Interactive Brokers. RoboForex is rated 3.5 stars for its commissions and fees and is ranked #55 out of 63 brokers. This suggests that while RoboForex might be suitable for some traders, those who prioritize lower costs and more favorable conditions may find Interactive Brokers a more enticing choice.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| 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 RoboForex both provide forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract, catering to enthusiasts of currency trading. Interactive Brokers impresses with 8500 tradeable symbols and 90 forex pairs, compared to RoboForex's 8400 symbols and 28 forex pairs, giving Interactive Brokers a broader selection for investors. Moreover, Interactive Brokers allows clients to access exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, offering a chance to invest in well-known global companies like Apple and Vodafone. RoboForex, however, does not offer these opportunities in the same capacity.
When it comes to cryptocurrency, Interactive Brokers provides options for buying both actual cryptocurrencies and derivatives, whereas RoboForex limits investment to cryptocurrency derivatives. Though Interactive Brokers doesn't offer copy trading, RoboForex fills this gap with copy trading services. In terms of overall rating for range of investments, Interactive Brokers shines with 5 stars and places first among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Conversely, RoboForex still holds a commendable 4.5-star rating but ranks at number 20, highlighting a noticeable gap in their investment offering diversity.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 8400 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 28 |
| 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 RoboForex both cater to those looking for versatile trading experiences, but they offer distinct features that set them apart. Both brokers provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading without real risk. Interactive Brokers shines with a comprehensive range of trading platforms, including its proprietary, in-house platform, a Windows-based desktop download, and a web-based version, earning it a 5-star rating in Trading Platforms and Tools. On the other hand, while RoboForex lacks a proprietary platform, it supports popular ones like MetaTrader 4 and 5, offering traders flexibility. RoboForex also features copy trading, a service not available with Interactive Brokers.
When it comes to advanced tools, Interactive Brokers stands out with 85 drawing tools for charting, surpassing RoboForex's 15. Additionally, Interactive Brokers allows for a highly customizable trading experience with 659 fields available for watch lists, a significant leap from RoboForex's 7. Both brokers offer the capability to trade directly from stock charts, but Interactive Brokers' rich toolset and customizable options contribute to its high ranking of #3 out of 63 in the Trading Platforms and Tools category, compared to RoboForex's #43 ranking. Each broker caters to different trader preferences, whether it’s Interactive Brokers' detailed analytics or RoboForex’s supportive environment for MetaTrader enthusiasts.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 RoboForex both provide mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android users. They each offer essential features such as stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and the option to view different time frames for chart analysis. However, when it comes to advanced tools, Interactive Brokers stands out by offering 97 technical studies compared to RoboForex's 30, along with seamless watchlist symbol syncing. This feature ensures your watchlists are always up to date and are synchronized across the app and online account.
While RoboForex's app has the convenience of auto-saving chart drawings, Interactive Brokers edges ahead with its higher overall performance and user satisfaction, earning a perfect five-star rating compared to RoboForex’s four stars. Positioned at #4 among 63 brokers in the mobile trading app category by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers outshines RoboForex, which is ranked at #43. For traders seeking a more comprehensive app experience, Interactive Brokers remains a preferred choice, especially for those who prioritize in-depth technical analysis and cross-device syncing capabilities.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 RoboForex, both platforms provide daily market commentary and reliable forex news from esteemed sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Each service also features technical analysis tools from Trading Central and research tools from Acuity Trading, including Signal Centre. Both brokers offer economic calendars to display global economic events, ensuring traders are well informed of the latest news. However, Interactive Brokers sets itself apart with added tools such as a sentiment-based trading tool that provides insights into market positioning across different currency pairs, a feature RoboForex doesn't offer.
Interactive Brokers further extends its advantage by providing market research from TipRanks, which is absent from RoboForex's offerings. These differences in research tools are reflected in the brokers' ratings and rankings. Interactive Brokers achieves a perfect 5-star rating for its research tools, placing it at a competitive #3 ranking out of 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, RoboForex secures a 3.5-star rating, positioning it at #37 in the same category. When choosing between these platforms, traders focused on thorough and varied market research might find Interactive Brokers to be the more comprehensive option.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Interactive Brokers stands out by offering a comprehensive array of materials to support newbie traders. It provides over 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, ensuring those entering the world of online trading have well-rounded guidance. Interactive Brokers also hosts monthly online webinars for clients, creating regular opportunities for interactive learning. With a searchable archive of recorded webinars, beginners can revisit fundamental concepts at their own pace. The platform goes beyond basic education by furnishing more than 10 video tutorials tailored specifically to novice traders, and even more for those at an advanced level. Completing its educational offerings is an investor dictionary that explains over 50 investing terms, making complex jargon easier to understand.
RoboForex, in contrast, offers fewer resources tailored for beginner education. While it does provide general trading information, the focus on beginner-specific content is limited. Unlike Interactive Brokers, RoboForex does not offer a regular schedule of online educational webinars or an archive of previously recorded sessions. Furthermore, it lacks comprehensive beginner and advanced video tutorials focused on trading basics. RoboForex also does not include an extensive investor dictionary. Consequently, RoboForex received a 3.5 out of 5-star rating for its educational offerings compared to Interactive Brokers' 5-star accolade. In a competitive landscape judged by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers emerges as a leader, ranking 3rd out of 63 brokers for educational resources, while RoboForex lags at the 56th position.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 RoboForex. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while RoboForex finished with an overall rank of #46.
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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RoboForex
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Interactive Brokers enables users to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas RoboForex only provides the option to trade in cryptocurrency derivatives and does not offer the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency.
Interactive Brokers and RoboForex both support ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing funds; however, unlike Interactive Brokers, RoboForex also offers additional options such as PayPal, Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard.
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 | RoboForex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | RoboForex Review |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| 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 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 8400 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 28 | |
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | RoboForex Review |
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