Firstrade vs Interactive Brokers

Firstrade or Interactive Brokers – which is better for UK traders 2026? Compare Firstrade and Interactive Brokers in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Firstrade vs Interactive Brokers Comparison Table 2026

Firstrade	Interactive Brokers
4	4.3
Firstrade is ranked #45 among UK brokers.	Interactive Brokers is ranked #4 among CFD brokers.
Review	Review
Firstrade, based in the US, operates as a discount broker-dealer and is authorised by the SEC. The firm is a member of both FINRA and SIPC. Firstrade Securities stands out as a leading online brokerage, offering enticing welcome bonuses, robust tools and apps, and commission-free trading. Opening a new account is straightforward and efficient.	Interactive Brokers (IBKR) stands as a leading brokerage, offering access to 170+ markets in 40 nations alongside extensive investment services. With 40+ years in finance, this Nasdaq-listed entity complies with regulations from the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, ensuring global trustworthiness in trading.
Pros
In 2025, Firstrade Invest 3.0 will introduce an enhanced platform featuring a streamlined interface and quicker order entry, catering to active traders in areas such as watchlists and options chains. Improved trading conditions now include overnight trading and the option to purchase fractional shares. Among the initial brokers to integrate AI-driven analysis via FirstradeGPT. Ideal broker for cost-aware traders, offering competitive low fees on OTC trades. A reputable US-regulated broker and SIPC member	IBKR is a highly respected brokerage, regulated by top-tier authorities, ensuring the integrity and security of your trading account. Interactive Brokers has introduced ForecastTrader, a distinctive zero-commission offering. Users trade yes/no Forecast Contracts on political, economic, and climate events with fixed $1 payouts per contract. Benefit from 24/6 market access and earn up to 3.14% APY on held positions. The TWS platform is tailored for intermediate and advanced traders, featuring over 100 order types and a dependable real-time market data feed with exceptional uptime. DayTrading.com awarded Interactive Brokers 'Best US Broker' for 2025, highlighting its dedication to US traders, extremely low margin rates, and affordable global market access. The new IBKR Desktop platform combines the top features of TWS with customised tools such as Option Lattice and MultiSort Screeners, providing an impressive trading experience for traders of all skill levels. A wide range of third-party research subscriptions, both free and paid, are available for traders. Additionally, by subscribing to Toggle AI, traders can receive commission rebates from IBKR. IBKR consistently offers unparalleled access to global equities, with thousands of shares available across over 100 market centres in 24 countries, including the recently added Saudi Stock Exchange. While initially targeting seasoned traders, IBKR has recently widened its appeal by eliminating its $10,000 minimum deposit requirement. IBKR offers an economical environment for traders, featuring low commissions, narrow spreads, and a clear fee structure.
Cons
Firstrade prioritises stocks over forex, restricting opportunities for portfolio diversification. Over 90% of the options assessed lack a demo trading account. Customer support requires improvement after testing revealed the absence of 24/7 assistance. Deposits and withdrawals via Visa credit or debit cards are not available.	The learning curve for TWS is quite steep, making it tough for novice traders to navigate and grasp all its features. In contrast, Plus500's web platform is far more accessible for those new to trading. IBKR offers a variety of research tools, but their inconsistent placement across trading platforms and the 'Account Management' webpage creates a confusing experience for users. Support can be sluggish and frustrating. Tests reveal that you may face challenges reaching customer service quickly, which could result in delays in issue resolution. You are limited to a single active session per account, meaning you cannot use both your desktop programme and mobile app at the same time. This restriction can occasionally lead to a frustrating experience for traders. In 2025, IBKR was fined $11.8m by the US OFAC for operating in sanctioned areas. That same year, FINRA imposed a $125k fine for lapses in municipal bond disclosure.
Awards
Best for ETF & Active Investor Commission & Fees - 2019	Best US Broker 2025 - DayTrading.com
FCA Regulated
No List of FCA Regulated Brokers	Yes
Instruments
Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Cryptos, Fixed	Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs
Demo Account
No	Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0	$0
Payment Methods
ACH Transfer Cheque Wire Transfer	ACH Transfer Cheque Wire Transfer
Minimum Trade
$1	$100
Regulator
SEC, FINRA	SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android	iOS & Android
Trading App
	The IBKR Mobile app, for iOS and Android, transforms your phone into a robust portal to access your IBKR accounts. It allows users to monitor portfolios, execute trades, view real-time quotes and charts, and manage account activities seamlessly. With its intuitive design, the app is particularly user-friendly for novices, offering a simpler experience compared to the advanced TWS platform.
iOS App Rating
4.7	4.3
Android App Rating
4.2	4.5
Margin Trading
Yes	Yes
Margin Rate
8% – 12%	0.50% – 1.50% (IBKR Pro markup), 2.50% (IBKR Lite markup)
MetaTrader 4
No	No
MetaTrader 5
No	No
cTrader
No	No
AlgoTrader
No	Yes
OmniTrader
No	Yes
TradingView
No	Yes
Autochartist
No	No
eSignal
No	Yes
Trading Central
Yes	Yes
STP Account
No	Yes
ECN Account
No	No
DMA Account
No	Yes
MAM Account
No	Yes
PAMM Account
No	No
LAMM Account
No	No
Demat Account
No	Yes
AI / Machine Learning
No	Yes
Robo Advisor
No	Yes
Negative Balance Protection
No	Yes
Market Maker
Yes	No
P2P Trading
No	No
Spot Trading
No	Yes
Auto Trading
	Capitalise.ai, TWS API
Copy Trading
No	No
Social Trading
No	No
VPS Hosting
No	No
Tournaments
No	No
Demo Competitions
No	No
Ethical Investing
No	Yes
Custodial Account
Yes	No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No	No
Inactivity Fee
$0	$0
Islamic Account
No	No
Account Currencies
USD	USD EUR GBP CAD AUD INR JPY SEK NOK DKK CHF AED HUF
Commodities
	Gold Zinc Aluminium Natural Gas Soybeans Lead Precious Metals Lean Hogs
CFD
	The platform provides access to over 8,000 CFDs across stocks, indices, forex, and commodities. Suited for experienced traders, the TWS platform includes more than 100 order types and algorithms. It also delivers top-tier market data from trusted sources like Reuters and Dow Jones.
Leverage
	1:30
FTSE Spread
	0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread<
	0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Oil Spread
	0.25-0.85
Stocks Spread
$0 per trade	0.003
Forex
	IBKR offers a wide selection of more than 100 forex pairs, including major, minor, and exotic options, exceeding most competitors except CMC Markets. Trading takes place across various platforms with institutional-quality spreads from 0.1 pips. It supports over 100 advanced order types like brackets, scale, and OCA orders.
Assets
	100+
GBPUSD Spread
	0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURUSD Spread
	0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
EURGBP Spread
	0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Cryptocurrency
Engage in trading across a wide range of top cryptocurrencies with minimal fees and all-day access. Traders can begin speculating on popular tokens such as Bitcoin with as little as £1. Additionally, clients can purchase cryptocurrencies instantly through a few simple steps.	IBKR offers access to Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin at attractive commission rates without the need for a crypto wallet. Furthermore, traders can explore a variety of assets, including crypto indices like the NYSE Bitcoin Index, and futures contracts such as BAKKT Bitcoin Futures.
Spread
Variable	0.12%-0.18%
Coins
ALGO AVAX BAT BTC BCH ADA LINK ATOM CRO CRV MANA DOGE ETH ETC FTM LTC LRC MATIC REN SHIB SOL XLM SUSHI GRT UNI YFI	BTC LTC ETH XRP
Crypto Lending
No	No
Crypto Mining
No	No
Crypto Staking
No	No
Auto Market Maker
No	No
Firstrade	Interactive Brokers
Review	Review
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