Interactive Brokers vs PU Prime

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

Interactive Brokers vs PU Prime Comparison Table 2026
Interactive Brokers PU Prime
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4.3
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4.5
Interactive Brokers is ranked #4 among CFD brokers. PU Prime is ranked #37 among CFD brokers.
Review
Review
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. PU Prime operates as a forex and CFD broker, providing direct market access to forex, commodities, stocks, bonds, indices, and ETFs. It caters to traders of all levels with four account types: Cent, Standard, Prime, and ECN. Platforms include MetaTrader and the bespoke PU Prime app, designed for active trading.
Pros
  • 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.
  • Prime and ECN pricing offers strong competition for active traders. Our tests show spreads significantly narrowing during liquid sessions, reaching around 0.0 pips.
  • The platform range is robust. The PU Prime Web Trader and app offer user-friendly interfaces, intuitive order setup, and dynamic charts for swift trade execution.
  • For short-term traders, there's an excellent set of tools, including margin and position sizing calculators, economic calendars, and robust technical insights from Autochartist.
  • Over the years, PU Prime has enhanced its offerings by launching the PU Social app in 2022, obtaining ASIC approval for its Australian branch in 2025, and increasing its trading instruments by over 200, surpassing 1,000 in total.
Cons
  • 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.
  • Contacting customer support can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Recent tests revealed the need to navigate various chatbot menus, answer questions, and input contact details before speaking to an agent.
  • The ECN account demands a $10,000 minimum deposit, preventing some active retail traders from accessing optimal pricing. These traders might incur higher costs on spreads and commissions with Prime, Standard, or Cent accounts.
  • The internal market updates provide a brief overview but lack the depth required for in-depth strategy development or advanced analysis.
Awards
  • Best US Broker 2025 - DayTrading.com
FCA Regulated
Yes No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Instruments
Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Metals, Crypto, Bonds, ETFs
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0 $20
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
$100 0.01 Lots
Regulator
SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS ASIC, FSCA, CMA, FSA, FSC
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. PU Prime offers a sophisticated app for Apple and Android users, featuring over 1,000 instruments. Enjoy spreads starting from 0.0 pips and commissions as low as $1 per side/lot with the ECN account—ideal for traders. The mobile platform includes dynamic charts, account management features, and integrated support.
iOS App Rating
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4.3
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4.8
Android App Rating
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4.5
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4.2
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
0.50% – 1.50% (IBKR Pro markup), 2.50% (IBKR Lite markup)
MetaTrader 4
No Yes
MetaTrader 5
No Yes
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
Yes No
OmniTrader
Yes No
TradingView
Yes No
Autochartist
No Yes
eSignal
Yes No
Trading Central
Yes No
STP Account
Yes Yes
ECN Account
No Yes
DMA Account
Yes No
MAM Account
Yes No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
Yes No
AI / Machine Learning
Yes No
Robo Advisor
Yes No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes No
Auto Trading
Capitalise.ai, TWS API Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
No Yes
Copy Trading Platform
PU Social allows clients to replicate expert traders' strategies. With over 6 million trades copied, 32,000 signal providers, and 150,000 copiers, it boasts a robust social investing community. Accessible via iOS, Android, and web platforms, users can select signal providers by returns, win rate, and risk profile.
Social Trading
No Yes
VPS Hosting
No Yes
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
Yes No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0 $0
Islamic Account
No Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • INR
  • JPY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • DKK
  • CHF
  • AED
  • HUF
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • HKD
  • SGD
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Zinc
  • Aluminium
  • Natural Gas
  • Soybeans
  • Lead
  • Precious Metals
  • Lean Hogs
  • Oil
  • Gold
  • Copper
  • Silver
  • Corn
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Cotton
  • Natural Gas
  • Orange Juice
  • Soybeans
  • Sugar
  • Wheat
  • Platinum
  • Palladium
  • Precious Metals
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. PU Prime provides CFD trading across hundreds of assets, including stocks, indices, commodities, bonds, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. Maximum leverage, now increased to 1:1000, varies per asset and region. Traders can choose between the intuitive mobile app or the reliable MetaTrader for trading. Useful tools, like profit, margin, and position size calculators, assist in planning short-term CFD trades.
Leverage
1:30 1:1000
FTSE Spread
0.005% (£1 Min) 23 (ECN)
GBPUSD Spread<
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value 0.2 (ECN)
Oil Spread
0.25-0.85 2.2 (ECN)
Stocks Spread
0.003 4.2 (Amazon)
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. PU Prime offers trading on over 65 forex pairs with flexible leverage up to 1:1000. Forex major spreads start at 0.0 pips on Prime and ECN accounts during liquid markets. Clients can access a currency heatmap and choose from dependable platforms and apps.
Assets
100+ 65+
GBPUSD Spread
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value 0.2 (ECN)
EURUSD Spread
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value 0.2 pips (ECN)
EURGBP Spread
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value 0 (ECN)
Currency Indices
  • USD
Cryptocurrency
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. PU Prime has expanded its cryptocurrency options, now providing over 65 pairs, both crypto-fiat and exclusive crypto. Trade on major currencies like Bitcoin and Ripple, alongside lesser-known, volatile tokens. Access trading 24/7 through PU Prime's four accounts, available on desktop, web, and mobile platforms.
Spread
0.12%-0.18% 27.5 (BTC)
Coins
  • BTC
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • XRP
  • BTC
  • SHIB
  • XLM
  • SAND
  • BCH
  • TRX
  • XRP
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • NEO
  • WLD
  • DOGE
  • ONE
  • LRC
  • ATOM
  • NXPC
  • SOL
  • USDT
  • TRUMP
  • XTZ
  • WIF
  • HYPE
  • ZEC
  • ONDO
  • ADA
  • WLFI
  • AVAX
  • BNB
  • ALGO
  • DOT
  • BERA
  • UNI
  • 1INCH
  • BAT
  • ETC
  • SKY
  • CRV
  • CRO
  • MKR
  • EOS
  • GRT
  • OKB
  • NEAR
  • FIL
  • LINK
  • IOTA
  • HBAR
  • SUSHI
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
Interactive Brokers PU Prime
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