ZacksTrade or Interactive Brokers – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare ZacksTrade and Interactive Brokers in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
ZacksTrade vs Interactive Brokers Comparison Table 2025
Zacks Trade, a US broker under FINRA regulation, provides trading services for stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, bonds, and more via a bespoke terminal. Targeting active traders, it offers competitive fees across most assets. Additionally, clients benefit from an app and extensive market data access.
Interactive Brokers (IBKR), a leading brokerage, offers access to 150 markets across 33 countries and provides extensive investment services. With more than 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed company complies with strict regulations from the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC. It is among the most reliable brokers worldwide for traders.
Pros
A demo account is a simulated trading environment allowing traders to practice and refine strategies without using real money. This risk-free platform provides an opportunity to familiarise oneself with market operations and trading tools. It’s ideal for newcomers seeking to gain experience or seasoned traders testing new tactics. Offering a realistic trading experience, it supports better decision-making, ultimately enhancing one’s trading competence.
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Utilising over 20 distinct account currency options, traders benefit greatly from flexible trading conditions. Even newcomers can take advantage of these features. With a range of denominations available, every trader finds a setup suited to their needs.
Thorough analysis and information
Bespoke trading platform and mobile application
Authorised by FINRA, with access to the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.
IBKR is a highly respected brokerage, regulated by top-tier authorities, ensuring the integrity and security of your trading account.
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.
Interactive Brokers has been awarded Best US Broker for 2025 by DayTrading.com. This accolade highlights its dedication to traders in the US, offering exceptionally low margin rates and access to global markets at minimal expense.
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
No integration with MT4 or MT5 platforms. Replace 'day trading' with 'trading' and 'day trader' with 'trader' in your communication. Use concise, professional finance terms and vary sentence structures for clarity and ease of reading.
Minimum requirement set at £2,500.
Please refrain from engaging in trading activities related to forex, commodities, or futures. Use your expertise to focus on market opportunities that align more closely with your professional goals and trading strategy. Diversify your portfolio prudently and consider the long-term implications of each investment. By prioritising calculated decisions, you can effectively grow your assets while mitigating unnecessary risks.
Withdrawal fees are incurred for multiple fund removals within a month.
Platform loading delays and technical issues.
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.
The IBKR Mobile app, available on both iOS and Android devices, makes your phone a powerful gateway to your IBKR accounts, offering you the freedom to keep an eye on portfolios, initiate trades, and dive into real-time quotes and charts, all while managing your account activities on the fly. This app stands out for its intuitive design, making it especially welcoming for those just starting their trading journey, providing a smoother and more accessible experience than the more complex TWS platform.
iOS App Rating
5
4.3
Android App Rating
3.7
4.5
Margin Trading
Yes
Yes
Margin Rate
3.56
1.55 - 2.59%
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
No
Yes
STP Account
No
Yes
ECN Account
No
No
DMA Account
Yes
Yes
MAM Account
No
Yes
PAMM Account
No
No
LAMM Account
No
No
Demat Account
No
No
AI / Machine Learning
No
Yes
Robo Advisor
No
Yes
Negative Balance Protection
No
Yes
Market Maker
No
No
P2P Trading
No
No
Spot Trading
No
Yes
Auto Trading
Yes (algos)
Capitalise.ai & TWS API
Copy Trading
No
No
Social Trading
No
No
VPS Hosting
Yes
No
Tournaments
No
No
Demo Competitions
No
No
Ethical Investing
Yes
Yes
Custodial Account
No
No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No
No
Inactivity Fee
$15
$0
Islamic Account
No
No
Account Currencies
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
NZD
INR
JPY
ZAR
TRY
SEK
NOK
DKK
CHF
HKD
SGD
RUB
PLN
CZK
HUF
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
1:50
FTSE Spread
0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread<
0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Oil Spread
0.25-0.85
Stocks Spread
$0.01 per share ($1 minimum)
0.003
Forex
IBKR offers a vast range of over 100 forex pairs, including major, minor, and exotic currencies, outstripping most competitors except CMC Markets. Trading is available across multiple platforms with institutional-grade spreads beginning at 0.1 pips. There are also 20 sophisticated order types, such as brackets, scale, and one-cancels-all (OCA) orders, enhancing trading strategies.
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
Clients can trade a select few cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Real-time quotes are provided, and the fees are competitive. If trading volumes are significant, commissions further decrease.
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.
