I keep my account with Interactive Brokers mainly for the rock-bottom commissions and global reach, which genuinely save me money. The mixed part is support, where a straightforward query was handled fine but a more involved one bounced between channels before anyone helped. Excellent for trading, less so when you actually need a person.
Low commissions, global reach
Inconsistent customer support
There's no question Interactive Brokers offers the deepest toolset and the cheapest trades, with access to nearly every market I could want. What keeps me genuinely on the fence is the complexity, the desktop platform throws so much at you that it took weeks to feel comfortable. Brilliant for pros, intimidating for everyone else.
Deep toolset, low fees, broad access
Steep learning curve, overwhelming UI
Interactive Brokers gives me access to global markets, low margin rates and tight commissions that no app-first broker can match. I can trade stocks, options, futures and forex from one account, which is exactly what I needed as my strategy got more complex. The catch is the platform looks and feels dated, with a steeper learning curve than it should have.
Global market access, low costs
Dated, complex interface
Interactive Brokers is in a league of its own for cost and reach. I trade across US and international exchanges, hold multiple currencies, and the margin rates are the lowest I've found anywhere. Once you climb the learning curve, the order types and execution quality are outstanding. For an experienced, active investor it's hard to beat.
Lowest costs, vast market access, excellent execution
I've valued Interactive Brokers for its low fees, but a security flag froze my account and it took far too long to get reinstated through support. During that window I couldn't manage open positions, which for an active trader is a serious problem. The pricing is great, but being unable to reach a quick resolution badly shook my confidence.
Account frozen by security flag, slow resolution left me unable to trade