What makes it great: Interactive Brokers is powerful enough for Wall Street investors managing institutional investment accounts. As an individual trader using the IBKR platform (the consumer version). IBKR Lite and IBKR Pro come with different pricing better suited for different types of investors, but mostly similar features.
The trading platform is top-notch and could make you feel like you’re in a fast-paced movie about the stock market. It supports a huge number of investment types with competitive pricing. It offers investor APIs, bots, and automations. This firm can meet the needs of any expert investor.
Potential drawbacks: IBKR may seem a bit overwhelming for beginners. With so many trading features and tools, the more complex platform is best for those with experience who intend to maintain their investment accounts actively.
Commissions and fees: IBKR Lite includes most features with no recurring fees or commissions for most orders. Fixed options trades cost $0.65 per contract with a $1 minimum. IBKR Pro has a more complicated pricing structure and is best for highly active traders.
Pros:
- Professional-quality trading platforms for desktop and mobile
- Trade a huge number of supported asset types, including cryptocurrencies
- Low fees with IBKR Lite
Cons:
- Several pricing models with varying complexity and fees
- Trading platforms may be overwhelming for some investors