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Interactive Brokers review: trading US stocks
The default answer for a non-US investor who wants to actually own US shares rather than a derivative of them.
In one line: Interactive Brokers lets you own US shares outright, founded 1978, headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA, regulated by SEC, FCA, CBI, with no minimum deposit and access to Full US listed market (NYSE, Nasdaq, AMEX) plus 150+ global markets.
The facts
| What you actually hold | The share itself |
|---|---|
| US stock access | Full US listed market (NYSE, Nasdaq, AMEX) plus 150+ global markets |
| Fractional shares | Yes |
| Minimum deposit | None |
| Published pricing | IBKR Lite offers $0 commission on US listed stocks and ETFs for eligible clients; IBKR Pro is tiered/fixed per-share pricing. Source |
| Platforms | Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Client Portal, API |
| Extended hours | Pre-market and after-hours routing available |
| Founded / HQ | 1978 · Greenwich, Connecticut, USA |
| Regulation | SEC / FINRA — United States (SIPC member); FCA — United Kingdom (208159); CBI — Ireland (C423427) |
Best for
- Real share ownership from almost any country
- Multi-currency accounts
- Options, futures and international listings in one account
Watch out for
- The desktop platform is dense and unforgiving for first-timers
- Data subscriptions are billed separately
Frequently asked questions
Is Interactive Brokers good for US stocks?
The default answer for a non-US investor who wants to actually own US shares rather than a derivative of them. Positions are real shares, so dividends and shareholder rights pass through to you.
Do you own the shares with Interactive Brokers?
Yes — Interactive Brokers offers real share ownership on US listings.
What does Interactive Brokers cost for US stocks?
IBKR Lite offers $0 commission on US listed stocks and ETFs for eligible clients; IBKR Pro is tiered/fixed per-share pricing. The authoritative figure is on Interactive Brokers's own pricing page, linked on this profile — we restate it rather than estimating it.
Is Interactive Brokers regulated?
Interactive Brokers holds authorisations from SEC / FINRA (United States, licence SIPC member); FCA (United Kingdom, licence 208159); CBI (Ireland, licence C423427). Which entity holds your account — and therefore which protections apply — depends on your country of residence.
What is the minimum to open a Interactive Brokers account?
Interactive Brokers does not require a minimum deposit, though a practical minimum is set by the price of what you want to buy and any currency conversion cost.
Reviewed August 2026. Every figure above is restated from Interactive Brokers's own published pages, linked in the table.