Interactive Brokers

Active and international traders who value tiered per-share pricing, global markets, and a low margin floor plus paid cash interest.

Last verified 2026-10-04

Legal entities

Interactive Brokers LLC (FINRA BrokerCheck firm id 36418)

Details

minimum to open$0IBKR advertises no account minimums
monthly feenot verified
equity trade feenot verified
fractional min$1Not published in retrievable text for this broker.
etf fee0 USD per tradeTWO DISTINCT REGIMES, both first-party. (1) IBKR Lite: '$0 per share for US residents only' on US listed stocks and ETFs, with USD 0 minimum and USD 0 maximum. (2) IBKR Pro: per-share commission applies; for ETFs a separate NTF program exists - 'Interactive Brokers' "fee waived" no transaction fee (NTF) program offers over 150 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) which reimburse IBKR Pro clients for commissions paid on ETF shares held for at least 30 days. IBKR Lite clients always pay $0 commissions on ETFs.' Note the NTF rebate requires a 30-DAY HOLD.
margin apr low4.38%Benchmark-rate based (BM), not a fixed schedule, and BLENDED across tiers: 'IBKR uses a blended rate based on the tiers below. For example, for a balance over USD 1,000,000, the first 100,000 is charged at the Tier I rate, the next 900,000 at the Tier II rate'. USD tiers: 0-100,000 = 5.380% (BM+1.5%); 100,000-1,000,000 = 4.880% (BM+1%); 1,000,000-50,000,000 = 4.630% (BM+0.75%); 50,000,000-250,000,000 = 4.380% (BM+0.5%); over 250,000,000 = 4.380% (BM+0.5%). IBKR Lite is a flat 6.380% (BM+2.5%) at EVERY tier. A 1% surcharge applies to large loan balances in the highest tier unless prearranged.
margin apr high5.38%Benchmark-rate based (BM), not a fixed schedule, and BLENDED across tiers: 'IBKR uses a blended rate based on the tiers below. For example, for a balance over USD 1,000,000, the first 100,000 is charged at the Tier I rate, the next 900,000 at the Tier II rate'. USD tiers: 0-100,000 = 5.380% (BM+1.5%); 100,000-1,000,000 = 4.880% (BM+1%); 1,000,000-50,000,000 = 4.630% (BM+0.75%); 50,000,000-250,000,000 = 4.380% (BM+0.5%); over 250,000,000 = 4.380% (BM+0.5%). IBKR Lite is a flat 6.380% (BM+2.5%) at EVERY tier. A 1% surcharge applies to large loan balances in the highest tier unless prearranged.
cash apy gold2.38%FLAT 0% IS REAL AND MATERIAL. IBKR's own interest-rate table shows USD tier '0 <= 10,000' paying 0%, and only '> 10,000' earning 3.380% (BM - 0.5%) on IBKR Pro or 2.380% (BM - 1.5%) on IBKR Lite. So the advertised 'up to 3.38%' requires more than USD 10,000 of eligible cash. IBKR Pro is the PREMIUM tier here (higher cash rate AND lower margin rate); IBKR Lite is the free tier. No cap on earnings; compounded daily. Rates are benchmark-linked and tiered, so they move with the benchmark.
cash apy standard3.38%FLAT 0% IS REAL AND MATERIAL. IBKR's own interest-rate table shows USD tier '0 <= 10,000' paying 0%, and only '> 10,000' earning 3.380% (BM - 0.5%) on IBKR Pro or 2.380% (BM - 1.5%) on IBKR Lite. So the advertised 'up to 3.38%' requires more than USD 10,000 of eligible cash. IBKR Pro is the PREMIUM tier here (higher cash rate AND lower margin rate); IBKR Lite is the free tier. No cap on earnings; compounded daily. Rates are benchmark-linked and tiered, so they move with the benchmark.
crypto availableyes
account typescash, taxable, ira, roth iraAccount types not published.
coverageSIPC member. Interest-bearing cash is held at program banks with FDIC coverage per depositor per bank.Coverage terms not transcribed.

What people get wrong

Sources

Each URL and the specific claim it supports.

  1. www.interactivebrokers.com— Brokerage fees, account types, coverage and margin terms.retrieved 2026-10-04
  2. www.interactivebrokers.com— Brokerage fees, account types, coverage and margin terms.retrieved 2026-10-04
  3. www.interactivebrokers.com— Brokerage fees, account types, coverage and margin terms.retrieved 2026-10-04