FBS and Interactive Brokers are online forex brokers that offer their trading services to traders and investors. FBS is a regulated and trusted forex broker. It is regulated by multiple regulatory authorities including Cysec, ASIC, FSC-Belize. Similarly, Interactive Brokers is also a regulated broker which is regulated by SEC, CFTC, FCA, FSCS, FINRA, FCM, IIROC, MAS, FSA.. Both the brokers have their own strengths and weaknesses.
In this article, we will review and compare the brokerage services offered by FBS and Interactive Brokers. We will explore options such as regulations, reputations, fees, features, leverage, and more. Additionally, we will analyze and rate the brokers based on macro and micro categories and options. By reviewing these aspects, you will get a clear idea of which broker suits you best for your trading journey.
FBS vs Interactive Broker: In a Nutshell
FBS:
Established in 2009, FBS is one of the leading forex and CFD brokers, offering online trading services worldwide. It is a global brand with headquarters in Belize and regional offices in Cyprus and the Marshall Islands. FBS provides opportunities for trading forex, stocks, metals, energies, and indices. It has about 17 million clients and over 60 prestigious awards for excellent services. FBS.eu offers low spreads and split-second executions without requotes. FBS is one of the highest leverage forex brokers, with leverage up to 1:3000 for its global clients. The broker’s spreads start from 0.7 pips. To know more, you can read our review on FBS.
FBS Overview
- Founded In: 2009
- Founder: Satthakarn Chuenkomol
- Headquarters: Belize City, Belize
- Minimum Deposit: $5
- Maximum Leverage: 1:3000
- Regulations: ASIC, FSC, CySEC
- Trading platform: MT4, MT5, Webtrader
- Account Types: Standard, Cent, Pro
- Payment Options: VISA, MasterCard, Local Exchangers, Neteller, PerfectMoney, Skrill, SticPay
- US Traders: Not Accepted
Interactive Broker:
Founded in New York, USA in 1978 by Thomas Peterffy, Interactive Brokers has grown into a global brand with over 2.1 million clients. It is an American Multinational brokerage firm headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut. It has become one of the leading online trading solutions for traders, investors, and advisors. The brokers give access to over 5000+ tradable assets including forex, CFDs, warrants, ETFs Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, and Bonds. To trade online, IBKR offers WebTrader, FIX API, MobileTrader (MobileApp), and TWS trading platforms. To learn more about IBKR, you can read our review of Interactive Brokers.
Interactive Brokers Overview
- Founded In: 1978
- Founder: Chairman Thomas Peterffy
- Headquarters: Greenwich, Connecticut, United States
- Minimum Deposit: None
- Maximum Leverage: 500:1
- Regulations: SEC , CFTC ,FCA, FSCS, ASIC , IIROC , FSA
- Trading platform: WebTrader, FIX API, MobileTrader
- Account Types: Family Office Account ,UGMA/UTMA, IRA, Trust ,Joint, Individuals
- Payment Options: Bank Wire (BankTransfer/SWIFT), ACH (Automated Clearing House), BPAY, Check, Direct Debit, Local Bank Deposits, Transfer from Existing Broker
- US Traders: Accepted
FBS vs Interactive Brokers: Key Features
FBS:
- Trading Instruments: Forex, Stock, Indices, Crypto, Metals, Energies, Forex Exotic.
- Maximum leverage: 1:3000
- Minimum Deposit: $5
- Account Types: Three ( Standard, Cent, Pro)
- Trading Fees: Spread starting from 1 pip for Standard Account and Cent Account
- PAMM/ MAM: Not available
- Scalping: Allowed
- News Trading: Allowed
- EA/ Robot Trading: Allowed
Interactive Brokers:
- Trading Instruments: 5000+Trading instruments including forex, CFDs, warrants, ETFs Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, stocks, options, and Bonds
- Maximum leverage: 50:1 for US Clients, 30:1 for EU clients, and 400:1 for global clients.
- Minimum Deposit: The Interactive Brokers minimum deposit is $0 for a cash account, $2,000 for a T Reg margin account, and $110,000 for a portfolio margin account. The minimum deposit is subject to change depending on the trading account opened and the base currency selected.
- Trading Fees: spreads starting from as low as 0.1 pips, Stock fees USD 0.005 per share.
- PAMM/ MAM: Not Available
- Scalping: Allowed
- News Trading: Allowed
- EA/ Robot Trading: Allowed with Capitalise.ai
FBS vs Interactive Broker: Pros and Cons
FBS:
- Regulated by the CySEC, ASIC, FSCA South Africa, and FSC Belize.
- The Maximum Leverage is as high as 1:3000
- The Minimum deposit is $5
- Trading is on the MT4, MT5, and FBS trader platforms.
- There is an account type to suit newbies, experienced, and pro traders.
- Low spreads, high leverage, and fast order executions
- Easy and fast account opening
- Forex Guidebook, Forex Intensive, trading ideas, webinars, and other training resources are provided.
- Tradable assets are not much, especially when compared to other top brokers.
- Daily Market news and analysis on FBS.eu are not regularly updated.
- No premium trading tools to assist traders.
- No investor protection for non-EU Clients
- Managed Accounts & Social Trading is unavailable
- Few Account Base Currencies
Interactive Broker:
- IBK is a Forex and Stock Broker
- Excellent reputation (founded in 1978)
- Regulated by top regulators like ASIC, FCA, FSA, SFC, IIROC
- A wide range of products offered warrants, ETFs, Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, Bonds
- Over 18,000 no-transaction-fee mutual funds.
- No monthly inactivity fee
- Low trading fees and high interest (up to 4.58% for USD) on cash balances
- Access to international markets and exchanges
- Mobile apps are convenient for individual investors.
- Complicated account opening
- Learning Curve for Beginners
- The maximum leverage is only 1:40
- No Metatrader platforms (MT4, MT5) offered
- High minimum deposit requirements for some account types
- Interactive Advisors (Robo-advisor feature) is only available for US customers
- No fixed spread is available
FBS vs Interactive Broker: Side-by-Side Comparison
FBS Vs Interactive Broker: Our Scores and Ratings
We rated both brokers, FBS and Interactive Broker, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 0.1 increments. To achieve a comprehensive rating, we broadly grouped all services offered by brokers into 6 macro categories and assigned percentage weights to them. Each macro category is subdivided into several data points which contributes to the total score of 1.0-10.0 assigned to each macro category. Since all categories are not equally important, our weight percentage plays a significant role in assessing the broker accurately. For example, Regulation and Security contributes a total weight of 40% to the whole ratings because this is the most important rating category. To learn more, read our methodology.
FBS:
Interactive Broker:
Final Verdict:
Both FBS and Interactive Brokers offer similar trading services globally and are regulated forex brokers. The minimum lot size for both is as low as 0.1. However, there are some differences between them.
For example, FBS is regulated by 3 regulatory authorities, including ASIC, CySEC, FSA, while Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers is regulated by 9 regulatory authorities, including SEC, CFTC, FCA, FSCS, FINRA, FCM, IIROC, MAS, FSA. The trading cost for FBS is 0.7 pips spread, whereas Interactive Brokers’s trading cost is 1 pips spread.
FBS cannot accept US clients as it is not regulated in the USA, while Interactive Brokers, being a US-regulated forex broker, can accept clients from both the US and around the world.
Our score for Interactive Brokers is 9.1, and for FBS, it is 8.8 (according to our expert ratings, brokers that achieve a score of 8.00 or higher are considered safe and trustworthy).
Therefore, FBS is most suited and trusted for non-US traders. However, if you are a US trader seeking a trusted and regulated forex broker, Interactive Brokers is a perfect choice.
