Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs FXPrimus, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Interactive Brokers, founded in 1977, stands out as a highly respected player in the online brokerage industry. With a perfect Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, it is widely considered to be a highly trusted firm. As a publicly traded company, Interactive Brokers is known for its transparency and reliability. It holds 9 Tier-1 licenses—considered the gold standard for regulatory trust—and 2 Tier-2 licenses, further cementing its status as a dependable choice for investors seeking a reputable platform.
Established in 2009, FXPrimus offers a different landscape for investors. While not publicly traded, it holds 1 Tier-1 license and has earned a Trust Score of 71, placing it in the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. Although FXPrimus is licensed and operates legally, its regulatory standing is less prestigious compared to Interactive Brokers. These factors contribute to a more moderate level of trust and underscore the importance of thorough research before choosing a broker that aligns with your risk tolerance and investment goals.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Interactive Brokers and FXPrimus, Interactive Brokers comes out ahead with its competitive pricing structure. Interactive Brokers secures a 5-star rating in this category and ranks #2 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Although they do not publish average forex spreads, data from Q3 2024 shows an effective spread of 0.59 pips for EUR/USD after commission. Their commission structure starts at 0.2 basis points of the U.S. dollar trade value per side, or $2 minimum per order, making it a cost-effective choice for forex trading.
For active traders, Interactive Brokers provides discounted rates when certain monthly trading volumes are met. Notably, the commission per trade can decrease significantly for high-volume traders, with potential rates as low as $1 per order for those exceeding $5 billion in monthly trading volume. Additionally, they offer agency execution and aggregate prices from 17 leading interbank forex dealers to enhance trade execution. This, combined with their ability to manage large orders efficiently, makes Interactive Brokers particularly attractive for frequent and high-volume traders.
In contrast, FXPrimus, which lacks available average spread data, holds a 4-star rating in commissions and fees and ranks #42 in the same category. While competitive, FXPrimus doesn't provide the same level of detailed forex pricing or potential for commission discounts that Interactive Brokers offers. For traders prioritizing lower costs and transparent pricing, Interactive Brokers presents a more appealing option.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Interactive Brokers with FXPrimus in terms of available investment options, it becomes clear that Interactive Brokers holds an advantage for those looking to diversify their portfolios. Interactive Brokers provides access to 8,500 tradeable symbols, including 90 forex pairs, while FXPrimus offers just 140 tradeable symbols with 42 forex pairs. This broader range not only includes forex spot and CFD trading but also allows clients to engage in buying U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, like Apple and Vodafone shares, which FXPrimus does not support.
Interactive Brokers also supports clients looking to directly buy cryptocurrencies, unlike FXPrimus, which only offers cryptocurrency derivatives. While FXPrimus does advance in the niche of copy trading, a feature Interactive Brokers lacks, it still falls short with a rating of 3.5 stars compared to Interactive Brokers' 5 stars for range of investments. Ranked as the top broker for range of investments by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers offers a more extensive array of investment opportunities than FXPrimus, which sits at 59 out of 62 brokers on the same list.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 140 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 42 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Interactive Brokers and FXPrimus both provide a range of trading platforms and tools, catering to different trading preferences and needs. Each broker offers a free virtual demo account, allowing traders to practice with simulated trading before committing real funds. Proprietary platforms, developed in-house, are also available for both brokers, alongside Windows-based desktop and web-based platforms. However, while Interactive Brokers does not support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5), FXPrimus does provide these popular platforms, in addition to offering copy trading options, which Interactive Brokers does not.
When it comes to charting and watch list features, Interactive Brokers stands out. It provides 85 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from a stock chart. FXPrimus also allows trading from stock charts but includes only 15 drawing tools. For watch lists, Interactive Brokers offers extensive customization with 659 columns, compared to FXPrimus's 7 columns. Interactive Brokers boasts a high ranking, scoring 5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, and is ranked #3 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, FXPrimus holds a 4-star rating and is ranked #49. These ratings and features highlight the differences in sophistication and customization between the two brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and FXPrimus both provide mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android devices, allowing users to trade on the go. Both apps offer stock and forex price alerts to keep users informed of market changes. However, a significant distinction is that Interactive Brokers supports watchlist symbol syncing, seamlessly integrating changes across its mobile app and the client's online account, whereas FXPrimus does not offer this feature. Another area where Interactive Brokers excels is in the number of technical studies available for charting; it offers 97 as opposed to FXPrimus's 30, providing a broader range of analytical tools. Both apps allow users to draw trendlines and view different time frames on charts, though the FXPrimus app has the advantage of auto-saving these drawings, which Interactive Brokers lacks.
In terms of creating watchlists with real-time quotes, both platforms are evenly matched. However, overall performance and user experience greatly differ, as reflected in their ratings. Interactive Brokers boasts a five-star rating and is ranked #4 out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, FXPrimus has a four-star rating and is placed at #47. This suggests that while both apps offer essential trading features, Interactive Brokers provides a more comprehensive and user-friendly experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Interactive Brokers and FXPrimus each offer traders daily market commentary, ensuring users are kept up-to-date on current trends. However, Interactive Brokers shines by providing forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a feature FXPrimus lacks. Furthermore, while neither broker offers Autochartist tools, Interactive Brokers provides a range of advanced research amenities, including those from Trading Central and sentiment-based trading tools that showcase the distribution of long and short positions. In contrast, FXPrimus does not offer these capabilities, potentially limiting the depth of market understanding.
Interactive Brokers enhances its research offerings with tools from companies like TipRanks and Acuity Trading, delivering comprehensive insights not available with FXPrimus. Both brokers include an economic calendar to keep traders informed of essential global economic events. In terms of overall research capabilities, Interactive Brokers is highly rated with 5 stars and holds a prestigious third-place ranking among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, FXPrimus trails significantly, receiving only 3 stars and ranking as 58th. This substantial difference highlights Interactive Brokers as the superior option for market research.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Interactive Brokers and FXPrimus both offer a commendable array of materials related to forex and CFDs trading. Both platforms provide a minimum of ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, tailored to help new traders understand the intricacies of trading. Moreover, each company conducts online educational webinars monthly, ensuring continuous learning opportunities for their clients. Additionally, both brokers maintain a searchable archive of their past webinars, allowing users to revisit and learn at their own pace.
However, Interactive Brokers extends its educational offerings with a range of beginner-friendly and advanced videos, making it a more comprehensive choice for individuals at any skill level. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers includes an investor dictionary with over fifty investing terms to further aid in the learning process, a feature that FXPrimus does not offer. These expanded resources contribute to Interactive Brokers’ superior educational rating of five stars and a high ranking of third in the Education category, contrasting with FXPrimus' three-star rating and fifty-first place ranking among 62 brokers, as reported by ForexBrokers.com. Overall, for beginners seeking extensive educational support, Interactive Brokers emerges as a clear leader between the two.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Interactive Brokers is better than FXPrimus. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while FXPrimus finished with an overall rank of #53.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Interactive Brokers allows investors to purchase both actual cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas FXPrimus only provides the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives without offering the actual cryptocurrencies.
When comparing deposit and withdrawal options between Interactive Brokers and FXPrimus, Interactive Brokers supports ACH, SEPA, and bank wire transfers but does not offer PayPal, Skrill, or card options, while FXPrimus provides Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire options but does not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transactions.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 140 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 42 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | FXPrimus | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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