Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs GBE brokers, 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 and GBE Brokers each offer online trading services, but they differ significantly in terms of trust and regulation. Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers holds an impressive Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, making it highly trusted. It is publicly traded and possesses 9 Tier-1 licenses, which are highly valued for their reliability. Additionally, Interactive Brokers holds 2 Tier-2 licenses, further solidifying its reputation in the financial industry.
In contrast, GBE Brokers, which started operations in 2013, has a Trust Score of 71 out of 99, placing it in the average risk category. Unlike Interactive Brokers, GBE is not publicly traded and currently holds only 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. While both brokers are regulated, the differences in licensing and trust scores highlight Interactive Brokers as the more established and trustworthy option for online trading.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2013 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | |
| Bank | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Interactive Brokers and GBE Brokers are two notable online brokers known for their commissions and fees in forex trading, but they have distinct offerings. Interactive Brokers boasts a competitive pricing structure, although specific average spreads for forex are not readily published. During the third quarter of 2024, the EUR/USD currency pair had an average spread of 0.19 pips, translating to an all-in cost of 0.59 pips after commissions. Traders at Interactive Brokers face a minimum commission of $2 per order side, potentially dropping to 0.08 basis points for highly active traders with volumes as high as $5 billion monthly, positioning them among the top brokers for competitive forex trading costs. The broker has earned a commendable 5-star rating and is ranked #2 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for its exceptional commissions and fees.
GBE Brokers, on the other hand, does not provide average spread data, making direct comparison more challenging. While they maintain a reasonable 4-star rating for commissions and fees, GBE Brokers stand at #37 in the ForexBrokers.com ranking out of 63. For traders seeking transparency in forex trading costs, this could be a potential downside. Nonetheless, GBE Brokers still holds its ground as a competitive choice in the market, with fees that may appeal to specific trading strategies or preferences.
To sum up, while both Interactive Brokers and GBE Brokers offer unique benefits, Interactive Brokers leads with a more transparent and competitive fee structure, especially advantageous for highly active traders seeking cost-effective solutions in forex trading. With consistent recognition in industry rankings, Interactive Brokers remains an excellent choice for those prioritizing commissions and fees. Meanwhile, GBE Brokers presents an alternative worth considering, although it may not match the top-tier efficiency of Interactive Brokers in commission and fee offerings.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 |
| 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 | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the investment options available at Interactive Brokers and GBE Brokers, both offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract. However, Interactive Brokers stands out with an impressive 8,500 tradeable symbols overall, compared to the 500 symbols offered by GBE Brokers. While Interactive Brokers provides access to 90 tradeable forex pairs, GBE Brokers offers a slightly more limited selection with 71 pairs. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers allows clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling users to purchase shares like Apple and Vodafone directly. In contrast, GBE Brokers does not provide access to non-CFD exchange-traded securities.
Interactive Brokers also offers the opportunity for clients to purchase actual cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, while GBE Brokers only offers trading in cryptocurrency derivatives. On the other side, GBE Brokers supports copy trading, allowing traders to follow and replicate the actions of experienced traders. In terms of investment variety ratings, Interactive Brokers shines with 5 stars, earning the number one spot in the Range of Investments category according to ForexBrokers.com. GBE Brokers scores 3.5 stars and is ranked 44th. This comparison highlights the broader investment range and flexibility that Interactive Brokers offers to its clients.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 71 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | |
| 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 GBE Brokers offer traders a variety of platforms and tools, each catering to different user needs. Both brokers provide access to simulated trading accounts, helping beginners and experienced traders practice their strategies without financial risk. Interactive Brokers stands out with its proprietary platform and Windows-based desktop version, also accessible via web browser, allowing users to trade seamlessly across devices. In contrast, GBE Brokers support popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5, along with copy trading features. However, Interactive Brokers excels with 85 drawing tools for charting and an impressive 659 columns for watch lists, providing a highly customizable experience compared to GBE Brokers’ 15 drawing tools and 7 watch list fields.
When it comes to trader ratings and rankings, Interactive Brokers receives a five-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, placing it third out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. GBE Brokers, meanwhile, receives a four-star rating and is ranked 57th in the same category. This distinction signifies Interactive Brokers as a top choice for traders seeking advanced tools and platform versatility, while GBE Brokers remains a solid option for those prioritizing well-known trading platforms and copy trading capabilities.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | ||
| ZuluTrade | ||
| 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 GBE Brokers both offer versatile mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. They provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and real-time quotes on customizable watchlists. Both apps also support viewing multiple time frames for stock and forex charts, allowing traders to make informed decisions on the go. However, Interactive Brokers stands out with its watchlist symbol syncing, which lets users maintain consistency between their mobile app and online account, a feature GBE Brokers lacks.
When it comes to technical studies, Interactive Brokers offers an impressive 97 options, while GBE Brokers provides 30. Despite this, GBE Brokers does automatically save drawings on charts, unlike Interactive Brokers. In user ratings and rankings, Interactive Brokers shines with a 5-star rating and a #4 ranking among 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, GBE Brokers holds a 4-star rating and is ranked #57, indicating that while it is a solid choice, Interactive Brokers has a more highly-regarded mobile trading experience overall.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Interactive Brokers and GBE brokers both cater to market enthusiasts by offering daily market commentary and an economic calendar to keep users apprised of global news events. However, Interactive Brokers provides a more comprehensive suite of research tools and partnerships. It collaborates with renowned sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones to deliver top-notch forex news, a service where GBE brokers fall short. Additionally, Interactive Brokers integrates exclusive tools from Trading Central and Acuity Trading to support in-depth technical and fundamental analysis, further enhancing the research experience for traders.
While both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools, Interactive Brokers stands out with its unique offerings such as market research from TipRanks. This wealth of resources reflects its high standing in the industry, boasting a prestigious 5-star research rating and ranking 3rd among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, GBE brokers, lacking in several research aspects, is rated at 3 stars and is positioned towards the lower end of the ranking, at 62nd place. This comparison underscores Interactive Brokers as a go-to choice for traders seeking extensive market insights and tools.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | |
| Autochartist | ||
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Interactive Brokers clearly shines when it comes to providing educational resources for beginners interested in forex and CFDs. Interactive Brokers offers an array of educational materials, exceeding the minimum with more than 10 pieces focused on forex or CFDs. They host regular online webinars each month for their clients, making it easy to learn continuously. Even more convenient, Interactive Brokers maintains a searchable archive of these webinars, ensuring users have easy access to knowledge anytime. Beginners will find at least 10 educational videos tailored specifically to them, while experienced traders can also enhance their skills with more than 10 advanced educational videos. Furthermore, they provide an extensive investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, aiding newcomers in understanding complex financial jargon.
On the other hand, GBE Brokers appears to fall short in similar educational offerings. They do not meet the threshold of providing at least 10 forex or CFDs educational pieces, nor do they conduct regular monthly webinars for their clients. Additionally, GBE Brokers does not offer a searchable archive of past webinars, leaving fewer resources for learning. When it comes to videos, they lack the 10 beginner-focused videos provided by Interactive Brokers and similarly do not cater to advanced traders with specialized video content. An investor dictionary with over 50 terms is also absent in their offerings. As a result, Interactive Brokers boasts an impressive 5-star education rating and ranks 3rd among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while GBE Brokers holds a 3-star rating and sits at the bottom of the list, ranked 63rd.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Interactive Brokers is better than GBE brokers. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while GBE brokers finished with an overall rank of #57.
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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GBE brokers
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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When comparing Interactive Brokers and GBE Brokers in terms of cryptocurrency offerings, Interactive Brokers allows investors to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency, whereas both brokers provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives but only Interactive Brokers facilitates the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
Interactive Brokers and GBE Brokers both offer ACH, SEPA, and bank wire transfers for depositing or withdrawing funds, but GBE Brokers additionally supports PayPal, Skrill, Visa, and Mastercard, providing a broader range of payment methods compared to Interactive Brokers.
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 | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | GBE brokers | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2013 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | ||
| Bank | |||
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | |||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | |||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | |||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | ||
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | ||
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | ||
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | ||
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Inactivity Fee | |||
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | ||
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | ||
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | ||
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | ||
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | ||
| cTrader | |||
| DupliTrade | |||
| ZuluTrade |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | ||
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | ||
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | ||
| Autochartist | |||
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | ||
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | ||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | ||
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | ||
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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