Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Markets4you, 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 Markets4you offer stark differences when comparing their history and regulation credentials. Established in 1977, Interactive Brokers is publicly traded and boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, reflecting a high level of trust and reliability. Its credibility is further supported by holding an impressive nine Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, recognized as the gold standard in the industry. In contrast, Markets4you, founded in 2007, remains privately held and scores a Trust Score of 61. With no Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, Markets4you is categorized under high-risk, which potential investors should consider carefully.
Choosing between Interactive Brokers and Markets4you involves understanding their trustworthiness and regulatory standings. Interactive Brokers offers greater peace of mind with its extensive regulatory compliance and public trading status, signaling stability and transparency to its clients. On the other hand, Markets4you’s lack of top-tier licensing and lower trust rating could pose concerns for risk-averse traders looking for secure brokerage services. Thus, investors and traders seeking a reliable and trusted broker might favor Interactive Brokers over Markets4you.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing Interactive Brokers to Markets4you in terms of commissions and fees, Interactive Brokers stands out with its competitive pricing, particularly for forex trading. For EUR/USD trades, Interactive Brokers offers an average spread of 0.19 pips, leading to a total spread, including commission, of 0.59 pips. Their commission per side ranges from 0.00002 to 0.00008 of the U.S. dollar trade value, with a minimum charge of $2 per order. This structure allows for potentially lower costs, especially if you are an active trader. The firm also offers discounts on commissions for those with higher monthly trading volumes. Interactive Brokers aggregates prices from 17 globally renowned interbank forex dealers, ensuring clients receive efficient pricing. It is rated with an impressive 5 stars and is ranked 2nd out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees.
While Interactive Brokers garners top ratings, Markets4you presents a more basic offering with limited published data on spread averages, making it challenging to precisely compare its costs. Markets4you receives a rating of 3.5 stars in this category and is ranked 53rd among the 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. This lower ranking and star rating suggest that Markets4you may have a less favorable pricing structure for traders compared to Interactive Brokers.
In summary, Interactive Brokers provides a more attractive fees and commissions structure, especially for forex trading, benefiting active traders through potential discounts and efficient price aggregation from multiple dealers. Markets4you, on the other hand, may not be as competitive, reflected in both its lower rating and ranking.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| 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.
Interactive Brokers stands out as a leading choice for investors looking for a wide variety of investment options. With an impressive offering of 8,500 tradeable symbols, including 90 forex pairs, it provides almost incomparable diversity. Investors can access both U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, allowing them to purchase shares of global giants like Apple and Vodafone. Additionally, Interactive Brokers allows clients to engage in both CFD and spot contract forex trading, as well as provide opportunities for actual cryptocurrency purchases and cryptocurrency derivatives, showcasing a comprehensive investment platform. It has earned an outstanding rating of 5 stars for its range of investments, securing the top spot among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
Conversely, Markets4you offers a more limited range of investments. With only 150 tradeable symbols and 43 forex pairs, the selection is considerably narrower. Notably, Markets4you does not provide access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges. While it does offer CFD and spot contract forex trading and cryptocurrency derivatives, clients cannot purchase actual cryptocurrencies. Markets4you, however, does offer copy trading, a feature not available at Interactive Brokers, which might appeal to investors looking to mimic the trades of successful peers. Rated at 3.5 stars with a ranking of 58th out of 62 brokers for its range of investments, Markets4you may suit those who prefer a simpler, more directed trading experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 43 |
| 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 Markets4you both offer a range of trading platforms, catering to different user preferences. Interactive Brokers features a proprietary platform, available both for a Windows desktop download and as a web-based option, which is highly regarded in the industry. Similarly, Markets4you provides its own proprietary platform with similar access options. Both brokers offer simulated trading accounts, allowing beginners to practice without real-world risk. However, Markets4you also supports popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, offering greater flexibility for users who prefer these industry-standard tools. While both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts, Interactive Brokers stands out with 85 drawing tools, compared to Markets4you's 15.
When it comes to indicators and watch list capabilities, Interactive Brokers excels significantly, offering 659 columns for watch lists, while Markets4you offers just 7. Despite Markets4you's unique offering of copy trading, Interactive Brokers still achieves a higher rating for trading platforms and tools, earning 5 stars and ranking third out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Markets4you receives 4 stars and is ranked 52nd, indicating Interactive Brokers is generally considered the stronger platform according to industry evaluations.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Both Interactive Brokers and Markets4you provide mobile apps for iPhone and Android devices, making it convenient for traders to manage their investments on the go. These apps also allow users to receive stock or forex price alerts and create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, Interactive Brokers stands out with its feature that lets users sync their watchlists across the mobile app and online account, ensuring a seamless experience. While both brokers offer tools for drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts, Markets4you auto saves chart drawings, a point worth considering for traders who value this convenience.
In terms of technical studies available for charting, Interactive Brokers offers 97 studies compared to the 30 provided by Markets4you, giving users more comprehensive analysis options. In app ratings, Interactive Brokers earns a full 5 stars, reflecting its superior user experience, while Markets4you garners 4 stars. These distinctions are echoed in rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Interactive Brokers is placed near the top at #4 out of 62 brokers, whereas Markets4you sits much lower at #50. For those prioritizing a more enriched app experience with advanced features and higher user ratings, Interactive Brokers may be the preferred choice.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Interactive Brokers and Markets4you both offer essential market research tools for traders, like daily market commentary and top-tier forex news from sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. However, Interactive Brokers stands out with a sentiment-based trading tool that provides insights into long and short positions across various currency pairs, while Markets4you lacks this feature. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers provides market research from TipRanks and access to Acuity Trading's tools, advantages Markets4you does not offer. Both brokers include comprehensive economic calendars to keep traders informed about global economic events.
Both Interactive Brokers and Markets4you utilize Trading Central's technical analytics, but Markets4you also offers Autochartist, enhancing its research tool offerings. Despite this, Interactive Brokers achieves a higher overall rating for research with 5 stars compared to Markets4you's 3.5 stars. As ranked by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers is positioned impressively at #3 for research among 62 brokers, while Markets4you ranks lower at #47, indicating a stronger focus on market research tools and resources by Interactive Brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
Interactive Brokers and Markets4you both offer educational resources for those new to trading, especially in the realms of forex and CFDs. Both platforms provide a collection of at least 10 articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on these topics, making them accessible choices for beginners looking to learn. However, Interactive Brokers distinguishes itself by hosting monthly webinars and maintaining an archive that users can search through. While Markets4you also offers an archive of past webinars, it does not match Interactive Brokers' frequency or consistency in hosting webinars.
When it comes to video resources for beginners and advanced traders, Interactive Brokers provides at least 10 videos tailored to both novice and seasoned investors. Markets4you falls short in this area by not offering the same quantity or range of educational videos. Another area where Interactive Brokers excels is the availability of an investor dictionary that explains over 50 investing terms, a resource not offered by Markets4you. These differences are reflected in their ratings, with Interactive Brokers earning a 5-star education rating and a #3 ranking by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Markets4you’s 3.5-star rating and #25 ranking. Interactive Brokers, therefore, provides a more comprehensive educational experience for those eager to delve deeper into online trading.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 Markets4you. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Markets4you finished with an overall rank of #55.
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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Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 61 |
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Interactive Brokers allows investors to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency in addition to cryptocurrency derivatives, while Markets4you only offers the option to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
Interactive Brokers supports ACH, SEPA, and bank wire transfers for depositing and withdrawing funds, whereas Markets4you accepts Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not offer ACH or SEPA transfers, with neither broker supporting 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 | Markets4you | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 61 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 43 | |
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | No | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | No | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | No | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | No | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | No | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | No | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | No | |
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | Markets4you | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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