Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs RoboForex, 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, established in 1977, stands as a veteran in the financial market and reflects its high reliability with a Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. It is publicly traded, lending transparency to its operations, and holds an impressive nine Tier-1 licenses. These licenses mark it as highly trusted, further supported by two Tier-2 licenses, reinforcing its reputation as a secure choice for investors.
Founded in 2009, RoboForex is a comparatively newer entrant, with a Trust Score of 73, suggesting it carries an average risk level according to ForexBrokers.com. Unlike Interactive Brokers, RoboForex is not publicly traded and operates with just one Tier-1 license, without any Tier-2 licenses. While it does operate legitimately, its regulatory standing might not provide the same level of assurance as other more established brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
Interactive Brokers and RoboForex offer distinct approaches to commissions and fees in the online trading world. Interactive Brokers is well-regarded for its competitive pricing with a star rating of 5 out of 5 and ranks #2 among 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category at ForexBrokers.com. Despite not publishing its average forex spreads, data from Q3 2024 reveals that Interactive Brokers' average spread for EUR/USD stands at 0.19 pips, with an effective all-in spread of 0.59 pips after commission. For forex traders, commissions per side begin at 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) of the U.S. dollar trade value, with a minimum of $2 per order, which can drop further with higher trading volumes. This structure makes Interactive Brokers a preferred choice for cost-effective trading.
RoboForex, on the other hand, offers average spreads of 1.3 pips for EUR/USD on its Procent and Pro accounts. With a commission and fees star rating of 3.5 out of 5, RoboForex ranks #54 in the same category by ForexBrokers.com. This indicates higher relative costs for traders who prioritize minimizing spreads and commission expenses. While RoboForex may not be the top choice for traders looking for the lowest expense ratios, it still provides a reliable platform for those who prefer their trading offerings.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| 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 and RoboForex both provide a comprehensive array of investments, but they cater to different investor needs. Interactive Brokers offers 8,500 tradeable symbols, including 90 forex pairs, allowing clients to engage in both CFD and spot contract forex trading. It stands out by allowing clients to buy actual U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, such as Apple and Vodafone, and to purchase actual cryptocurrencies along with derivatives. RoboForex, meanwhile, provides 8,400 tradeable symbols with 28 forex pairs available for CFD and spot trading. Although it doesn’t offer direct purchases of U.S. and international stocks or actual cryptocurrencies, it does excel in the area of copy trading.
When rated by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers earns a top ranking, placed #1 out of 62, with a full 5-star rating for its range of investments, reflecting its diverse offerings. In comparison, RoboForex is ranked #20 and holds a 4.5-star rating, which underscores its extensive range but with fewer options in some categories like cryptocurrencies and exchange-traded securities. Investors should consider their specific portfolio goals and trading preferences when choosing between these two platforms.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 8400 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 28 |
| 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.
When it comes to evaluating trading platforms and tools, Interactive Brokers and RoboForex offer features suited for different types of traders. Both brokers provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice simulated trading. Interactive Brokers has developed its own proprietary platform for their clients, available as both a Windows-based desktop download and a web-based trading platform. On the other hand, RoboForex, lacking a proprietary platform, still delivers both desktop and web-based platforms. A notable advantage for RoboForex users is the availability of copy trading features and support for popular trading platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, neither of which Interactive Brokers offers. However, Interactive Brokers does impress with its extensive collection of 85 drawing tools and support for trading directly from a stock chart.
Additionally, for serious traders, Interactive Brokers provides unparalleled customization with an astonishing 659 columns available for watch lists, compared to RoboForex's 7. This flexibility, combined with a best-in-class Trading Platforms and Tools rating of 5 stars and a ForexBrokers.com category ranking of #3 out of 62 brokers, highlights Interactive Brokers as a top choice for those seeking powerful trading solutions. Meanwhile, RoboForex still offers a commendable service with a 4-star rating and is ranked #43, making it a viable option for traders who prioritize platform versatility and copy trading capabilities.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 RoboForex provide access to mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, making them accessible for traders on the go. Users can receive stock and forex price alerts on both platforms, ensuring they stay updated with market movements. However, a notable difference is Interactive Brokers’ ability to sync watchlist symbols between its mobile app and the client's online account, a feature absent in RoboForex. When it comes to charting capabilities, Interactive Brokers significantly outperforms RoboForex, offering 97 technical studies compared to RoboForex's 30. Both apps allow users to draw trendlines and view different time frames on charts, but RoboForex has the added advantage of automatically saving chart drawings.
Traders aiming to keep track of real-time quotes can create watchlists on both apps. Interactive Brokers enjoys a clear edge in user satisfaction with a 5-star rating for their mobile trading app, while RoboForex holds a 4-star rating. Among 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers is ranked 4th, showcasing its strength in mobile trading, whereas RoboForex ranks 43rd, indicating a more modest position in comparison. These differences highlight areas where Interactive Brokers might appeal more to traders looking for advanced features and seamless experience across devices.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 comparing Interactive Brokers and RoboForex for market research services, both platforms provide daily market commentary and forex news from renowned outlets such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. They also offer valuable tools from Trading Central and Acuity Trading, granting users access to technical analytics and trading signals. Both brokers feature economic calendars to track significant global events. However, a key difference arises with their sentiment-based tools, as Interactive Brokers provides insights into currency pair positions while RoboForex does not. Another distinction is the exclusive market research from TipRanks available with Interactive Brokers, which is missing from RoboForex's offerings.
In terms of research quality, Interactive Brokers garners a rating of 5 stars, significantly surpassing RoboForex's 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers is highly ranked at #3 out of 62 brokers for research, making it a strong choice for in-depth market analysis. In contrast, RoboForex ranks much lower at #37, indicating it's a less competitive option in this realm. This analysis suggests that while both brokers offer fundamental research tools, Interactive Brokers provides a more comprehensive set of resources and insights for those seeking a detailed and top-tier market research experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing Interactive Brokers and RoboForex, it's clear that Interactive Brokers provides more extensive educational resources, particularly for beginners delving into forex and CFDs trading. Interactive Brokers offers over ten educational materials, including articles, videos, and recorded webinars focused on forex or CFDs. They also provide monthly webinars and maintain a searchable archive of previously recorded sessions. Additionally, they have over ten educational videos tailored specifically for beginners, along with advanced videos for seasoned traders. To further support their clients, Interactive Brokers offers a comprehensive investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms.
In contrast, RoboForex does not offer the same breadth of educational resources. They lack the minimum ten educational pieces solely focused on forex or CFDs and do not provide regular client webinars or an archive of such webinars. Furthermore, RoboForex does not have a dedicated collection of videos for beginners or advanced traders, nor do they offer a substantial investor dictionary. This disparity is evident in their educational ratings, with Interactive Brokers earning a 5-star rating and ranking third out of 62 brokers, while RoboForex holds a 3.5-star rating at 56th place in the ForexBrokers.com education rankings.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 RoboForex. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while RoboForex finished with an overall rank of #46.
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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RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Interactive Brokers enables users to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas RoboForex only provides the option to trade in cryptocurrency derivatives and does not offer the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency.
Interactive Brokers and RoboForex both support ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing funds; however, unlike Interactive Brokers, RoboForex also offers additional options such as PayPal, Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard.
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 | RoboForex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | RoboForex Review |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| 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 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 8400 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 28 | |
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | RoboForex Review |
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