Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers earned the #4 slot in our 2026 EU broker rankings with an overall score of 9.1/10. That score is the composite of eight individually weighted dimensions — fees, platforms, regulation, execution, support, education, instruments, and raw execution quality — and Interactive Brokers scored consistently above 8.0 on the majority of them.

Where Interactive Brokers pulled ahead of its peers was on regulation (9.9/10) and instruments (9.8/10). On the first dimension, it holds tier-1 licences across multiple jurisdictions. On the second, the instrument list covers forex, indices, commodities, crypto, and equities in depth. These are the two areas that we believe justify the award.

From a safety perspective, Interactive Brokers is regulated by SEC, FCA, CBI, MNB and operates under the full ESMA framework for EU retail clients. Client funds are segregated at top-tier banks, negative balance protection applies to every retail account, and the compensation scheme is Irish Investor Compensation Scheme up to EUR 20,000. This is the baseline we look for before a broker can even be considered for an award — Interactive Brokers clears it comfortably.

Interactive Brokers is a NASDAQ-listed professional brokerage offering the lowest margin rates, 150+ global markets, and the most comprehensive regulatory coverage in the industry. The combination of credible regulation, strong execution quality, and a proven track record since 1978 is why Interactive Brokers earns a spot on the 2026 list alongside the nine other EU brokers we recognise this year.