Yes, Interactive Brokers is good for share dealing in the largest companies on stock exchanges, but there are limitations when it comes to smaller-cap stocks. You do buy the physical shares (unless you are trading as a CFD). But if you are mainly dealing in smaller or penny stocks a traditional platform like Hargreaves Lansdown or Interactive Investor will give you better access.
- Related Guide: Best Share Dealing Accounts Compared & Reviewed
Interactive Brokers is an excellent account for sophisticated share dealers who want to manage their own portfolio with complex order types actively and need access to a wider range of investment products like derivatives, options, and futures. They also offer fractional share dealing if you only want to start trading a small amount.
Interactive Brokers are one of the most advanced share dealing platforms for beginners and professional investors.
- Investments:Â Shares, ETFs, funds & bonds
- Minimum deposit: £500
- Account types:Â GIA, ISA, SIPP, CFD
- Share dealing account charge: £0
- Share dealing fee:Â 0.05%
Fees: Interactive Brokers does not charge share dealing custody fees and minimum share dealing commissions are £1 in the UK or 0.05% of the deal size.
Do you actually own stock on Interactive Brokers? Yes you do – you can either buy UK shares or US stocks as physical in a nominee acocunt or trade them long or short as a CFD.
You can compare IBKR to other share dealing platforms like Hargreaves Lansdown, IG, Interactive Investor and AJ Bell below:
| Share Dealing Platform | Share Dealing Fee | Account Fee | Min Deposit | GMG Rating | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | £5.95 | Shares: £0 Funds: 0.45% | £1 | Visit Platform Capital at risk |
|
 | £3-£8 | £24 per quarter | £250 | Visit Platform Capital at risk |
|
 | 0.10% (min. GBP 8) | €10 per month or 0.12% | £1 | Visit Platform Capital at risk |
|
 | £1 (or 0.05%) | £0 | £1 | Visit Platform Capital at risk |
|
 | £3.99 – £5.99 | From £4.99 a month | £1 | Visit Platform Capital at risk |
|
 | £4.95 – £9.95 | 0.25% (capped at £3.50 pm) | £500 | Visit Platform Capital at risk |
|
 | £4.95 | 0.2% to 0.4% | £1 | Visit Platform Capital at risk |
|
 | £0 | 0.15% | £1 | Visit Platform Capital at risk |
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.
Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.
Richard’s contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.
Under Richard’s leadership, the Good Money Guide has evolved into a valuable destination for comprehensive information and expert guidance, specialising in trading, investment, and currency exchange. His commitment to delivering high-quality insights has solidified the Good Money Guide’s standing as a well-respected resource for both customers and industry colleagues.
