FP Markets vs Interactive Brokers (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared
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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan
FP Markets is a well-regarded forex broker providing access to currencies and CFDs on popular platforms, supported by research tools and education. It offers broad market coverage, platform choice, and multilingual customer…
Interactive Brokers is a well-regarded forex broker providing broad access to currency pairs, advanced trading platforms, and research and risk management tools. It supports multi-asset trading and a wide range of order…
FP Markets (Australia, founded 2005) holds 4 regulatory licences (ASIC, CMA, CySEC, FSCA), 1 of them tier-1, offers cTrader, MT4, MT5 and sits in our low-fee bracket. Interactive Brokers (United States, founded 1977) holds 15 regulatory licences (ASIC, CBI, CFTC, CIRO, CSSF…), 10 of them tier-1, offers Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 216 countries; FP Markets is available in 9 countries where Interactive Brokers is not, and Interactive Brokers in 2 where FP Markets is not.
Verdict at a glance
FP Markets leads on platform choice and country coverage.
Interactive Brokers leads on editorial rating, trust rank, track record, regulatory coverage and tier-1 licences.
Level on instrument range and fee level.
Scored on 9 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.
FP Markets vs Interactive Brokers: side-by-side data
Copy Trading, Professional Trading, Retail Trading
Professional Trading, Retail Trading
Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.
Pros
FP Markets
ASIC & CySEC regulated
Raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips
Fast execution and deep liquidity
MT4/MT5 platforms with EAs, hedging & scalping
Low commissions on RAW account
Interactive Brokers
Transparent commission-based FX pricing with tight spreads
Aggregated multi-bank liquidity (IDEALPRO)
Professional platforms (TWS) and institutional APIs (FIX/REST)
Advanced risk management with real-time margin analytics
Universal multi-asset account for FX hedging and settlement
Cons
FP Markets
No negative balance protection across all entities
No investor compensation scheme (ASIC clients)
IRESS platform and market data fees
Withdrawal fees on international bank wires/selected methods
Not available to US residents
Interactive Brokers
No MT4/MT5 support
Steep learning curve
Commission-based FX pricing
25k IDEALPRO minimum order size
Limited funding methods
Key features
FP Markets
Multi asset Forex and CFD trading on MT4 MT5 cTrader and Iress
ECN raw spreads deep liquidity and low latency execution
ASIC and CySEC regulated with segregated client funds
Advanced trading tools Autochartist VPS and copy trading
MAM PAMM accounts for portfolio management
Direct market access share CFDs via Iress
Interactive Brokers
Agency model with direct market access to multiple liquidity providers
Spot forex and forex CFDs across major and minor pairs
Trader Workstation FXTrader with advanced order types and depth of market
Smart order routing and transparent interbank pricing with commissions
FIX and REST API support for algorithmic forex trading
Two factor authentication IB Key and top tier global regulation
Country availability: FP Markets vs Interactive Brokers
Available at both (216): Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and 176 more.
Only FP Markets (9): Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Nauru, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.
Only Interactive Brokers (2): Liberia, United States of America.
Which has lower fees, FP Markets or Interactive Brokers?
Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.
Which is older, FP Markets or Interactive Brokers?
Interactive Brokers is the older of the two, founded in 1977; FP Markets was founded in 2005.
Are FP Markets and Interactive Brokers available in the same countries?
They overlap in 216 countries. FP Markets is additionally available in 9 countries (Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Nauru, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and 3 more) and Interactive Brokers in 2 countries (Liberia, United States of America).
Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.