Interactive Brokers

Three weeks into my online application…

Three weeks into my online application for a very simple structure, it has been so ridiculously convoluted and inefficient that we are still no further on. Now the system isn't saving the newly requested information. I've called the helpdesk 3 times, and now I've been told to email. I don't think I've heard a good word about their sign-up process. Maybe investing more in their tech would be a good start. An option to go back would help, along with an option to enter the form at the point that they need more information instead of having to go back through from the beginning, again and again.

Linking of two account takes 9 days!!!

Linking of two account together so you can transfer shares,money just use one original sign on name and passwords takes 9 kalender days to process !!! Are they still living in the age of the Flinstones?

The interface is complete without…

The interface is complete without feeling bloated..the transactions are quick. I feel secure.

Poor excuse for ‘Service"

Getting to talk to an agent has always been difficult. Now it’s horrible. So many hoops to jump through. No direct access. Too much automation. I’m going to close account because I’m not able to complete a withdrawal to bank account, I am paniced.

sam purvisUnited Kingdom · 1 review · Experienced 2026-06-22 · Posted 2026-06-24

Website is complete garbage

Website is complete garbage, logs me out every 5 mins and wont let me open multiple tabs without logging one out. App is terrible and doesn't work half of the time as an authenticator. Commission is ridiculous and you cant do short trades on stocks without a margin account.

Franziska Self FiskenAustria · 22 reviews · Experienced 2026-06-16 · Posted 2026-06-23

I have an issue with doing a photo id…

I have an issue with doing a photo id on my mobile after a factory reset on my android mobile. Asking me to do a photo ID check but saying I needed to remove my spectacles, but then I could not see the instructions to move my face closer or further away.

LeonardSlovakia · 2 reviews · Experienced 2026-06-21 · Posted 2026-06-21

I decided to try Interactive Brokers…

I decided to try Interactive Brokers after hearing so many recommendations from experienced investors. The signup process was one of the worst, most frustrating onboarding experiences I've ever had. In about 90 minutes I encountered: • A maintenance window with no information or ETA. The only reason I discovered it was because I'm a software engineer who is used to checking status pages when something isn't working. Most users would have no idea what was happening. • Misleading logout errors instead of maintenance messages. • Inconsistent .ie and .co.uk signup flows. • Compliance questions asking for details most people simply don't know. • Security questions that feel like they're from 2005. • "Invalid MiFIR ID" errors without any explanation of what a MiFIR ID even is. • Session expiration after spending significant time filling out forms. • Marketing emails encouraging me to "start my application" while I was actively trying to complete it and being repeatedly blocked by errors. I don't mind maintenance. I don't mind compliance requirements. What I do mind is wasting my time because the system fails to communicate clearly. IBKR may be a great broker, but based on the onboarding experience alone, it feels like the software was designed by compliance teams with absolutely zero input from a product team. 1/5 stars. Will update this review if the actual post-signup experience turns out to be significantly better than the onboarding process.

Below average.

Below average. I live in Asia, want to invest directly in the US. Tried to open an account. Difficult. Their website is a maze / labyrinth of different options, there's no Contact Us option until you're a customer; no email option; no chat-bot. Finally I competed it all, now funding the account. Bloody hell, they're in the 20th century! No debit card possibility! I need to transfer by wire!!! (That's a morning's work!) Or Wise (That's another customer service horror story!) A simple card transfer - instant, easy, and not allowed! Awful experience.

Ron McIntyreCanada · 1 review · Experienced 2026-06-19 · Posted 2026-06-19

This is absolute garbage

This is absolute garbage, i have an account cant access it, no customer support, severely daunting to navigate their site and I would advise to stay away from this site like the plague.

contact with support service

Do not trust this company

I have invested into a fund which was using the IBKR platform for trading . Not only does the company have the worst customer service on record but they created a dispute 6 months ago which still hasnt been resolved just so they can take advantage of using these funds for their own purpose. I would run a mile from this company and use an alternative .

Impossible to get a hold of a rep.:(

Getting in touch w/a rep is very difficult. Enough said.

Not Suitable for Intraday Trading or Small Caps

I've traded with Interactive Brokers for 8 years, and if you're an active intraday trader, especially in small-cap stocks, then this broker can be extremely frustrating and costly. The biggest issue is their constant trading restrictions, stock blocks, and price caps that seem to appear at the worst possible moments. When a stock is moving fast and opportunity is highest, IBKR may suddenly prevent you from buying, reject orders, or impose restrictions that make no sense from a trader's perspective. What's even worse is that these restrictions don't just prevent profits, they trap you extremely often in losing positions. I've experienced many situations where I wanted to sell a bad position and take a loss, or execute my trading plan, only to find that IBKR would not allow the order to go through due to internal restrictions. By the time the restrictions were lifted, a manageable loss had turned into a massive one. For small-cap momentum traders, speed and execution are everything. Unfortunately, IBKR's risk controls often seem designed for long-term investors rather than active traders. A broker should help you manage risk, not remove your ability to make trading decisions when markets are moving quickly. Their policies may protect the firm, but they can severely hurt traders who depend on fast execution and flexibility. There is nothing more frustrating than watching a trade unfold exactly as expected while your broker prevents participation or does not let you manage risk. If you trade large-cap stocks, invest long-term, or rarely trade volatile names, Interactive Brokers may be fine. However, if you are an intraday trader focusing on low-float stocks, momentum plays, or small caps, understand that you may face sudden restrictions, rejected orders, and buying limitations precisely when you need access most. I cannot recommend Interactive Brokers for intraday small-cap trading. The risk of being blocked from executing your strategy is simply too high. This broker is not for anything besides long term investments, be warned.

I've been using it because I thought I…

I've been using it because I thought I could trust it since it's a major company, but there are quite a lot of bugs within the customer portal, making it unstable. That worries me quite a bit. Also, even after writing an email to customer support and opening a ticket, responses come two days later or more. Recently, it feels extremely slow. I didn't feel it was that slow one or two years ago, but I've noticed it's become noticeably slower recently. I'm just assuming they might have reduced customer support staff and now rely heavily on AI.

Evgeniy BeloveCanada · 2 reviews · Experienced 2026-06-15 · Posted 2026-06-16

NEVER USE INTERACTIVE BROKERS

NEVER USE INTERACTIVE BROKERS — THEIR TIME IS UP I wanted to deposit money to buy SpaceX on July 13th at $169–170 — that was the actual price on the morning of the 15th. By end of day — money still not in my account, shares already at $200. Result: minus 20% of my deposit in a single day — not because of the market, but because of their delays. They will let you down at the peak. You'll either lose money or miss out — just like I did. Stay away.

Ok, DO NOT OPEN AN ACCOUNT THERE!!!!

Ok, i had to wait a couple of days to calm down before i tell you my experience with this company, Interactive brokers...Please, DO NOT OPEN AN ACCOUNT THERE....you will regret it!!!!! So, there are so many things that are wrong that I would have to write many pages....i trade already on a couple of platforms, and everything is great, so i know my way around, but with this platform you basically need a degree at MIT, just to login!!!!! I am not going to bore you with all the details, only to say that, at the end of this ordeal, they stole my money, when i asked to withdraw all the money, they took some out.....Wow, that was the cherry on top!!!! .....Just received an email because they ask me for more details, or my review will be off line!!!! Can i ask what details would you like? I can give you my trading Number: U26245012 Then you can check that i have deposited money in this account, and when i asked to withdraw, it was NOT the full amount....can you tell me why? Then, i still need to deposit more money because the money that is there is NOT enough to make any trades!!!! Good job....

very good service

I’d look elsewhere!!

I’d look elsewhere!!! For me, a platform has to have clear user expectations, easy-to-verify info, and total transparency all of which were missing here. That’s why I stick with #Echomine s#. Trust over trends. Their transactions are seamless, payments are efficient, and the dependability is unmatched.

impossible to login into IBKR account

impossible to login into my account. They made it so unclear, so complex and with bad explanation, that I cannot get into my account. Both on the webversion and on the app, it shows different challenge codes, when I fill this in vice versa, on the app or the webversion, I don't get access. Doesn't make any sense. Webversion shows a QR-code, but in the read-only version on the app, there is no option to read, so this way of loging in doesn't work either. Challenges codes doesn't work. QR-code doesn't work. The help on the website does not reflect how the app login page looks like. Not possible to chat with them. Not possible to call, only during weekly hours. Then I'm on my job. DO NOT REGISTER, YOU CANNOT ACCESS YOUR ACCOUNT ANY MORE

DANY GILBERTCanada · 1 review · Verified · Experienced 2026-06-11 · Posted 2026-06-12

Excellent mobile phone app

Excellent mobile phone app! Excellent customer service when I called also..But the interaction with their websites is less obvious..I even have a problem of login..But the app is excellent..Très bon service!