Interactive Brokers Fees Explained: What You Really Pay (2026)
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the low-cost choice for global and multi-currency investors. Every IBKR fee in plain English: commissions, the very cheap currency conversion, custody and data, from an ex-brokerage insider.
Written by a 12-year retail-brokerage insider. · Updated 22/6/2026
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the broker serious and multi-currency investors reach for: the widest global market access and, in this group, the cheapest currency conversion by a distance. It is not, however, the simple commission-free app some people expect. European and UK investors trade on the IBKR Pro plan, which has small but real commissions. Here is what you actually pay, in plain English.
For the principles behind each cost, start with broker fees explained.
The short version
| What you pay | Interactive Brokers (IBKR Pro, EU/UK) |
|---|---|
| Trade commission | A low tiered or fixed commission per order (not commission-free) |
| Recurring investments | Free |
| Account or custody fee | €0, and no inactivity fee |
| Currency conversion (FX) | ~0.20 bps (0.002%) on manual conversion, min US$2; ~0.03% on automatic conversion |
| Deposit protection | Investor compensation up to scheme limits, varies by contracting entity |
| Regulator | IBKR’s Irish and group entities, regulated across the EU and UK |
Figures as of 2026. Commissions and FX vary by market and account, so check IBKR’s current pricing.
Commissions: the part people get wrong
The eye-catching “$0 commissions” you may have seen is IBKR Lite, which is only available in the US and Singapore. In Europe and the UK you use IBKR Pro, which charges a small commission per trade, either tiered (by volume) or fixed (a small percentage of the trade with a low minimum). It is still among the cheapest structures around, especially for larger or frequent trades, but it is not zero. If you only ever buy one ETF a month, a free savings-plan broker may cost you less; if you trade across global markets, IBKR’s pricing is hard to beat.
Free recurring investments
IBKR offers free recurring and fractional investments, so a regular buy-and-hold contribution into a fund need not attract a commission. That narrows the gap with the free-savings-plan neo-brokers for simple investors who can live with IBKR’s more advanced interface.
No custody or inactivity fee
IBKR charges no account or custody fee and no inactivity fee (the old monthly minimum was scrapped years ago). What you pay is essentially commissions plus FX, and nothing for simply holding your investments.
Currency conversion: IBKR’s standout
This is where IBKR shines, and there are two ways it can happen:
- Manual conversion (you convert the currency yourself before trading) costs about 0.20 basis points, that is 0.002% of the amount, with a minimum of around US$2 per conversion. This is the cheapest currency conversion in this set by a wide margin.
- Automatic conversion (IBKR converts for you when you buy an asset in another currency) costs about 0.03%, built into the rate, with no separate commission.
The practical tip: for larger sums, converting manually is dramatically cheaper than letting it auto-convert. Either way it is low, which is a major reason expats and multi-currency investors choose IBKR. To see why FX matters and compare brokers, read FX fees explained and use our FX fee comparison tool.
The occasional ones
- Market data: real-time data for some exchanges is a paid subscription, easy to add by accident. Free delayed data is fine for long-term investors.
- Otherwise, deposits, holding and recurring investments are generally free.
What it costs, and who it suits
For an expat or multi-currency investor, or anyone wanting global market access, IBKR is typically the lowest all-in cost, mainly thanks to that FX rate. It suits more confident or active investors: the platform and tax reporting have a learning curve, and it is overkill for a single-ETF monthly plan. Put your numbers into the fee calculator to weigh the trade-off.
How IBKR compares
Read our full Interactive Brokers review, then compare it on FX, commission and platform fees against other brokers with Brokerlens.
Last fact-checked 22 June 2026 against Interactive Brokers’ published pricing and independent broker reviews. Educational information, not personal advice. Commissions and FX vary by market and change over time, so always confirm against Interactive Brokers’ current pricing before you commit.