Interactive Brokers: The Complete Guide to Investing

In this article, we'll examine the services of Interactive Brokers, also known as IB, and I'll also give my opinion. Here's Interactive Brokers: The Complete Guide to Investing.

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⚠️ The information in this article is based on Interactive Brokers' published rates as of August 2026. Commissions and fees may vary depending on account type, currency, or exchange. This is not financial advice. Always check the latest information on the official Interactive Brokers website or consult a financial advisor before investing.
Investing involves risk of losing money.

IB in brief

Interactive Brokers, also known as IB*, is a American online broker founded in 1978. It is a stock market account known for its stability, its transparency and its global access to the financial markets. It is:

Easily available Open an account from home, 100% online.
Ideal for passive investors Perfect if you're betting on Long-term ETF

Investment opportunities with IB

With IB you have access to:

Actions (Switzerland, USA, Europe, Asia…)
AND F (including the US ETFs with low TER, (A must for frugal investors!)
Obligations
Other stock market options

In truth, IB offers a very wide range of choices.

Readers of this site invest mainly in ETFs, and IB is a very good option for that.

Note that this is one of the few brokerage accounts that allows you to invest in an American ETF from Switzerland.

Registration: Fast, secure and 100% digital

The estimated time to register online is only 15 minutes (if you have your documents ready). Identity verification then takes a few days.

It's simple and 100% digital.

Which account should I choose on IB?

Interactive Brokers (IB) offers a wide range of account types. And, let's face it, that can seem a bit complex for a passive investor like you or me.

To make matters even more complicated, there are also several ways to hold your securities.

If you are a passive investor looking for a simple and secure platform to hold your assets, here's what I recommend:

Account type: Global Trader (the simplest solution proposed by IB).
Method of detention: Cash account (This allows you to keep your ETFs safe and prevent your securities from being lent to third parties).

IB fees: The detail that changes everything

Now we enter an important stage: the fees!

IB is undoubtedly one of the cheapest brokerage accounts on the market. For example:

Inactivity and custody fees: CHF 0

No charge if your account is inactive.
No account maintenance fees.

Bank transactions: Free (with a limit)

Kind	Costs	Details
Deposit (transfer to IB)	0 CHF	Unlimited
Withdrawal (transfer to your bank)	0 CHF	1 free withdrawal/month (beyond that: ~10 CHF)

We note that depositing and withdrawing are free. However, it is only possible to withdraw your money for free once a month.

Exchange rate: 2 USD per conversion

Automatic conversion between currencies (USD, EUR, CHF, GBP…).
Costs : 2 USD per transaction (regardless of the amount).

For example: If you buy a USD ETF with CHF, IB converts your francs to USD for a fee of 2 USD. It's very cheap for large transactions.

Stock and ETF pricing: Tiered or fixed?

IB propose 2 pricing methods for buying/selling:

By level (Tiered): Cheaper for small amounts (< 10,000 USD).
Fixed (Fixed): Flat rate, but often more expensive.

I suggest you‘'activate the "step-by-step" mode'“ in the settings. This is very often the most economical option.

What are the fees for stocks and ETFs at IB?

Let's take a concrete example: for a purchase of a US ETF at USD 1,000, here's what you'll pay with tiered pricing:

~0.35 USD (minimum) for the transaction
~2 USD (minimum) for currency exchange (CHF → USD)

However, for ETFs domiciled in Ireland or Switzerland, IB applies a minimum commission. Currently:

Minimum 1.50 CHF for a Swiss ETF
Minimum 1.25 EUR (~1.20 CHF) for an Irish ETF

To give a few examples, here are the approximate commissions for an investment of 500 CHF:

ETF Type	Amount	Commission IB	Scholarship fees	Exchange fees	Estimated total
Swiss ETF (CHF)	500 CHF	1.50 CHF (minimum)	Included	–	1.50 CHF
Irish ETF (EUR)	500 CHF	1.25 EUR (~1.20 CHF)	0.75 EUR (~0.70 CHF)	~1.80 CHF	~3.70 CHF
US ETF (USD)	~1,000 USD	0.35 USD (~0.30 CHF)	Included	~1.80 CHF	~2.10 CHF

In summary, here are the approximate costs for a monthly investment of less than CHF 1,500:

US ETF = approximately 2.10 CHF (including currency exchange fees)
Irish ETF = approximately 3.70 CHF (including currency exchange fees)
Swiss ETF = approximately 1.50 CHF

Bankruptcy guarantee: Up to USD 500,000

It's important to know about IB's bankruptcy protection. Note that IB separates client assets from those of the broker (asset segregation).

In practical terms, your assets are protected up to:

Securities (stocks/ETFs) : 500,000 USD (~415,000 CHF) protected.
Cash : 250,000 USD (~207,000 CHF) protected.

These limits are high. However, they must not be exceeded.

Available stock exchanges: The world at your fingertips

Access to over 150 markets (USA, Europe, Asia, Latin America…).

The number of ETFs, stocks, and shares available with IB is simply incredible. You have a very high chance of finding the ETF or stock you want.

US ETFs : Yes ✅

Having the option to invest in US ETFs is a huge advantage. Why? US ETFs (like VOO or QQQ for example) have ultra-low TERs (management fees) (0.05% to 0.20%).

In general, European or Swiss ETFs have higher fees than US ETFs for the same strategy. This is why choosing a US ETF is often more economical.

Trading tools: Useful or superfluous?

IB offers advanced tools :

Real-time alerts
Technical charts (for active traders)
Detailed financial data

But in my opinion, it's not important.

As a passive investor, I do not use that approximately 5% of the stock market tools offered by IB.

In reality, once your strategy is defined via ETFs, stock market charts are of little importance.

Summary of Interactive Brokers

Full summary: Interactive Brokers (IB) at a glance.

Category	Details
🏦 Broker type	American online broker (founded in 1978), regulated (SEC).
🌍 Availability	Accessible from Switzerland, Europe and more than 150 countries.
📈 Products available	Stocks, ETFs, bonds, currencies, options, crypto (depending on country).
💳 Account Types	IBKR Lite, IBKR Pro, IBKR Global Trader (recommended for beginners).
⏳ Registration	100% online, 15-20 min, Required documents (ID + proof of address).
💰 Inactivity Fee	0 CHF
💸 Childcare fees	0 CH.
🔄 Bank transactions	Deposits : Free (unlimited). Withdrawals : Free (1x/month), ~10 CHF thereafter.
🛡️ Bankruptcy Guarantee	Securities : 500,000 USD (~415,000 CHF). Species : 250,000 USD (~207,000 CHF).
🌐 Exchange rate	2 USD / transaction.
📊 ETF/Stock Pricing	Step mode (recommended): ~0.40 USD (ETF US), ~3 CHF (ETF CH)
📍 Stock exchanges	150+ markets (USA, Switzerland, Europe, Asia…).
🛠️ Simplicity of trading	Quite complex
💡 My personal opinion	Best broker for US ETFs (low fees + solid guarantee).

Conclusion: Is IB right for you?

✅ Key features

Ultra-low fees for American ETFs (ideal for major investors).
Global access Invest in Switzerland, the USA, and Europe.
Security High money-back guarantee + strict regulation.
Flexibility Multi-currency account, free withdrawals (1x/month).

⚠️ Points to consider

Exchange fee (2 USD) Not very profitable for the small amounts (< 1,000 CHF).
Alternative : To use Neon Invest Or Yuh for small purchases in CHF.
complex interface IBKR Pro can impress beginners. But there's the version Global Trader which is simpler (and sufficient in my opinion).

In my opinion, IB is an excellent option for those who invest more than 500 CHF per month in an ETF.

FAQ: Interactive Brokers: The Complete Guide to Investing

What are Interactive Brokers' fees for ETFs?

Interactive Brokers applies variable commissions depending on the exchange and the type of ETF. For example, for a Swiss ETF, expect a minimum of 1.50 CHF in order. For an Irish ETF, the minimum is 1.25 EUR + stock exchange fees (0.75 EUR on Euronext).

What is the difference between the IB commission and scholarship fees?

There IB commission is the broker's compensation for executing your order, while the scholarship fees are collected by the stock exchange platform (e.g., Euronext, SIX) and passed on by IB. For Swiss ETFs, stock exchange fees are often included in the IB commission.

How much does it cost to buy a US ETF with IB?

For a US ETF (e.g., SPY, VOO), with tiered pricing, the IB commission is approximately 0.35 USD minimum + ~2 USD currency exchange fee (minimum) if you convert CHF to USD. Total: ~2.35 USD for every 1000 USD spent.

Which pricing structure should I choose at IB: fixed or decreasing?

There tiered pricing Fixed pricing is generally more advantageous for passive investors or those who trade large volumes. While it can be simpler, it is often more expensive for small orders.

Are there any currency exchange fees at Interactive Brokers?

Yes, IB applies a currency exchange fee of ~0,002 % on the converted value, with a minimum of ~2 USD. To avoid these fees, deposit your ETF's currency directly (e.g., EUR for an Irish ETF).

Is it possible to avoid minimum fees at IB?

No, minimum fees (e.g., CHF 1.50 for a Swiss ETF) always apply, even for small amounts. To reduce them, combine your purchases into a single order.

Is Interactive Brokers suitable for small investors?

IB is very economical for investors who place amounts orders exceeding 500 CHF/USD/EUR. However, IB remains competitive with the majority of brokers, even with amounts below 500 CHF/USD/EUR.

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