Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Earn, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Interactive Brokers, founded in 1977, holds the top spot in terms of trustworthiness with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, indicating it is highly trusted. This online broker is publicly traded, enhancing transparency for its clientele. Although not a bank, Interactive Brokers boasts an array of licenses, with 9 Tier-1 highly trusted licenses and 2 Tier-2 trusted licenses, which contribute to its solid reputation in the financial sector.
Founded in 1994, Earn is an online broker that operates with significantly fewer regulatory credentials, holding a single Tier-1 license. It has a Trust Score of 71, categorizing it as an average-risk broker according to ForexBrokers.com. Unlike Interactive Brokers, Earn is not listed on a stock exchange, which may be a consideration for some investors associated with transparency and accountability concerns. Both Interactive Brokers and Earn are not banks, focusing solely on brokerage services.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 1994 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Interactive Brokers stands out in the world of online brokerage with its competitive forex trading fees and commission structure. Despite not publicly sharing average forex spreads, their effective all-in spread on popular pairs like the EUR/USD was recorded at 0.59 pips in Q3 2024. The broker adopts a commission-based model, starting at 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) of the U.S. dollar trade value per side, translating to a minimum of $2 per order. This can fall to 0.08 basis points for very active traders. For trades below 100,000 units of currency, the minimum charge makes smaller transactions proportionally higher in cost. Interactive Brokers earns a 5-star rating and is ranked #2 out of 63 brokers for its commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
Earn, another player on the forex trading stage, offers less transparent average spread data, making a straightforward comparison more challenging. However, it holds a decent position with favorable pricing for its clients, earning a slightly lower rating of 4 stars. Despite lacking detailed spread information, Earn is considered a solid choice for cost-conscious traders. According to ForexBrokers.com, Earn is ranked #45 for commissions and fees among 63 brokers.
Both brokers cater to different trading styles and needs, with Interactive Brokers excelling in cost efficiency for high-volume traders through a sophisticated commission model. At the same time, Earn offers competitive but less well-documented pricing. While Interactive Brokers not only aggregates pricing from major interbank dealers but also provides potential discounts for high-volume traders, Earn keeps its cost structure relatively straightforward and provides a satisfactory service for traders who prefer simplicity over complex pricing benefits.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
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Interactive Brokers and Earn offer different investment options for those looking to trade online. Both brokers provide forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract. However, Interactive Brokers stands out by offering a much wider selection of 8,500 tradeable symbols compared to Earn's 500. For forex pairs specifically, Interactive Brokers provides access to 90 pairs, whereas Earn offers 61. A significant difference lies in exchange-traded securities; Interactive Brokers allows customers to buy stocks on U.S. and international exchanges, such as shares of Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange, while Earn does not offer this option.
In terms of cryptocurrency options, Interactive Brokers gives users the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Earn limits clients to cryptocurrency derivatives only. While Interactive Brokers does not offer copy trading, this is available through Earn. These varied offerings help explain why Interactive Brokers receives a perfect 5-star rating for its range of investments, securing the number one spot among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, Earn holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 45th in the same category.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 61 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Interactive Brokers and Earn both provide tools that cater to different trading preferences. Interactive Brokers excels with its comprehensive suite of platforms, offering a proprietary desktop platform for Windows, a web-based trading platform, and a virtual demo account for those who want to practice trading risk-free. Although it doesn’t support popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 or 5, Interactive Brokers impresses with a wide range of 659 customizable watchlist columns and 85 drawing tools, making it ideal for traders who prefer detailed analyses directly within their platform.
In contrast, Earn appeals to traders looking for simplicity and variety in third-party platform support. While it does not have its own proprietary platform, Earn offers MetaTrader 4 and 5, as well as tools like ZuluTrade for social trading enthusiasts. It provides a Windows-based desktop platform, a web version, and a demo account. Despite having fewer customization options with only 15 drawing tools and 7 watchlist columns, Earn covers the basics effectively and includes copy trading, distinguishing itself as a suitable choice for those seeking straightforward, collaborative trading experiences. While Interactive Brokers holds a higher rating of 5 stars and ranks third in its category by ForexBrokers.com, Earn also maintains a solid reputation with 4 stars and a rank of 51 out of 63.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 35 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Interactive Brokers and Earn offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, making them convenient for traders on the go. While both platforms provide the ability to set price alerts and view stock or forex charts with trendline drawing and multiple time frames, there are noticeable differences. Interactive Brokers shines with a larger offering of technical studies, offering 97 compared to Earn's 35. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers provides seamless syncing of watchlists between its mobile and online platforms, a feature not available with Earn. However, Earn has an edge with auto-saving of chart drawings, a feature Interactive Brokers lacks.
Both apps offer real-time quotes on watchlists, enhancing decision-making speed. The standout factor is that Interactive Brokers is rated higher with a stellar five-star rating for its mobile trading app, placing it at an impressive fourth place out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Earn receives a respectable four-star rating, but ranks at 27th on the same list. These differences might help traders choose based on the specific features and rankings that align with their trading needs.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 35 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Interactive Brokers and Earn both provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from esteemed sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring users stay informed on critical market movements. However, their offerings diverge when it comes to technical and sentiment analysis tools. Interactive Brokers surpasses Earn with advanced tools from Trading Central and sentiment-based insights, which offer an in-depth view of trading trends. Additionally, Interactive Brokers includes research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading, further enhancing its comprehensive research collection. Both brokers provide an economic calendar to keep traders updated on upcoming global events, but Interactive Brokers covers more ground with specialized research tools.
In terms of ratings, Interactive Brokers earns a high 5-star rating for its research capabilities, reflecting its broad suite of tools and resources. In comparison, Earn receives a 3.5-star rating, indicating room for improvement. On ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers is ranked as the third-best broker out of 63 for research, signaling its strong standing in the market. Earn, meanwhile, is positioned at 38th, highlighting a gap in available research features and depth when compared to Interactive Brokers. For traders who prioritize extensive market research and advanced analytical tools, Interactive Brokers stands out as the more complete option.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Interactive Brokers clearly takes the lead over Earn. Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive suite of learning materials, including over 10 articles and videos focusing on forex and CFDs. Additionally, they offer monthly webinars and maintain a searchable archive of past sessions for easy reference, catering to the learning needs of their clients. Beginners will find over 10 educational videos specifically designed to introduce them to trading concepts, augmented by advanced offerings for seasoned traders. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers includes an investor dictionary with over 50 terms, making it a valuable resource for both newcomers and experienced investors. This well-rounded approach is reflected in their education rating of 5 stars, securing the 3rd spot out of 63 brokers in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, Earn falls short in providing educational support, especially for those new to trading. They do not offer the minimum educational content on forex and CFDs and lack a regular schedule of educational webinars, which hinders their ability to engage clients interactively. Moreover, Earn does not maintain a library of past webinar recordings, limiting ongoing access to learning opportunities. Their educational offerings are considered less comprehensive, with no available suite of beginner-focused videos or a substantial investor dictionary. Consequently, Earn receives a lower educational rating of 3.5 stars, ranking 62nd among 63 brokers in the education category on ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Interactive Brokers is better than Earn. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Earn finished with an overall rank of #50.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Interactive Brokers and Earn both offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives, but only Interactive Brokers provides the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency.
Interactive Brokers offers ACH, SEPA, and bank wire transfers for funding and withdrawing account funds, while Earn supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers, providing a more diverse range of options for those who prefer digital wallets or credit card deposits, but lacks the ACH and SEPA transfer options available with Interactive Brokers.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 1994 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 35 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 35 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | Earn | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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