Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Scottrade VS Interactive Brokers

Compare Scottrade VS Interactive Brokers and see what are their differences

Scottrade logo Scottrade

Scottrade clients have moved to TD Ameritrade. Use your existing Scottrade account number and password to login for the first time.

Interactive Brokers logo Interactive Brokers

Deep discount electronic access broker offering online trading of Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex.
  • Scottrade Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-10
  • Interactive Brokers Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-30

Scottrade features and specs

  • User-Friendly Platform
    Scottrade offers a platform that is intuitive and easy for new investors to navigate, making it an appealing choice for beginners.
  • Comprehensive Educational Resources
    The platform provides a wealth of educational materials, tools, and resources to help users improve their trading skills and understanding of the market.
  • Excellent Customer Service
    Known for its reliable customer service, Scottrade users can access support through phone or in person at branch locations, offering personalized assistance.
  • No Account Maintenance Fees
    Scottrade does not charge any monthly or annual account maintenance fees, making it cost-effective for long-term investments.

Possible disadvantages of Scottrade

  • Higher Fees
    Compared to some discount brokers, Scottrade has relatively higher trading fees, which can be a disadvantage for active traders looking for low-cost options.
  • Limited Advanced Trading Features
    While suitable for beginners, Scottrade's platform may lack some advanced trading features that more experienced traders might seek.
  • Fewer Loan Products
    Scottrade offers a limited range of lending products, which might not meet the needs of users looking for integrated financial services.
  • No International Trading
    Scottrade lacks options for international trading, potentially deterring users who are interested in global market opportunities.

Interactive Brokers features and specs

  • Low Trading Costs
    Interactive Brokers offers some of the lowest trading fees in the industry, with competitive commission structures that can benefit frequent traders.
  • Wide Range of Tradable Securities
    The platform provides access to a diversified array of financial instruments, including stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, and mutual funds, across more than 135 markets worldwide.
  • Advanced Trading Tools
    Interactive Brokers offers sophisticated trading platforms such as Trader Workstation (TWS) that come equipped with advanced trading tools, research, and analytics.
  • Margin Rates
    The broker offers competitive margin rates that are often lower than those of many competitors, which is beneficial for traders using leverage.
  • Strong Regulatory Framework
    Interactive Brokers operates under strict regulatory oversight from top global regulatory bodies, ensuring a secure trading environment.

Possible disadvantages of Interactive Brokers

  • Complex Platform
    The advanced features and tools can make the platform seem overwhelming for beginners, requiring a steep learning curve to fully utilize the service.
  • Inactivity Fees
    Inactive accounts are subject to monthly inactivity fees, which can be a drawback for traders who do not trade frequently.
  • Customer Service
    There have been reports of subpar customer service, including long wait times and varied quality of support experiences.
  • Minimum Deposit Requirement
    There is a $10,000 minimum deposit requirement for new accounts, which can be prohibitive for small investors.
  • Limited Banking Services
    Unlike some other brokers, Interactive Brokers does not offer extensive banking services like checking or savings accounts, which may limit its use for comprehensive financial management.

Scottrade videos

Scottrade Review, Tour, and Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - Scottrade Review: Online Discount Stock Broker
  • Review - Scottrade Review: Why I Trade With Scottrade

Interactive Brokers videos

Interactive brokers review 2020 - Reviews and ratings Pros & Cons

More videos:

  • Review - The REAL reason I’ll NEVER use Interactive Brokers again!! 😡
  • Review - Interactive Brokers Canada PROS & CONS Review - 2020

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Scottrade and Interactive Brokers)
Finance
37 37%
63% 63
Investing
36 36%
64% 64
News
58 58%
42% 42
Trading
23 23%
77% 77

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Scottrade and Interactive Brokers

Scottrade Reviews

We have no reviews of Scottrade yet.
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Interactive Brokers Reviews

Where is Revolut Available? International Alternatives for 2022
It is an excellent option if you are looking for a more professional platform. Interactive Brokers has recently reduced its fees massively to remain competitive with all the new competition price-wise. Interactive Brokers review is available here. 💡 Interactive Brokers also launched IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks and ETFs, ideal for novice...
8 Best Business Brokerage Accounts – Corporate Trading and Investing
Interactive Brokers’ fee structure is also quite complex, the registration process is lengthy but fully online, and the broker doesn’t offer commission-free trading outside the US. However, when considering FX fees, narrower spreads, and the stock loan program, Interactive Brokers’ clients still get significant savings compared to most brokers.
Does M1 Finance work internationally? Worldwide Alternatives for 2022
Founded in 1978, IBKR is one of the world’s most trustworthy brokers. It offers an enormous range of financial products (stocks, ETFs, Options,…), and low currency conversion fees (FX fees). Check our Interactive Brokers review. 💡 Interactive Brokers also launched IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks and ETFs, ideal for novice investors.
Does Cash App Work Internationally? Worldwide Alternatives for 2022
Founded in 1978, IBKR is one of the world’s most trustworthy brokers. It offers an enormous range of financial products (stocks, ETFs, Options, Cryptos,…), and low currency conversion fees (FX fees). Interactive Brokers review available here. 💡 Interactive Brokers also launched IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks and ETFs, ideal for novice investors.
When is Robinhood Coming to Australia? Alternatives for 2022
On the downside, Interactive Brokers’ fee structure is quite complex, the registration process is lengthy but fully online, and the broker doesn’t offer commission-free trading. However, when considering FX fees, narrower spreads, and the stock loan program, Interactive Brokers’ clients still get significant savings compared to most brokers.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Scottrade and Interactive Brokers, you can also consider the following products

TradeStation - Whether you trade stocks, ETFs, options or futures, TradeStation’s award-winning tools and...

OptionsHouse - OptionsHouse is an online stock trading platform with an easy-to-use interface.

MetaTrader5 - World-leading multi-asset platform that allows trading Forex, Stocks, Futures and CFDs.

Questrade - Questrade IQ Mobile is everything you need to trade stocks - right in the palm of your hand.

MotifInvesting - MotifInvesting is a three in one platform –broker, portfolio manager, and idea generator tool- providing services to its investors and users.

Merrill Edge - Merrill Edge is a brokerage platform that helps in investing, provides advisory consultations, and other services.