Interactive Brokers vs. Trade Ideas – A Detailed Comparison
Discover our detailed comparison of Interactive Brokers and Trade Ideas to help determine which is best for you. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or just starting out, choosing the right platform can significantly impact your trading experience.
To make your research easier, we manually found key data for Interactive Brokers and Trade Ideas across the internet and compiled it all in this article.
- Advanced order types
- Best for automated trading
- Low options commissions
Overview of Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a well-established brokerage firm founded in 1978, known for providing advanced trading and investing services to a diverse clientele, including individual investors, institutions, and professional traders. IBKR offers competitive pricing for options and futures, but lacks when it comes to charting and ease of use.
✓ Advanced order types
✓ Best for automated trading
✓ Low options commissions
Interactive Brokers is Best For
Interactive Brokers is best for advanced traders who prefer to automate their trading strategies. IBKR is far from beginner-friendly, as the platforms are advanced and require some technical knowledge to utilize effectively. If you are looking for a modern, easy-to-use investing platform, IBKR is not your best option.
Overview of Trade Ideas
Trade Ideas is an advanced charting platform and stock screening software that provides real-time quotes, indicators, and heat maps. The dashboard seems overwhelming at first, but you can easily customize it to see only what you want, such as charting, screeners, or heatmaps. The platform is constantly scanning the stock market, and showing you which stocks are trending up, which is great for day traders.
✓ Pricing: $89-$179/month
✓ AI stock scanning
✓ Best for day traders
Trade Ideas is Best For
Trade Ideas is best for day traders and swing traders who need a premium platform to help them track which stocks are making the biggest moves of the day. You can easily filter stocks by various metrics like daily volume %, gap %, change % from open, and many more.
Key Characteristics of Interactive Brokers and Trade Ideas
| Platform | Platform Type | Tradeable Assets | Charting Features | Data | Premium Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | Brokerage Platform | Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Options, Futures, Futures Options, Crypto, Bonds | Downloadable desktop platforms, web platform, mobile app | Must buy real-time data | No premium features |
| Trade Ideas | Charting & AI Stock Scanner | Not a broker, but you can chart stocks, ETFs, futures, crypto, and forex | Advanced web-based charting platform + downloaded desktop version | Real-time data included with paid subscription plans | $89-$179 per month, get 15% off using my affiliate link |
Trading Features and Tools
| Platform | DRIP | Margin Trading | Insurance | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | Yes, but with fees | Yes | SIPC Insured | Yes |
| Trade Ideas | Not a broker | Not a broker | Not a broker | No |
Trading Costs and Commissions Compared
| Fee Type | Interactive Brokers | Trade Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Commission | Free | Not a broker |
| Option Commission | $0.65 per contract | Not a broker |
| Futures Commission | $0.85 per contract, $0.25 micro | Not a broker |
| Futures Options Commission | $0.85 per contract, $0.25 micro | Not a broker |
| Option Exercise Fee | None | Not a broker |
Interactive Brokers vs Trade Ideas – Bottom Line
Choosing between Interactive Brokers and Trade Ideas depends on your specific trading needs, preferred trading tools, and the type of assets you’re interested in.
Both platforms offer distinct advantages, but by considering the detailed comparison above, you can select the one that aligns best with your trading strategy and goals.
For more detailed reviews and comparisons, continue exploring our other articles on brokerage platform comparisons.
What is the Overall Best Charting Software?
I have reviewed and used nearly every trading platform available, and I believe that TradingView is the best overall charting software available. Here are some reasons why:
- All of TradingView’s key features are free to use
- TradingView provides real-time data for free whenever possible
- You are not tied to a single broker and can use whichever you want while charting on TradingView
- You can track all markets on a single platform, including stocks, ETFs, crypto, forex, and futures.
- TradingView has an excellent economic calendar and various screeners
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- Advanced Charts
- Real-Time Data
- Track all Markets
If you sign up for a TradingView account using my affiliate link, you can get a 30-day free trial of its premium features plus a $15 credit toward your subscription. However, signing up for a free trial is not required, and you can use nearly all of its features with a basic free account. You can read my full review of TradingView to learn more.
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