Moomoo vs Interactive Brokers (IBKR): 2026 Comparison

Are you trying to decide between Moomoo and Interactive Brokers (IBKR) for your investing needs?

In this side-by-side comparison, we look at how the two brokers stack up on availability, products, fees, interest on cash, account types and regulation, so you can make a better-informed decision.

Below, you’ll find a comparison table with the fees charged, the instruments supported and the regulation of each broker, plus the pros and cons of both. Keep reading!

Moomoo vs Interactive Brokers: quick take

1. Moomoo is best for cost-conscious US investors who trade US stocks and options.
2. Interactive Brokers is best for investors overall, and the only one of the two available in Europe and most of the world.

Moomoo vs Interactive Brokers in a nutshell

1. Overview

Moomoo

Moomoo is the international brand of Futu Holdings, a technology-driven broker listed on NASDAQ (FUTU). Futu had 31.3 million users and 3.8 million funded accounts at the end of June 2026. Moomoo operates in the US (Moomoo Financial Inc., regulated by the SEC and a FINRA member), Singapore, Australia, Canada, Malaysia and Japan. It has no entity for UK or EU residents.

The platform is known for its powerful charts and research tools, its commission-free US trading and its social community, where users share ideas and strategies.

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers is a global online broker founded in 1978, listed on NASDAQ (IBKR) and part of the S&P 500 since August 2025. It has weathered major financial crises, showing resilience and a rigorous risk-management process, and had about 5.6 million client accounts at the end of September 2026.

It offers an advanced platform with a wide range of products (stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs, futures, bonds and currencies) across more than 175 markets in 40 countries and territories, and accepts clients from more than 200 countries and territories.

2. Products

3. Trading platforms

Moomoo: offers a mobile app and a desktop platform with advanced charting, screeners and a social community feed. Its free paper trading account starts with $1 million in virtual money, covering stocks, options and futures.

Interactive Brokers: offers Trader Workstation (TWS) for desktop, the web-based Client Portal and the IBKR Mobile app. Beginners and intermediate investors have plenty of educational material, though the learning curve can be steep. For a simpler experience, IBKR also offers IBKR GlobalTrader, a mobile app for stocks, options and ETFs with fractional shares from $1.

4. Interest on cash

Moomoo: US clients can sweep uninvested cash into program banks through Moomoo Cash Sweep, with FDIC eligibility of up to $2 million. The rate was 3.6% APY for qualified users in September 2026, and new customers can get 8.1% APY for 60 days with a booster coupon. Keep in mind that, after the booster, the 3.6% rate requires a paid “moomoo engine membership”, otherwise the standard rate is only 0.03% APY.

Interactive Brokers: pays interest directly on cash in your account. In October 2026, IBKR Pro paid 3.380% on USD, 1.982% on EUR and 3.221% on GBP, with no interest on the first 10,000 (8,000 for GBP). Only accounts with a net asset value of $100,000 or more get the full rate, and smaller accounts receive a proportional rate. Both rates are variable.

5. Account types

Moomoo: Moomoo Financial Inc. offers only individual cash and margin accounts. It does not offer individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or joint accounts. Accounts below $2,000 can only trade with cash.

Interactive Brokers: offers individual, joint, retirement (IRA in the US), trust, business and advisor accounts, among others.

6. Account opening

Moomoo: you can apply online in minutes, but Moomoo says new US accounts usually take one to three business days to review. There is no minimum deposit. Moomoo charges $100 to transfer your account out to another broker (ACATS).

Interactive Brokers: the online application is longer, because IBKR asks about your experience and finances to decide which products you can trade, but it is fully online and there is no minimum deposit.

7. Pricing

Trading fees

Non-trading fees

For a US investor buying US stocks and ETFs, both brokers can be commission-free: Moomoo by default and Interactive Brokers through IBKR Lite. The difference shows in options, where Moomoo charges no contract fee on equity options, and in market range, where Interactive Brokers is far broader.

8. Security

Moomoo: US accounts are held by Moomoo Financial Inc., a FINRA member regulated by the SEC and a member of SIPC, which protects securities up to $500,000, including $250,000 for cash.

Interactive Brokers: US clients of Interactive Brokers LLC have the same SIPC cover, plus excess insurance from Lloyd’s of London. EU clients are served by Interactive Brokers Ireland and covered by the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme (90% of losses up to €20,000). IBKR is also a listed company that publishes audited accounts.

Neither scheme protects you against market losses, only against the failure of the institution.

9. Pros and cons

The pros and cons below reflect our own assessment of each broker. Investing involves risk, and the value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest.

Moomoo pros and cons

Interactive Brokers pros and cons

Moomoo vs Interactive Brokers: our verdict

Choosing between these two online brokers isn’t always an obvious decision. If you live in the US and mainly trade US stocks and options, Moomoo’s zero-commission pricing and research tools are hard to beat. If you live outside its markets, want European stocks, bonds or retirement accounts, or prefer a broker that covers almost every market in one account, Interactive Brokers is the stronger choice.

Ultimately, the best online broker for you will depend on your profile, personal preferences and objectives. To learn more about our recommended choice, read our full Interactive Brokers review.