What you will actually be trading in at Interactive Brokers
Screenshots age faster than anything else a broker publishes, so this page ignores them and keeps four things that decide how the account feels to use: which terminals Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (Ireland, Central Bank of Ireland C423427) supports, whether a program can drive it, which orders you can place, and whether the demo you learn on runs out. It is the only page here re-read every month rather than every quarter.
Which entity this line-up belongs to
Read off the Irish domain. Order types are deliberately not listed here: IBKR publishes 67 distinct ones on top of separate algos, tools and attached orders, under the heading "over 100 Order Types, Algos and Tools" — and that abundance is itself the answer, in a way a list re-checked every month could not be. The API line is the widest of any broker in this catalogue, but note that "IBKR APIs" appears in the broker's own platform grid as though it were a terminal; it is programmatic access and is recorded as such rather than counted twice. Two simulators exist and are easy to confuse: a free trial for people who are not yet clients, and a paper trading account issued automatically to new individual clients. Neither carries a stated expiry in the entity's own pages, and the paper account does not support every order type — mutual funds, VWAP, auction, RFQ and pegged-to-market are excluded.
Which trading platforms does Interactive Brokers support?
Only its own: Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, Client Portal (web), IBKR Mobile, IBKR GlobalTrader. Everything you learn here stays here — the layout, the hotkeys and the order tickets are Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (Ireland, Central Bank of Ireland C423427)'s alone, and none of it carries over if you move brokers.
- Trader Workstation (TWS)
- IBKR Desktop
- Client Portal (web)
- IBKR Mobile
- IBKR GlobalTrader
“Trader Workstation: our flagship platform designed for active traders and investors who require power and flexibility. IBKR Desktop: our newest desktop trading platform is best suited to clients who appreciate a more streamlined interface. IBKR Mobile: trade on the go with our powerful mobile app. IBKR GlobalTrader: easily trade global stocks, options and ETFs from your iOS or Android device. Client Portal: place trades and manage your account from one, easy-to-use web platform.”
Does Interactive Brokers offer API access?
Yes — REST (Web API), WebSocket, FIX, TWS API. Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (Ireland, Central Bank of Ireland C423427) offers programmatic access, so the account can be driven by code rather than by hand.
“We offer clients a choice in their API selection. Web API: our modern REST API offers access to our largest breadth of capabilities, with WebSocket streaming for real time capabilities. FIX: IBKR's FIX connection lets institutions create trading systems to take advantage of our high-speed order routing and broad market depth. TWS API: our trading oriented API allows you to develop applications in C++, C#, Java, Python, ActiveX, RTD or DDE.”
Does Interactive Brokers have a demo account, and does it expire?
Yes, Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (Ireland, Central Bank of Ireland C423427) offers one — but nowhere states how long it lasts. Treat that as an open question rather than as an open-ended account: brokers that close idle demos usually say so only after they have closed yours.
“New individual account holders automatically receive a paper trading account. All paper trading accounts start with USD 1,000,000 of paper trading Equity with Loan Value, and this equity will fluctuate as if the trades had executed in the real market.”
Verified 2026-09-08 · Source page
Frequently asked questions
Which trading platforms does Interactive Brokers support?
Does Interactive Brokers offer API access?
Does Interactive Brokers have a demo account, and does it expire?
How we verified this review
Every fact below is verified against primary sources. We refresh on a schedule and on reader feedback.