Interactive Brokers vs Just2Trade
Detailed side-by-side broker comparison
Interactive Brokers (SEC/FCA, minimum deposit $0) and Just2Trade (CySEC, minimum deposit $100) are two regulated brokers competing for retail investors in the CIS and EU markets. This comparison is built from verified data on fees, available instruments, trading platforms and country access — so you can see exactly where each broker wins before you open an account.
Across 7 fee categories we track, Interactive Brokers comes out cheaper in 5, while Just2Trade wins only 0. For active traders this gap compounds over time — commission, FX markup and custody fees are the three that hurt portfolio returns the most. Both brokers offer access to 6 instrument categories, so asset coverage is not a differentiator here.
If entry budget matters, Interactive Brokers is more accessible with a minimum deposit of $0. Interactive Brokers supports 3 trading platforms, Just2Trade supports 2 — check the platforms section below to confirm your preferred terminal is available.
Trust dimensions side by side
Where it's safer
Five trust dimensions per our methodology. The further from the centre — the stronger. Dashed line is the industry median.
Interactive Brokers leads on the combined score — 100/100 vs 68/100. Industry median is 72.
Overview
Interactive Brokers leads with 6 out of 9 objective metrics. On fees specifically, Interactive Brokers wins 5 of 7 categories.
Fees & Commissions
Fee scenario
Approximate — based on listed fees only. Real costs depend on instrument, currency conversion and individual trade size.
Instruments & Markets
10k+ instruments · 30k+ instrumentsRegulators & investor protection
- SEC—United States
- FCA—United Kingdom
- IIROC—Canada
- SFC—Hong Kong
- ASIC—Australia
- CySEC—Cyprus (EU)
Interactive Brokers carries a stronger top-tier licence than Just2Trade — relevant if regulator strength is a deciding factor for you. SIPC and ICF protect against broker insolvency, not market losses; the headline figures are not directly comparable because the schemes operate under different national frameworks.
Account & Support
Interactive Brokers
Just2Trade
Pros & Cons
Interactive Brokers
- Industry-cheapest per-share commission on US stocks (IBKR Pro Tiered $0.0035/sh, Fixed $0.005/sh)
- SIPC protection up to $500,000 per account ($250k cash) — strongest US-domiciled coverage
- 150+ markets from one account, including direct access to LSE / XETRA / HKEX / TSE
- Public NASDAQ-listed parent (IBKR) — financial transparency above industry norm
- Wide instrument selection (10k+)
- Trader Workstation (TWS) has a famously steep learning curve
- IBKR Lite (zero-commission plan) is US-residents-only
- Customer support thin relative to peers — chat queues commonly multi-hour
- Mobile app is functional but utilitarian — not a Robinhood-style experience
Just2Trade
- Direct US-market access via Sterling Trader Pro (DMA), not aggregated CFD spread
- CySEC ICF compensation up to €20,000 per claimant
- Russian + English support and UI — uncommon in EU-regulated brokers
- Wide instrument selection (30k+, incl. CFDs)
- Negative balance protection
- Full fee schedule lives only in PDFs — no quick price comparison on broker site
- Two separate platforms: Sterling Trader Pro (equities + DMA) and MetaTrader 5 (FX/CFD)
- Parent rebrand 2024 (Just2Trade Online → Lime Trading → J2T Services) caused contract documentation confusion
- Limited proprietary research tools — no built-in screener or analyst reports
- Compensation caps at €20,000 — below FCA (£85k) / SIPC ($500k)
Who each broker is for
Verdict
IB is the cheaper venue by a wide margin — $0.005 per share. On protection, read the entity: the $500k SIPC figure belongs to the US company, while European accounts are held by IBKR's Irish entity at €20,000 — the same ceiling as Just2Trade's ICF. Just2Trade publishes its schedule only as PDFs, so we don't quote a per-trade figure for it; what it earns its place on is faster onboarding from the CIS (Russian UI, simpler KYC) and being easier to learn than TWS. Our pick for cost-conscious investors from $5k: IB. For Russian-language support under EU supervision: Just2Trade.
Both Interactive Brokers and Just2Trade are regulated brokers offering access to global financial markets. However, they differ significantly in fees, available instruments, and minimum deposit requirements. Below is our expert assessment to help you make an informed decision.
Choose Interactive Brokers if you want lower fees, lower entry barrier, fractional shares.
Choose Just2Trade if you want stronger regulation.
- Just starting outInteractive Brokers· lower entry barrier, faster KYC
- Active tradingInteractive Brokers· lower fees, faster withdrawals
- Advanced / professionalInteractive Brokers· more exchanges, more account currencies
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your trading style, budget, and preferred instruments. We recommend using our Broker Quiz for a personalized recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this comparison and how to use it.