Interactive Brokers vs. Webull Introduction
Active traders really ought to look at both Webull and Interactive Brokers. These two brokerage firms
bring advanced software and a lot more besides. Our side-by-side review can make it easier to decide between them.
Cost
| Broker Fees |
Stock/ETF
Commission |
Mutual Fund
Commission |
Options
Commission |
Maintenance
Fee |
Annual IRA
Fee |
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IB
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$0
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3% of trade value up to $14.95
|
$0.65 per contract
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
Webull
|
$0
|
na
|
$0 per contract
|
$0
|
$0
|
Services
| Broker Review |
Cost |
Investment Products |
Trading Tools |
Customer Service |
Research |
Overall Rating |
|
IB
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Webull
|
|
|
|
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Promotions
Interactive Brokers: Use this referral link to get up to $1,000 of IBKR stock for free!
Webull:
3.5% match on contributions and $20 stock bonus with $500 deposit at Webull.
Asset Lineups
Self-directed accounts at Interactive Brokers can trade the following asset classes:
- Stocks, including foreign stocks on multiple global exchanges
- Mutual funds
- Closed-end funds
- ETFs
- Cryptocurrencies
- Precious metals
- Options
- Warrants
- Futures
- Forex
- Bonds and other fixed-income products
Webull clients miss several of those asset classes, including forex, precious metals, warrants,
mutual funds, and foreign stocks.
Interactive Brokers also provides automated ETF investing through its affiliate Interactive
Advisors. Depending on the portfolio, the robo program’s annual fee ranges from 0.08% to 0.75%, and some portfolios can be opened with as little as $100. Webull's robo-advisor service charges a flat 0.20% annually.
Margin
Both Webull and Interactive Brokers offer margin trading, and naturally there is a cost involved. At the moment,
Webull’s tiered margin schedule begins at 8.74% and drops
to 4.74% for balances above $3 million.
IBKR Lite clients pay a flat 6.14% at all debit
levels. IBKR Pro uses tiered pricing, with rates that can go as low as 5.14%.
Both brokers also have trading platforms that display important margin details on individual securities.
Websites
Webull and Interactive Brokers both have websites with strong trading capability. Outside of that, though, the two firms feel very different. Webull’s site, for example, is straightforward to move around and keeps the number of tools fairly limited. For actual trading, users launch a platform from the top menu.
At Interactive Brokers, the website itself contains more trading features. There are also more account-management resources than you get on Webull’s site, although the greater number of tools can make IBKR’s site feel less intuitive.
For trading, Interactive Brokers has a ticket with several order types, including market-on-close and stop-limit orders. There is also a price-management algorithm box that attempts to improve execution through IB’s routing technology. Bracket orders can be attached as well.
On Webull’s side, the trade ticket supports bracket orders, too. There is no comparable algo-routing feature. Still, the broker’s browser platform includes multiple order forms, and one of them supports advanced choices such as OCO and OTOCO.
Mobile Apps
Top-tier software also appears in both companies’ mobile apps. Webull’s app once again supplies multiple order tickets. Options come with integrated spreads, profit-loss diagrams, and explanations. Charts can be rotated horizontally and include several tools, such as Fibonacci retracements.
One feature we especially enjoy on Webull’s mobile app is the Feeds tab shown on every asset profile. This is a digital bulletin board where users can discuss the asset they are researching.
The Interactive Brokers mobile app does not have social features, although its charting is very strong. There are many technical studies, including Williams Oscillator and Triple EMA, and users can choose from three plot styles: candlesticks, bar, and area.
The app also has a wheel-style order-entry system, which presents pre-filled values that can be selected by scrolling. We also like the options tools on the app, which include Greek values, P/L diagrams, and max gain and loss figures.
Desktop Programs
Last, but certainly not least, in the software category is desktop trading. Both brokerage firms offer powerful trading platforms that can be launched from a computer. Both brokers also provide paper trading, which we do recommend because each platform operates on a high level.
IB’s platform is called Trader Workstation, and it delivers a huge assortment of tools. These include advanced order types, full-screen charting with many features, and forex dealing boxes.
Webull’s desktop platform includes multiple order tickets, advanced charts, integrated option spreads, custom layouts, an education center, heat maps, volume analysis, and plenty more.
Day Trading and Swing Trading
PDT Status: Desktop programs at both brokers display an account’s pattern day-trader status. It is also possible to reset a PDT account at either firm.
Direct Access to Market Venues: Only available at Interactive Brokers (and only on Trader Workstation).
Shorting: Both brokers allow short selling. Interactive Brokers publishes a searchable list of shortable stocks on its site. Both firms’ trading systems also show whether a specific security is shortable.
Extended Hours: Available at both firms. IBKR Lite and IBKR Pro both currently support U.S. stock trading from 4:00 am to 8:00 pm ET, while Webull offers that same core window and also supports overnight trading on select securities.
Routing Fees and Rebates: Only available with an IB account.
Level II Quotes: Both firms have them.
Additional Services
Banking Tools: Interactive Brokers has an integrated card/cash-management setup. Webull does not.
Webull now pays a very high
3.35% APY interest on cash balances.
Periodic Mutual Fund Investing: Not available at either brokerage house.
IPO Access: Only Webull customers can get in on upcoming equity releases.
IRA Lineups: Both firms offer Individual Retirement Accounts. Webull allows Traditional, Roth, and Rollover IRAs. Interactive Brokers also has the SEP IRA, which Webull lacks.
DRIP Service: Interactive Brokers offers automatic dividend reinvestment for eligible stock positions. Webull provides automatic dividend reinvestment for eligible securities.
Fractional-share Trading: Both firms support fractional-share trading. Both also offer cryptocurrency access.
Recommendations
Active Stock & ETF Trading: Both brokers have excellent software, although Trader Workstation
sits at a slightly higher level than Webull’s desktop platform. Interactive Brokers also has somewhat
stronger research resources on its website. Our preference is Interactive Brokers.
Mutual Funds: Interactive Brokers is the obvious pick here.
Beginning Investors: Webull is the easier place for beginners to start.
Small Accounts: Webull's commission structure will work well for small traders.
Retirement Planning & Long-Term Investing: Neither brokerage firm in this survey is really built for
long-term planning.
Promotions
Interactive Brokers: Use this referral link to get up to $1,000 of IBKR stock for free!
Webull:
3.5% match on contributions and $20 stock bonus with $500 deposit at Webull.
Webull vs Interactive Brokers Judgement
Webull and Interactive Brokers are both very good destinations for higher-end crypto and securities
trading.
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Updated on 4/22/2026.
Chad Morris is a financial writer with more than 20 years experience
as both an English teacher and an avid trader. When he isn’t writing
expert content for Brokerage-Review.com, Chad can usually be found
managing his portfolio or building a new home computer.
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