Interactive Brokers vs Webull for day traders and IRA savers in 2026
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Key takeaways
- IRAs held $19.9 trillion in assets at the end of the second quarter of 2026, up 9.2% from the first quarter.1
- When choosing between Interactive Brokers and Webull, start with whether you want to be paid to contribute to an IRA or want per-share pricing for heavy trading before you compare features.
- Webull is the stronger fit for an IRA saver who wants a match on every contribution, while Interactive Brokers fits a high-volume trader who wants IBKR Pro's routing and a published rate on idle cash.
In this article
- Interactive Brokers vs Webull at a glance
- What is Interactive Brokers?
- What is Webull?
- Interactive Brokers vs Webull features compared
- Interactive Brokers vs Webull fees for three kinds of investor
- Interactive Brokers vs Webull for a Roth IRA
- Should you choose Interactive Brokers or Webull?
- Price the match before you pick a broker
- Frequently asked questions about Interactive Brokers vs Webull
Key takeaways
- IRAs held $19.9 trillion in assets at the end of the second quarter of 2026, up 9.2% from the first quarter.1
- When choosing between Interactive Brokers and Webull, start with whether you want to be paid to contribute to an IRA or want per-share pricing for heavy trading before you compare features.
- Webull is the stronger fit for an IRA saver who wants a match on every contribution, while Interactive Brokers fits a high-volume trader who wants IBKR Pro's routing and a published rate on idle cash.
Interactive Brokers vs Webull splits on retirement money first: Webull pays a 3.5% match on IRA contributions with its $40-a-year Premium plan, while Interactive Brokers lists no IRA match at all.2 Interactive Brokers offers a $0 Lite plan, a per-share Pro plan for heavy traders, and a published rate on idle cash above $10,000. This guide compares Interactive Brokers and Webull across the IRA match, trading and day trading, cash, and what each charges to transfer an account out.
Interactive Brokers vs Webull at a glance
Interactive Brokers and Webull both sell commission-free stock trading, so the table compares what each broker adds beyond that. Both brokers' figures were read on their own pages on October 6, 2026. A row marked not confirmed is one Tweed couldn't read on that broker's site.
| Interactive Brokers | Webull | |
|---|---|---|
| Online US stock and ETF trades | $0 on IBKR Lite; per share on IBKR Pro | Commission-free; pass-through SEC and CAT fees listed |
| Options | $0.65 per contract, $1.00 minimum per order | $0 on US-listed options; $0.50 per contract on certain index options |
| IRA match on contributions | None listed | 1%; 3.5% with Premium |
| Transfer and rollover match | None listed | 1% with Premium, for a limited time |
| Idle cash | 0% on the first $10,000; 3.380% above it on Pro, 2.380% on Lite, scaled down under $100,000 of net asset value | Not confirmed on webull.com |
| Margin | Tiered by balance off a benchmark rate | Not confirmed on webull.com |
| IRA types | Not confirmed on IBKR's site | Traditional, Roth, rollover |
| Account minimum | None | None |
| Outgoing transfer | Not confirmed on IBKR's site | $75 for a stock transfer |
What is Interactive Brokers?
Interactive Brokers is a broker built for active traders, with two plans to pick from: IBKR Lite, which charges $0 on US stocks, and IBKR Pro, which charges by the share and adds direct order routing and volume pricing. Pro also earns a higher rate on idle cash. Your plan decides most of the costs below.
What is Webull?
Webull is an app-first, commission-free broker with an optional Premium membership at $40 a year. Premium raises Webull's IRA match from 1% to 3.5%. Rollovers from a 401(k) run through a partner, Capitalize.
Interactive Brokers vs Webull features compared
Each section below opens with the broker that comes out ahead, and says so plainly when one side's figure couldn't be confirmed.
The IRA match
Webull wins for an IRA saver, because it pays 3.5% on contributions with Premium and 1% without, while Interactive Brokers lists no match. The limited-time 1% match on IRA transfers and rollovers also requires Premium. Webull's IRA page doesn't state how long matched money has to stay in the account or when Webull can take it back. Those terms matter, because a match you have to return after a withdrawal or an early transfer isn't money you can count on. Read those terms first.
Stock trading and day trading
Interactive Brokers wins for a high-volume day trader, because IBKR Pro's per-share rate falls as monthly volume rises and comes with direct order routing. IBKR Lite matches Webull's commission-free trades for everyone else.3Pattern day trader rules apply at both brokers, so neither lets a small margin account trade in and out freely.
| IBKR Pro US stock pricing | Rate |
|---|---|
| Fixed | $0.005 per share, $1.00 minimum per order, maximum 1% of trade value |
| Tiered, up to 300,000 shares a month | $0.0035 per share |
| Tiered, above 100 million shares a month | $0.0005 per share |
Options trading
Webull wins for an options trader, because it charges $0 commission on US-listed options, while IBKR charges $0.65 per contract with a $1.00 minimum per order. Certain index options cost $0.50 a contract at Webull. At 1,000 contracts a year, IBKR's fee comes to $650.
Cash and margin
Interactive Brokers wins on what could be checked, because it publishes its cash rates: nothing on the first $10,000 of idle US dollar cash, then 3.380% above that on IBKR Pro.4 IBKR Lite pays 2.380%. Both rates are scaled down by net asset value divided by $100,000 in smaller accounts. Webull's cash sweep rate and both brokers' margin tiers weren't confirmed for this update, so borrowing costs aren't compared. IBKR's margin does run off a benchmark rate in tiers that fall as the balance grows.
Transferring an account out
Webull is the only one of the two with a published transfer-out fee, $75 for an outgoing stock transfer.5Interactive Brokers' transfer-out fee wasn't confirmed on its own site, so neither broker wins here. A known $75 fee is easier to plan around than an unknown fee, but it isn't necessarily cheaper.
Interactive Brokers vs Webull fees for three kinds of investor
Interactive Brokers vs Webull fees depend almost entirely on which kind of investor you are, so the tables below price a year for three investors. Matches, membership fees, and commissions are modeled; returns, fund expense ratios, and pass-through regulatory fees aren't.
An IRA saver maxing the 2026 limit
An IRA saver under 50 who maxes the account nets $222.50 a year at Webull with Premium, after the membership fee. Interactive Brokers lists no match at any age. Premium pays for itself once you contribute $1,600 or more in a year. At 50 and up, the Premium net on a maxed account rises to $261.
| Maxing a 2026 IRA, under age 50 | Interactive Brokers | Webull, no Premium | Webull with Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contribution | $7,500 | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| Match earned | $0 | $75 | $262.50 |
| Premium cost for the year | $0 | $0 | $40 |
| Net | $0 | $75 | $222.50 |
A saver rolling over an old 401(k) or IRA
A saver moving an existing account to Webull with Premium earns 1% of the balance moved during the current limited-time offer. The transfer match grows with the size of the rollover, not with the contribution limit. The table subtracts one year of Premium and assumes you keep the match. Keeping the match depends on holding terms Webull's IRA page doesn't state.
| Balance moved | Interactive Brokers | Webull with Premium, net of $40 |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $0 | $210 |
| $50,000 | $0 | $460 |
| $100,000 | $0 | $960 |
A high-volume day trader on IBKR Pro
A day trader on IBKR Pro Fixed pays a commission on every order, while IBKR Lite and Webull charge none. Choosing Pro means paying for routing and volume pricing, not finding a cheaper way to trade. The table assumes each trade is large enough in dollar value that the 1% cap never applies.
| Order size on IBKR Pro Fixed | Cost per order | Cost for 1,000 orders a year |
|---|---|---|
| 100 shares | $1.00 (the minimum) | $1,000 |
| 500 shares | $2.50 | $2,500 |
| 1,000 shares | $5.00 | $5,000 |
| Webull or IBKR Lite, any size | No commission | No commission |
Interactive Brokers vs Webull for a Roth IRA
Interactive Brokers vs Webull for a Roth IRA is the clearest split on this page: Webull pays you to contribute and lists traditional, Roth, and rollover IRAs, while Interactive Brokers lists no match. IBKR's IRA types weren't confirmed on its own site for this update. TheInteractive Brokers IRA review covers them, and theWebull IRA review covers Webull's match terms in full.
| Roth IRA | Interactive Brokers | Webull |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution match | None listed | 1%, or 3.5% with Premium |
| Transfer and rollover match | None listed | 1% with Premium, limited time |
| Holding rule on the match | No match to hold | Not stated on Webull's IRA page |
| IRA types | Not confirmed on IBKR's site | Traditional, Roth, rollover |
| 401(k) rollover help | Not part of this check | Through Capitalize |
| Interest on idle cash | 0% on the first $10,000, full rate above it only at $100,000+ of net asset value | Not confirmed |
| Outgoing transfer fee | Not confirmed | $75 for a stock transfer |
The 2026 limit is $7,500 at either broker, with a catch-up at 50 and up. That makes the match the only part of the contribution math that differs between the two brokers. The match adds up only if you contribute every year, leave the matched dollars alone, and keep Premium long enough for the higher rate to apply. One year's match is small on its own.
Should you choose Interactive Brokers or Webull?
The choice between Interactive Brokers and Webull depends on whether your account is for trading or for retirement saving. Interactive Brokers is stronger for heavy trading, while Webull is stronger for IRA saving. If Robinhood is also on your list, Robinhood vs Webulland Interactive Brokers vs Robinhood cover those pairings.
Choose Interactive Brokers if
- You day trade in enough volume that IBKR Pro's per-share pricing and routing pay for themselves
- You keep well over $10,000 in idle cash, in an account worth $100,000 or more, and want a published rate on it
Choose Webull if
- You contribute to an IRA every year and want a match, up to 3.5% with Premium
- You're moving an old 401(k) or IRA and can use the limited-time 1% transfer match
- You want an app-first broker and don't need per-share pricing
Price the match before you pick a broker
The dollar value of a match or a commission depends on how much you contribute or trade. Run the Tweed retirement calculatorwith your real contribution, once with a 3.5% match and once without, and compare the two balances at the age you plan to retire. Thebest Roth IRA accounts list compares the match at other brokers too. If Interactive Brokers fits, you can open an Interactive Brokers account through Tweed's referral link.
Frequently asked questions about Interactive Brokers vs Webull
Can I transfer my Webull IRA to Interactive Brokers?
Yes, you can transfer a Webull IRA to Interactive Brokers by starting the request at IBKR. Webull charges $75 per outgoing stock transfer. Webull's IRA page doesn't say whether it takes back a recent match, so check Webull's terms first. Confirm that IBKR opens the same IRA type, since Tweed couldn't confirm IBKR's list of IRA types.
Who is better, Webull or Robinhood?
Neither Webull nor Robinhood is better for everyone: Webull's Premium lifts the IRA match to 3.5% for $40 a year. Robinhood Gold pays a "3% boost on annual IRA contributions" for $5 a month, with no end date stated as of October 6, 2026. Robinhood's advantage is a transfer match that needs no Gold.
Is Webull better than Vanguard?
No, Webull isn't better than Vanguard across the board, because they're built for different investors. Webull pays an IRA match of up to 3.5% with Premium, while Vanguard pays none. Vanguard charges a $25 annual account service fee unless you choose e-delivery, and most of its index funds need $3,000 to start.
What is better, Fidelity or Webull?
Fidelity or Webull comes out better depending on whether you want a match or a $0 transfer-out fee. Webull pays up to 3.5% on IRA contributions with Premium, while Fidelity pays none. Fidelity charges $0 to transfer out vs Webull's $75 for a stock transfer, and Fidelity's ZERO index funds cost nothing to hold.
Is Interactive Brokers good for beginners?
Yes, Interactive Brokers can suit a beginner who wants low prices, since IBKR Lite charges $0 on US stock trades. IBKR's platforms are built for active traders, though. A beginner saving for retirement gets no IRA match there. Webull pays a match, so a beginner whose first account is a Roth may want to weigh the match first.
Can I have a Roth IRA at both Interactive Brokers and Webull?
Yes, you can have a Roth IRA at both Interactive Brokers and Webull, because the IRS caps what you put in, not how many accounts you hold. The 2026 limit of $7,500, or $8,600 at 50 and older, covers both combined. Only the dollars deposited at Webull earn Webull's match.
What is the best brokerage account for IRA?
The best brokerage account for an IRA is the one whose costs match your habits, and no single broker wins for everyone. If you contribute every year, a match matters most. Webull, Robinhood, Public, and SoFi pay one. If you hold funds for decades, Fidelity's and Schwab's fund lineups count for more.
Sources
- https://www.ici.org/statistical-report/ret_26_q2
- https://www.webull.com/trading-investing/ira
- https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/pricing/commissions-stocks.php
- https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/accounts/fees/pricing-interest-rates.php
- https://www.webull.com/pricing
Personal finance writer, former Forbes contributor and This Week in Fintech writer. He isn't a financial advisor or a CPA.
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