FP Markets vs Interactive Brokers for Romania Traders (2026)

For Romanian traders, the real cost of trading is measured in spreads, commissions, and swaps. FP Markets offers a Raw ECN account with spread from 0.0 pips and a $3 commission per lot per side, plus a Standard account with no commission but slightly higher spreads. Interactive Brokers uses a tiered pricing model where spreads are tight but you pay per-share or per-contract fees, which can be confusing when calculating your total cost in RON. For most retail traders in Romania, especially those trading 1–5 lots per week, FP Markets is cheaper and more predictable. If you trade larger volumes or multi-asset portfolios, IBKR's sliding scale may reduce costs. Remember, currency conversion from RON to EUR/USD also affects ticket costs, so check your account base currency and conversion rates.

Platform familiarity is a big factor for Romanian retail traders. FP Markets provides MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, the tools most local traders learned on, along with a mobile app and WebTrader. Interactive Brokers uses its own Trader Workstation, which is powerful but overloaded with features for a beginner. The IBKR Mobile app has improved, but it still takes time for a Romanian trader used to MT4's simple charting and one-click trading. FP Markets also supports EAs, custom indicators, and expert advisors which are very popular in Romania. If you want to copy-trade or use an EA, FP Markets is the clear choice. If you need global stock exchanges, options chains, and algorithmic trading tools, IBKR is in a different league.

Execution quality is critical when the London and New York sessions overlap – the peak time for Romanian traders. FP Markets offers ultra-low latency ECN trade execution, with execution from 30ms and deep liquidity from tier-1 banks. Interactive Brokers uses smart order routing and can achieve even faster fills, but its execution depends heavily on the asset class. For forex and CFD traders using MT4, FP Markets delivers consistent, slippage-sensitive execution. For stock and options traders, IBKR's global routing is unmatched. Romanian traders often report fewer requotes on FP Markets raw accounts.

Both FP Markets and Interactive Brokers are regulated within the European Union and can serve Romanian clients through the MiFID II passport. FP Markets is registered with CySEC in Cyprus and offers investor compensation up to €20,000 under the ICF. Interactive Brokers operates its European business through Interactive Brokers Ireland, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, and also provides deposit protection under the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme. In Romania, the ASF (Autoritatea de Supraveghere Financiară) monitors how these brokers market to local traders. Neither broker is directly authorised by ASF Romania, but they may register their operations locally. For Romanian traders this means you get a strong layer of European regulatory protection, but you should always verify the exact legal entity before opening an account.

Depositing funds at FP Markets is simple for Romanian traders. You can use Bank Transfer, Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard), or Skrill – the e-wallet widely used in Romania. FP Markets has a low minimum deposit of 100 units of your chosen base currency, and Skrill deposits are processed in real time. Withdrawals via Skrill are highly appreciated because they often hit your account within 24 hours. Interactive Brokers also accepts Bank Transfer and Credit Card, but it does not support Skrill for Romanian residents. A standard local bank transfer in RON may go through the broker's EUR account, incurring conversion and intermediary bank fees. IBKR also has a US$10 monthly minimum depending on age/activity, which affects Romanian traders with small accounts. Overall, FP Markets is more aligned with local payment habits.

Muslim traders in Romania can find swap-free accounts at both brokers. FP Markets offers swap-free accounts on MetaTrader 4 and 5 for all account types, and there are no hidden fees – the broker simply removes the swap or interest on overnight positions. Interactive Brokers also offers a Compensation (Islamic) Account, but it requires an accredited religious certificate from a recognized organisation and charges a monthly fee of $10 or $20 depending on the account type. Many Romanian Muslim traders find FP Markets more practical because there is no certification hassle and the account behaves like a normal account with no rollover interest. Always check the terms with the live broker, because Islamic accounts may not be available on certain instruments like bonds or CFDs on futures.

Customer support in Romanian is not native at either broker, but FP Markets offers a faster and friendlier service for retail clients. Live chat is available 24/7 and you typically get a reply within a minute. Interactive Brokers relies on a ticketing system and phone lines, with no 24/7 chat, which can be frustrating during late-night European sessions when Romanian traders are active. FP Markets also has webinars, tutorials, and market analysis resources that align better with a growing retail audience. For quick questions about Skrill deposits or MT5 settings, FP Markets is more responsive.