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Head-to-head · Investment APIs

E*TRADE Developer API vs Interactive Brokers

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score E*TRADE Developer API #1 in Investment APIs 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 7 features Visit E*TRADE API
Interactive Brokers #2 in Investment APIs 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 7 features Visit IBKR

E*TRADE Developer API leads on 0 checks, Interactive Brokers on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreE*TRADE Developer API · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresE*TRADE Developer API · 5 of 7

E*TRADE Developer API scores higher on our rubric for investment apis: 9.3 against 9.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.

E*TRADE Developer API is the better fit for established brokerage API integrations. Interactive Brokers is the better fit for global multi-asset trading infrastructure.

  • E*TRADE Developer API fits best

    Established brokerage API integrations

  • Interactive Brokers fits best

    Global multi-asset trading infrastructure

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature E*TRADE Developer API 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Interactive Brokers 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 9.2
Ranking #1 in Investment APIs #2 in Investment APIs
Best for Established brokerage API integrations Global multi-asset trading infrastructure
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan $0.0005/unit usage-based
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support Phone, Docs Tickets, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features E*TRADE Developer API 5/7 · Interactive Brokers 0/7
Trading orders ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Account opening Not checked yet Not checked yet
Portfolio data ✓ (best) Not checked yet
OAuth connections ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Webhooks Not checked yet Not checked yet
Sandbox environment ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Tax-lot data ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Trading APIs cover equity and option order lifecycle actions.
  • OAuth, sandbox responses and streaming order-status notifications support app workflows.
  • Portfolio, balances, positions and market data are available via REST.
  • Global access to stocks, ETFs, options, futures, currencies, bonds and funds
  • Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and API platforms
  • PortfolioAnalyst reporting plus fractional trading for eligible stocks and ETFs
Cons
  • Production access requires agreements, and vendor keys need approval.
  • Applications require an E*TRADE account and consumer key.
  • Trading incurs normal per-trade fees even though the platform is free.
  • IBKR Lite is restricted to eligible US residents
  • IBKR Pro plans include per-order minimum commissions
  • Account types, products and fees vary by region and product
Our verdict

E*TRADE Developer API provides REST and streaming interfaces for applications connected to E*TRADE accounts. Developers can retrieve balances, positions, portfolio holdings, cost and gain details, quotes, option chains and market data,…

Read the review →

Interactive Brokers is an online brokerage for individual investors, traders and institutional customers. It provides access to stocks, ETFs, options, futures, currencies, bonds, funds, cryptocurrencies and other products across…

Read the review →
  1. E*TRADE Developer APIInvestment APIs 9.3Free plan
  2. Interactive BrokersInvestment APIs 9.2Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • E*TRADE Developer API — where it wins

    • Trading APIs cover equity and option order lifecycle actions.
    • OAuth, sandbox responses and streaming order-status notifications support app workflows.
    • Portfolio, balances, positions and market data are available via REST.

    Where it doesn't

    • Production access requires agreements, and vendor keys need approval.
    • Applications require an E*TRADE account and consumer key.
    • Trading incurs normal per-trade fees even though the platform is free.

  • Interactive Brokers — where it wins

    • Global access to stocks, ETFs, options, futures, currencies, bonds and funds
    • Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and API platforms
    • PortfolioAnalyst reporting plus fractional trading for eligible stocks and ETFs

    Where it doesn't

    • IBKR Lite is restricted to eligible US residents
    • IBKR Pro plans include per-order minimum commissions
    • Account types, products and fees vary by region and product
  • E*TRADE Developer API9.3/10 · Free plan

    Free E*TRADE APIs combine trading, portfolio, market data and sandbox access.

    Visit E*TRADE APIFull verdict →
  • Interactive Brokers9.2/10 · Free plan

    A global, multi-asset brokerage with API access, analytics and flexible pricing.

    Visit IBKRFull verdict →

More comparisons

All investment APIs comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update