IQ Option review
Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
IQ Option is a commission-free, CySEC regulated trading platform aimed at beginners, with a stock trade fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $10. It suits beginners practising on a demo account across forex, CFDs, crypto, options, stocks and ETFs, while the inactivity fee of €10 penalises an unused balance.
Key facts
- Best for
- First-time traders wanting commission-free trading across several asset classes, with a demo account and a small deposit to open.
- Minimum deposit
- $10↗
- Stock trade fee
- $0↗
- Inactivity fee
- €10↗
- Markets
- Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Options↗
- Regulators
- CySEC↗
- Investor protection
- EU ICS up to EUR 20,000↗
- Deposit and withdrawal fees
- Free deposits; withdrawals vary↗
- Platforms
- Web, Desktop, iOS, Android↗
- Maximum retail leverage
- 30:1 EU, up to 500:1 offshore↗
- Legal entity
- IQ Option Europe Ltd↗
- Headquarters
- Cyprus↗
- Founded
- 2013↗
- Features
- Demo account, Crypto, Mobile app
- Pricing model
- Commission-free
- Audience
- Beginners
- Official website
- iqoption.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 6 sources
Pros and cons
Pros
- Commission-free pricing, so the stock trade fee on shares is $0 with nothing added for the deal
- Regulated by CySEC in Cyprus, with retail client protection under the EU investor compensation scheme of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000
- A demo account to practise on before risking money, with the same markets on web, desktop, iOS and Android platforms
- A low entry point for a first account, with a minimum deposit of $10 rather than a large funding floor
Cons
- Leverage of 30:1 EU, up to 500:1 offshore magnifies losses as much as gains, so a small position can move sharply against you
- The deposit side is free while withdrawal charges vary, so the cost of taking money out is not a single fixed figure (Free deposits; withdrawals vary)
Who it suits
- Beginners, who are the audience the platform targets, with a demo account to practise on before trading real money
- Traders focused on cost, since pricing is commission-free and the stock trade fee is $0 on shares
- People who want forex, CFDs, crypto, options, stocks and ETFs in one account, reachable from web, desktop, iOS or Android
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after everyday banking rather than trading: bunq is the banking option in this set, with a minimum deposit of €10
- Borrowers rather than traders: Fiesta Credito MX sits in a credit comparison and is regulated by CONDUSEF, not a markets platform
- Anyone leaving a balance untouched for long stretches, because an inactivity fee of €10 applies, and CFI charges no minimum deposit to open ($0)
Fees and FX
The minimum deposit is $10, and pricing is commission-free with a stock trade fee of $0 on stock trades. Deposits carry no charge, while withdrawal costs vary by method and route. An inactivity fee of €10 is the charge that catches dormant accounts, so a balance left untouched is not free to hold.
Deposit protection
The broker is regulated by CySEC in Cyprus, licensed as 247/14. Protection for retail clients runs through the EU investor compensation scheme, with cover of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000. The scheme named is the EU one, so the figure applies to clients of the regulated European entity.
How IQ Option compares
9.0 vs 9.4
9.0 vs 8.7
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9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 9.4
9.0 vs 9.3
9.0 vs 8.7
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 8.7
9.0 vs 8.6
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.1
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 8.8
Where IQ Option is available
- Available
- Everywhere except Australia, Belgium, Canada, United Kingdom, Israel, Japan, Russia, United States
- Licence in Cyprus
- CySEC (247/14), checked September 26, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to trade?+
Pricing is commission-free, and the stock trade fee is $0, so shares carry no dealing commission. The standing charge to watch is an inactivity fee of €10, which applies once an account goes unused.
How much do I need to start trading?+
The minimum deposit is $10, which keeps the entry point small for a first account. You can fund it and explore the markets before committing larger sums, and the platform is aimed at beginners rather than professional traders.
What happens if I leave my account unused?+
An inactivity fee of €10 applies to an account that stops being used, so a dormant balance can be charged without any trading taking place. On the site, that fee ranks 39 of 56 brands.
Are deposits and withdrawals free?+
Deposits carry no charge, while withdrawal costs vary by method, so the price of taking money out is not a single fixed figure. The minimum deposit of $10 sets the floor on funding, and the account runs on a commission-free model.
Who regulates IQ Option and is client money protected?+
IQ Option is regulated by CySEC in Cyprus, licensed as 247/14, and the legal entity behind the brand is IQ Option Europe Ltd. Retail client protection runs through the EU investor compensation scheme, with cover of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
What can I trade and on which devices?+
The platform covers stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs, crypto and options in a single account, and it runs on web, desktop, iOS and Android. A mobile app and a demo account come as standard, so the same markets are available away from a desktop.
How much leverage can I use?+
Retail leverage runs at 30:1 EU, up to 500:1 offshore, so a small price move turns into a large gain or loss. Because the figure differs by region, it is worth checking which entity holds the account before trading.
Is it a fit for a beginner?+
The platform is aimed at beginners, and a demo account lets a new trader practise without putting money at risk before going live. It has run since 2013 from Cyprus, and the entry point of $10 keeps a first account small.
Sources
- fxscouts.com.au/broker/iqoption checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Inactivity fee, Minimum deposit, Pricing model, Stock trade fee
“inactivity fee of 10 EUR (or equivalent) per month after 90 days of inactivity”
- iqoption.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Markets
“Trade CFDs on Stocks, Forex and Crypto - IQ Option”
- tradingbrokers.com/reviews/iq-option-review checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity
“operates under the company name IQ Option Europe Ltd with the registration number HE327751”
- tradingcenter.org/index.php/reviews/260-iqoption-review checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Investor protection, Regulators, Licences
- brokertrending.com/broker/iq-option-review checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features, Founded, Headquarters, Maximum retail leverage, Platforms
“Desktop, Web Based, IOS and Android”
- dailyforex.com/forex-brokers/iq-option-review checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Deposit and withdrawal fees
“does not charge internal deposit fees, and offers one, free monthly withdrawal”
- forexbrokersonline.com/iq-option-review checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience
“IQ Option will appeal to beginners with its $10 minimum deposit, unlimited demo account”
Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Account fee, Retail accounts that lose money.
IQ Option
First-time traders wanting commission-free trading across several asset classes, with a demo account and a small deposit to open.