API
Programmatic access for scripts, bots and custom dashboards.
Fact sheet Ticker, brand, tools
IBKR means three different things
A symbol on a quote screen, a nickname for a brokerage and a prefix on software. Separating them clears up most confusion.
01 / Meanings
Ticker, firm or tool?
A
The ticker
The symbol under which the parent company's shares are quoted. Analysts and investors use it.
B
The brokerage
“I trade with IBKR” means the broker where someone's account is held.
C
The software
Apps and programs that carry the letters, from phone to developer interface.
Keep these apart. Having a brokerage account does not mean you own the company's shares. Those are two independent decisions.
02 / Tools
The IBKR toolbox, A to Z
Client Portal
Browser-based account home for funding, reports and settings.
Desktop
A desktop application for investing and monitoring.
GlobalTrader
Mobile-first app for straightforward investing.
Mobile
Phone app for portfolio checks and sign-in approvals.
TWS
Trader Workstation, the full-featured trading terminal.
03 / Where to start
A sensible order of exploration
Read account basics
Learn account types and required documents.
Install the phone app
It doubles as your verification device.
Try paper trading
Place practice orders with no real money.
Move to the terminal
Switch to advanced software once basics feel natural.
04 / FAQ
IBKR questions
What does IBKR stand for?
It is the abbreviation and stock symbol associated with Interactive Brokers.
Does an IBKR account mean I own IBKR shares?
No. A brokerage account lets you trade securities. Owning the company's shares is a separate decision.
Which IBKR tool should a newcomer start with?
Most begin with the web portal and phone app, then explore the desktop terminal later.