Interactive Brokers vs Webull — Which is better for Americans in Israel?
Interactive Brokers vs Webull for an American in Israel
Disclosure: Affiliate links present. We may earn a commission at no cost to you. Not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
TL;DR
For an American citizen living in Israel in 2026, Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the right primary brokerage. Webull is fine for casual options traders who keep less than $25k in the account, but it has serious limitations for non-resident US persons.
Webull's expat problem
Webull's official policy:
- Address changes are restricted. Once you move to Israel and try to update your Webull address to a non-US residence, the account gets frozen or restricted.
- Limited to US persons with a US address. This is the same blunt rule Schwab/Fidelity used to enforce, but those firms have workarounds. Webull doesn't.
- No international markets. Stocks/ETFs/options only on US exchanges.
- No futures for non-resident US persons.
- Margin rates ~9% (vs IBKR 4.12%).
The result: most olim open Webull as a "side" trading account and run into friction within months.
IBKR's expat-friendly setup
- Dedicated non-resident US person workflow.
- W-8BEN-Equivalent KYC for US persons abroad.
- Mailbox accepts US-addressed mail (PO box, mail forwarding).
- Trading across 150+ markets including Tel Aviv (TASE), London (LSE), Hong Kong (HKEX).
- Margin rate 4.12% on USD (2026).
- Cash sweep at 3.12%+ on uninvested USD.
Quick side-by-side
| Capability | IBKR | Webull |
|---|---|---|
| Open from Israel without US SSN | Yes (via passport) | Restricted |
| US stocks/ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes (Level 4) | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Restricted for non-US residents |
| International markets | 150+ | None |
| Margin rate | 4.12% | ~9% |
| IRA for non-resident | Yes | Restricted |
| Joint accounts | Yes | Limited |
| Customer service from Israel | Average | Slower |
| App polish | Functional, dated | Excellent, modern |
When Webull is fine
If you:
- are still in the US and have not yet moved to Israel, and
- have a US residential address on file, and
- want a beautiful app for options trading on US-listed stocks, and
- don't expect to grow the account beyond $25k quickly,
then Webull is fine for that use case. Many readers open Webull as a "play" account and IBKR as their real portfolio.
When Webull is not fine
If any of the following apply, skip Webull:
- You've already moved to Israel and need to update your address.
- You trade futures or international markets.
- You plan to hold $25k+ in the account.
- You need an IRA that survives non-resident status.
- Your plan is to be the household "real" investor for retirement.
For these, IBKR — even with its UX warts — is the more future-proof answer.
Common pattern: dual account
A common pattern:
- Webull (existing, before aliyah): play money, options for fun.
- IBKR (new, after aliyah): serious money, retirement, trade execution.
That's fine. Just be aware: if Webull flags your address change, plan to transfer positions out via ACAT (1-3 weeks, free) before you run into a forced liquidation.
Practical: what to do
If you already have a Webull account and you just moved:
- Don't update the address yet. Keep it as your last-known US address.
- Open IBKR as your new primary.
- Over time, transfer what you want from Webull to IBKR via ACAT.
- Use Webull for the periodic strategy that fits its UI; use IBKR for everything serious.
This keeps your Webull account non-flagged while you establish your real brokerage on IBKR.
Affiliate disclosure — we may earn a commission if you sign up through the link below. Open IBKR Account →
BUTTON: Learn about Webull's expat policy (consumer page; not an affiliate if they don't have an IL-friendly program)
Next step: if you have a US brokerage open in Israel and need to lock in tax-compliant investing — read our full IBKR guide.