How to copy trades between two Interactive Brokers accounts
Interactive Brokers has no copy-trading button for retail traders. Here are the native IBKR options (and their limits) and how to replicate from a master account to your followers locally, in under 15 ms.
Yes, you can copy trades between two Interactive Brokers accounts. For a retail trader, the simplest way is a local copier: MirrorFlow replicates every order from a master IBKR account to your follower accounts at the same broker (IBKR→IBKR), on your own Windows PC and in under 15 ms. This guide covers what IBKR offers natively, where it falls short for retail, and how to set up the copying step by step.
Can you copy trades between Interactive Brokers accounts?
Yes, but it's worth clarifying how. Interactive Brokers does not include a "copy trading" button for a retail trader to automatically mirror one of their accounts into another. The only native routes are the Financial Advisor (FA) structure (built for managing other people's money) or programming the TWS API yourself. To copy between your own accounts without being an advisor or writing code, you use a third-party local copier.
IBKR's native options (and why they fall short for retail)
- Financial Advisor (FA) and Family Advisor accounts: they let you split an order across several accounts, but they're designed for regulated advisors managing client money. They require eligibility, per-account agreements and compliance.
- Pre-Trade Allocations and the Allocation Order Tool: they distribute a block order to several accounts with allocation algorithms. Powerful, but aimed at the advisor/institutional profile and with a steep learning curve.
- Interactive Advisors (marketplace): it means investing in portfolios managed by professionals, not copying your own accounts. It doesn't apply here.
- TWS API (do it yourself): you can program the replication in Python, Java or C#, but you need to know how to code and maintain that code.
In short: there is no simple native "master → follower" button for the retail trader with two or three of their own IBKR accounts. That's exactly the gap a local copier fills.
Third-party copiers: cloud vs local
Copiers fall into two families. Cloud ones route your orders through an external server: they add network latency and depend on your connection. Local ones execute everything on your own machine. On top of that, the most-cited copier on the market, Duplikium, doesn't even support Interactive Brokers and runs on a monthly per-account subscription. MirrorFlow is local, supports IBKR→IBKR and is a one-time payment.
How to replicate IBKR→IBKR with MirrorFlow, step by step
- 1) Open TWS or IB Gateway on your master Interactive Brokers account and enable the API connection (allow clients on localhost).
- 2) Install the standalone MirrorFlow.App.exe on your Windows PC and open it; it has its own control panel.
- 3) Connect MirrorFlow to IBKR over the API and define which account is the master (source) and which are followers (destination).
- 4) Set the lot multiplier and risk limits per account based on its capital.
- 5) Trade in your master account: every order is replicated across your IBKR follower accounts in under 15 ms.
You'll find the full breakdown on the copy trades between Interactive Brokers accounts page. If you also want to copy from IBKR to other platforms, check the Interactive Brokers copier and the bidirectional trade copier.
Comparison: MirrorFlow vs IBKR's native copy vs cloud copiers
| MirrorFlow | IBKR native copy (FA/Advisor) | Cloud copiers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution | Local, under 15 ms | Local (managed account) | Cloud (adds network latency) |
| Cost | One-time $69 | Advisor structure / commissions | Monthly subscription |
| Who it's for | Retail trader with own accounts | Regulated financial advisors | Multi-account / prop |
| Setup | Windows app + TWS/IB Gateway | Requires FA/Advisor account | Web service (SaaS) |
| Cross-broker | Yes (IBKR + other platforms) | No (IBKR only) | Varies |
| Cloud required | No | No | Yes |
| Manages third-party money? | No (your own accounts) | Yes (regulated function) | Varies |
Why does latency under 15 ms matter?
When you copy between accounts, every millisecond of delay can mean a different entry price on the follower account versus the master (slippage). A cloud copier sends the order to an external server and waits for a response; a local one, like MirrorFlow, executes on your own machine through IBKR's API, keeping latency below 15 ms and reducing that gap.
Is it legal to copy between your own IBKR accounts?
Copying trades between accounts you own is a common practice and does not involve managing other people's money. Managing third-party funds is regulated and usually requires an advisor structure (that's why IBKR's FA account exists). If you trade prop firm accounts, check their rulebook: many firms have specific rules about copying between accounts. This is not legal or financial advice.
What MirrorFlow is not
- It does not replace the regulated functions of an IBKR Advisor (FA) account.
- It's not for managing third-party money or charging management fees.
- It does not guarantee trading results or passing prop firm evaluations.
- It's a local replication tool for your own or prop firm accounts; compliance with the rules remains yours.
If you want to mirror your master IBKR account into your followers without setting up an advisor structure or writing code, get the lifetime license for $69 and start today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to copy trades between my own Interactive Brokers accounts?
Yes. Replicating trades between multiple accounts owned by yourself is standard practice and completely legal, requiring no regulated financial advisor licenses.
What is the difference between IBKR's FA account and MirrorFlow?
IBKR's Financial Advisor (FA) account is designed for professionals managing client funds under regulatory requirements and formal contracts. MirrorFlow is a local hub that lets you replicate across your own personal or evaluation accounts without intermediaries or bureaucracy.
Does it work with both Trader Workstation (TWS) and IB Gateway?
Yes. MirrorFlow communicates directly through the high-speed native bridge ib_bridge.exe, fully compatible with both TWS and IB Gateway.
Does MirrorFlow store my IBKR account credentials?
No. The connection is established exclusively on your local machine using Interactive Brokers' secure local socket API. No credentials or passwords ever leave your machine.