IG

Founded in 1974, IG is a globally respected broker with nearly five decades of experience and a strong regulatory footprint. IG Group operates under several licensed entities across key financial jurisdictions, including:

• The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the UK – IG Markets Limited & IG Index Limited (FCA Firm Reference No. 195355)
• The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) of Germany – IG Europe GmbH
• The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) – IG Bank SA
• The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) – IG Limited (Dubai)
• The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) – IG Asia Pte Ltd
• The Financial Services Agency (FSA) of Japan – IG Securities Ltd
• The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) – IG Markets (Australia)
• The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) of New Zealand – IG Markets (NZ operations)
• The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and National Futures Association (NFA) of the US – IG US LLC (NFA ID: 0509630)
• The Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) – IG International Limited
• The UK FCA Cryptoasset Register – IG Markets Limited (Registered Cryptoasset Firm)

This expansive regulatory presence ensures compliance with strict local and international standards across all major global markets.

Client Protection Measures

IG implements a robust suite of client protection mechanisms, ensuring the safety and integrity of client funds and data:

• Segregation of Funds: Client funds are held in separate, ring-fenced accounts from IG’s corporate accounts, in compliance with local regulations (e.g., FCA’s CASS rules in the UK).
• Negative Balance Protection: Available to retail clients in key jurisdictions, this feature prevents clients from losing more than their account balance during periods of extreme market volatility.
• Capital Adequacy and Internal Controls: IG consistently maintains capital reserves well above regulatory minimums and undergoes regular audits to ensure financial health and operational transparency.
• AML/KYC Compliance: IG adheres to global standards on anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) policies, enhancing user safety and fraud prevention.
• Crypto Regulatory Compliance: With its recent registration on the FCA’s Cryptoasset Register, IG is subject to additional compliance requirements for handling digital assets, including safeguarding and consumer risk disclosures.

These measures, supported by IG’s long-standing reputation and global oversight, provide a high level of security and trust for traders across all experience levels.

Overview: Traders with IG have access to one of the most extensive ranges of financial instruments in the industry, with over 17,000 markets available.

• Forex: Over 80 currency pairs, including majors (EUR/USD, GBP/USD), minors (EUR/GBP, AUD/JPY), and exotics such as USD/ZAR. 
• Indices: CFDs and spread bets on more than 30 global indices, including the FTSE 100, NASDAQ 100, S&P 500, DAX 40, and Nikkei 225.
• Shares: Thousands of share CFDs from the UK, US, Europe, Australia, and Asia. UK residents can also trade tax-free via spread betting.
• Commodities: Precious metals (gold, silver, platinum), energy products (crude oil, natural gas), and agricultural commodities (coffee, cocoa, sugar).
• ETFs and Bonds: A broad range of ETF and bond CFDs, providing diversification across asset classes and regions.

All traders are eligible to open an account at IG, and with no minimum deposit required new traders don’t have to worry about funding the account right away.

It took us about 15 minutes to open an account at IG, but our accounts were only ready for trading once our documentation had been verified, which took two days. However, we were pleasantly surprised to receive a phone call from customer service to assist with any troubleshooting issues.

IG’s CFD trading account offers access to pricing structures that are among the most competitive in the industry. There is no minimum deposit requirement, though IG recommends funding your account with at least 250 USD to comfortably meet margin requirements.

CFD Trading Account

No minimum deposit is required to open a CFD trading account. You can choose to trade on either the MT4 platform, in which case spreads will average at 0.75 pips on the EUR/USD, or on the IG platform, where spreads average at 0.86 pips on the EUR/USD. However, there are marked differences between using MT4 and IG’s own platforms. 

DMA (Direct Market Access) Account

Spreads average at 0.165 pips on the EUR/USD, and commissions are based on the trading volume (see below for more details).  Traders can only use the L2 Dealer platform when choosing the DMA account option. 

While the 6 USD round-turn commission is slightly lower than average compared to other brokers, this can be reduced even further with high volume trading:

IG offers free demo accounts for both CFDs, with £10,000 in virtual funds. Demo accounts mirror live pricing and market conditions, allowing traders to test strategies before committing real capital.

Additional Accounts

IG has Share dealing, ISA, SIPP, and IG Investments Smart Portfolios accounts. These are non-leverage account types that let you trade stocks and shares.

Traders can choose between the IG Trading mobile app, the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) mobile app, and TradingView’s mobile platform. All are available for iOS and Android devices, providing flexibility for trading on the go. L2 Dealer is only available on desktop.

IG Trading App

The IG Trading app is the broker’s proprietary mobile platform, designed for intuitive navigation and fast execution. Key features include:

• Real-time quotes and interactive charts with advanced drawing tools
• Integrated news and market analysis from Reuters
• Full account management, including funding and withdrawals
• Customisable watchlists and price alerts
• Risk management tools such as stop-loss and limit orders

The IG app is best suited for traders who want a powerful, all-in-one mobile trading solution with direct access to IG’s full range of over 17,000 markets.

MetaTrader 4 (Mobile)

MT4 mobile provides a familiar environment for traders who prefer MetaQuotes’ popular platform. Features include:

• Advanced charting with multiple timeframes
• Access to 30+ built-in technical indicators
• One-tap trading and pending order management
• Seamless integration with the MT4 desktop version

MT4 mobile is ideal for traders who already use MT4 on desktop and want a consistent experience across devices.

TradingView (Mobile)

IG clients can link their accounts to TradingView’s mobile app to combine IG’s execution and market range with TradingView’s advanced charting environment. Features include:

• Interactive charts with hundreds of built-in and community-created indicators
• Custom strategies and alerts using Pine Script
• Trade execution directly from charts
• Access to TradingView’s global community and trade ideas

TradingView mobile is ideal for traders who value in-depth charting, social trading ideas, and a modern, visually driven interface.

IG’s platform lineup won it the award for Best Multi-Platform Provider at the ADVFN International Financial Awards for four years in a row.

IG Proprietary Web Platform

The IG Trading app is IG’s proprietary mobile platform, offering a fast and intuitive interface for both CFDs and spread betting. Key features include:

• Advanced charting with multiple layouts and technical analysis tools
• Integrated market news, analysis, and economic calendar
• Customisable trading workspace
• Direct access to over 17,000 markets
• Built-in risk management tools, including guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs)

MetaTrader 4 (Desktop & Web)

MT4 is available for both CFDs and spread betting, and is ideal for algorithmic traders and those using custom indicators. Key features include:

• Support for Expert Advisors (EAs) and algorithmic trading
• Comprehensive charting with multiple indicators and drawing tools
• One-click trading and customisable templates
• Backtesting for trading strategies

TradingView Integration

Traders can connect their IG account directly to TradingView, enabling:

• Advanced, interactive charting with hundreds of built-in indicators
• Custom scripting via Pine Script
• Placing and managing trades directly from TradingView charts
• Access to TradingView’s global trader community and ideas
• Full support for both CFD and spread betting trades

L2 Dealer Platform

L2 Dealer is IG’s direct market access (DMA) platform, designed for professional traders seeking advanced order control and deeper market transparency. Features include:

• Full market depth for supported assets
• Advanced order types, including pegged and iceberg orders
• Streaming prices from multiple liquidity providers
• Level 1 and Level 2 market data
• Full support for both CFD and spread betting trades

Note: L2 Dealer requires specific account approval and is primarily intended for high-volume or professional traders.

Trading Tools

• ProRealTime: Advanced charting package with over 100 indicators and automation tools, free for active traders.
• Autochartist: Market scanning and pattern recognition for trade idea generation.
• Trading Signals: Available via MT4 and IG’s proprietary platform.
• Economic Calendar: Integrated across all platforms for tracking key events.
• Reuters News Feed: Embedded in IG’s proprietary platform for real-time market news.

With proprietary, third-party, and specialist DMA platforms available, IG offers traders a comprehensive suite of trading options.

Trading Tools Comparison

Image URL (Small)

Autochartist

Trading Central

Trading View

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

In line with Anti-Money Laundering policies, IG Markets returns all non-profit funds to the original deposit source. No matter your deposit method, the withdrawal of all profits must be made by bank transfer to a bank account in your name. However, IG Markets can consider special cases where this is not an option.

See below for details on IG deposit and withdrawal fees and processing times:

Deposits

Traders can deposit funds via debit/credit card (Visa and Mastercard), bank wire transfers, and PayPal.

Withdrawals

IG does not charge a fee for withdrawals, but the minimum withdrawal amount is 100 USD.  Withdrawals are processed on the same day but may take two to five days to reflect. 

Accepted Deposit Currencies: IG allow traders to select open accounts in the following base currencies: USD, GBP, AUD, EUR, SGD, HKD. Base currencies can be changed by emailing the IG support team with your name, date of birth and address, and the account number you would like to change.

IG has plenty of current and accessible educational material for beginner traders. Reports and daily analysis are emailed to anyone who signs up, and 24-hour support is available.

IG has a wide variety of educational materials to get traders started.  These include the IG Academy, a section on Managing Your Risk, a Trading Strategy section, Webinars and Seminars, and a glossary of terms.  See below for details:

• IG Academy: Online trading courses covering topics for beginner, intermediate and advanced traders. Live, structured classroom-style lessons are run daily and offer traders the opportunity to get personal feedback and interact with market analysts.
• Managing your risk: IG provides several materials outlining how traders can reduce their risk. It also includes information on the various risk management tools offered at IG.
• Trading Strategy: This section teaches traders how to look at the markets, use trading tools, and understand technical trading language.
• Webinars and seminars: IG Market’s webinars and seminars help build traders’ confidence and cover topics ranging from platform walk-throughs to upcoming trading opportunities.
• Glossary: The glossary provides comprehensive definitions and explanations of various financial terms.

News and trade ideas, trading strategy education, and analysis of upcoming financial events are frequently published at IG. The analysis is written by the IG Global team of analysts who have professional backgrounds in trading at some of the major investment banks.

IG sends free Morning Call and The Week Ahead reports daily and weekly, respectively. Each promises to deliver an analysis of major economic events and corporate news before the opening of the markets.

Clients support is available by phone, email, Twitter, and live chat, 24hrs a day from 8 am Saturday to 10 pm Friday (GMT). In addition, the peer support platform offers assistance from other traders and IG staff in a forum discussion, which is an ideal additional resource for beginner traders who have questions about the platforms, analysis, and trading ideas. 

For the purposes of the review, we tested the live chat service and email. Our email was answered within a couple of hours, and the answer was relevant and to the point. We found the live chat agents were polite and responsive, and they were able to answer all our questions. After logging into the live chat, we were connected to an agent who replied to our message within 30 seconds.