Alison Heyerdahl
Edited by Alison Heyerdahl
Author

IG vs. XTB

In the fast-paced world of forex trading, choosing the right broker is crucial. IG and XTB are two popular options, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. This comparison will dive into the key features of both platforms,helping you decide which one best suits your trading style and goals.

Select Brokers to Compare

Forex Broker Comparison
Broker Score
4.69
/ 5
4.49
/ 5
Trust Rating
Trading Conditions
Trading Platforms
Deposit & Withdrawal
Assets Available
Education & Research
Customer Service
Beginner Friendly
Analysis Research
Min. Deposit
USD 0
USD 0

Regulation

Regulation
Australian Securities & Investment CommissionBermuda Monetary AuthorityBundesanstalt für FinanzdienstleistungsaufsichtCommodity Futures Trading Association
Dubai Financial Services AuthorityFinancial Conduct AuthorityFinancial Markets Authority of New ZealandFinancial Services AgencyFinancial Services Conduct AuthorityMonetary Authority of SingaporeSwiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority
Cyprus Securities and Exchange CommissionFinancial Conduct AuthorityBelize Financial Services CommissionKomisja Nadzoru Finansowego
Trading Desk Type
Market Maker
Market Maker NDD
Trading Instruments
Bonds, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Digital 100s, Stock CFDs, ETFs, Forex, Indices, Interest Rates
Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Stock CFDs, ETFs, Forex, Indices

Conditions

Forex Pairs
80
57
Crypto Pairs
10
49
Pros
  • Well regulated
  • Tight spreads
  • Great platform choice
  • Excellent education
  • Excellent market analysis
  • Well regulated
  • Tight spreads
  • Low minimum deposit
  • Good for beginners
Cons
  • High minimum deposit
  • Well regulated
  • Tight spreads
  • Low minimum deposit
  • Good for beginners
% Lose with this broker
69%
76%
Leverage
200:1
500:1
Spread
0.60 pips
0.80 pips
Hedging
Yes
Yes
Scalping
Yes
Yes
Account Types
DMA, Live Account, Spread Betting
Islamic, Standard
Islamic Account
Yes
Yes
Trading Platforms
MT4, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime
xStation5
Funding Methods
Bank Transfer, Mastercard, Paypal, Visa
Bank Transfer, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, Visa
Trading Commissions
Fees Included in Spread
Fees Included in Spread
Octa Octa
IG
XTB
Trust Rating
5
5
Trading Conditions
4.5
5
Trading Platforms
4.5
4
Deposit & Withdrawal
5
3
Assets Available
5
4.5
Education & Research
5
5
Customer Service
4
4.5
Beginner Friendly
4
4
Analysis Research
5
5
Overall Rating
4.69
/ 5
4.49
/ 5

How Do IG and XTB Compare?

The radar chart above illustrates the comparison between IG and XTB across several key metrics, with the highest possible score being 100 in each category.

Helping You Choose the Right Broker

At FxScouts, our mission is to assist traders in finding the broker that best suits their needs. Comparing brokers side-by-side is an effective method to achieve this goal. We evaluated IG and XTB, using our standard criteria: trust and regulation, trading platforms, costs and trading conditions, and educational and market analysis resources.

Trust and Regulation

Trust and regulation are crucial when selecting a Forex broker. A broker’s credibility is largely built on its regulatory status. We spend considerable time verifying the safety of each broker by examining their regulatory licenses. The more top-tier authorities regulating a broker, the higher its trust rating.

In our comparison:

  • IG holds six Tier 1 and three Tier 2 licences.
  • XTB holds three Tier 1 and no Tier 2 licences.

Based on these findings, IG earned a higher trust rating than XTB.

Is IG financially regulated?

Yes IG was founded in 1974 and is regulated by ASIC, BMA, BaFin, CFTC, DFSA, FCA, FMA, FSA-Japan, FSCA, MAS and FINMA.

 

Is XTB financially regulated?

Yes XTB was founded in 2002 and is regulated by CySEC, FCA, FSC and KNF.

 

Trading Costs Comparison

When comparing brokers, trading costs are a significant factor. We consider the minimum deposit required to open an account and ongoing costs, including spreads and commissions. We measure the cost to trade one lot of EUR/USD using the broker’s account with the lowest minimum deposit, including both the spread and any commission charged.

We found that IG has overall lower trading costs than XTB.

Top Overall Brokers by Broker Score

Trading Platforms Offered

Trading Platforms Offered Traders prefer brokers that offer a variety of trading platforms. We rate brokers higher if they support multiple platforms like MetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, cTrader, and proprietary platforms.

  • IG supports MT4, L2 Dealer and ProRealTime
  • XTB supports xStation5

Copy Trading Availability

Copy trading is beneficial for beginner traders or those unable to trade full-time. In this case both IG and XTB offer copy trading.

Range of Trading Instruments

A broader range of CFD instruments provides more trading opportunities. IG offers a greater variety of instruments compared to XTB:

  • IG: 80 Forex pairs.
  • XTB: 57 Forex pairs.

Cryptocurrency Trading

For those interested in trading cryptocurrencies, XTB offers 49 cryptocurrencies, while IG offers 10 cryptocurrencies. Therefore, XTB is the better choice for cryptocurrency trading.

Deposit and Withdrawal Processes

Traders prefer brokers with quick and cost-effective deposit and withdrawal processes. We favor brokers that process withdrawals within 24 hours using multiple methods without charging fees.We found that neither IG nor XTB charges a withdrawal fee. Overall, IG has better deposit and withdrawal processes than XTB. 

Educational Support?

We often find that brokers offer very little in the way of educational materials, forcing traders to use other third-party sites or self-educate elsewhere. Beginner traders need well-structured, well-presented materials in multiple formats to get a good start at trading. More experienced traders also benefit from webinars led by experts in the field and advanced trading strategy sections with new trading ideas. 

IG and XTB both have very good educational support. Both IG and XTB offer educational support for more experienced traders.

Market Analysis Materials

Access to frequent and high-quality market research and analysis is crucial.

We found that IG offers better research analysis than XTB and that both IG and XTB offer frequent webinars.

Overall Verdict

  • IG:

    Founded in London in 1974 and regulated by the FCA, IG is a low-cost CFD broker with a long history of providing safe and secure trading and a vast range of trading instruments.

    Our research found that IG has over 320,000 clients worldwide and has been the largest CFD broker in the world by revenue for the last few years. It has two low-cost trading accounts and a spread betting account with no minimum deposit requirements and offers trading on over 17,000 instruments, all of which can be accessed on its award-winning app and web trader platform. 

    For more traditional investors, IG also runs a fully licenced stock brokerage on the side. And in addition to a wide range of trading tools, IG has a world-class selection of educational and market analysis materials to get new traders started.

  • XTB:

    A well-regulated broker, XTB appeals to traders looking for a wide choice of tradable instruments, top-class educational materials and excellent market analysis.  However, traders should note that support is only offered for XTB’s proprietary platform, xStation5.

    XTB offers trading on over 2100 financial assets, a wider range than is typically seen at other brokers.  Tradable assets include Forex, indices, commodities, stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, and cryptocurrencies.  XTB’s focus is to provide excellent support for traders, with comprehensive educational materials that cater to both beginners and more experienced traders alike through its Trading Academy and one-to-one mentorship programme.  XTB also provides frequent market commentary and trading ideas in its Market News section, and its responsive customer service is available to help traders with technical or account-related queries.  

    The account choice at XTB is limited, with only one live account available, but with lower than average trading costs. Spreads average at 0.70 pips on the EUR/USD, and no commissions are charged.

    One drawback is that XTB no longer supports the MT4 trading platform so all clients have to use XTB’s proprietary platform, xStation 5 - though it has won awards for its functionality, fast execution speeds, and intuitive design.

Overall Ratings

  • IG: 4.69
  • XTB: 4.49

For more detailed reviews, please read our comprehensive assessments of IG and XTB.

Pepperstone
AvaTrade
FCA, ASIC
Regulators
ASIC, FSCA
200:1
Leverage
400:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.01 pips
Min. Spread
0.9 pips
USD 0
Min. Deposit
USD 100
Octa
XM
CySEC, FSCA
Regulators
CySEC, ASIC
1000:1
Leverage
1000:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.6 pips
Min. Spread
0.6 pips
USD 25
Min. Deposit
USD 5
Tickmill
Pepperstone
CySEC, FCA
Regulators
FCA, ASIC
500:1
Leverage
200:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.0 pips
Min. Spread
0.01 pips
USD 100
Min. Deposit
USD 0
AvaTrade
FxPro
ASIC, FSCA
Regulators
FCA, CySEC
400:1
Leverage
200:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.9 pips
Min. Spread
0.4 pips
USD 100
Min. Deposit
USD 100
Unbiased Expertise

Independent, in-depth reviews and comparisons of all well regulated Forex brokers, empowering you to make informed choices.

Educational Resources

Comprehensive guides for all levels, from the basics of Forex to advanced strategies tailored for your experience.

Transparent Information

A focus on facts, accuracy, and up-to-date data to give you the insights you need to succeed in your Forex journey.

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Regulated by FCA
Licenced by
Min. Deposit
Cost of Trading
Total trading cost at the time of last update, for 1 lot of EUR/USD using the account with the lowest minimum deposit. Includes spread and commission.
Broker Score
Official Site
Compare
Yes
FCA Regulated Forex BrokersASIC Regulated BrokersCySEC Regulated BrokersDFSA Regulated Forex Brokers
Bundesanstalt für FinanzdienstleistungsaufsichtSecurities Commission of the BahamasCapital Markets Authority
USD 0
USD 10
4.61
/ 5
No
CySEC Regulated BrokersFinancial Services Conduct AuthorityMwali International Services Authority
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Yes
CySEC Regulated BrokersFCA Regulated Forex BrokersFinancial Services Conduct AuthorityThe Seychelles Financial Services Authority
DFSA Regulated Forex Brokers
USD 100
USD 6
4.58
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No
ASIC Regulated BrokersFinancial Services Conduct AuthorityCySEC Regulated BrokersFinancial Services Agency
Central Bank of IrelandFinancial Regulatory Services AuthorityIsrael Securities Authority
USD 100
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4.59
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No
CySEC Regulated BrokersASIC Regulated BrokersDFSA Regulated Forex BrokersInternational Financial Services Commission
Financial Services Conduct Authority
USD 5
USD 6
4.45
/ 5
No
ASIC Regulated BrokersCySEC Regulated BrokersFinancial Services Conduct AuthorityThe Seychelles Financial Services Authority
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AUD 100
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4.40
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No
CySEC Regulated BrokersThe Seychelles Financial Services AuthoritySecurities Commission of the Bahamas
USD 200
USD 8
4.46
/ 5
Yes
CySEC Regulated BrokersFCA Regulated Forex BrokersFinancial Services Conduct AuthorityDFSA Regulated Forex Brokers
Financial Services CommissionThe Seychelles Financial Services Authority
USD 0
USD 10
4.53
/ 5
No
ASIC Regulated BrokersVanuatu
AUD 0
USD 4.50
4.41
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Alison and Chris cover a range of topics, including how to choose a Forex broker, safety and regulation, how to reduce your risk, trading psychology, trading platforms, and trading strategies, among others.

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