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IG Review 2024

By:
Dan Blystone
Reviewed By:
Ola Alder
Updated: Sep 24, 2024
Overall Rating
4.6
  • Trust
    4.9
  • Fees
    4.3
  • Platforms and Tools
    4.7
  • Tradable Instruments
    4.8
  • Customer Support
    4.5
  • Research
    5.0
  • Deposit and Withdrawal
    4.6
  • Account Types and Terms
    3.7
  • Education
    5.0
  • How Did We Test and Rate This Broker?
    When trading forex and CFDs, understanding a broker's strengths and weaknesses is essential. We developed a proprietary rating system, which is the result of extensive research and hands-on evaluation by our expert reviewers. With a rigorous approach, our reviewers manually assess each broker, investing more than 50 hours per review, checking and testing the broker while analyzing over 250 variables to simplify the broker selection process for you. The categories we evaluate include trustworthiness, trading platforms, customer support, regulatory oversight, spreads, fees, the variety of instruments offered, education, and research tools. This unique rating system is specifically developed to ensure that the assessment is based on firsthand knowledge and experience. By dedicating a significant amount of time to each review, our team of experts can provide in-depth insights and help you make well-informed decisions when choosing the broker that best suits your trading goals.
    Chart

    Our Take on IG

    London-based IG was founded in 1974 and sets a benchmark for excellence in the forex and CFD industry. Overseen by multiple top-tier regulators, including FCA, FINMA, BaFin, and ASIC, IG guarantees robust client protection.

    IG provides an innovative proprietary trading platform in addition to offering MetaTrader 4. The broker is distinguished by its competitive fees and a vast array of tradable instruments, including CFDs on spot markets, futures, and options.

    Clients can also benefit from advanced features like Sentiment Data, Autochartist signals, and the Trade Analyzer tool. With fast order execution, tight spreads, and 1-click trading, IG is well suited to day traders and scalpers.

    Recommended in 6 best broker guides: 
    Forex | Share CFD | Spread Betting | Regulated | Scalping | Gold

    IG Pros and Cons

    Pros Cons
    • High trust rating
    • 47 years of experience
    • FX spreads as low as 0.6 pips
    • Fast, reliable execution
    • Feature-rich platform
    • Trade analytics tool
    • Industry-leading research
    • DMA Access
    • VPS hosting
    • Excellent educational resources
    • Support is not 24/7
    • Islamic account only available at the Dubai entity

    IG Highlights of 2024

    • High Trust Rating. As a long-established, publicly traded broker registered with multiple top-tier regulators, IG earned a high trust rating in my assessment.
    • Award-Winning Platform. After weeks of rigorous testing, I rated the IG Platform as highly intuitive, with a clean, uncluttered interface, and feature-rich, with robust charting and advanced order types.
    • Innovative Tools. IG offers many unique features built into its web-based platform, for example, client sentiment data and trading signals from Autochartist.
    • Competitive Spreads. My live tests showed that IG US provides some of the most competitive trading costs in the industry, with tight spreads in popular markets like EUR/USD and gold.
    • 17,000+ Instruments. The depth of markets available to trade is outstanding, as clients can access everything from CFDs on South African stocks to commodities like Iron Ore and Orange Juice.
    • Top-Notch Educational Resources. The IG Academy provides clients with a solid foundation of knowledge for launching into the competitive world of trading.

    What Sets IG Apart?

    IG stands head and shoulders above the competition in multiple categories. The Standard Account offers rock-bottom trading costs, with spreads as low as 0.6 pips in pairs like EUR/USD and 30 cents in gold.

    The depth of instruments in each asset class is also outstanding, and IG offers CFDs on the spot market, futures market, and even options.

    Who is IG for?

    With excellent educational resources, an unlimited demo account, and an intuitive web-based platform, IG is a good choice for beginners to trade. Professional traders and money managers can also thrive with this multifaceted broker thanks to its low costs, cutting-edge platforms, and features like DMA access and VPS hosting.

    IG Video Review

    In this review of IG, we focused on the UK entity (IG Markets Ltd), which is regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We conducted our tests using a CFD account, via the IG Platform. Some features and services may vary depending on where you reside.

    IG Main Features

    ☑️ RegulationsFCA (United Kingdom), BaFin (Germany), ASIC (Australia), NFA (United States), FINMA (Switzerland), MAS (Singapore), DFSA (United Arab Emirates), FSCA (South Africa), JFSA (Japan)
    🗺 Supported Languages
    English, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwey, Swedish
    💰 ProductsCurrencies, Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, Indices, Commodities
    💵 Min Deposit$250
    💹 Max Leverage
    1:30 (FCA), 1:30 (BaFin), 1:30 (ASIC), 1:50 (NFA), 1:100 (FINMA), 1:20 (MAS), 1:30 (DFSA), 1:30 (FSCA), 1:30 (JFSA)
    🖥 Trading Desk TypeMarket Maker
    📊 Trading PlatformsProprietary, MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer
    💳 Deposit Options
    Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard
    💳 Withdrawal Options
    Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard
    🤴 Demo AccountYes
    🗓 Foundation Year1974
    🌎 Headquarters CountryUnited Kingdom
    Risk DisclosureCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

    IG Full Review

    Trust

    4.9
    How Did We Test the Broker's Trustworthiness?
    Assessing a broker's trustworthiness with your funds is vital. To help you make the right decision, we carefully checked each broker's regulatory license and examined how well they protect traders. Moreover, we looked at the broker's stability by studying their business history, corporate structure, and industry experience. Finally, we thoroughly reviewed all of the broker's legal documentation, including terms, conditions, and fees, and evaluated their transparency based on our analysis. Our hands-on approach ensures that even novice traders have the knowledge they need to make smart decisions.
    trust chart

    IG surpasses industry standards in trust, boasting global regulation, a long-standing operational history, financial stability, and exceptional transparency. As an FTSE 250 member with a stable BBB- rating from Fitch, IG adheres to the FX Global Code of Conduct, ensuring best practices in forex trading.

    This section will cover how the different entities of IG are regulated and how this impacts you as a trader. We rate regulators on a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 reflecting the highest level of trust.

    IG Markets Limited on the FCA Register
    IG Markets Limited on the FCA Register

    Why is it important to know where your broker subsidiary (entity) is regulated?

    Different regulators provide different levels of protection. For example, IG clients in the United Kingdom benefit from the oversight of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA requires that clients have negative balance protection, which means they cannot lose more than their deposit.

    In addition, when trading with a broker authorized by the FCA, client funds are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). The FSCS secures investments of up to £85,000 if a firm becomes insolvent. A trader working with a broker entity regulated offshore would not necessarily have these benefits.

    The tables below list the protections and benefits by entity, regulator, and region.

    Entity IG Markets Ltd IG Europe GmbH IG Bank SA IG Australia Pty Ltd IG US LLC IG Asia Pte Ltd IG Limited IG Securities Limited IG Markets South Africa Limited IG International Limited
    Country/Region UK EU Switzerland Australia US Singapore United Arab Emirates Japan South Africa Bermuda/Global
    Regulation FCA BaFin FINMA ASIC CFTC/NFA MAS DFSA JFSA FSCA BMA
    Segregated Funds Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes
    Negative Balance Protection Yes Yes No* No* No* No* No* No* No* No
    Compensation Scheme FSCS Up to £85,000 EdW 90% of your claim, up to €20,000 Esisuisse up to ₣100,000 No No No No No No No
    Maximum Leverage (Standard Account) 1:30 1:30 1:100 1:30 1:50 1:20 1:30 1:30 1:30 1:200

    *Note: For traders with the Australia, Switzerland, South Africa, Singapore, Dubai, and Japan entities, a limited risk account is available. This account setting ensures that all the positions you open will not allow you to lose more than the initial deposit required to open the trade. It will ensure that all your positions either have a guaranteed stop or are on inherently limited-risk markets. You will not be able to use other types of stops, like trailing stops.

    Regulatory requirements are subject to change. I gathered the data listed above in November 2023.

    Stability and Transparency

    In our tests for the Trust category, we also cover factors relating to stability and financial strength. Here, we evaluate the broker’s longevity in the industry, the company’s size, and its transparency.

    IG traces its origins to 1974, marking it as one of the oldest and most experienced forex brokers. According to its LinkedIn page, the company is headquartered in London and has 1,001-5,000 employees.

    In my research, IG showed high transparency in its regulatory status, listing its regulator in the footer of each page of the ig.com/uk website. The website breaks down fees clearly on the Costs and Charges page. Traders can find the Customer Agreement on the Terms and Agreements page.

    To summarize, my findings indicate that IG can be regarded as having a high level of trust and stability due to the following qualities:

    • Regulated by multiple top-tier regulators
    • Almost 50 years of operating history
    • Publicly traded company valued at over £2.4 billion
    • High level of transparency

    Fees

    4.3
    How Did We Test the Broker's Fees and Commissions?
    Broker commissions and fees can be challenging to understand. To simplify this for you, we carefully examined all the broker's fee-related documentation and presented it in a clear, easy-to-understand format. Furthermore, we conducted hands-on tests on spreads and commissions for the most common instruments during both London and New York trading sessions. We then compared these real-time test results to the market benchmark we've established through our extensive experience evaluating the industry.
    fees chart

    My hands-on tests showed that IG offers highly competitive trading-related fees. Spreads in major pairs are among the tightest in the industry, and swap fees are better than average. Additionally, IG does not charge any inactivity fee or fees for deposits and withdrawals.

    Trading Fees

    I tested the spreads at IG across various markets using the IG Platform during the London open at 8:00 a.m. UK time and after the open of the New York forex session at 1:00 p.m. UK time. At these times, the market is typically highly liquid with the tightest spreads.

    Instrument Spread AM Spread PM
    EUR/USD 0.6 Pips 0.9 Pips
    GBP/JPY 3.2 Pips 3.2 Pips
    Gold  30 Cents 30 Cents
    WTI Crude Oil  2.8 Cents 2.8 Cents
    Apple n/a 2 Cents
    Tesla n/a 6 Cents
    Dow 30 3.6 Pips 2.4 Pips
    Dax 40 1.4 Pips 1.4 Pips
    Bitcoin $90 $90

    I recorded the data on 2 November 2023. While spreads in popular markets like EUR/USD, USD/JPY, and gold are very competitive, I noted that spreads are not above average across the board. For example, the spread of Bitcoin is rather wide.

    Commissions

    In the case of CFDs on shares, IG doesn’t widen the spread, and clients deal at the real market price. Instead, IG takes a small commission when traders open the position, and again when they close it. In each instance, a minimum charge applies.

    Market Commission per side  Minimum charge (online) Minimum charge (phone)
    UK 0.10% £10 £15
    US 2 cents per share $15 $25
    Euro 0.10% €10 €25

    Swap Fees

    In the table below, you can see the Swap Long (the cost/credit of holding a buy position overnight) and the Swap Short (the cost/credit of maintaining a sell position overnight) for one full-sized contract. A full-sized contract is 100,000 units of the base currency (the first currency quoted in the pair). I recorded the data on 2 November 2023.

    Instrument Swap Long Swap Short
    EUR/USD Charge of $6.90 Credit of $1.30
    GBP/JPY Credit of $2.35 Charge of $3.25

    My live tests showed that swap fees at IG are better than average for the industry.

    Non-Trading Fees

    IG does not charge any fees for deposits, withdrawals, or account inactivity.

    Are Fees at IG Competitive?

    I rate the fees at IG as highly competitive for the following reasons:

    • Spreads under 1 pip major pairs like EUR/USD and USD/JPY
    • Low swap fees
    • Minimal account-related fees
    • No inactivity fee or deposit/withdrawal fees

    Platforms and Tools

    4.7
    How Did We Test the Broker's Trading Platforms?
    We understand that platforms play a crucial role in your trading experience. That's why we spent many hours testing the broker's web, desktop, and mobile trading platforms to gain a real understanding of their usability, functionality, and overall performance. From experimenting with different order types to testing execution speeds, charting, and other features, we thoroughly examined every aspect of these platforms based on our trading expertise, helping you make an informed choice.
    platforms chart

    IG offers its proprietary platform available on the web and mobile. I rated both versions as among the best in the industry, with powerful features like sentiment data from IG’s large client base. Clients can also access three third-party platforms: MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime, and L2 Dealer.

    IG Platform Walkthrough

    IG Web Platform

    The award-winning IG Web Platform is intuitive, highly customizable, and packs an abundant range of features. These include popular items like watchlists, a news feed, alerts, one-click trading, trading from the chart, trading signals, and client sentiment data.

    IG Platform
    IG Platform

    The IG Platform is web-based and is accessible via your browser without any downloads required. The interface is clean and simple, making it easy for new traders to get up and running.

    Popular Markets Watchlist
    Popular Markets Watchlist

    Watchlists are an essential part of a trader’s toolkit, enabling you to group markets of your choice together in a single easy-to-find place. With watchlists there’s no need to waste time searching for your favorite markets – you can stay on top of prices with just a glance.

    IG Workspaces
    IG Workspaces

    The ability to customize and save workspaces was a great help to me in executing my price action trading strategy. I look for hammer and shooting star patterns on the hourly chart. which do not occur very often. However, the more markets you follow, the more instances of these patterns you are likely to find.

    I created unique workspaces for each asset class, such as forex, metals, and energies. By flipping through these via the tabs at the top left of the platform, I was able to scan the charts of multiple markets in a short time to find trading opportunities.

    IG News
    IG News

    The IG Platform has a built-in news feed from Thomson Reuters. A steady stream of stories is published throughout the day. The feed includes updates on major economic releases and central bank policy. It also has coverage of technical analysis, key support and resistance levels, and trade ideas.

    IG Client Sentiment
    IG Client Sentiment

    IG provides client sentiment data drawing from its user base of over 300,000 clients. Sentiment data shows the percentage of traders that are long or short in a currency pair. This gives you powerful insight into the psychology of a market. Traders can interpret the data in a variety of ways. Most commonly, it is understood that when an extreme percentage of traders are either long or short an instrument, a trend reversal may be coming.

    IG Charts
    IG Charts

    Charting within the IG Platform is robust, with a better-than-average range of indicators, drawing tools, time frames, and chart types. Traders can make use of the following range of charting features:

    • 33 Indicators
    • 22 Time frames
    • 20 Drawing Tools
    • 5 Chart Types
    IG Order Entry
    IG Order Entry

    The IG Platform provides flexibility with a strong range of available order types:

    • Market order
    • Limit order
    • Stop loss
    • Trailing stop
    • Guaranteed stop loss (UK only)

    Time-in-force conditions can be applied to pending orders. You can specify the duration for which your open order remains active by marking it as ‘Good Till Canceled’ (GTC) or setting it to expire on a future date of your choice.

    IG Alerts
    IG Alerts

    The IG Platform has a sophisticated range of alerts to help optimize your trading performance. You can set up alerts to inform you about price movements, news events, and even emerging technical patterns.

    • Price level alerts are triggered when your market hits the price you set.
    • Price change alerts trigger when a market moves your chosen amount. These can be set in pips or percentage terms.
    • Technical indicator alerts tell you when a market meets your technical conditions. For example, you can receive an alert when RSI crosses the 70 level into overbought conditions.
    • Economic calendar alerts remind you of key economic releases.
    Signals from Autochartist
    Signals from Autochartist

    My Key Takeaways after Testing the IG Web Platform

    While trading on the IG Platform, I appreciated the ability to customize it to my preferences and create multiple workspaces. This makes it easy to stay on top of what is going on in multiple markets and lots of timeframes. Charting is robust, and the range of order types provides traders with advanced flexibility. Finally, the suite of tools – including Autochartist, client sentiment, and the news feed from Thomson Reuters – is outstanding. With its clean and uncluttered interface, this is a platform that can cater to beginners. It also has advanced features to accommodate experienced and professional traders.

    IG Mobile App

    IG Mobile App 
    IG Mobile App

    The IG mobile app is available for Android and iOS. It incorporates the key features of the web platform, like watchlists, advanced order types, alerts, trading from the chart, client sentiment, Autochartist signals, and the Thomson Reuters news feed. As with the web platform, you can easily flip between demo and live trading accounts. Two-factor authentication is available for an added layer of security. It is also possible to add and withdraw funds via the mobile app.

    Advanced charting is available within the app, sufficient to do in-depth technical analysis of the markets while on the move. Traders can work with:

    • 33 indicators
    • 5 Chart types
    • 19 drawing tools
    • 17 time frames

    The IG mobile app doesn’t skimp on order types either—traders can use standard and advanced order types:

    • Market
    • Limit
    • Stop Loss
    • Trailing Stop

    Time in force conditions like Good-Til-Canceled (GTC), can be applied to pending orders.

    My Key Takeaways after Testing the IG Mobile App

    I found the IG Mobile App intuitive and beginner-friendly while offering a powerful range of features. You can stay on top of your market positions, place trades, and stay updated with the latest market news and analysis. This well-designed app can accommodate most trading functions while you are on the move. I rate it as well above average for the industry.

    MetaTrader 4 Desktop

    MetaTrader 4 Desktop Platform
    MetaTrader 4 Desktop Platform

    IG offers MetaTrader 4 for desktops, which includes advanced functions such as automated trading.

    MetaTrader 4 is available in 39 languages, from Arabic to Vietnamese. The platform provides popular features such as

    • Alerts. This feature updates traders when an instrument reaches a specific price level.
    • Watchlists. Traders can create a list of their favorite instruments and follow live quotes in a market watch panel.
    • One-Click Trading. This feature allows traders to execute orders with a single click and no secondary confirmation. This feature enables traders to operate faster and is especially useful for short-term traders.
    • Trading from the Chart. MT4 also allows users the convenience of trading directly from the chart.
    Order Entry on the MetaTrader 4 Platform
    Order Entry on the MetaTrader 4 Platform

    MetaTrader also delivers when it comes to the range of available order types. The platform offers the following order types:

    • Market Order. Traders use market orders to buy or sell an instrument at the best current price.
    • Limit Order. Traders use limit orders to buy or sell an instrument at a specified price or better.
    • Stop Loss Order. Traders use stop-loss orders to buy or sell an instrument when its price reaches a specified level.
    • Trailing Stop Order. Traders use trailing stop-loss orders as a stop-loss order at a defined percentage or dollar amount away from an instrument’s current market price. This order type allows traders to secure profits when they are in a winning trade while not having to exit the position.

    Charting features are robust. MetaTrader 4 offers:

    Charting on the MetaTrader 4 Platform
    Charting on the MetaTrader 4 Platform
    • 30 Technical Indicators. These include classic trend indicators, volume indicators, and oscillators.
    • 23 Analytical Objects. These include lines, channels, Gann, and Fibonacci tools.
    • 9 Time Frames. Traders can choose from nine time frames, from one minute to one month.
    • 3 Chart Types. Traders can use Bar Charts, Japanese Candlestick Charts, and Line Charts.

    MetaTrader is also popular due to its automated trading features. MT4 allows users to develop, test, and apply Expert Advisors (EAs). EAs are programs that monitor and trade markets using algorithms.

    The MetaTrader 4 desktop platform is one of the most feature-rich and popular trading platforms. It does not have a slick interface and requires some time and effort to learn, but that is typical of advanced platforms.

    MetaTrader 4 Mobile App

    MetaTrader 4 Mobile App
    MetaTrader 4 Mobile App

    IG offers the MetaTrader 4 mobile app for mobile trading, which is available for Android and iOS. The app offers popular features such as alerts, 1-click trading, and trading from the chart.

    The MetaTrader 4 mobile app also provides many order types, including pending and stop orders. However, trailing stop-loss orders are only available from the desktop. To change the language of the MT4 app, you must change the language for your entire phone. As with the desktop and web platforms, the interface is not highly intuitive, but the MT4 app offers an above-average range of features.

    My Key Takeaways after Testing MetaTrader 4

    As one of the most popular trading platforms in the world and the only one offered by many forex brokers, I have spent a lot of time testing MT4. The look and feel of the platform are a bit dated and I feel there is room for improvement in design and usability.

    Nevertheless, MT4 is actually very well-rounded and can do more than most competitors – with advanced charting, a complete range of order types, and popular features like 1-click trading, trading from the chart, and alerts. The advanced features of the desktop platform set it apart in that it enables traders to run and backtest automated strategies. The steep learning curve of mastering the platform makes it more suited to experienced traders than beginners.

    ProRealTime

    Live account holders at IG also have access to ProRealTime. This is a third-party platform geared towards experienced traders, with various advanced features:

    • Robust charts, with 100+ technical indicators, tools, and price comparisons.
    • Scalping order book with an interface designed for speed.
    • Advanced order types including triple orders, OCO orders, and trailing stops.
    • Automated trading, backtesting, and optimization.

    L2 Dealer

    L2 Dealer is IG’s direct market access (DMA) platform, suitable for advanced and professional traders. L2 Dealer enables clients to trade share or forex CFDs or deal shares outright, directly through the order books of international exchanges.

    Advantages of the L2 Dealer platform include:

    • DMA and OTC access to over 17,000 tradeable markets globally.
    • Wide range of native, synthetic, and algorithmic order types.
    • Integrated market alerts and news feeds.
    • Volume metrics to assess an underlying market’s liquidity.

    IG Order Execution Model

    IG acts as principal and not as agent and is the sole venue for the execution of trades. This means that IG acts as a market maker. Clients trade with IG and not within the underlying market.

    Tradable Instruments

    4.8
    How Did We Test the Broker's Tradable Instruments?
    For this section, we examined the broker's market offering, assessing the variety and depth of instruments and asset classes available for trading. Through our proprietary database, we then compared the results with other brokers. This comprehensive analysis allows you to determine if the broker offers the specific instruments and trading options you're looking for.
    tradable_instruments chart

    IG stands out as a frontrunner in the area of tradable instruments, boasting an impressive portfolio of over 17,000 CFDs that cover forex, commodities, indices, shares, bonds, and cryptocurrencies*. Traders have the flexibility to engage with both futures and spot market CFDs. Additionally, IG allows trading CFDs on options.

    *At IG UK, only professional traders have access to cryptocurrency trading.

    CFDs (Contracts for Differences) are financial derivative products that allow traders to speculate in various markets without owning the underlying assets. Tradable instruments at IG include the following:

    • 98 Currency Pairs. A currency pair combines two different currencies, with the value of one currency quoted against the other. For example, EUR/USD, which reflects the value of the euro measured in dollars.
    • 40 Commodities. Commodities are raw products, such as gold and oil.
    • 17,000 Global Stock CFDs. IG offers trading in stock CFDs from exchanges ranging from the NASDAQ to the Tokyo Stock Exchange. A stock is a security that represents partial ownership of a corporation.
    • 80 Indices. Available instruments range from Taiwan to Brazil stock indices. An index is a basket of trading instruments that are used to gauge a market sector, stocks within an exchange, or the economy of a country.
    • 19 Bond CFDs. CFDs on fixed-income assets include the US T-Bond and the German Bund.
    • 15 Cryptocurrency CFDs. Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are digital currencies that are secured by cryptography. (Note that only professional traders have access to cryptocurrency trading with IG UK).

    In the tables below, you can see a selection highlighting the variety of instruments available at IG:

    My assessment indicated that IG is particularly strong in the areas of forex, commodities, shares, and indices. There is some room for improvement in the area of cryptocurrencies.

    My Key Takeaways After Exploring IG Tradable Instruments

    I was very impressed by the range of tradable instruments at IG. In addition to an above-average range of currency pairs, indices, commodities, bonds, and shares, I noted the availability of CFDs on futures and options, which are less commonly available.

    Customer Support

    4.5
    How Did We Test the Broker's Customer Support?
    Traders often underestimate the importance of customer support, yet it proves to be a critical aspect during times of crisis. We put the broker's customer support to the test ourselves using all possible channels, such as chat, phone, and others. Our evaluation focused on the accessibility of live agents, as well as the helpfulness and professionalism of their responses. This way, we provide you with comprehensive insights into whether a broker can deliver full support when you need it most.
    customer_support chart

    IG provides support 24 hours a day from 8:00 a.m. Saturday to 10:00 p.m. Friday via phone, live chat, WhatsApp, and email. I rated support at IG as better than average for the industry in light of its fast and helpful responses across dozens of tests.

    Live Chat Support
    Live Chat Support

    I tested customer support over two weeks with dozens of queries, ranging from platforms to fees and account-related issues.

    Support via WhatsApp
    Support via WhatsApp

    Live chat and WhatsApp support usually responded within seconds, and emails were typically responded to the same day or within one business day. Via phone, I also received rapid responses and I appreciated not having to navigate automated questions before reaching an operator. I noted that support staff were usually well-informed and courteous.

    Available Chat Support Languages
    English | French | Italian | German | Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese) | Swedish | Japanese | Arabic

    Deposits & Withdrawals

    4.6
    How Did We Test the Broker's Deposit and Withdrawal Process?
    The deposit or withdrawal process can be tricky since you may encounter hidden fees or longer than expected processing time. To assess the broker's offerings, we examined their deposit and withdrawal options and conditions. Using our proprietary database, we then compared these results with those of other brokers.
    deposit chart

    IG clients can deposit and withdraw funds via bank wire transfer, credit/debit cards, and PayPal. Processing times are relatively fast for the industry. Deposits and withdrawals are both free of charge.

    In the tables below I break down the fees and processing times for each deposit and withdrawal method.

    Deposits

    Deposit Method Fees Processing Time
    Visa Debit/Credit $0 1-3 Business Days
    Mastercard Debit/Credit $0 1-3 Business Days
    PayPal $0 Same Day
    Bank Wire $0 2-5 Business Days

    Processing times for bank wires are relatively fast compared with other CFD brokers. Free deposits are standard for the industry.

    Withdrawals

    Withdrawal Method Fees Processing Time
    Visa Debit/Credit $0 1-3 Business Days
    Mastercard Debit/Credit $0 1-3 Business Days
    PayPal $0 Instant
    Bank Wire $0 2-5 Business Days

    Processing times for withdrawals are also fast compared with other CFD brokers. Often brokers charge for withdrawals via bank wire, so IG beats the industry average in this area.

    Account Types and Terms

    4.8
    How Did We Test the Broker's Account Types and Terms?
    When it comes to achieving your trading goals, choosing the proper account is essential. We initiated our evaluation by personally opening an account with the broker, which allowed us to gain firsthand experience of the process and accurately asses, how fast and easy it is. In addition, we carried out an in-depth analysis of the account types and features offered by the broker, including spreads, maximum leverage, minimum deposits, and more. For a comprehensive comparison, we turned to our proprietary database and examined how this broker's account offerings and processes stacked up against other brokers.
    account chart

    IG offers four accounts: CFD, Spread Betting, Share Dealing, and Smart Portfolio. The account opening process is fully digital and can be completed via the website. I found the application straightforward, and it took me less than 10 minutes to go through all the questions. For CFD trading and Spread Betting, traders can access free demo accounts via the IG Platform and MetaTrader 4.

    Account Application

    To open a CFD account with the UK entity of IG, prospective clients must provide the following information:

    • Contact and Personal Details: Name, email address, country of residence, date of birth, phone number, physical address, nationality, national insurance number.
    • Employment Details: Employment status, industry, and occupation.
    • Financial Details: Gross annual income, savings, and investments.
    • Level of Trading Experience: Volume of trades in shares and bonds, exchange-traded derivatives, and OTC derivatives in the last 3 years.

    Account Type Comparison

    Feature IG CFD Trading IG Spread Betting IG Share dealing IG Smart Portfolios
    Platforms IG Trading Platform, IG Mobile App, MT4, ProRealTime or L2 Dealer (for DMA) IG Trading Platform, IG Mobile App, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or ProRealTime IG Trading Platform, IG Mobile App, L2 Dealer (DMA) IG Trading Platform, IG Mobile App
    Leverage 1.30 1:30 None None
    Direct Market Access (DMA) Yes No Yes No
    Markets 17,000+ markets including shares, indices, forex, commodities and more 17,000+ markets including shares, indices, forex, commodities and more 12,000+ shares, 2000+ ETFs and many investment trusts In-house experts will invest in a diverse and balanced portfolio of ETFs on your behalf that include shares, bonds, and commodities
    Taxes UK traders don’t pay stamp duty but must pay capital gains tax. UK traders don’t pay capital gains tax or stamp duty. UK traders pay stamp duty and  capital gains tax. UK traders pay stamp duty and  capital gains tax.
    Demo Account Yes Yes No No
    Minimum deposit £250 £250 £0 £0

    Demo Accounts

    IG offers demo accounts for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Demo accounts are especially important for beginners as they allow them to practice their strategies and get comfortable with the trading platform without risking real money.

    The demo account features live quotes and simulates live market conditions in assets such as forex and CFDs on commodities, indices, and stocks. Once users have gotten up to speed on a demo account, they can easily switch to a live version.

    Professional Accounts

    Experienced traders can open an IG professional account, which allows for access to greater leverage and trading in CFDs on cryptocurrencies. If you can answer yes to two or more of the following you may be eligible:

    • Have you traded leverage derivatives in significant sizes over the last four quarters?
    • Do you have a financial instrument portfolio exceeding €500k?
    • Have you worked in the financial sector, in a professional position requiring knowledge of derivatives trading, for at least a year?

    The amount of additional leverage is decided on a unique basis for each individual.

    Islamic Accounts

    The UK entity of IG does not offer a swap-free Islamic account. However, the Dubai-based entity does offer this account type, which adheres to the principles of Islamic law.

    Leverage

    One of the reasons that traders are attracted to the forex and CFD markets is the high degree of available leverage. Leverage is the use of borrowed funds to increase the size of your trading positions beyond what would be possible using only the cash in your account.

    The UK FCA maximum leverage for retail clients is 1:30. This means that with an account of $1,000, you can control up to $30,000 worth of positions in the market. Leverage is often described as a ‘double-edged sword’ as it can hurt you as much as it helps you. Traders must remember that it can amplify both their profits and their losses.

    Available leverage differs according to the asset class, with the most leverage available for CFDs on forex and the least for CFDs on crypto. The figures below are for the FCA-regulated UK entity of IG (IG Markets Ltd).

    Asset Class Maximum Leverage
    Major Forex 1:30
    Minor Forex 1:30
    Exotic Forex 1:20
    Treasuries 1:30
    Indices 1:20
    Metals 1:20
    Energies 1:10
    Softs 1:10
    Shares 1:5
    Cryptocurrencies* 1:1

    *Only for professional traders.

    Supported Countries

    IG takes clients from the majority of countries globally. However, clients are not accepted from FATF blacklist countries North Korea, Iran and Myanmar.

    Base Currencies

    The base currency is the currency that your account is denominated in. IG offers clients a range of different base currencies to work with. You can switch base currencies by making a request via customer support.

    Available Base Currencies
    AUD | USD | SGD | HKD | GBP | ZAR | EUR

    Research

    5
    How Did We Test the Broker's Research Tools?
    Research options offered by brokers may not be seen as the most important feature for some traders, but they can provide a competitive advantage. To assess the broker's research offerings, we personally explored and tested both proprietary and third-party tools and content, such as Fundamental and Technical Analysis, Market News, educational videos, and webinars. After evaluating the availability and quality of the overall research offering, we compared the results with our benchmark to provide a comprehensive analysis of the broker's research capabilities.
    research chart

    IG shines in the research category with a wealth of high-quality resources to draw from. The News and Trade Ideas section of the website contains regularly updated technical and fundamental research materials. Articles and videos are insightful and reflect IG’s remarkable depth of experience. Within the IG Platform, traders can get news updates and trade ideas from the Thomson Reuters news feed. Trading signals from Autochartist are also available within the IG Platform.

    The News and Trade Ideas section features themed articles like previews of the coming week, which help orient traders on what to expect from the highest-impact news releases. In-depth coverage of major currencies like the euro and the US dollar goes over important technical price levels and market-moving economic data.

    IG News
    IG News

    The market analysis section on the IG website includes high-quality and detailed market forecasts, recaps, and coverage of major fundamental data and technical levels to watch. These in-depth articles reflect the wealth of experience IG has in covering the markets.

    IG Market Analysis
    IG Market Analysis

    In the Market Analysis section, sentiment data shows the percentage of IG clients who currently have positions, both long and short in the most actively traded markets. This is updated every 15 minutes.

    Most Open Positions
    Most Open Positions

     

    The trade analytics tool can be accessed from within the My IG client portal area. The tool allows you to look over your trading history, with deeper insight into your winning and losing positions. Key metrics provided by the tool include:

    • Return rate which indicates if your strategy is on course to profitability. You should aim at a return rate of higher than 1.
    • Win rate is the percentage of winning trades out of total trades executed.
    • Profit/loss ratio reflects the performance of your trading strategy. The higher the ratio the better.

    The tool also reveals your average hold time on winning trades, average hold time on losing trades, your best market, and your worst market. I found this a really powerful way of identifying what is working and what to avoid in your trading.

    IG Trade Analytics
    IG Trade Analytics

    The IG economic calendar is possibly the best I have encountered. It includes macroeconomic events, company earnings, dividend payments, stock splits, and IPOs. Macroeconomic events can be filtered by country and the expected impact of the event.

    IG Economic Calendar
    IG Economic Calendar

    Another great feature is that alerts are built into the economic calendar. You can set reminders to be delivered via the trading platform, push notification, or email. You can also set the timing whether to be reminded when the event happens or at a set time before the event.

    Economic Event Alerts
    Economic Event Alerts

    IG also offers three newsletters to help guide clients:

    • Morning Call helps traders plan the day before the opening bell rings.
    • Trade of the Week includes video highlights for the week ahead.
    • The Week Ahead features a calendar of market-moving events.
    IG Morning Call Email Newsletter
    IG Morning Call Email Newsletter

    My Key Takeaways after Examining IG Research Section

    IG offers a powerful mix of in-house and third-party research. I like that the materials not only contain news and analysis but also feature specific trade ideas. The in-house research and Autochartist signals are accessible to beginners. Experienced traders can benefit from the pro-grade analysis within the Thomson Reuters feed. I rate IG as an industry leader in the area of research.

    Education

    5
    How Did We Test the Broker's Education Offering?
    Gaining knowledge about trading in the financial markets can make the difference between success and failure. To assess the broker's educational offerings, we personally tested and evaluated the quality of the content provided, considering its relevance for both novice and experienced traders. We explored the range of materials available, such as articles, videos, webinars, and courses. After evaluating the content's volume, update frequency, and overall quality, we compared the results with our benchmark to provide a well-rounded analysis of the broker's education offerings.
    education chart

    The IG Academy provides courses catering to various trader levels, composed of concise, easy-to-digest lessons, each concluding with a quiz to reinforce learning. The material is delivered in a text-based format and enhanced with numerous informative graphics. I judged the content to be high quality and helpful to traders in establishing a foundation of knowledge.

    IG Academy
    IG Academy

    The IG Academy features a total of 11 courses. Beginner-level courses tackle topics like the basics of forex and market terminology.

    IG Courses
    IG Courses

    Intermediate-level courses introduce technical and fundamental analysis. At the same time, traders who are ready to move on to an advanced level can benefit from the courses containing practical content including breakout and range trading strategies.

    IG Webinars
    IG Webinars

    IG also provides regular webinars, which include platform tutorials, weekly market outlooks, and sessions focused on specific trading strategies. Some webinars are in conjunction with DailyFX, which is owned by IG. In my experience, live webinars are a great way to learn and engage with industry experts.

    The Bottom Line

    With almost 50 years of experience, IG has grown into a global powerhouse serving over 320,000 clients. The London-based broker has an unrivaled trust rating within the CFD industry. Fees are competitive and a suite of innovative tools help give clients the edge they need to succeed in the markets. Education, research, and customer support are also first-class. If you are looking for a high-quality broker that nurtures your development as a trader, I highly recommend IG.

    Risk Warning: Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

    FAQ

    IG headquarters are at Cannon Bridge House 25 Dowgate Hill London EC4R 2YA UK.
    IG is a large publicly traded company with a long operating history, regulated by multiple Tier-1 authorities. I judge this well-established forex broker can be considered safe.
    IG makes money from the bid/offer spread, swap fees, and miscellaneous account fees.
    In the UK, you can deposit funds via bank wire debit card, ACH bank transfer, or wire transfer.
    The minimum deposit is £250
    You can withdraw funds via debit card or wire transfer.
    Withdrawals via bank wire take 2-5 business days to process.
    The maximum leverage at IG UK is 1:30.
    IG offers the proprietary IG platform, MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime, and L2 Dealer.
    IG does not charge any fees for withdrawals
    With excellent educational materials and an intuitive platform, I rate IG as a good choice for beginners.
    Yes, IG offers demo accounts for the IG platform and MetaTrader 4.
    Yes, IG offers 1-click trading, fast order execution, and competitive spreads which are essential for scalpers.
    Yes, IG offers the MetaTrader 4 platform which enables automated trading.
    Yes, hedging is allowed at IG.
    Yes, IG offers spread betting for UK clients.
    Yes, VPS hosting is provided by Beeks Group in London.
    Trading hours vary. Forex trading is available 24 hours Monday to Friday. IG also offers weekend trading on a range of indices, forex pairs, and cryptocurrencies.
    Yes, IG acts as a market maker and is the counterparty to client transactions.
    The Swiss entity of IG (IG Bank SA) is a bank with a banking and security dealer's license.

    See IG Full Information

    Headquarters Country
    United Kingdom
    Foundation Year
    1974
    Regulations
    FCA (United Kingdom), BaFin (Germany), ASIC (Australia), NFA (United States), FINMA (Switzerland), MAS (Singapore), DFSA (United Arab Emirates), FSCA (South Africa), JFSA (Japan)
    Publicly Traded
    Yes
    Number Of Employees
    1000
    Trading Desk Type
    Market Maker
    Trading Platforms
    Proprietary, MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer
    Restricted Countries
    North Korea, Iran, Myanmar
    Supported Languages
    English, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwey, Swedish
    Min Deposit
    $250
    Max Leverage
    1:30 (FCA), 1:30 (BaFin), 1:30 (ASIC), 1:50 (NFA), 1:100 (FINMA), 1:20 (MAS), 1:30 (DFSA), 1:30 (FSCA), 1:30 (JFSA)
    Deposit Options
    Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard
    Withdrawal Options
    Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard
    Time to Withdrawal
    2
    Time to Open an Account
    9
    Crypto
    Ethereum, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Cardano, Stellar, Dogecoin, Polkadot, NEO
    Products
    Currencies, Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, Indices, Commodities
    Demo Account
    Yes
    OCO Orders
    Yes
    Offers Hedging
    Yes
    Automated Trading
    Yes
    API Trading
    No
    Guaranteed Stop Loss
    Yes
    Guaranteed Limit Orders
    Yes
    Guaranteed Fills / Liquidity
    No
    Economic calendar
    Yes
    Trading From Chart
    Yes
    One-Click Trading
    Yes
    Expert Advisor
    Yes
    Social Trading
    No
    Autochartist
    Yes
    Trading Signals
    Yes
    Platform Languages
    English, French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, German
    24 Hours Support
    Yes
    Support During Weekends
    No
    Live Chat
    Yes
    Daily Market Commentary
    No
    News (Top-Tier Sources)
    Yes
    Webinars
    Yes
    Deposit Fee
    No
    Withdrawal Fee
    No
    Inactivity Fee
    Yes

    About the Author

    Dan BlystoneBroker Analyst

    Dan Blystone began his career in the trading industry in 1998 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later Dan gained insight into the forex industry during his time as a Series 3 licenced futures and forex broker. He also traded at a couple of different prop trading firms in Chicago. Dan is well-equipped to recommend the best forex brokers due to his extensive experience and understanding of the brokerage industry.

    Why you can trust FX Empire

    At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.

    Why you can trust FX Empire

    FXEmpire was founded in 2011, making us one of the first forex broker review sites. You can trust FXEmpire because of our thorough and unbiased review process. With over a decade of experience, we have a team of industry experts who conduct rigorous tests to ensure our reviews are accurate and unbiased. Our reviews are designed to bring clarity and confidence to the process of choosing a broker, and are based on objective criteria and measurable data. Our editorial team is composed of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists, who ensure that our reviews are accurate and unbiased. Additionally, our review system is based on 9 core categories and over 250 distinct variables, which ensures that all aspects of a broker are considered before giving a final rating. So, you can trust FXEmpire to provide you with honest and informative reviews that will help you make an informed decision on which broker will best enable you to reach your financial goals.
    69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money