The best alternatives to IG are
- eToro - Global social trading broker
- XTB - Global CFD broker
- Trading 212 - Global CFD broker, but real stocks/ETFs are also available
- Plus500 - Global CFD broker
Let's see in a bit more detail how the IG alternatives compare to IG and each other:
| IG | eToro | XTB | Trading 212 | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.6 stars | 4.8 stars | 4.8 stars | 4.6 stars | 4.7 stars |
| Fees score | 3.5 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.0 stars | 4.0 stars |
| Account opening score | 4.2 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.5 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 4.5 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Web platform score | 5.0 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Markets and products score | 4.7 stars | 4.4 stars | 3.9 stars | 4.1 stars | 4.0 stars |
|
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Why are these brokers considered good alternatives to IG? There are many areas based on which IG can be compared with others. When we say a given online broker is a good alternative to IG we mean these brokers are comparable in the following areas:
- The products they offer, meaning you can buy mostly the same things, i.e. stocks, CFDs, options, etc.
- The type of clients they target, i.e. beginners, experienced investors, or day traders.
IG alternatives recommendations
Brokers are different in a number of ways, which means each of them may be suitable for different people. Here's how they compare overall:
- IG is recommended for traders of any experience level looking for an easy-to-use trading platform
- eToro is recommended for traders interested in social trading (i.e. copying other investors’ trades) and zero commission stock trading
- XTB is recommended for forex and cfd traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal service
- Trading 212 is recommended for equity investors and cfd traders looking for easy-to-use trading platforms
- Plus500 is recommended for experienced traders looking for an easy-to-use platform and a great user experience
Important factors of finding IG alternatives
So far BrokerChooser has reviewed 102 online brokers in detail, which gives this comparison a solid starting point.
Not only that, but all of these brokers are reviewed using the exact same broker review methodology, which makes everything easily comparable. For each broker, we
- open a live account
- check over 100 criteria, with weighting based on readers' preferences
- refresh data regularly
Whether IG or one of its alternatives is the best choice for you is on the following five broker characteristics that most interest people:
Fees. There are different types of fees that your online brokerage may charge, and both the number and the size of these fees may vary significantly from broker to broker. Both of these aspects can impact your returns and your overall experience. The amounts IG charges you are considered average. When picking an alternative, you could prioritize brokers that are cheaper than IG.
Deposit/withdrawal. The number of ways that you can deposit or withdraw money to or from your account matters a lot. For example, while you can make a deposit with a credit card at IG, this might not be the case at its alternatives.
Web trading platform. While online brokers are usually available on various platforms like mobile apps, tablet apps or desktop software, most people use them through their web platform in a browser. User-friendly trading platforms that offer many different resources can significantly increase your trading comfort.
Markets and products. A lot of people have specific products they would like to invest in. Knowing whether stocks, forex, mutual funds, and other products are available at the given IG alternative is a must.
Now let's dive into the details of how IG and its alternatives perform in the most important areas!
IG alternatives
eToro
eToro is a well-known Israeli fintech company and a social trading broker, established in 2007.
Check out our eToro review tailored to the needs of beginner investors and traders.
eToro serves UK clients through a unit regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Australians through an Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC)-regulated entity. All other customers are served by a Cypriot unit that is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
eToro is not listed on any stock exchange, does not disclose its annual report on its website and does not have a bank parent.
Being regulated by the top-tier FCA and ASIC is a good sign for eToro's safety.
HEADS UP: Minimum deposit based on residency and account activation – Be sure to check the minimum deposit that is required to activate your account. After uploading your documents, a deposit is also needed in order to make trades. The amount of the deposit required is based on your residency, and ranges from $10 to $10,000. More details are available in the review’s Account opening section.
eToro USA LCC does not offer CFDs, only real Crypto assets available.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 79% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Recommended for traders interested in social trading (i.e. copying other investors’ trades) and zero commission stock trading
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free stock and ETF trading | • High non-trading fees |
| • Seamless account opening | • Only one account base currency |
| • Social trading | • Customer support should be improved |
Fees
eToro offers free stock and ETF trading, while forex and CFD fees are low. On the negative side, non-trading fees are high, including a $5 withdrawal fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Inactivity fee |
| • Free stock and ETF trading | • $5 withdrawal fee |
| • Low forex and CFD fees |
| eToro | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $6.4 | $32.7 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | - | $25.2 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $15.6 | $17.4 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Account opening at eToro is seamless and very fast, and the minimum deposit is relatively low for most countries.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • Low minimum deposit |
| eToro | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in eToro minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Depositing money is easy, with a lot of available options, although there is a $5 withdrawal fee. As only USD accounts are available, you may pay a high conversion fee if you deposit or withdraw in another currency, like EUR or GBP.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Only one account base currency |
| • User-friendly | • $5 withdrawal fee |
| • Conversion fee for non-USD deposits |
| eToro | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $5 | $0 |
Web trading platform
eToro offers a user-friendly and well-designed web trading platform, where social trading is also available. On the other hand, the platform's customizability is limited.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| eToro | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.4 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.9 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about eToro's web trading platform in the detailed eToro review.
Markets and products
At eToro, you can trade CFDs and forex, as well as real stocks, ETFs and many cryptos. Innovative services like social trading and Smart Portfolios are also available.
| eToro | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds | No | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
Verdict
How does eToro work? eToro offers zero-commission stock trading. The account opening is swift and seamless. It has a lot of innovative features, like social trading and copying other (successful) traders. Furthermore, eToro offers many cryptos to trade.
It has some drawbacks, though. There is a $5 withdrawal fee and eToro only allows USD accounts, which means that conversion costs on deposits and withdrawals can be high if your funding currency is not USD. It's difficult to contact customer support and their educational materials could be better.
So is eToro good? Overall, we would recommend eToro for its social trading feature, crypto offering and zero-commission stock trading. If you are a long-term stock investor, a traditional stockbroker might make more sense to you as some of the drawbacks of eToro (like not applying reduced withholding tax on US dividends) might outweigh the benefits of free trading.
Risk disclaimer
eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 79% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Past performance is not an indication of future results. Trading history presented is less than 5 complete years and may not suffice as basis for investment decision.
Copy trading is a portfolio management service, provided by eToro (Europe) Ltd., which is authorized and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.
eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication, which has been prepared by our partner utilizing publicly available non-entity specific information about eToro.
| eToro | |
|---|---|
| Summary | eToro is a global social trading broker. It is regulated by top-tier authorities such as the UK FCA or Australia's ASIC. eToro USA LCC does not offer CFDs, only real Crypto assets available. |
| Fees score | 4.3 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders interested in social trading (i.e. copying other investors’ trades) and zero commission stock trading |
IG alternatives
XTB
XTB is a global CFD broker with headquarters in London and Warsaw, founded in 2002. The company is regulated by several financial authorities worldwide, including the top-tier UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In addition, XTB is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, and as such is required to regularly disclose its financials.
XTB is considered safe because it has a long track record, is listed on a stock exchange and publishes its financial statements transparently.
HEADS UP: Recent feedback about deposit and withdrawal – The details of depositing by wire transfer might be unclear for some of our users according to recent feedback we received. If you have problems, head to the 'Deposit and withdrawal' section of the review, where we explain how to make a free wire deposit to your XTB account under the section's 'Deposit and fees and options' heading.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Recommended for forex and cfd traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal service
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Commission-free stocks/ETFs for some | • Product portfolio limited mostly to CFDs |
| • Free and fast deposit and withdrawal | • Inactivity fee charged |
| • Easy and fast account opening |
Fees
XTB has low trading fees and average non-trading fees. In many cases there's no withdrawal fee, and some clients are eligible for free stock and ETF trading. However, there's an inactivity fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free stocks/ETFs up to €100k monthly volume | • Inactivity fee |
| • Most bank transfer withdrawals are free |
| XTB | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $10.1 | $32.7 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $10.6 | $25.2 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $15.2 | $17.4 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
XTB's account opening process is hassle-free, straightforward and fully digital. Your account will be ready for trading on the same day.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| XTB | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in XTB minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
XTB deposits and withdrawals are fast and mostly free. You can do deposits/withdrawals through bank transfers, credit/debit cards, and electronic wallets.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Few minor account currencies accepted |
| • Deposits/withdrawals are mostly free | |
| • E-wallets available |
| XTB | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
XTB's xStation 5 platform is user-friendly, customizable and has a good search function. On the other hand, two-step login is not available.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Good search function |
| XTB | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.4 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.4 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 4.4 stars | - |
Learn more about XTB's web trading platform in the detailed XTB review.
Markets and products
XTB's default selection includes only CFDs. Some European clients can also trade real stocks and ETFs. Popular assets like bonds, mutual funds, options or futures are not available.
| XTB | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds | No | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
Verdict
XTB is a great CFD broker. It is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the UK's FCA. The company is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
On the plus side, many European clients can enjoy commission-free stock and ETF trading up to a €100,000 monthly trade volume. We also liked that the deposit and withdrawal process is fast and mostly free. The account opening process is seamless, hassle-free and quick.
XTB has some drawbacks, though. The product range is mainly limited to CFDs, although real stock and ETF trading is available in some European countries. Lastly, there is an inactivity fee charged.
We recommend XTB for clients who prefer forex or CFD trading and also want to enjoy great deposit and withdrawal options along with fast account opening. Feel free to test it using a demo account.
| XTB | |
|---|---|
| Summary | XTB is a trusted global CFD broker, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. XTB is regulated by many financial authorities globally, including the top-tier FCA. |
| Fees score | 4.3 stars |
| Recommended for | Forex and CFD traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal service |
IG alternatives
Trading 212
Trading 212 is onboarding clients without a waiting list from the EEA region only. Customers from other eligible countries can join Trading 212's waiting list, but it may take a while until onboarding restrictions are lifted and the waiting list is scrapped.
Trading 212 is a global CFD broker, but clients can also trade stocks and ETFs free of charge. The company was founded in 2004 and is now headquartered in London. Trading 212 is regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Cypriot Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), and the Bulgarian Financial Supervision Commission (FSC).
Check out our Trading 212 review tailored to the needs of beginner investors and traders.
Trading 212 is considered safe as it is regulated by the top-tier FCA.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Recommended for equity investors and cfd traders looking for easy-to-use trading platforms
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Real stocks and ETFs are commission-free | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Quick and easy account opening | • High forex fees |
| • Great trading platforms | • USD unavailable as account currency |
Fees
Trading 212 offers commission-free stock and ETF trading, and there are also no fees for deposit, withdrawal or inactivity. However, fees for forex trading are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free stock and ETF trading | • High forex fees |
| • No withdrawal and inactivity fee | • High financing rate |
| Trading 212 | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $14.2 | $32.7 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $15.3 | $25.2 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $15.2 | $17.4 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
The account opening process is straightforward, user-friendly and quick. Our account was verified within one business day.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Problems with verification |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| Trading 212 | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in Trading 212 minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Trading 212 offers many free deposit and withdrawal options. On the downside, there are only a few account base currencies available in each country, and you can't choose USD.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • USD unavailable as base currency |
| • Free withdrawal | • Few base currencies in each country |
| Trading 212 | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Trading 212 has a user-friendly web trading platform with great features, like a safe two-step login or easy search. On the negative side, the platform is not customizable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Two-step (safer) login | |
| • Good search function |
| Trading 212 | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.4 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.9 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about Trading 212's web trading platform in the detailed Trading 212 review.
Markets and products
Trading 212 focuses on CFDs (forex, stock, index, etc.) and real stocks/ETFs. As a result, popular asset classes like bonds, mutual funds, options or futures are missing.
| Trading 212 | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds | No | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Trading 212 is primarily a CFD broker, regulated by multiple financial supervisory authorities.
On the plus side, Trading 212 offers commission-free stocks and ETFs, while most CFD fees and non-trading fees are low as well. The account opening process is seamless and the trading platforms are user-friendly.
However, Trading 212 has a limited product portfolio, lacking popular asset classes such as bonds or options. We found forex fees relatively high and missed USD as an account currency.
So is Trading 212 good? Trading 212 is a good choice for those interested in investing in equities or trading leveraged CFD products, using a great trading platform. As it offers a demo account, don't hesitate to give it a try.
| Trading 212 | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Trading 212 is a CFD broker regulated by the UK FCA, Bulgarian FSC, and Cypriot CySEC. Customers can invest in commission-free stock and ETF trading as well. |
| Fees score | 4.0 stars |
| Recommended for | Equity investors and CFD traders looking for easy-to-use trading platforms |
IG alternatives
Plus500
Plus500 is a London Stock Exchange-listed global CFD broker that was founded in 2008 in Israel. It is regulated by several international financial authorities, including top-tier ones like the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Plus500 has three different platfroms, Plus500 CFD, where you can trade CFDs, Plus500 Invest, where you can trade stocks and Trade Sniper, where you can trade futures. Trade Sniper is only available for US citizens.
Being listed on a stock exchange, regulated by several top-tier financial authorities, and disclosing its financials publicly are all good signs for Plus500's reliability.
Recommended for experienced traders looking for an easy-to-use platform and a great user experience
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Easy-to-use platform | • Mediocre research tools |
| • Great account opening | • Average CFD fees |
| • Quick and helpful customer support |
Fees
Plus500 has low stock trading fees and charges no withdrawal fee. There is an inactivity fee, but it's charged only if you don't log in to the platform. On the negative side, forex CFD fees are average.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low real stock fees | • Average forex CFD fees |
| • No withdrawal fee | |
| • Inactivity fee applies only if you don't log in to the platform |
| Plus500 | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $13.3 | $32.7 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $17.0 | $25.2 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $18.7 | $17.4 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Plus500 account opening is seamless, fast and fully digital. You can open your trading account within a day.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • Low minimum deposit |
| Plus500 | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in Plus500 minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Plus500's deposit and withdrawal services are great. You have many options and the processes are simple and free of charge.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | None |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Plus500 | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
The Plus500 web trading platform is quite easy to use and also looks great. On the negative side, it cannot be customized.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability for workspace |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Plus500 | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.5 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about Plus500's web trading platform in the detailed Plus500 review.
Markets and products
At Plus500 you can trade mainly CFDs (CFD forex, stock index, stock, ETF, commodity and crypto), stocks and futures. Further popular asset classes, like ETFs or options are not available. Futures trading is only available for US citizens.
| Plus500 | IG | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds | No | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Plus500 is a good CFD broker. It is recommended for traders who are aware of the risks of CFD trading. The broker is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the UK's FCA, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. If you are not from the UK, you will most likely be served by regulators from other countries where different investor protection rules may apply.
Attention Daytraders! At Plus500, scalping is defined as "a trading strategy based on the notion that client transactions are opened and closed within 2 minutes limit in order to accumulate quick profits from small price changes." If Plus500 believes you are scalping, your account may be blocked and closed. Therefore, if you plan to execute many trades within 2 minutes, Plus500 is not your broker.
The Plus500 platform is easy to use, providing a great user experience even for first-timers. The account opening process and customer support are great.
On the other hand, the brokers' research tools are limited, CFD fees are average and their educational site has room for improvement.
As there is a low minimum deposit required, no withdrawal fee for withdrawals over $100, and the inactivity fee only kicks in after three months, feel free to give Plus500 a try. Just be sure not to use all of your capital, as it is really easy to lose money when trading CFDs with this – or any – provider. There's always a high risk of losing your capital when trading with CFDs, be careful!
| Plus500 | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Plus500 is a global CFD broker, listed on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market and regulated by many authorities including the UK FCA and CySEC of Cyprus. |
| Fees score | 4.0 stars |
| Recommended for | Experienced traders looking for an easy-to-use platform and a great user experience |
IG alternatives
IG
IG, established in the UK in 1974, is one of the biggest CFD brokers in the world. It is regulated by several bodies globally, including top-tier regulators like the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). IG Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
IG is considered safe because it is listed on a stock exchange, discloses its financials and is overseen by top-tier regulators.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 79% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. CFDs are not provided for US clients. Forex trading involves risk. Losses can exceed deposits.
Recommended for traders of any experience level looking for an easy-to-use trading platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • First-class web trading platform | • High stock CFD fees |
| • Superb educational tools | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Great deposit and withdrawal options | • Slow customer support |
Fees
IG has low non-trading fees. Withdrawals are free of charge and the inactivity fee is charged only after 2 years. On the negative side, stock CFD fees are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No withdrawal fee | • High financing rate |
| • Inactivity fee charged only after 2 years | • High stock CFD trading fees |
| IG | eToro | XTB | Trading 212 | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $2.6 | $3.1 | $4.0 | $1.5 | $3.5 |
| Europe 50 index CFD fee | $2.3 | $3.2 | $3.3 | $2.2 | $3.3 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $17.4 | $15.6 | $15.2 | $15.2 | $18.7 |
| GBPUSD benchmark fee | $12.4 | $4.5 | $10.7 | $23.5 | $14.9 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stock and $20k for FX
Account opening
IG's account opening is seamless and fully digital. There is no minimum deposit for bank transfers and a low, $/€300 minimum deposit for credit/debit cards and PayPal. On the other hand, account verification takes around 3 business days, which is slower than at some other brokers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Slower account opening |
| • Low minimum deposit | |
| • No minimum deposit for bank transfer |
| IG | eToro | XTB | Trading 212 | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $10 | $0 | $0 | $100 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day |
Learn more about IG minimum deposit here.
Deposit and withdrawal
IG offers free and fast deposit and withdrawal options. There are various options for funding your account, including traditional methods such as wire transfer and credit card funding, as well as PayPal.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | None |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| IG | eToro | XTB | Trading 212 | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $5 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
IG's web trading platform is great for both beginners and professional traders. It is easy to use, has all the necessary functions and can be customized.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | None |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| IG | eToro | XTB | Trading 212 | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 5.0 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 5.0 stars | 4.9 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.9 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - | 4.4 stars | - | - |
Learn more about IG's web trading platform in the detailed IG review.
Markets and products
At IG, most clients can only trade CFDs, forex and options. There are literally thousands of CFDs available to trade. Residents of the UK and some other countries can also trade real stocks. However, other popular assets like mutual funds and bonds are not available.
| IG | eToro | XTB | Trading 212 | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Funds | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bonds | No | No | No | No | No |
| Options | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Verdict
IG is one of the biggest and most reliable CFD brokers worldwide. It is regulated by several financial authorities around the world and IG Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
IG has one of the best web trading platforms BrokerChooser has tested. The deposit and withdrawal conditions are great. You can also expand your knowledge with great educational materials.
On the other hand, forex and stock CFD fees are high and the product portfolio in most countries is limited to forex, CFDs and options. Customer support could be better.
Feel free to test IG's first-class trading platform since there is no minimum funding amount and you can also easily open a demo account.
| IG | |
|---|---|
| Summary | IG is a CFD and forex broker. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and regulated by several authorities globally, including the top-tier FCA. |
| Fees score | 3.5 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders of any experience level looking for an easy-to-use trading platform |
IG alternatives
Bottom line
Based on our analysis, there are several good alternatives to IG. They all offer similar products and target similar customers. Here's a recap of the results in a table.
| Broker | Info | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| IG | Global CFD and forex broker | Traders of any experience level looking for an easy-to-use trading platform |
| eToro | Global social trading broker | Traders interested in social trading (i.e. copying other investors’ trades) and zero commission stock trading |
| XTB | Global CFD broker | Forex and CFD traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal service |
| Trading 212 | Global CFD broker, but real stocks/ETFs are also available | Equity investors and CFD traders looking for easy-to-use trading platforms |
| Plus500 | Global CFD broker | Experienced traders looking for an easy-to-use platform and a great user experience |
Still unsure? Use our broker finder and find the best broker for you or learn more about investing your money.
