IG broker enables traders to access 17,000+ instruments with 24-hour Indices and extended hours for US shares trading advantage. This broker has won 10+ industry awards, and over 381K traders use this broker's services. IG is a member of the FTSE 250 index (Footsie 250) and has offices in 17 countries.
IG; Broker Introduction and Regulation
Founded in 1974 in London, IG pioneered spread betting and has become one of the industry's largest and most respected brokers. IG International Limited is a member of IG Group and is regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority.
The company has sales offices in 17 countries across 5 continents and serves 381,000+ clients. IG Group is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index (Footsie 250) and regulated by multiple top-tier financial authorities, including:
- Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC)
- United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA)
- France The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF)
- New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (FMA)
- Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
- Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)
- South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)
This multi-jurisdictional regulatory framework gives traders confidence in IG's operations and protects their investments. It also ensures the safety of client funds, adherence to industry standards, and the availability of dispute resolution mechanisms.
The broker offers different levels of client protection in some regions according to the regulating authority:
- In the U.K., FSCS coverage up to £85,000 and full fund segregation is provided;
- European clients are served with compensation of up to €20,000;
- Swiss clients enjoy 100,000 CHF in coverage.
IG also enforces negative balance protection for EU retail traders only, meaning clients can't lose more than their account balance on leveraged trades.
IG Broker Table of Specifications
To give you a clear picture of what IG offers, here's a comprehensive table of specifications.
Broker | IG |
Account Types | CFD |
Regulating Authorities | ASIC, FCA, FSA, AMF, FMA, MAS, DFSA, FSCA |
Based Currencies | USD, GBP, AUD, EUR, SGD, HKD |
Minimum Deposit | Unlimited |
Deposit Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Cards |
Withdrawal Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Cards |
Minimum Order | $1 per trade for the first two weeks |
Maximum Leverage | 1:200 |
Investment Options | Trading signals, Algorithmic trading |
Trading Platforms & Apps | MT4, TradingView, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, Proprietary Platform |
Markets | Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Bonds, IPOs |
Spread | Variable based on the instruments |
Commission | $0.0 (except for Shares) |
Orders Execution | Market, Limit, Stop-Loss, Trailing Stops, Trigger, Guaranteed Stops |
Margin Call / Stop Out | N/A |
Trading Features | Academy, Signals, Economic Calendar |
Affiliate Program | Yes |
Bonus & Promotions | Referral, Rebate |
Islamic Account | No |
PAMM Account | No |
Customer Support Ways | Email, Live Chat, Phone, WhatsApp |
Customer Support Hours | 24/6 |
IG Broker Account Types
IG forex broker offers only one trading account with extensive features. However, during registration, you can choose your preferred trading platform and the market model. Key features of the IG CFD Account:
Markets | 17,000+ |
Min Order Size | $1 per trade for the first two weeks |
Margin/Leverage | From 0.25% for forex, 5% for shares, and a margin factor for indices |
1:200 | |
Phone Trading | Yes |
Demo Account | Yes |
Min Deposit | No limit |
Why IG broker (Upside and Downside)
Tight spreads, low commissions, award-winning trading platforms, and segregated accounts are some of the advantages you’ll get by trading with IG. However, there are downsides to it as well.
Pros | Cons |
Wide range of markets and instruments | Occasional platform outages during high-volatility periods |
Robust regulatory framework | Limited cryptocurrency offerings |
Comprehensive educational resources | Lack of 24/7 support |
Strong reputation and long-standing presence in the industry | - |
IG broker Account opening and Verification
We must discuss the registration process in this IG broker review. To benefit from the company’s trading charts, signals, algorithmic trading, APIs, and many more, follow the stages below towards IG registration.
#1 Create an Account via IG.com
Head to the official IG Markets website and hit "Create Live Account" to begin.
#2 Enter Personal and Account Preferences
Choose your country of residence from the list. Afterwards, please submit your full name and email address, and then set a password.
Select your desired account type for CFD trading on multiple asset classes.
#3 Provide Identity and Contact Information
Include details mentioned here:
- Date/place of birth
- Phone number
- ID number
- Nationality
Note that multiple citizenships must be declared.
#4 Add Residential Address Details
Fill in your street address, city, and postal code to proceed with identity verification.
#5 Submit Financial Information
State these parameters based on facts about yourself:
- Income
- Employment status
- Fund source
- Trading goals
#6 Describe Your Trading Background
Answer questions regarding your experience with derivatives, stocks, OTC markets, and whether you hold any financial certifications.
#7 Accept Terms and Complete Sign-Up
Agree to IG’s terms and submit the form. After registration, upload your verification documents to activate your account and start trading.
IG Broker Trading Platforms
The company offers a full suite of trading platforms, from proprietary software to specialist platforms. Here’s a list of available trading platforms on IG.
- IG Android app
- IG iOS web app
- IG Web Trader
- MT4
- ProRealTime
- L2 Dealer
- TradingView
Almost all of the mentioned platforms are free to use, but they have requirements that you should meet, such as ProRealTime (at least 4 transactions per month) and L2Dealer (minimum $2,000 balance).
IG Broker Commission and Fees
The company offers competitive prices and fees. The rates for Futures and CFDs are variable. IG spreads on various markets:
Markets | Commissions | Spreads |
Indices | - | Floating from 1.0 pips |
Forex | - | Floating from 0.6 pips |
Commodities | - | Floating from 0.3 pips |
Crypto | - | Floating from 2.0 pips |
Shares | From 0.08% | - |
While IG's fees are generally competitive, it's important to consider all potential costs when planning your trading strategy. Some other potential fees on IG:
- Overnight Funding: Applied to positions held overnight, based on relevant interest rate benchmarks plus a small admin fee
- Guaranteed Stop Premiums: A small fee is charged if a guaranteed stop is triggered (e.g., 0.3% for share CFDs)
- Inactivity Fee: $18 per month after two years of inactivity
IG Broker Payment Methods
When it comes to the payment methods, there is not much to discuss in this IG broker review. The company offers only two central payment systems, including bank transfer and Credit/Debit cards.
Method | Min Deposit | Min Withdrawal | Commission |
Credit/Debit Cards | $50 | $150 | 1% charge for Visa and 0.5% charge for MasterCard. |
Bank Transfer | Unlimited | $150 | - |
Copy Trading and Growth Plans on IG
While the brokerage company doesn’t provide an automated Copy Trading system, you can use the “Signals” menu on the platform for social trading. Monitor the market signals and strategies provided in the platform and copy them to open positions.
In addition, you can use the Algorithmic trading feature and APIs to automate your trades and earn profits without opening or closing positions yourself. Other than these, there are no specific investment plans on IG Markets.
Available Markets on IG
The broker offers an impressive range of markets with 17,000+ financial instruments to trade.
- Forex
- Indices
- Commodities
- Shares CFDs
- Cryptocurrencies
- Options, Bonds, Interest Rates, ETFs, IPOs, and Sectors
IG Bonus Offerings
Bonus and promotional plans are indeed among the most attractive topics in this IG broker review. The company’s main promotional programs are referrals and a rebate system.
- Refer a Friend: Earn up to $10,000 in a tiered system;
- Rebate: Receive rewards for your loyalty as cashback on your trading volume.
Don't what if forex rebate? Read the Forex Rebate article on TradingFinder to learn about earning indirect income from trading and the best brokers that offer it.
How to reach IG Customer Support
The broker’s customer support is available 24/6 through various channels, including live chat, WhatsApp chat, and other methods.
sales.en@ig.com | |
Phone | +44 (20) 7633 5430 |
Live Chat | Through the official website |
Scan the QR code on the “Contact Us” page |
Restricted Countries on IG broker
The Company doesn't offer services in certain countries due to regulatory restrictions. These include:
- United States
- Iran
- Cuba
- Sudan
- Syria
- North Korea
Note that residents of the United States can use the IG Group’s services through its US branch, tastyfx. However, the services might be limited compared to those the international branch provides.
IG Markets User Satisfaction (Trust Score)
One of the most important topics in this IG broker review is the trust score. The broker has received mixed comments and scores from users and experts.
3.7 out of 5 based on 7,089 reviews | |
Forex Peace Army | 1.8 out of 5 based on 174 comments |
Investopedia | 4.7 out of 5 |
IG Educational Materials
The broker offers comprehensive educational content through the “Learn to trade” section on its website. This menu gives you access to various education and information resources, including:
- IG Academy: Online courses covering various forex education topics
- Webinars: Regular sessions on market analysis and trading strategies
- Trading guides: In-depth articles on trading concepts and techniques
- News and analysis: Daily market updates and expert insights
Table of Comparison
The table in this section evaluates IG's performance compared to three of the top global brokers:
Parameter | IG Broker | Exness Broker | HFM Broker | Errante Broker |
Regulation | ASIC, FCA, FSA, AMF, FMA, MAS, DFSA, FSCA | FSA, CySEC, FCA, FSCA, CBCS, FSC, CMA | CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSCA, FSA | CySEC, FSA |
Minimum Spread | Variable Based on the Instrument | From 0.0 Pips | From 0.0 Pips | From 0.0 pips |
Commission | $0.0 (except for Shares) | From $0.2 to USD 3.5 | From $0 | From $0.0 |
Minimum Deposit | Unlimited | $10 | From $0 | $50 |
Maximum Leverage | 1:200 | Unlimited | 1:2000 | 1:1000 |
Trading Platforms | MT4, TradingView, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, Proprietary Platform | Exness Trade (mobile), Exness Terminal (web), MT4, MT5 | MT4, MT5, Mobile App | Metatrader 4, Metatrader 5, cTrader, Mobile App |
Account Types | CFD | Standard, Standard Cent, Pro, Raw Spread, Zero | Cent, Zero, Pro, Premium | Standard, Premium, VIP, Tailor Made |
Islamic Account | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Number of Tradable Assets | 17,000+ | 200+ | 1,000+ | 150+ |
Trade Execution | Market, Limit, Stop-Loss, Trailing Stops, Trigger, Guaranteed Stops | Market, Instant | Market, Buy Stop, Stop Loss, Limit, Take Profit | Market |
Conclusion and Final Words
1$ minimum deposit, 1:200 maximum leverage, 8 regulations and $0 commission (except for shares) are some of the features of IG broker. This broker offer signals, economic calendar and rebate to all traders and has only 1 account type called "CFD." But it has disadvantages such as limited cryptocurrencies to trade and lack of 24/7 support.