IG Markets Review, in which our experts used TradingCritique’s unique 50-point broker rating methodology to assess IG Markets across regulation, fees, spreads, platforms, account types, customer support, market analysis tools, and overall trading experience.
IG Broker has more than 50 years of industry experience and access to more than 17,000 financial markets, making it one of the most recognizable brokers among online traders. Is IG the best broker for you?
Is IG Safe? Yes, IG is considered a highly safe broker. From IG regulation to IG trading conditions, spreads, leverage & execution, we will cover all aspects of this broker to help you choose whether you want to open an account there or not.
Quick Summary
CFDs are complex instruments. 69% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs, with this investment provider. You can lose your money rapidly due to leverage. Please ensure you understand how this product works and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing money.
IG Markets at a glance
IG Group Holdings Plc is one of the largest and oldest companies that provides retail trading services in the world. IG was founded by Stuart Wheeler in 1974 as IG Index, originally standing for Investors Gold Index.
IG Group Holdings Plc is considered the pioneer of financial spread betting and the facilitator of the popularity of retail CFD trading in the 1990s. Currently, IG trades in different markets all over the world and is the company that serves hundreds of thousands of customers.
The company is publicly quoted on the London Stock Exchange, and its ticker is IGG. According to the figures for January 2026, IG’s market capitalization amounts to $5.7 billion (≈£4.5 billion) using London Stock Exchange data.
Who should use IG Markets?
Ideal IG traders:
- Those who value high regulation and financial stability.
- Those who are active traders and would like multiple platform access.
- Those who are interested in accessing all markets through CFDs, shares, options, and spread betting.
Non-ideal IG clients:
- Those who want the best possible spreads in the market.
- Those who need an Islamic account.
- Those who are looking for an STP/NDD broker without market makers.
Verdict: Outstanding premium broker with exceptional regulatory standing, trading features, and a wide product offering.
To see how we research, test, and score brokers, visit our About page and review process guide.
TC rating breakdown 9.00/10
Overall IG Markets TC rating: 9.00/10
- Regulation: (18.75/20) Highest regulatory coverage in our review portfolio.
- Security: (5.60/7) Good security on the funds; weaknesses offshore.
- Trading fees: (7.00/8) Good fees with direct market access.
- Range of products: (5.75/6) Wide product range.
- Execution platforms: (5.40/6) Great execution platforms; market-maker execution system.
- Support & education: (2.50/3) Good educational program, but inconsistent customer support.
Regulation
18.75 / 20
Why this score:18.75/20 IG has scored the highest marks among all reviewed brokers for the regulations rating due to its strong regulatory presence worldwide, 52 years of activity, and London Stock Exchange listing.
IG Markets regulation and licenses
Is IG Markets a regulated broker? Yes, IG operates under the supervision of 11 regulators worldwide, including several Tier-1 authorities such as the FCA, ASIC, CFTC/NFA, MAS, FINMA, JFSA, BaFin, DFSA, FSCA, FMA, and BMA.
Among these, IG Markets Ltd is authorized and regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Firm Reference Number (FRN) 195355.
- Established in 1974 and has been operational for more than 50 years.
- Listed on the FTSE 100 with transparent financial reporting and public disclosures.
- Financial year 2025 revenue of $1.38 billion (≈£1.08 billion); profit of $487 million (≈£380.4 million) from the IG Annual report.
Why the deduction? IG had been deducted 0.25 points due to Australia’s existing class action (VID301/2023) concerning unconscionable conduct under Section 991A and misleading/deceptive conduct affecting Australian retail CFD customers from May 2017 to August 2023. The claims have yet to be substantiated and have no bearing on IG’s licenses.
Security
5.60 / 7
Why this score:5.60/7 Client funds are effectively protected in IG through segregation and regulation, although these protections vary widely by country. The client funds from the UK are protected by the FSCS to a limit of $109,000 (≈£85,000), whereas clients from the EU are protected by the EdW to a limit of $21,600 (≈€20,000).
- Clients’ funds are segregated and stored in separate bank accounts.
- Funds are stored with banks such as Barclays, HSBC, and Lloyd’s.
- PwC audits the system for managing client funds independently on an annual basis.
- A specific committee manages the protection of client funds.
- Client funds are distributed among several banks to ensure safety.
However, clients from other jurisdictions such as Bermuda, the US, Singapore, and Dubai are not protected by any compensation scheme or voluntary insurance.
Why the deduction? 0.75 points were deducted since IG does not offer any voluntary insurance protection for its offshore clients.
0.50 point was also deducted because of the negative balance protection being offered by the firm only where it is legally obligatory, which means clients in the US and Bermuda will not have any negative balance protection. 0.15 points were provisionally deducted due to unverified information regarding mandatory 2FA.
Trading fees
7.00 / 8
Why this score: 7.00/8. IG provides relatively low trading fees, with EUR/USD spreads ranging from 0.6 to 0.86 pips on its standard account, as well as DMA Level 2 Dealer service, which includes raw spreads with a commission for more experienced traders. Even though IG is rather cheap, it is not the most affordable broker out there.
Why the deduction? 0.25 points were deducted because IG’s trading fees, while competitive, are not the lowest in the market. 0.50 points were deducted due to the absence of an Islamic (swap-free) account.
0.25 points were deducted because the advertised interest on uninvested UK cash was only available as a limited-time promotion.
The advertised 7.5% interest on uninvested UK cash was a limited-time promotional offer subject to eligibility requirements and should not be considered a permanent account feature.
Range of products
5.75 / 6
Why this score:5.75/6 IG offers one of the widest ranges of tradable instruments in terms of forex, stocks, indices, commodities, ETFs, bonds, cryptocurrencies, where applicable, options, and other assets available on the market.
IG Markets instruments
- Over 17,000 financial instruments worldwide in the financial market.
- Forex: Over 80 different forex pairs, including majors, minors, and exotic pairs.
- Shares: Over 13,000 global stock CFDs and stock dealing in eligible jurisdictions.
- Indices: Top global indices such as the FTSE 100, DAX 40, and Wall Street.
- Commodities: Gold, silver, oil, natural gas, and other commonly traded commodities.
- Options and futures: Traded in eligible jurisdictions, including barrier and vanilla options.
- Cryptocurrency: With access to over 30 digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, subject to regional regulations.
Why the deduction? 0.25 points are deducted pending verification due to the uncertainty regarding the possibility for retail customers to lower their standard leverage ratio to manage risks manually.
While IG enforces leverage restrictions that are set by the regulatory bodies such as 1:30 in the UK/EU/Australia, 1:50 in the US, and up to 1:200 for professional clients from Bermuda, it is uncertain if leverage can be customized.
Execution platforms
5.40 / 6
Why this score:5.40/6 IG offers a solid trading experience, with its proprietary platforms, fast execution, sophisticated trading instruments, and L2 Dealer DMA available for qualifying professional clients, however, there are two reasons why IG does not deserve a better rating.
Why the deduction? 0.35 points are deducted for the role of IG as a market maker in retail CFD trading, which generates a conflict of interest as IG acts as the counterparty to its clients’ deals. DMA is provided to professional clients, and this mitigates the conflict.
0.25 points are deducted because of the platform outage in January 2021 (Financial Ombudsman reference DRN-3693003) during the GameStop volatility episode. This led to trading interruptions, and some complaints of customers were upheld by the UK Financial Ombudsman. While IG admitted responsibility and compensated affected clients, the outage lowers the score.
Support & education
2.50 / 3
Why this score:2.50/3 Educational resources & IG Markets for beginners. IG Academy provides a complete learning opportunity with a variety of courses, webinars, trading guides, videos, and market analysis that suit traders of all levels.
It is also possible to practice risk-free with a demo account of $20,000 worth of virtual funds. But due to a lack of availability and inconsistency in its support services, IG does not get full marks.
Why the deduction? 0.25 marks deducted since customer support is available for only 24/5 days instead of 24/7 and has a window from 10 pm Friday until 8 am on Saturday (GMT), where trading still occurs.
0.25 marks deducted since the independent testing and customer reviews report inconsistent support due to longer waiting times on phone calls, lack of live chat, and slow email responses.
Known issues: What is our rating deducted for?
Regulation: Active Australian class action (VID301/2023)
Security: No voluntary insurance for offshore clients and negative balance protection only where required by regulation.
Trading cost: No Islamic account (swap-free)
Products: Manual leverage adjustment for retail clients could not be verified.
Platform & execution: Market maker conflict of interest and the January 2021 platform outage FCA ref DRN-3693003.
Customer support: 24/5, with inconsistent response time.
How to open an IG account & account types?
- Fill out the online registration form.
- Enter your financial details and trading data.
- Upload your ID proof and address proof.
- Go through the verification process and get approved.
- Deposit money into your trading account using a valid payment method.
- Start trading!
IG Markets account types
- CFD trading account: The most common account for trading Contracts for Difference in Forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and other financial instruments.
- Spread betting account: Available to qualified clients from the UK and Ireland, with gains not subject to Capital Gains Tax or Stamp Duty.
- Share dealing & ISA account: A facility that enables qualified UK residents to purchase genuine shares via a stocks & shares ISA.
- Forex direct DMA: Qualified professional clients can use this product to trade directly in the market using the L2 Dealer system.
IG Markets deposit and withdrawal
- No fees for deposits and withdrawals from third parties may be charged.
- Zero commission on qualifying UK share trades.
- No commission for the first 50 share trades in the USA, per the terms and conditions that apply.
- 24 months’ inactivity period before inactivity charges are applicable.
- Six currencies are accepted: USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, HKD, and SGD.
How does IG compare to Admirals and XTB?
Choosing the appropriate broker depends on many factors, such as one’s trading approach, fees, and the specific features that one prefers. Below is a brief comparison of the IG markets against XTB and Admirals.
| Brokers | IG Markets | Admirals | XTB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulations | FCA, ASIC, CFTC/NFA, MAS, FINMA, JFSA, BaFin, DFSA, FSCA, BMA, FMA | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, EFSA, JSC, FSA | FCA, KNF, CySEC, DFSA, BaFin, FSCA, FSC |
| Assets | Forex, shares, indices, commodities, etfs, options, bonds, crypto CFDs | Forex, stocks, etfs, indices, commodities, bonds, crypto CFDs | Forex, stocks, etfs, indices, commodities, crypto CFDs |
| Account types | CFD, Spread Betting (UK), Share Dealing, DMA | Trade.MT5, Zero.MT5, Invest.MT5 | Standard, Pro |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trading platforms | IG Platform, MT4, TradingView, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer | MT4, MT5, TradingView | xStation 5 |
| Customer support | 24/5 | 24/5 | 24/5 |
Still deciding? Compare IG Markets with other top-rated brokers in our best CFD brokers guide before opening an account.
IG Markets pros and cons
An analysis of the pros and cons of the broker IG Markets will allow you to choose the best broker for yourself.
PROS
- Regulated by several Tier-1 regulators and listed in the FTSE 100 Index.
- Provides access to over 17,000 tradable instruments.
- Suitable for IG Platform, MT4, TradingView, ProRealTime, and L2 Dealer (DMA).
- Provides GSLOs for risk management purposes.
- No inactivity charge for the first two years.
CONS
- Mostly operates under a market maker mode for CFD retail trading.
- An Islamic (swap-free) account is not available.
- Balance insurance is not provided in all countries.
- Customer service is 24/5, not 24/7.
IG customer support review
- Customer support is available 24/5 via live chat, phone, email, and the vast Help Centre in several languages.
- Help Centre and IG Academy offer FAQs, guides, webinars, trading courses, and market analysis, so finding necessary information and improving your trading skills will not be difficult.
- From independent testing and customer reviews, it becomes evident that there may be delays in the response time through phone, live chat, and email customer support.
- Since customer support does not operate 24/7, customers who require customer support services on the weekend have to wait until the next trading week starts.
Verdict: IG provides various ways to receive customer support and has great educational materials; however, inconsistent response time and absence of 24/7 customer support prevent IG from receiving a perfect customer support score.
Conclusion
IG Markets receives a total score of 9.00/10 in the TC-validated assessment due to its excellent regulation, wide range of products, and trading platforms. It has over 50 years of industry experience and is regulated by several Tier-1 financial institutions.
Overall, we believe IG Markets is an excellent option for traders who value strong regulation, transparent operations, and access to global financial markets. However, this broker may not suit everyone, as it does not offer STP/ECN services or the smallest spreads available.
Additionally, those who need a swap-free Islamic account should evaluate other brokers first. If you still do not know which broker to choose, take a look at the best brokers’ reviews.
Risk warning: 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 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.
Use our comparison tool to compare IG Markets to XTB, Admirals, and other leading brokers.
Pro Tip
Before choosing to open an account with IG Markets, you must check if your country is serviced by IG UK (protected by FSCS) or IG International Bermuda, where statutory compensation does not apply. The level of investor protection may differ greatly depending on which entity you have been assigned to.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
1. Does IG support MT4?
Yes, IG supports the MetaTrader 4 MT4 platform and allows the use of EAs, custom indicators, and automated trading.
2. What are the spreads offered by IG Markets?
The EUR/USD spreads normally start from 0.6 to 0.86 pips on the standard account at IG Markets.
3. Does IG offer its services to Indian customers?
No, IG doesn’t accept retail customers based in India.
4. Which one is better, IG or Pepperstone?
IG provides more markets and more regulation, but Pepperstone has tight spreads. It all depends on what you want to trade.
5. Does IG charge inactivity fees?
Yes, the inactivity fee is applicable if there has been no trading for 24 months.
6. Does IG have a demo account?
Yes, IG offers a demo account worth $20,000 virtual currency in different regions.
7. How long does IG account verification take?
Once you have uploaded all the necessary documents, your account verification will take up to 24 to 48 hours.
8. What are the supported trading platforms at IG?
- Web-based trading platform – Using web browser
- Mobile trading platform – iOS and Android
- Progressive web application – PWA for mobile devices using web browsers
- tastytrade IG platform – US Options and futures trading
- MetaTrader 4 MT4
- MetaTrader 5 MT5
- ProRealTime with advanced charts
- L2 Dealer for Direct Market Access
- TradingView – Through API/login integration
9. Is it possible to trade cryptocurrencies through IG?
Yes, IG provides crypto trading services in eligible countries based on their respective regulations.
