EC Markets vs IG : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

EC Markets

Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

STP broker

ECN

Years of Existence / Established Year

2011

1974

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

No information

313,000 customers

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FSA,FCA, FSC

NFA CFTC FCA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Best Trading Liquidity Award, Best Customer Awards

Best Multi platform provider - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024 Best Finance App - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024 Best platform for active trader - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2022

Security Measures

FSCS

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

150+

17,000 + markets

Currency Pairs

Yes

Commodities

Yes

Indices

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

CFDs

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Options

Yes

Futures

Yes

Bonds

Yes

Mutual Funds

Yes

Fractional Shares

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

Yes

Precious Metals

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Yes

Equities

Yes

Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

MT4

Yes

MT5

Yes

cTrader

Social Trading

Yes

Copy Trading

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

ProReal Time APIs L2 dealer

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes except Mac

Yes

Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Standard and ECN accounts

Leveraged Accounts Spread betting account CFD accountNon-Leveraged Account Share dealing account ISA account IG smart portfolio account IG smart ISA portfolio account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Minimum Deposit

$10

$50

Leverage Available

200:1 to 500:1

200:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Unlimited

Trade size vary on each asset

Commission (per account type)

$0 for standard account, $5 per lot per side for ECN account

Starting from 0.1

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Both beginners and experienced traders

Beginners

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Union Pay, OCT 365, Swift wire transfer, Indonesia bank ATM, Bank Transfer Malaysia, THAI QR payment,e-wallets

Bank transfers Card FPS in Hong Kong dollars Funding on IG mobile app Wise

Withdrawal Methods

Union Pay, OCT 365, Swift wire transfer, Indonesia bank ATM, Bank Transfer Malaysia, THAI QR payment, e-wallets

Card Bank transfer

Other E-Wallets Supported

VN pay, PoLi.

Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Trading Education, Market Analysis, Webinars, eBooks and Guides, Video Tutorials, MT4 Indicator Plugin

Trade analytics tools Seminars & webinars

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

Spread for Std account: Starts from 1.0 pip, Spread for ECN accounts: Starts from 0.0 pips

US shares 0 to 50 - commission free 50+ trades - $5Other shares Germany - 0.1% UK - 0.1% Ireland - 0.1%

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Variable

Per Lot Fees

Options Contract Fees

Futures Contract Fees

Markup Fees on Spread

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Vary for each asset

Maximum Leverage

500:1

200:1

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$12/month after 24 months of no trading activity

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

Advisory Fees

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Yes

Statement or Document Fee

$50

Account Opening Fee

Account Maintenance Fee

Deposit Fee

Free for Wire & check deposits

Currency Conversion Fee

0.5% - CFDs and share dealing accounts 0.7% - international shares

Withdrawal Fee

$0 bank fees may apply

Wire transfer - $25

Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

Varies by asset type

Forex Monday 00:00 - Friday 22:00 GMT (International times may vary)UK shares (LSE): 08.00-16.30 (London time) US shares: 09.30-16.00 (New York time) European shares: vary on relevant exchanges

Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

24/5

24x5 support

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Phone: +248 422 4099, E-mail: [email protected], Live chat

Call +44 (20) 7633 5430 Email: [email protected] 10AM to 7PM whatsapp channel support (Monday to Friday)

Support Languages

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

3rd Floor, 30 City Road, London, United Kingdom, EC1Y 2AY.

IG Cannon Bridge House 25 Dowgate Hill London EC4R 2YA

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.

Both EC Markets and IG offer affordable fee structures, but EC Markets generally edges out with no inactivity fees and lower commissions on standard trades, whereas IG shines with bundled research and platform access.

The account creation flow at EC Markets is modern and app-driven, making it seamless for new users. IG , however, leans toward traditional processes with forms and verifications that take more time.

If you're looking for platform speed and ease of execution, EC Markets delivers a smooth experience. IG , however, is tailored toward traders who want deeper analysis tools and portfolio insights.

EC Markets stands out for active traders with robust tools, while IG suits investors seeking simplicity and ease of use.

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