E*TRADE vs IG : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

E*TRADE

Broker Overview

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

Both ECN and STP broker

ECN

Years of Existence / Established Year

1982

1974

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

5.2 million client accounts

313,000 customers

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FRS, FINRA, SIPC, SEC, NFA, FDIC

NFA CFTC FCA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Investor App and #1 Web Trading Platform for 2024, Benzinga's 2023 Global Fintech 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

SIPC

FSCS

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

Over 50,000 offerings, including US Treasury trades

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

cTrader

Social Trading

Yes

Copy Trading

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Power Etrade web, Power Etrade app

ProReal Time APIs L2 dealer

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Account Types & Conditions

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

Brokerage, Retirement, Core portfolio, Managed portfolio, Small business retirement , bank

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

$50

Leverage Available

200:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on assets class

Trade size vary on each asset

Commission (per account type)

Starting from 0.1

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

Beginners to experienced traders

Beginners

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Transfer money, Wire transfer, Transfer an account, Deposit a check ,Direct Deposit

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

Withdrawal Methods

E-wallets, check, Wire transfer

Card Bank transfer

Other E-Wallets Supported

Electronic transfer

Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

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

Educational Resources, Tools, Market News and Insights, Tutorials and Webinars

Trade analytics tools Seminars & webinars

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

Stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs- $0, Bonds- $1, FINRA trading activity fee- $0.000166

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

$0.65

Futures Contract Fees

$1.50

Markup Fees on Spread

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Vary for each asset

Maximum Leverage

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

0.30%

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Yes

Statement or Document Fee

$50

Account Opening Fee

Account Maintenance Fee

$15/ month

Deposit Fee

Free for Wire & check deposits

Currency Conversion Fee

Direct trade-$0.005 per share, Broker assisted trader- $25

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

Withdrawal Fee

Check return - $25, Electronic return -$25

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)

Sunday 5 p.m. CT to Friday 4 p.m. CT

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)

8 AM - 8 PM ET on weekdays

24x5 support

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Live chat, FAQ, Phone- 800-387-2331, 800-838-0908, Beneficiary Services: [email protected] General inquiries: [email protected]

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

Support Languages

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Arlington, Virginia, United States Buyenlarge, Getty

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

Creating an account with E*TRADE is generally faster and more user-friendly, often taking just a few minutes, while IG requires more detailed steps and identity verification, which may suit more cautious investors.

E*TRADE excels in real-time trade execution with minimal latency, whereas IG complements its execution with strong analytical modules and educational support within the platform.

E*TRADE supports complex strategies and asset diversity, while IG offers clarity and low-cost access for long-term holders.

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