TradingCritique

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

Broker Name

TradeStation

TradeStation

VS
IG

IG

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Broker Overview

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

ECN broker

ECN

Years of Existence / Established Year

1982

1974

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

226506+ clients

313,000 customers


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Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

CFTC, NFA, FINRA, SEC

NFA CFTC FCA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Best in Class awards in StockBrockers.com 2023 Online Broker Review, Best Brokerage App at the 2023 Benzinga Global Fintech Awards, TradingView's Best Broker in the AMER Region 2023 Award

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

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

No

Yes


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Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

Futures option

17,000 + markets

Currency Pairs

No

Yes

Commodities

No

Yes

Indices

No

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

No

Yes

CFDs

No

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Yes

Options

Yes

Yes

Futures

Yes

Yes

Bonds

No

Yes

Mutual Funds

Yes

Yes

Fractional Shares

No

No

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

No

Yes

Precious Metals

No

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

No

Yes

Equities

No

Yes


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Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

Yes

MT4

No

Yes

MT5

No

No

cTrader

No

No

Social Trading

No

Yes

Copy Trading

Yes

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Desktop, Web trading, Mobile app, Futures Plus

ProReal Time APIs L2 dealer

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Yes


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Account Types & Conditions

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

Individual, Retirement, Entity

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

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

No

No

Minimum Deposit

$0

$50

Leverage Available

No

200:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on asset class

Trade size vary on each asset

Commission (per account type)

$0

Starting from 0.1

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

Beginners and experienced traders

Beginners


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Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Wire transfer, Check, Electronic transfer

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

Withdrawal Methods

Wire transfer, Check, Electronic transfer

Card Bank transfer

Other E-Wallets Supported

No

No


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Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

Yes

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

Trading Education, Market Insights, Webinars, Online Trading Courses, Strategy Development and Backtesting

Trade analytics tools Seminars & webinars


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Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

Commission- Stocks and ETFs- $0, Stock options- $0 Commission + $0.60 per contract, Future options- $0 Commission + $0.60 per contract, Micro futures- $0 Commission + $0.50 per contract, per side, Futures- $0 Commission + $1.50 per contract, per side

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

Variable

Per Lot Fees

NA

NA

Options Contract Fees

$0 Commission + $0.60 per contract

NA

Futures Contract Fees

NA

NA

Markup Fees on Spread

NA

NA

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

NA

Vary for each asset

Maximum Leverage

No

200:1


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Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$10 per month

$12/month after 24 months of no trading activity

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

TradeStation platform - $149.95 / month, Without Brokerage Account- $99.99 / month $199.99 for professionals, folio-level strategy back-testing tool - $59.95 / month

NA

Advisory Fees

$25

NA

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

NA

Yes

Statement or Document Fee

$1 per page

$50

Account Opening Fee

$0

$0

Account Maintenance Fee

$35 per year

$0

Deposit Fee

$0

Free for Wire & check deposits

Currency Conversion Fee

Starts from $0.35

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

Withdrawal Fee

Wire transfer- $25- $35

Wire transfer - $25


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Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Yes


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Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

9:30 am ET to 4:00 pm ET

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


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Customer Support

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

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET

24x5 support

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Phone: 800.822.0512, Live chat, E-mail: [email protected]

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

Support Languages

1

8


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Additional Information

Headquarters Location

8050 SW 10th Street, Suite 2000. Plantation, FL 33324

IG Cannon Bridge House 25 Dowgate Hill London EC4R 2YA

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

No

No


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.
If minimizing trading costs is your top priority, TradeStation might be more attractive due to its lower commissions. Meanwhile, IG justifies its moderate fees with more robust tools and professional-grade features.
Creating an account with TradeStation 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.
If you're looking for platform speed and ease of execution, TradeStation delivers a smooth experience. IG , however, is tailored toward traders who want deeper analysis tools and portfolio insights.
Those seeking technical depth may prefer TradeStation, while IG shines with intuitive design and streamlined features.