Editorial review score
IG
3.8/5
Verdict. A safe, well-regulated broker with a very wide range of markets, helpful customer support and easy deposits and withdrawals. Costs were its weak point in our testing and the platform was average, so IG suits traders who put regulation and market range ahead of price.
Strengths
- Three FCA-authorised UK companies, with FSCS cover up to £85,000
- More than 15,000 markets, plus share dealing, ISAs and a SIPP
- Markets and deposits and withdrawals scored 5 out of 5 in our testing
Weaknesses
- Fees scored 2 out of 5 in our testing, its weakest criterion
- The platform scored an average 3 out of 5
- A 0.7% fee on currency conversion when investing in foreign shares
- 70% of retail CFD and spread betting accounts lose money
Reviews are editorial and unpaid, scored to a published method. Audit grades are a separate service and never change a review score.
IG is the trading brand of IG Group Holdings plc, a FTSE 100 company headquartered in London. In the UK it offers spread betting and CFDs through IG Markets Ltd and IG Index Ltd, and share dealing, ISAs and SIPPs through IG Trading and Investments Ltd, all three authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.
- Markets, according to IG
- 15,000+
- Minimum EUR/USD spread, in points
- 0.6
- Account and inactivity fees
- £0
- Retail CFD and spread bet accounts that lose money with IG
- 70%
Products
IG’s UK offer is split between two kinds of account:
| Trading | Investing | |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Spread bets, CFDs, US options and futures | Share dealing, Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP |
| Companies | IG Markets Ltd (FRN 195355), IG Index Ltd (FRN 114059) | IG Trading and Investments Ltd (FRN 944492) |
| Leverage | Yes, within FCA retail limits | No |
| Commission | Built into the spread | Zero commission with automatic currency conversion |
IG states that 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with it. Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.
Costs
IG’s spreads are variable and built into the price. Its published minimum spreads on major markets:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Spot Gold | 0.3 |
| S&P 500 | 0.4 |
| EUR/USD | 0.6 |
| USD/JPY | 0.7 |
| GBP/USD | 0.9 |
| FTSE 100 | 1.0 |
| Germany 40 | 1.4 |
Minimum spreads, as published by IG. Actual spreads vary with market conditions.
Source: IG, Costs and charges
Positions held past 10pm UK time pay overnight funding. On the investing side, IG charges no commission when it converts currency automatically, but adds a 0.7% conversion fee, for example when buying US shares. IG SIPPs are administered by Options Pensions, which charges a £205 annual fee.
IG lists account opening, closing and maintenance, and inactivity, as free.
Platforms
IG offers its own web trading platform and mobile app, with ProRealTime charting integrated free of charge, plus MetaTrader 4, TradingView and L2 Dealer.
Markets
IG says it offers more than 15,000 markets, spanning forex, indices, commodities and shares, with US options and futures available to trading clients.
Our test
We tested IG hands-on and scored it on our five review criteria:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Markets | 5 |
| Deposits & withdrawals | 5 |
| Customer support | 4 |
| Platforms | 3 |
| Fees | 2 |
Source: TBR hands-on testing
The range of markets and deposits and withdrawals were the strongest parts of the experience, and customer support was helpful. Fees were the weakest, and the platform was average, which is what holds the overall score at 3.8.
Regulation and safety
All three of IG’s UK companies are authorised by the FCA, and eligible clients are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000. IG Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 100, so it publishes audited accounts and trading updates, including its Q3 2026 trading update.
Sources
Trading leveraged products such as CFDs carries a high risk of losing money rapidly. Only trade with money you can afford to lose.
