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| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tradeable Assets | Forex, indices, shares, ETFs, commodities, crypto, bonds, options, spread betting (UK), share dealing |
| Min Deposit | Effectively none (from £1 or equivalent for retail accounts) |
| Forex Majors Spread | Around 0.9 pips on EUR/USD (standard account) |
| Regulators | FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), FSA (Japan), MAS (Singapore), FINMA (Switzerland), FMA (New Zealand), DFSA (Dubai), BMA (Bermuda), CFTC/NFA (US, via tastyfx) |
| Trading Platforms | IG web platform, IG app, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer |
| Funding Methods | Bank transfer, debit and credit cards, PayPal (some regions) |
| Currency Pairs | About 97 currency pairs |
| Available Leverage | Up to 1:30 on major pairs for retail clients in the UK, EU and Australia; varies by region |
| Broker Type | Market maker, with DMA available on forex and shares |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Country | United Kingdom (London) |
| Free Demo Account | Yes |
| Clients Accepted | Most countries, with local entities in many regions. US clients use tastyfx for forex. |
| Pricing System | Spread only on standard CFD and spread betting accounts; commission on DMA |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes |
IG has been in business since 1974, when it started as a spread betting firm in London. Today it is a FTSE 250 company with licenses from regulators across Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and North America, and it consistently ranks at or near the top of independent broker comparisons. ForexBrokers.com named it the best broker overall in its 2026 awards.
This review covers IG’s costs, platforms, range and safety, checked in October 2026. IG offers different products depending on where you live, so the details below focus on its main CFD and spread betting accounts.
IG started in 1974 as Investors Gold Index, letting people speculate on the price of gold without buying it. It went on to pioneer financial spread betting in the UK, moved online in the late 1990s and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2005.
Since then it has expanded into share dealing, ISAs, options and crypto, launched forex for US clients through tastyfx, and bought the US brokerage tastytrade. In 2025 it added an underlying crypto exchange alongside its crypto CFDs.
IG runs local companies in many of its markets, each under its local regulator:
The products, leverage and protections you get depend on your local entity.
IG has one of the largest ranges of any retail broker, with over 19,000 markets:
UK clients can also use spread betting, which is free of capital gains tax under current UK rules, and IG Invest for commission-free share dealing, ISAs and SIPPs.
Few brokers offer this many serious platform choices.
A free demo account is available, preloaded with virtual funds.
IG accepts clients from most countries, usually through a local entity. US residents cannot open IG CFD or spread betting accounts, but they can trade forex through tastyfx and futures and options through tastytrade. Spread betting is limited to the UK and Ireland, and some products, such as crypto CFDs for UK retail clients, are restricted by local rules.
IG does not offer copy trading. There is no built-in social or mirror trading service, and IG has closed its old community forum. If you want to copy other traders, you could run MetaTrader signals on IG’s MT4 or MT5 accounts, but brokers such as eToro, AvaTrade and XM have far more developed copy trading tools.
IG accepts bank transfers, debit and credit cards and, in some regions, PayPal. There is effectively no minimum deposit for retail accounts, and IG does not charge for bank transfer deposits or standard withdrawals. Check IG’s payments page for your country, since card fees and limits vary by region.
Withdrawals are processed back to your original payment method, and bank transfers usually arrive within a few business days.
For a broker with IG’s level of regulation, these prices are competitive. Active forex traders can get close to raw-spread pricing through the DMA account.
The inactivity fee only kicks in after two full years, which is more generous than most brokers.
IG is about as safe as retail brokers get. It is regulated by top-tier authorities including the FCA, ASIC, MAS, FINMA, the FMA and Japan’s FSA, its US forex business is CFTC regulated, and the group is listed on the London Stock Exchange, so its finances are public and audited. ForexBrokers.com gives it a Trust Score of 99 out of 99.
Research is strong. You get Autochartist and Acuity trading signals, a TipRanks share screener, client sentiment data and daily coverage through Trade Live with IG. Note that IG no longer runs DailyFX, which used to be its main research brand.
The IG Academy offers around ten structured courses for beginners and intermediate traders, along with webinars. It covers the basics well, though independent reviewers note the course list has not grown much recently.
IG offers support by phone, email and live chat, with round-the-clock coverage on weekdays for trading queries and local support teams in its main markets. The online help center is detailed and covers most account and payment questions.
IG is one of the best all-round brokers available. You get top-tier regulation, a London Stock Exchange listing, more than 19,000 markets, a strong set of platforms and fair pricing. UK traders also get spread betting and real share dealing in the same place.
The gaps are small: no copy trading, an inactivity fee after two years, and fewer markets on MetaTrader than on IG’s own platform. If safety and range matter to you, IG should be near the top of your list.
IG is a London-based broker founded in 1974 and listed on the London Stock Exchange. It offers over 19,000 markets, top-tier regulation, a strong platform lineup and spread betting for UK clients. It has no copy trading, but for safety and range it is one of the best brokers available.
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