IG review
IG is a London-headquartered provider of contracts for difference (CFDs), spread betting, forex and share dealing, founded in 1974 as the world's first spread betting firm. It trades under IG Group Holdings plc (LSE: IGG). In the UK, IG Markets Limited and IG Index Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA, reference 195355). Outside the UK, IG Group subsidiaries hold licences from regulators including ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), FINMA (Switzerland), BaFin (Germany), DFSA (Dubai), FSCA (South Africa), Japan's FSA and the CFTC/NFA (US, forex only), reflecting a multi-jurisdiction retail and institutional client base. Beyond the core IG-branded CFD and spread betting business, the wider Group also owns tastytrade, a US options and futures broker.
IG key facts
- Website: www.ig.com
- Category: CFD, spread betting, forex and share dealing broker
- Founded: 1974
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Regulation: FCA (UK, ref. 195355), plus ASIC, MAS, FINMA, BaFin, DFSA, FSCA, Japan FSA and CFTC/NFA in other jurisdictions
- Platforms: Proprietary web/mobile app, MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, plus API access
- Markets offered: 17,000+ instruments across forex, indices, shares, commodities, bonds and crypto (via CFDs/spread bets)
- Minimum deposit: No set minimum via UK bank transfer; £250 minimum for debit card or PayPal funding
- Fee model: Spread-based pricing plus overnight funding on CFDs/spread bets; commission-free share dealing on UK/US stocks and ETFs; monthly inactivity fee after 24 dormant months
- FYI Score: 94.6/100 (ranked #6 of the 136 CFD brokers we track)
Markets and products
- CFDs and spread betting across forex, indices, shares, commodities, bonds and cryptocurrencies
- Share dealing accounts (GIA, Stocks & Shares ISA, SIPP, Junior ISA) covering thousands of stocks and ETFs
- US options and futures trading via IG's tastytrade-powered offering
- Access to more than 17,000 tradeable markets in total
Platforms and tools
- Proprietary web and mobile trading platform
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4) support for forex and CFD trading
- ProRealTime charting and L2 Dealer for direct market access
- APIs for programmatic and automated trading
Accounts and costs
- No account, deposit or withdrawal fees
- Commission-free trading on UK and US shares/ETFs held in a GIA, ISA or SIPP
- Monthly inactivity fee (around £12/$18) after 24 consecutive months without a trade
- Negative balance protection and FSCS coverage up to £85,000 for UK retail clients
Research and education
- IG Academy courses and a free demo/paper-trading account
- In-house market analysis and research
- IG Client Sentiment tool showing the long/short positioning of IG's own client base
Markets
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Who IG is for
IG suits active retail traders and investors who want a single, well-regulated broker offering CFDs, spread betting, forex and conventional share dealing (ISA/SIPP) across a very wide range of markets. Its FCA regulation, negative balance protection and FSCS coverage make it a reasonable option for UK residents wanting mainstream protections, though its own risk-warning statistics mean it is not built for beginners seeking low-risk exposure.
Pros
- Regulated by the FCA in the UK plus financial regulators in around ten jurisdictions, including ASIC, MAS and FINMA
- One of the widest market ranges among CFD/spread betting brokers, with 17,000+ instruments
- Choice of platforms, from IG's own web/app to MT4, ProRealTime and L2 Dealer
- Commission-free share dealing on UK/US stocks and ETFs held in a GIA, ISA or SIPP
- Long operating history since 1974 and a London Stock Exchange listing
Cons
- IG's own site states 69% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs with the provider
- CFD/spread betting pricing is spread- and overnight-funding based, which can cost more than commission-only discount brokers for buy-and-hold investors
- A monthly inactivity fee applies after 24 months without a trade
- Card and PayPal deposits carry a £250 minimum, higher than some competitors' no-minimum offers
- SIPP accounts carry a separate annual admin fee payable to a third-party administrator
IG FAQ
Is IG regulated?
Yes. In the UK, IG Markets Limited and IG Index Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA, firm reference 195355). IG Group's other entities hold licences from regulators including ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), FINMA (Switzerland), BaFin (Germany), DFSA (Dubai), FSCA (South Africa), Japan's FSA and the CFTC/NFA in the US.
Is IG safe?
IG segregates client money from its own corporate funds, offers negative balance protection to retail clients, and UK clients are covered by the FSCS up to £85,000 if the firm were to fail. IG Group is also listed on the London Stock Exchange, so its financials are publicly disclosed. That said, CFDs and spread betting are high-risk leveraged products — IG's own site states that 69% of retail client accounts lose money trading CFDs with the provider.
How does IG charge for trading?
CFD and spread betting costs are built into the spread, plus overnight funding charges on positions held past the daily cut-off; there is no separate commission on those products. Share dealing (GIA, ISA, SIPP) is commission-free on UK and US-listed stocks and ETFs, though FX conversion fees apply on non-GBP holdings, and SIPPs carry a separate annual third-party admin fee. A monthly inactivity fee applies after 24 consecutive months without a trade.
What platforms and markets does IG offer?
IG provides its own web and mobile platform alongside MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime and L2 Dealer, plus APIs for automated trading. Across these it offers exposure to more than 17,000 markets spanning forex, indices, shares, commodities, bonds and cryptocurrencies via CFDs/spread bets, plus direct share dealing on thousands of individual stocks and ETFs.
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