IG Review: Pros, Cons, Features, Opinions (2026)

Yes, IG is a legitimate broker. Its companies are authorised by the FCA (UK) and BaFin (Germany), licensed by ASIC (Australia) and the BMA (Bermuda), and registered with the JFSA (Japan). IG is part of IG Group Holdings plc (London) and has operated since 1974. IG Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange (IGG) and publishes audited annual reports. IG has 320,000+ clients worldwide. Its companies regulated in the UK, the EU and Australia apply the product rules of their regulators, including leverage caps; client money is held in segregated accounts at every IG company that holds client accounts, and retail clients of IG Markets Ltd, IG Europe GmbH, IG Australia Pty Ltd and IG International Limited have negative balance protection, while IG Securities Ltd doesn’t offer it. IG received Best Multi-Platform Provider, Best Platform for the Active Trader, and Best Finance App at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024.

The advantages of IG are listed below.

• Client Safeguards: Client funds are held in segregated accounts at every IG company that holds client accounts, and retail clients of IG Markets Ltd, IG Europe GmbH, IG Australia Pty Ltd and IG International Limited have negative balance protection.
• Market Coverage: Access 17,000+ markets, including forex, indices, shares, commodities, through CFDs and, in the UK and Ireland, spread bets. Dedicated weekend markets on major FX pairs and key indices extend trading beyond standard hours.
• Trading Platforms: Proprietary web platform and mobile apps, MetaTrader 4 for algorithmic trading, and ProRealTime integration for advanced charting and automated strategies.
• Direct Market Access (DMA): L2 Dealer provides exchange order book access for share CFDs and, through Forex Direct, for forex at IG Australia Pty Ltd and IG International Limited (for professional clients only at IG Markets Ltd), with full market depth and advanced order control.
• Pricing and Execution: Minimum spreads from 0.6 pips EUR/USD, 0.4 points US 500, 1 point FTSE 100. About 99% of orders are executed successfully.
• Risk Management: Guaranteed stop-loss orders (premium only if triggered) cap downside at set levels. Standard stops, limits, and platform controls are also available.
• Extended-Hours Access: Weekend trading on GBP/USD, EUR/USD, USD/JPY, FTSE 100, Wall Street, spot gold. Pre-market and post-market dealing on selected markets.
• Education and Research: IG Academy offers free courses, webinars, podcasts and seminars. DailyFX provides in-house market news and analysis.
• Automation and APIs: REST API for programmatic market data and order execution. ProRealTime and MT4 support scripts, strategies, and expert advisors.
• Public Listing and Transparency: Listed on London Stock Exchange (IGG), FTSE 250 constituent, with regular financial reporting and corporate disclosures.
• Customer Support: 24/7 multi-channel support via live chat, WhatsApp, email, and phone (9 hours a day at IG Securities Ltd). Account-opening lines available during business hours.
• Free Demo Account: Virtual funds for strategy testing and platform practice on web and mobile, no capital risk.

The disadvantages of IG are listed below.

• Costs and Fees: Share CFD commissions can be high.
• Usability: The main trading platform is comprehensive but can feel complex or overwhelming for beginners.
• Platform Limitations: MetaTrader 5 is offered only by IG Markets Ltd and IG International Limited.
• Support and Account Management: Customer support can be slow at times. IG International Limited charges an inactivity fee after 24 months without activity.

Yes, IG is legal in the countries it accepts, through the IG company that serves each area. Residents of the UK open their CFD account with IG Markets Ltd (FRN 195355), their spread betting account with IG Index Ltd (FRN 114059) and their share dealing account with IG Trading and Investments Ltd (FRN 944492), all authorised by the FCA. Residents of the EEA, excluding the UK and Switzerland, open their account with IG Europe GmbH, authorised by BaFin (148759); residents of Switzerland with IG Bank SA, authorised by FINMA; residents of Australia and New Zealand with IG Australia Pty Ltd, licensed by ASIC (AFSL 515106); residents of Singapore with IG Asia Pte Ltd, licensed by the MAS; residents of Japan with IG Securities Ltd, registered with the JFSA (Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Kinsho) No. 255); residents of South Africa with IG Markets South Africa Limited, authorised by the FSCA (FSP 41393); and residents of the United Arab Emirates with IG Limited, authorised by the DFSA (F001780). Clients from the other accepted countries are served by IG International Limited, licensed by the BMA (Bermuda). In the US, forex is offered by tastyfx, LLC (formerly IG US LLC), registered with the CFTC and a member of the NFA (NFA ID 0509630). IG doesn’t accept residents of Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia and Ukraine. CFDs are offered under the leverage limits of each regulator; spread betting is offered in the UK and, by IG Europe GmbH, to residents of Ireland; crypto CFDs are not offered to retail clients of IG Markets Ltd, and IG Securities Ltd doesn’t offer crypto. Each licence can be verified on the register of its regulator, using the company name or the licence number above.

Yes, IG accepts US traders through tastyfx, LLC (formerly IG US LLC), registered with the CFTC as a retail foreign exchange dealer and a member of the NFA. US clients can trade forex; leverage is capped at 50:1 on major forex pairs, as US rules require. Learn more about the best Forex brokers in US.

The risks with IG are listed below.

• Leverage risk: Retail leverage on major forex pairs reaches 200:1 at IG International Limited (Bermuda). Higher leverage magnifies both gains and losses; at the companies regulated in the UK, the EU and Australia retail leverage is capped at 30:1 on major forex pairs and 20:1 on minor pairs. IG Securities Ltd doesn’t offer negative balance protection, so losses can exceed the deposit.
• CFD complexity: CFDs are complex derivatives requiring understanding of underlying prices, overnight financing, and position valuation. Rapid losses can occur during volatility, and 70–80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with IG, depending on the IG company.
• Margin close-out: At its companies regulated in the UK, the EU and Australia, IG automatically closes positions when equity falls below 50% of required margin, potentially at unfavorable prices during volatile conditions, often without opportunity to add funds.
• Overnight financing: Positions held overnight incur charges calculated on full position value. Costs accumulate over time and can erode profits or increase losses, especially when interest rates are elevated.
• Slippage and gapping: IG cannot guarantee execution at requested prices during high volatility or low liquidity. Market gaps (weekends, major news) can fill orders at significantly worse prices, increasing losses.
• Weekend and out-of-hours risk: Markets can move substantially when exchanges are closed, preventing position management. Price gaps at reopening can bypass stop-loss orders, executing at worse levels than set.

The trading products not offered by IG are listed below.

• CFD cryptocurrencies (retail clients of IG Markets Ltd)
• Cryptocurrencies (IG Securities Ltd)

Yes, IG lets you buy real crypto in the UK. In 2025, IG launched spot crypto trading via a partnership with Uphold, enabling clients to buy, sell, and hold actual crypto assets, such as BTC and ETH, with underlying ownership.

Yes, you can trade real shares on IG in the UK and at IG Europe GmbH and IG Australia Pty Ltd, through their share dealing service (or IG Invest), which is separate from their CFD and spread betting offerings. Real shares are bought without leverage, and BUY positions grant beneficial ownership of the underlying shares. Real-share dealing covers major UK, US, European and Australian exchanges, with access to over 11,000 shares globally (12,000 in the UK). Shares are held in an omnibus/nominee account structure, with IG acting as custodian (delegation to third-party custodians permitted under the customer agreement). CFD and spread betting positions do not confer share ownership.

Yes, IG offers fractional shares at its companies regulated in the UK. At IG Europe GmbH and IG Australia Pty Ltd, IG’s retail share-dealing and “IG Invest” services require clients to purchase whole shares.

The fees with IG are listed below.

• Spreads: EUR/USD from 0.6 pips; US 500 index CFDs from 0.4 points; spot gold from $0.30.
• Overnight funding: Long positions: interbank rate plus 2.5%; short positions: interbank rate minus 2.5% (plus and minus 3% on shares and indices at IG Markets Ltd and IG Securities Ltd).
• Currency conversion: Between 0.7% and 0.8% on trade profits, losses, and costs converted to the account currency.
• Inactivity: charged by IG International Limited after 24 months without activity.
• Withdrawals: $0 to bank accounts, except at IG Securities Ltd, which charges a withdrawal fee.

IG doesn’t charge deposit fees, and the other IG companies don’t charge an inactivity fee.

Broker
Overnight fees	Yes	Yes	Yes
Inactivity fee	No	Yes	No
Deposit fees	No	No	No
Withdrawal fees	No	No	No
Currency conversion fee	Yes	Yes	Yes

Yes, IG charges raw spread commissions for every lot traded on Forex Direct, its forex DMA account at IG Australia Pty Ltd and IG International Limited, with an average EUR/USD spread of about 0.17 pips; at IG Markets Ltd, forex DMA is offered only to professional clients. Forex Direct has a tiered commission based on monthly trading volume. The commission is good at $6 per standard lot round turn for traders who trade less than $100 million a month, and falls to a minimum of $1 per standard lot for high volume traders.

Broker
Avg. EUR/USD spread (markup)	0.85 pips	1.43 pips	1.10 pips
Avg. EUR/USD spread (raw)	N/A	0.43 pips	0.10 pips
Commission/lot	N/A	$7.00 Round Turn	$7.00 Round Turn
All-in FX cost	$8.50	$11.30	$8.00

IG’s typical overnight swaps for EUR/USD are good, being around 1.0 to 1.2% p.a. on long positions and slightly lower on short positions, with swaps calculated from tom-next plus a small administrative adjustment.

Triple swaps are charged on Wednesdays to account for the weekend rollover. Swap fees can vary by account type, with professional and premium clients often receiving narrower financing adjustments than standard retail accounts.

IG charges commission on share CFDs by exchange (as a % of trade value or per-share fee):

• US shares: $0.02/share (min $15/trade; $0.022/share and min $16.5/trade at IG Securities Ltd)
• London Stock Exchange: 0.10% of trade value (min £10/trade); 0.35% on shares outside the FTSE 350 at IG Markets Ltd and IG International Limited; 0.11% at IG Securities Ltd
• European exchanges: 0.10% (0.11% at IG Securities Ltd; 0.475% on Greek shares)

Premium/Professional accounts offer reduced rates and/or minimums based on trading volume or status. When share currency differs from account base currency, IG applies an FX conversion fee (typically 0.70% FX for investing, and 0.8% FX for trading) at execution.

At IG Europe GmbH, IG Australia Pty Ltd and IG International Limited, IG’s crypto CFD commissions are built into the spread. Overnight funding also applies. For spot/real crypto, offered in the UK, IG applies a flat 1.49% spread. Overnight funding applies after 10pm; long funding is 0.0625%/day for major pairs (approximately 22.5% per annum) and 0.0764%/day for others (approximately 27.5% per annum); short funding credits are 0.0139%/day for BTC (approximately 5% per annum) and 0.0347%/day for others (approximately 12.5% per annum).

IG is excellent for investing because it offers real underlying stocks and ETFs held in segregated custody, commission-free trading on global shares and ETFs in major markets when using instant FX conversion, no custody or platform fees, access to multiple asset classes including shares, ETFs, funds and investment trusts, fractional shares in the UK, and recurring contributions for managed portfolios.

IG provides share dealing and Invest accounts in the UK, Ireland and Australia, where clients buy and own securities held in segregated nominee custody with approved custodians. Trading fees are zero commission on global shares and ETFs when instant FX conversion (the default option) is enabled in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. The broker charges no custody, platform, account, or ongoing management fees, only Smart Portfolios, offered in the UK, apply an annual management fee of 0.50% with a maximum limit of £250. FX conversion costs apply at 0.70% above the interbank rate in the UK and Australia, and 0.15% in Ireland. The investment universe includes shares and ETFs across major markets such as the FTSE, S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, DAX, ASX, and ISEQ, plus funds and investment trusts on UK and Irish platforms, with bond exposure available via bond ETFs. Recurring investing is supported through bank standing orders for managed Smart Portfolios (from £50/month in the UK), but individual shares and ETFs lack an in-app recurring buy feature. Minimum investment requirements vary, starting from £1 with no platform minimum, but whole-share purchases and exchange order-consideration minimums result in typical entry points around £90, $90, or A$90.

IG is excellent for demo trading because it offers a demo trial that doesn’t expire at IG Europe GmbH and IG International Limited, real-time market data for major markets (simulated data at IG International Limited) including live FX feeds and 24/7 crypto prices, and full platform parity with the live trading environment.

IG provides demo traders with access to over 17,000 instruments across forex, cryptocurrencies, shares, and other asset classes, closely replicating the functionality of its live platform. The demo account uses real-time pricing for core instruments such as foreign exchange, although some stock prices are delayed by approximately 15 minutes unless a paid live data feed is activated. At IG Markets Ltd and IG Australia Pty Ltd, users can customize their virtual balance with a top-up feature. The main limitations are that certain specialist platforms and share DMA are not available in demo mode, and that slippage, interest adjustments and dividends are not simulated as they occur in live trading.

eToro, XTB, IC Markets and XM are some good alternatives to IG as demo Forex brokers. Learn more about the best Forex demo accounts.

IG is an excellent choice for algo trading because it supports multiple algorithmic trading platforms including MT4 with their respective scripting languages MQL4 and MQL5, provides comprehensive API access with both REST and streaming capabilities, and offers VPS services through partners with subsidies.

IG supports algorithmic traders through a diverse range of platforms and infrastructure. The broker provides MT4 for traders using Expert Advisors, alongside ProRealTime and TradingView for additional algorithmic trading options, plus custom bot development through its APIs. Its technical infrastructure includes REST and streaming APIs for automated trading systems; it also offers partnered VPS services with available subsidies to reduce latency. The broker permits scalping and shorting, and does not allow arbitrage strategies. It permits hedging outside the US in accordance with regulations. High-frequency trading is supported but may experience throttling under extreme load conditions, and strategies exploiting price mispricing or price scraping are not permitted. cTrader and cAlgo are not available on the platform.

Pepperstone, FP Markets, IC Markets and Roboforex are some good alternatives to IG as automated trading Forex brokers. Explore the best brokers for algo trading.

IG is excellent for Forex trading because it combines spreads averaging about 0.85 pips on EUR/USD, comprehensive regulation by multiple Tier-1 authorities including the FCA, BaFin and ASIC, full trading freedom with scalping and hedging allowed, extensive platform options including MetaTrader 4, and a proprietary web/mobile platform, and complete analysis tools including client sentiment data, drawing tools, built-in indicators, and an economic calendar.

IG offers over 70 currency pairs with spreads that often fall below 1 pip on major pairs such as USD/JPY at approximately 0.97 pips. The broker supports micro lots with a minimum trade size of 0.01 lots, allowing flexibility for smaller accounts, though it does not offer nano lots or cent accounts for very small-scale traders. Trading freedom is unrestricted, with scalping and hedging both permitted, and expert advisors function on MetaTrader 4 alongside automation options through ProRealTime and IG APIs. The platform selection includes both third-party options (MT4, ProRealTime, TradingView) and IG’s proprietary trading interface available on web and mobile devices. Analysis capabilities are comprehensive, featuring client sentiment tools, a full suite of drawing tools on desktop platforms, numerous built-in and custom indicators via MetaTrader, and a filterable economic calendar for fundamental analysis.

Good Forex trading alternatives to IG are Pepperstone, XM, AvaTrade and FP Markets, as listed in the best Forex brokers listicle.

IG is an excellent choice for CFD stock trading because it operates under multiple Tier-1 regulators including the FCA, BaFin and ASIC, covers 14 stock exchanges globally including US-listed stocks on NYSE and NASDAQ, provides trading analysis tools such as news feeds and trader sentiment indicators, plus a stock screener at IG Markets Ltd and IG Australia Pty Ltd and an earnings calendar at IG Markets Ltd and IG Securities Ltd, and permits all major trading strategies including scalping, hedging, algorithmic trading through APIs and ProRealTime, and short selling.

IG charges explicit commissions on CFD stock trades with costs applied on both opening and closing positions (for example, $0.02 per share with a $15 minimum for US stocks, and 0.10% with minimums for UK and EU stocks), which represent medium-level fees in the industry. The broker provides access to stock CFDs across 14 exchanges with real-time market data available as an optional subscription, though default quotes are delayed. IG offers both proprietary trading platforms through its web interface and mobile app, as well as third-party platform integration with ProRealTime for advanced charting and automated strategies. However, IG does not support fractional share CFDs, requiring a minimum trade size of 1 share, which may limit flexibility for traders with smaller account sizes or those seeking precise position sizing.

Pepperstone, eToro, AvaTrade, and Trading 212 are some good alternatives to IG as best stock CFD brokers.

IG is a great broker for real stock trading because it offers effectively zero-commission trading in most markets (US, Europe, Australia), provides access to real US stocks across 14 exchanges, maintains multiple top-tier regulatory licenses (FCA, BaFin, ASIC), and includes analysis tools such as trader sentiment indicators, plus a stock screener at IG Markets Ltd and IG Australia Pty Ltd and an earnings calendar at IG Markets Ltd. IG is great and not excellent for buying real stocks because it supports fractional shares only in the UK (elsewhere only whole shares can be purchased), provides only delayed market data by default with real-time quotes requiring a separate subscription, lacks third-party platform integration for share-dealing (no MetaTrader or cTrader support for physical shares), and restricts trading freedom by not offering hedging with opposite physical positions, algorithmic trading for shares, or the ability to short physical stocks directly.

IG operates its share-dealing service primarily through proprietary web and mobile platforms, with L2 Dealer available for direct market access in select cases. The broker charges no commission on US, European, and Australian stock trades, while UK shares incur a low £3 fee per transaction for clients in the UK who choose manual currency conversion instead of the default instant conversion. Traders can access real stocks from 14 different exchanges globally and benefit from integrated research features including news feeds and sentiment analysis tools, plus a stock screener at IG Markets Ltd and IG Australia Pty Ltd and an earnings calendar at IG Markets Ltd. The service permits scalping but limits advanced trading strategies. Hedging opposite physical positions is unavailable, algorithmic trading applies only to CFD products rather than share-dealing, and shorting requires using CFDs or spread bets instead of borrowing physical shares. Market quotes display with approximately 15-minute delays unless traders subscribe to real-time data feeds.

DEGIRO, eToro, XTB, and Trading 212 are some good alternatives to IG as best stock brokers.

Crypto CFDs are not offered to retail clients of IG Markets Ltd (UK) and IG Securities Ltd doesn’t offer crypto; IG Europe GmbH and IG Australia Pty Ltd offer crypto CFDs with leverage up to 2:1, and IG International Limited up to 10:1. IG is a good option for CFD crypto trading because it operates under financial regulators including BaFin, ASIC and the BMA, offers commission-free trading with costs incorporated into the spread, and provides 24/7 live pricing with continuous real-time quotes. IG is good but not excellent for CFD crypto trading because it offers approximately 14 crypto CFD markets, which fall short of broader market coverage, maintains a minimum trade size of 0.1 contracts rather than lower entry points, and lacks crypto-specific regulatory licenses or oversight.

IG provides CFD crypto trading across approximately 14 cryptocurrency markets with a straightforward fee structure that eliminates per-trade commissions by incorporating all trading costs into the spread. The platform delivers continuous real-time market data with 24/7 live pricing, enabling traders to monitor and execute positions at any time. IG holds authorizations from multiple financial regulators for CFD crypto trading, though these are general CFD licenses rather than crypto-specific regulatory approvals. The minimum trade size is 0.1 contracts, which represents a moderate entry point but does not reach the lower thresholds available at some competitors. The selection of 14 crypto CFD markets covers major cryptocurrencies but provides limited exposure to smaller or emerging digital assets compared to platforms offering broader cryptocurrency selections.

eToro (crypto CFDs not offered to retail clients of eToro (UK) Ltd), NAGA, Pepperstone and AvaTrade are some good alternatives to IG as best brokers for CFD cryptocurrency.

IG, which offers real crypto in the UK, is a good broker for real crypto trading because it offers commission-free trading with costs embedded in the spread, provides real-time market data with live prices updating 24/7, allows users to buy cryptocurrencies with fiat currency, and enables selling crypto back to fiat with proceeds credited to the trading account. However, IG is good and not excellent for real crypto trading because it offers only 35+ cryptocurrencies (fewer than competitors), maintains a custodial wallet system through its partner rather than providing non-custodial storage, does not allow users to withdraw or send crypto to external blockchain addresses, does not support receiving external crypto deposits, and does not enable direct crypto-to-crypto trading within the platform.

IG provides its real crypto trading service through a regulated partner (Uphold), where purchased cryptocurrencies are held in custody instead of in user-controlled wallets. The platform supports fiat-to-crypto purchases and crypto-to-fiat sales, with each cryptocurrency transaction effectively processed as a crypto-to-fiat or fiat-to-crypto conversion rather than direct crypto-to-crypto swaps. Users can access 35+ different cryptocurrencies with commission-free trading, though any trading costs are reflected in the buy/sell spread. The platform displays live cryptocurrency prices around the clock with continuously updating charts and quotes. The main limitations include the inability to transfer cryptocurrencies in or out of the platform, and the custodial nature of crypto storage. The minimum trade size is £1.

eToro, Coinbase, Crypto.com and Binance are some good alternatives to IG as best crypto exchanges.

IG does not offer copy trading. IG provides neither a proprietary social trading network nor integration with third-party copy trading platforms, which means clients cannot automatically replicate the trades of other traders, subscribe to trading portfolios, or follow automated signals and strategies. IG offers manual trading tools, risk management features and APIs for custom automation instead.

eToro, ZuluTrade, AvaTrade and NAGA are some good alternatives to IG as copy trading platforms.

IG applies a market-maker execution model for CFDs. IG fills client CFD orders against IG quoted prices, with IG acting as principal counterparty. IG executes standard CFD orders internally rather than routing standard CFD orders to external venues. IG may offer direct-access style services for specific products, with IG treating those services as separate from standard CFD execution. IG applies best-execution obligations when executing orders. IG keeps the core CFD execution model broadly consistent while varying conditions through product scope and client categorization.

IG’s trade execution is strong and consistently well controlled. About 99% of orders are executed at IG Markets Ltd and IG Europe GmbH, and only 0.20% to 0.24% are rejected by size in normal conditions for at-quote flow. Price tolerance, price improvement and liquidity checks affect fills and rejections. IG remains a dependable choice during high volatility, and clients should still expect spread widening and occasional slippage that is normal for fast markets.

IG’s maximum leverage for retail clients on major forex pairs is 30:1 at its companies regulated in the UK, the EU and Australia, 25:1 at IG Securities Ltd, registered with the JFSA (Japan), and up to 200:1 at IG International Limited, licensed by the BMA (Bermuda).

The table showing the leverage and the protections of each IG company is shown below.

The max leverage with IG for each asset class is listed below.

• Forex: 30:1 on major pairs and 20:1 on other pairs at the companies regulated in the UK, the EU and Australia; 25:1 on all pairs at IG Securities Ltd; up to 200:1 on major pairs and 133:1 on other pairs at IG International Limited.
• Indices: 20:1 on major indices and 10:1 on other indices at the companies regulated in the UK, the EU and Australia; 10:1 at IG Securities Ltd; up to 200:1 at IG International Limited.
• Commodities: 20:1 on gold and 10:1 on other commodities at the companies regulated in the UK, the EU and Australia; 20:1 on gold and other commodities at IG Securities Ltd; up to 200:1 on gold and 67:1 on other commodities at IG International Limited.
• Shares (equities): 5:1 at the companies regulated in the UK, the EU and Australia and at IG Securities Ltd; up to 20:1 at IG International Limited.
• Cryptocurrency: 2:1 at IG Europe GmbH and IG Australia Pty Ltd; not offered to retail clients of IG Markets Ltd, and not offered by IG Securities Ltd; up to 10:1 at IG International Limited.

Professional clients can access up to 222:1 at IG Markets Ltd and IG Europe GmbH, up to 250:1 at IG Australia Pty Ltd, and up to 100:1 at IG Securities Ltd, through reduced margin rates. Leverage depends on the company, the client classification and the instrument type, not account variants. You can select leverage indirectly through position sizing within permitted limits. IG enforces margin requirements and stop-out mechanisms that close positions when equity falls to the maintenance threshold. Higher leverage magnifies both gains and losses.

Learn more about Forex brokers with high leverage.

The minimum trade size at IG is 0.01 lots for forex pairs, which equals 1,000 units of the base currency. The maximum trade size depends on the specific market and liquidity, and it can reach up to 100 lots per single forex order. The minimum trade size for indices is typically one contract, and the minimum trade size for commodities and cryptocurrencies varies by product, starting from small fractional contracts. IG allows traders to open multiple orders to increase total exposure when the platform limit per order is reached. Order size restrictions apply according to market type and liquidity, and the trading platform enforces these constraints automatically to prevent orders that exceed the maximum allowable volume.

The types of trading orders available at IG are listed below.

• Market order
• Limit order
• Stop order
• Stop-loss order
• Guaranteed stop order
• Trailing stop order
• If-done order

IG supports multiple orders on the same instrument and partial closes where the underlying product permits it.

IG has low-to-moderate slippage in normal liquidity, and can deliver price improvement as well as adverse slippage under market execution. Between April and June 2024, over 263,000 at-quote orders at IG Markets Ltd received a price improvement, for a total benefit to clients of £3.5 million.

Order execution speed with IG is excellent at about 14 milliseconds on average.

IG’s most popular account is the CFD trading account, used by most traders to speculate on price movements without owning underlying assets. The CFD account is the core offering for retail clients. It provides access to forex, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and bonds with leverage, variable spreads, and transparent market-based pricing. Traders can take long or short positions and execute through IG Trading or MetaTrader 4 platforms with charting, analysis, and automation tools. The account suits active traders seeking direct market execution across global markets.

Yes, IG offers a demo account. The demo account provides access to over 17,000 instruments across forex, indices, shares, and commodities, closely mirroring the live platform’s interface, order types, charting tools, and functionality. At IG Markets Ltd and IG Australia Pty Ltd, users can adjust their virtual demo balance from the default starting amount; at IG Europe GmbH and IG International Limited, the demo account does not expire. Learn more about the IG demo account.

No, IG does not offer an Islamic (swap-free) account. IG removed swap-free accounts and no longer provides them, even upon request for Sharia-compliant trading. Overnight financing charges apply to all positions held overnight without exemption. No screening process, proof of religion, or Islamic account structure exists at IG.

Learn more about Forex brokers with Islamic account.

Yes, IG offers a Professional account at IG Markets Ltd, IG Europe GmbH, IG Australia Pty Ltd and IG International Limited. At IG Markets Ltd and IG Europe GmbH, to qualify, clients must meet at least 2 of 3 criteria: (1) sufficient trading activity, (2) a financial portfolio above a defined threshold, and (3) relevant experience in the financial sector. Compared with a retail account, the Professional account provides higher leverage, reduced margin requirements, more flexible trading conditions, and access to a wider range of instruments, but it removes regulatory protections. At its companies regulated in the UK, the EU and Australia, clients who qualify as professional can access higher leverage, up to 222:1 (250:1 at IG Australia Pty Ltd), in exchange for fewer protections (for example, no negative balance protection required by the regulator, and no Financial Ombudsman Service rights at IG Markets Ltd). IG International Limited already offers up to 200:1 to retail clients.

Learn more about Forex brokers for professional traders.

Yes, IG offers a corporate account for businesses and institutions to trade in the company’s name (not individual). Corporate accounts operate under the same regulatory framework as retail and professional accounts of the IG company that holds them. They’re designed for entities trading for commercial or investment purposes. Applications require company registration documents, proof of directors, and financial information. Trading conditions (margin requirements, instruments) mirror retail/professional accounts, though corporate clients may access customised leverage or reporting based on trading volume and risk profile. Corporate accounts are offered by every IG company that holds client accounts.

Yes, IG offers premium features. Premium clients receive a personal premium account manager, priority customer support, exclusive pricing (such as better margins and rebates), access to higher-level research and insights, and invitations to exclusive events. Access to premium status is generally by invitation only and is granted based on individual circumstances.

IG has no minimum deposit, for the first and for subsequent deposits, whatever the account type and the payment method. No tiered status or platform features are unlocked by the amount deposited. Learn more about the minimum deposit with IG.

IG’s account base currencies depend on the company: GBP at IG Markets Ltd, EUR at IG Europe GmbH, JPY and USD at IG Securities Ltd, AUD, EUR, GBP, HKD, SGD and USD at IG International Limited, and 14 currencies at IG Australia Pty Ltd (AUD, CAD, CHF, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, NOK, NZD, SEK, SGD, USD and ZAR).

The deposit methods supported by IG are listed below.

• Debit Cards
• Credit Cards
• Bank Transfer
• Apple Pay

Cards are not accepted by IG Securities Ltd. PayPal is accepted by IG Europe GmbH, IG Australia Pty Ltd and IG Securities Ltd.

The withdrawal methods supported by IG are listed below.

• Bank Wire Transfer
• Debit Cards
• Credit Cards
• Mobile Payment Methods

Withdrawals by card and PayPal follow the same differences between the IG companies as deposits.

Deposits and withdrawals with IG are safe. Client funds are held in segregated accounts at every IG company that holds client accounts, protected even in insolvency. Investor compensation depends on the company: the FSCS covers clients of IG Markets Ltd up to £85,000, an investor compensation scheme covers 90% of the eligible claims of clients of IG Europe GmbH up to €20,000, and IG Australia Pty Ltd, IG Securities Ltd and IG International Limited have no compensation scheme. Payments are secured with SSL encryption, PCI DSS compliance, and 3-D Secure for card transactions. Withdrawals require identity verification, two-factor authentication, and return to the original payment method, with account whitelisting to block unauthorised transfers.

The charting tools available at IG are listed below.

• Technical indicators: 30+ built-in indicators (momentum, volume, volatility, trend, oscillators). Custom indicators and automated strategies via ProRealTime’s proprietary scripting language.
• Drawing tools: Trendlines, channels, Fibonacci retracements/extensions, Gann tools, pitchforks, Elliott waves, arrows, text/label boxes, shapes, and measurement tools. Multi-instrument overlays for comparative analysis.
• Chart timeframes & history: Tick-by-tick to monthly intervals, with up to 30 years of historical data via ProRealTime.
• Backtesting: Strategy testing and backtesting through ProRealTime with custom strategy creation and systematic rule-based testing.
• Platforms & usability: HTML5 web charts, mobile charting (iOS/Android), TradingView integration, and ProRealTime access. Multi-chart layouts (up to 4 charts), one-click trading, and chart-based alerts.
• Pricing: ProRealTime is included with no extra cost when executing 4+ trades monthly, but a monthly subscription fee applies below this threshold.

The trading tools offered by IG are listed below.

• Risk management tools: Market, limit, stop, trailing-stop, stop-loss, take-profit, and guaranteed-stop orders; a premium applies only when guaranteed stops trigger.
• One-click trading: One-click order entry for faster execution on the platform.
• Automatic pattern recognition: Pattern-recognition scanners identifying opportunities from price action and technical patterns.
• Market analytics widgets: Technical indicators, charting tools, integrated signal feeds, and analytical modules within the platform.
• Algorithmic trading: REST and streaming APIs for trade automation and live market-data access. Strategy development and back-testing performed in external environments.
• Trading calculators: Margin, pip, and financing calculators; position-sizing and P&L projection tools within the interface.
• Market analysis tools: Integrated economic calendar and embedded newsfeed with live headlines and broker-curated analysis.

Broker
API support	REST API, Streaming API, FIX API	cTrader API	FIX API, cTrader API
EAs support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Coding languages supported	MQL4	MQL4, MQL5, cAlgo	MQL4, MQL5, cAlgo, Pinescript
VPS support	Yes	Yes	Yes

Yes, IG provides a VPS (virtual private server) for MetaTrader clients. The VPS is hosted by Beeks in London and offers 25 GB disk space and 1,300 MB RAM.

Access to the MT4 VPS is free if the client maintains an MT4 account balance of at least $5,000. Otherwise, a monthly fee of $50 applies.

To obtain MT4 VPS access the client must email IG expressing interest, after which IG will verify the account balance and send an application link.

Learn more about Forex brokers with free VPS.

Yes, IG offers Autochartist at IG Markets Ltd, IG Europe GmbH, IG Australia Pty Ltd and IG International Limited. IG integrates Autochartist into its MT4 platform as part of its “indicators and add-ons” suite. IG provides trade signals generated by Autochartist within its platforms so that users can view chart-pattern suggestions directly. IG does not require a separate subscription fee for Autochartist as it is included in its offering.

Explore the best brokers with Autochartist.

Yes, IG offers integration with TradingView at IG Markets Ltd, IG Europe GmbH, IG Australia Pty Ltd and IG International Limited, allowing clients to trade IG instruments directly from the TradingView platform. The integration is via TradingView’s “trading panel” in which IG is added as a broker, enabling chart-based order placement and trade management within TradingView. To access it, a user must have both an active IG account and a TradingView account, and then connect IG from the TradingView trading panel.

There is no additional fee charged by IG for using TradingView. The user may use the free TradingView plan; however, access to advanced indicators, drawing tools, or added chart layouts would depend on the TradingView subscription level. Learn more about the best brokers with TradingView.

Yes, IG allows algorithmic trading. IG supports algo and automated trading via MetaTrader 4 (Expert Advisors/EAs), native REST and streaming APIs, and institutional FIX access for DMA. MT4 EAs run on IG’s CFD account infrastructure. The REST and streaming APIs deliver live and historical market data, order execution, immediate and resting orders, risk-management tools (stops, limits), account management, and market sentiment data. IG provides developer resources including documentation, sample apps, and an “IG Labs” test environment for algorithmic integrations. Demo environments and third-party platform bridges (e.g. MT4) are available. Co-location or proprietary low-latency data centre access is not offered to retail clients.

The IG mobile app differs from the desktop version mainly in interface design and feature depth. The mobile app covers essentials (live market data, charting, order placement, price alerts, risk management, and account functions) optimized for on-the-move trading. The desktop version adds advanced chart analysis, broader customization, multi-screen setups, and deeper integration with third-party tools. Both support the same instruments (forex, CFDs, indices) and sync in real time, but advanced research and automation features remain desktop-exclusive.