IG Review
FCA-Regulated, LSE-Listed
17,000+ Markets
Spreads from 0.6 Pips
5+ Platforms
📊 IG at a Glance — Broker Profile & Stats
🏢 Who is IG?
Quick answer: IG (IG Group) is a global, LSE-listed broker founded in London in 1974 and regulated by the FCA, ASIC, MAS and others. One of the world's largest CFD, forex and spread-betting providers, it offers 17,000+ markets with spreads from 0.6 across MT4, ProRealTime and TradingView.
IG (IG Group) is a global broker founded in 1974 — over 50 years old — headquartered in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange (FTSE 250). It is one of the world’s largest CFD, forex and spread-betting providers.
- Regulation: FCA (UK), ASIC, MAS, FINMA, BaFin, FSCA, CFTC/NFA (US)
- Markets: 17,000+ across all asset classes
- Platforms: IG web/app, MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, TradingView
Why it matters: An LSE-listed, FCA-regulated, 50-year-old broker is about as trustworthy as the industry gets.
★ What Traders Say on Trustpilot
3.8 / 5 · 9,523 reviews on Trustpilot (large sample).
- 👍 “Pro client for the past 10 years”
- 👍 “Full-featured trading platform”
- 👎 “Difficult transfer-out process”
Honest take: A solid 3.8 from nearly 10,000 reviews — praised for platform and support, with some account/withdrawal admin gripes. Strong for a broker this size.
🛡️ Regulation & Protection
- FCA (UK) — plus ASIC, MAS, FINMA, BaFin, FSCA
- US forex via a CFTC/NFA-regulated entity
- FSCS protection for eligible UK clients
- Segregated client funds; negative balance protection (retail)
Why it matters: Tier-1 oversight across multiple continents — the gold standard in this list.
📈 17,000+ Markets
- Forex — 80+ pairs
- Shares — thousands of global stocks
- Indices, Commodities, Bonds, ETFs
- Options & (region-dependent) crypto
🖥️ Platforms
- IG platform & app — award-winning
- MetaTrader 4 & ProRealTime
- L2 Dealer (DMA) & TradingView
- API/FIX for advanced users
🎓 Education & Extras
- IG Academy — courses & webinars
- Daily analysis & market insights
- Spread betting (tax-free in UK/IE) & DMA
- Demo account with virtual funds
🔁 Top IG Alternatives
🥇 CMC Markets
CMC Markets — another LSE-listed, FCA-regulated CFD/spread-betting broker with 12,000+ markets and the award-winning Next Generation platform.
🥈 Saxo
Saxo — premium multi-asset broker (bank-regulated) with 70,000+ instruments and the powerful SaxoTraderGO/PRO platforms.
🥉 Pepperstone
Pepperstone — low-cost Razor spreads on MT4/5, cTrader & TradingView. FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA regulated. Read our full Pepperstone review.
⭐ eToro
eToro — best for social/copy trading, real stocks & crypto, regulated by the FCA, CySEC and ASIC. Read our full eToro review.
Another LSE-listed broker we have reviewed is Plus500, and London-based alternatives include LMAX and ICM Capital.
💼 IG Account Types
CFD Account
- Trade 17,000+ markets on margin
- Go long or short
- Best for: active traders worldwide
Spread Betting (UK/IE)
- Tax-free profits in the UK/Ireland*
- No commission, spread-only
- Best for: UK/IE traders
*Tax law is subject to change and depends on personal circumstances.
Share Dealing / Investing
- Buy real shares & ETFs (where offered)
- ISAs/SIPPs in the UK
- Best for: longer-term investors
Demo Account
- Practice with virtual funds
- Test platforms & strategies
- Best for: trying IG risk-free
🖥️ Platforms & Tools
IG Platform & App
IG’s flagship web platform and award-winning mobile app — fast execution, advanced charting, alerts and watchlists.
MetaTrader 4
Full MT4 support for traders who want Expert Advisors, custom indicators and automated strategies.
ProRealTime & L2 Dealer
Advanced charting with ProRealTime and direct market access (DMA) order routing via L2 Dealer for serious traders.
TradingView & API
Trade through native TradingView integration, or build your own systems with IG’s API/FIX connectivity.
💵 Commissions & Trading Costs
📊 Spreads & Leverage
- Forex spreads: EUR/USD from 0.6 pips
- Indices & commodities — competitive spreads
- Leverage: 1:30 retail (FCA/ASIC); higher for professional clients
Why it matters: Retail leverage caps reflect strong regulation — protective, if less aggressive than offshore brokers.
💱 Commissions
- FX/indices: spread-only (no commission)
- Share CFDs & share dealing: commission applies
- Overnight funding on leveraged positions
💸 Funding & Fees
- Card, bank transfer & PayPal (region-dependent)
- Segregated client funds
- Possible inactivity fee after 24 months
Remember: CFDs are leveraged — a majority of retail accounts lose money. Manage risk carefully.
🌍 Availability & Restrictions
🌍 Where IG Is Available
IG operates in 20+ countries across the UK, Europe, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the US.
- US clients: served by IG’s CFTC/NFA entity — forex only (no CFDs)
- Not offered where local law prohibits, or in sanctioned jurisdictions
- Products vary by region (e.g. spread betting is UK/IE only)
Verify first: Check which IG entity and product set applies in your country.
🎥 Video Guides & Reviews
🎥 Watch Before You Trade
Pros and Cons of IG
✓ Pros
- FCA-regulated & LSE-listed (founded 1974)
- Multi-regulated: ASIC, MAS, FINMA, BaFin, FSCA
- 17,000+ markets across all asset classes
- Spreads from 0.6 pips (EUR/USD)
- 5+ platforms: IG, MT4, ProRealTime, TradingView, L2
- IG Academy education & daily analysis
- 3.8/5 Trustpilot from 9,500+ reviews
✗ Cons
- Retail leverage capped at 1:30 (FCA/ASIC)
- Commissions on shares/share CFDs
- Inactivity fee after 24 months
- US offering is forex-only
- Not the cheapest for high-leverage scalping
IG Pricing & Account Types
IG offers CFD, spread betting (UK/IE) and share-dealing accounts, plus a free demo. FX is spread-only; shares carry commission. Confirm current rates for your region.
| Account | Cost | Markets | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFD | Spread + comm. | 17,000+ | Active traders |
| Spread Betting | Spread-only | 17,000+ | UK/IE (tax-free*) |
| Share Dealing | Commission | Stocks/ETFs | Investors |
IG vs CMC Markets vs Saxo vs Pepperstone
| Metric | IG | CMC | Saxo | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markets | 17,000+ | 12,000+ | 70,000+ | 1,200+ |
| Regulator | FCA + | FCA + | FCA/Bank | FCA/ASIC |
| EUR/USD from | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0+comm |
| Trustpilot | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
Figures/ratings change — verify on each broker’s site.
IG Review 2026: Is It Worth It?
IG review 2026 — short answer: yes for most serious traders and investors. IG is one of the most trusted brokers in the world — FCA-regulated, LSE-listed, founded in 1974 — with 17,000+ markets, five-plus platforms (including MT4, ProRealTime and TradingView) and competitive spreads from 0.6 pips.
Who it’s best for
- Traders who prioritise tier-1 regulation and stability
- Multi-asset traders wanting huge market choice
- UK/IE traders who want tax-free spread betting
- Beginners (IG Academy) and pros (DMA, API)
Who should look elsewhere
- US traders wanting CFDs (IG US is forex-only)
- High-leverage scalpers (retail capped at 1:30)
- Cost-minimisers chasing raw 0.0 + tiny commission
Final word: If trust, market range and platform quality matter most, IG is a benchmark choice. Just remember CFDs are leveraged and most retail accounts lose money — manage risk and start on a demo.
Why Choose IG as Your Trading Broker?
★ Trustpilot 3.8 · 9,523 reviews
FCA-regulated · LSE-listed · 17,000+ markets
IG
IG
Global broker since 1974 · LSE-listed
★ 3.8 / 5 · 9,523 reviews
17,000+ markets · spreads from 0.6
FCA-REGULATED · LSE-LISTED
Try IG →★ Trustpilot 3.8 / 5 · 9,523 reviews · FCA-regulated · LSE-listed
17,000+ markets · spreads from 0.6 · MT4, ProRealTime & TradingView
Open an IG Account →IG (IG Group) is a global broker founded in 1974, headquartered in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is regulated by the FCA and a string of tier-1 authorities worldwide (ASIC, MAS, FINMA, BaFin, FSCA, CFTC/NFA), and offers more than 17,000 markets across forex, shares, indices, commodities, options, ETFs and bonds.
What stands out
- Trust. 50 years, FCA regulation and an LSE listing.
- Choice. 17,000+ markets and tax-free spread betting (UK/IE).
- Platforms. IG’s own platform plus MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer and TradingView.
- Education. IG Academy and daily market analysis.
What to keep in mind
As a regulated broker, IG caps retail leverage at 1:30 (FCA/ASIC), charges commission on shares, and may apply an inactivity fee. Its US offering is forex-only. CFDs are leveraged products and a majority of retail accounts lose money — start on a demo and manage risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. IG is one of the most trusted brokers in the world — founded in 1974, listed on the London Stock Exchange, and regulated by the FCA in the UK plus ASIC, MAS, FINMA, BaFin, FSCA and the CFTC/NFA in the US. It holds a 3.8/5 Trustpilot rating from over 9,500 reviews, with segregated client funds and FSCS protection for eligible UK clients.
IG is regulated by tier-1 authorities including the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), FINMA, BaFin and FSCA, with a CFTC/NFA-regulated entity for US forex. Which entity serves you depends on your country.
IG offers 17,000+ markets: forex, shares, indices, commodities, options, ETFs, bonds and (region-dependent) crypto, via CFDs, spread betting (UK/IE) and share dealing.
IG provides its own award-winning web platform and mobile app, plus MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer (DMA), native TradingView integration and API/FIX access.
Forex spreads start from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD with no commission on FX/indices. Share dealing and share CFDs carry commission, and an inactivity fee may apply after 24 months of no activity.
Retail leverage is capped at 1:30 on major forex under FCA/ASIC rules, with higher leverage available to qualifying professional clients. Leverage increases risk substantially.
Yes. IG offers a free demo account, the IG Academy education programme, daily analysis and an intuitive platform, making it suitable for beginners as well as professionals.
In the UK and Ireland, IG offers spread betting, where profits are currently free of capital gains tax and stamp duty. Tax treatment depends on your circumstances and may change.
Yes, but the US entity (regulated by the CFTC/NFA) offers forex trading only — not the full CFD range available in other regions.
Strong alternatives include CMC Markets, Saxo, Pepperstone and eToro; our top forex brokers hub covers more options. Always confirm the licence on the regulator’s own website and compare markets, platforms and costs.