Trading Academy
Forex Glossary
Trading Guides
News
Blog
IG Review
Overall rating
5.0/5
Minimum deposit
$0 (no minimum for bank transfer), $250 for card/PayPal
EUR/USD spread
0.6 pips (min) / 0.9 pips (avg)
Use this review to validate safety, fees, platform fit, and where this broker falls short.
Written by
BrokerAnalysis Research Desk
Fact Checked by
BrokerAnalysis Editorial Team
Updated
Feb 18, 2026
Is IG a good broker?
Sources & References
- IG Forex Trading— IG
- BrokerAnalysis ranking methodology— BrokerAnalysis
- BrokerAnalysis data sources— BrokerAnalysis
- BrokerAnalysis editorial policy— BrokerAnalysis
Should you choose IG?
Use this short answer before you dive into the full review.
Best for
Pioneer of spread betting (invented it in 1974)
Not ideal for
Admin fee on overnight funding increased to 1.5% (Dec 2026)
Why Trust BrokerAnalysis?
We test brokers with real money. Our reviews are based on data, not payments. Learn more
Trust Score: 99/100
Based on regulatory status, company history, and financial transparency
IG Score Breakdown
- 50+ years of market experience (Est. 1974)
- Access to 17,000+ global markets
- Regulated by FCA, ASIC, MAS, CFTC, BaFin (Tier-1)
- New: Spot Crypto trading for UK clients (2026)
- FTSE 250 publicly traded company (LON: IGG)
Founded
1974
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Stock Symbol
LON: IGG
Clients
313,000+
Why choose IG
IG is one of the world's largest and most established CFD and forex brokers, founded in 1974. As a FTSE 250 company, IG serves over 313,000 clients worldwide and provides access to more than 17,000 financial markets. The broker is renowned for its cutting-edge technology, comprehensive educational resources, and award-winning trading platforms.
Pros
- Regulated by 8+ top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.)
- Huge range of 17,000+ instruments including options & futures
- FTSE 250 listed company with high financial transparency
- Top-tier educational academy and daily market analysis
- New physical crypto offering for UK clients (2026)
Cons
- Admin fee on overnight funding increased to 1.5% (Dec 2026)
- Higher spreads on UK small-cap shares (2026 update)
- No Islamic (swap-free) account available
- MetaTrader 4 offering is limited compared to proprietary platform
IG
Fast decision summary
Min Deposit: | $0 (no minimum for bank transfer), $250 for card/PayPal |
Regulated: | Yes |
Inactivity Fee:
$12/month after 24 months of no trading (some regions exempt)
See how the best brokers compare to IG
IG offers competitive trading fees with spreads starting from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD. However, 2026 sees some fee increases: overnight funding admin fees rose to 1.5% in Dec 2026. Share dealing is commission-free for active traders (3+ trades/qtr), otherwise £24/qtr custody fee applies.
Non-trading fees
Deposit fee
Free (0%)
Withdrawal fee
Free (bank/card/PayPal). Wire fee $15 may apply.
Inactivity fee
$12/month after 24 months of no trading (some regions exempt)
Fees and conditions last verified: February 2026.
Fees may vary depending on account type and jurisdiction. We aim to keep this data updated regularly.
IG remains the gold standard for safety in 2026, holding licenses from virtually every major regulator globally. Listed on the LSE (FTSE 250), it provides the highest level of financial transparency.
Regulatory Status
| Regulator | Country | Tier | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | United Kingdom | Tier-1 | 195355 |
| Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) | Australia | Tier-1 | 515106 |
| Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | Singapore | Tier-1 | - |
| Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) | Germany | Tier-1 | - |
| Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) | United States | Tier-1 | - |
| Financial Markets Authority (FMA) | New Zealand | Tier-1 | - |
| Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) | UAE | Tier-1 | - |
Safety Features
| Segregated Accounts | Yes |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes |
| Investor Protection | Up to £85,000 under FSCS (UK clients) |
| Compensation Scheme | Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects UK retail clients up to £85,000 |
Compare IG with top alternatives
Use the side-by-side comparison tool once you have checked fees and safety.
IG offers a variety of convenient deposit and withdrawal options with no internal fees. Processing times are among the fastest in the industry, with card and e-wallet deposits credited instantly. The broker supports multiple base currencies to minimize conversion costs.
Deposit Options
| Method | Processing Time | Fee | Min. Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit/Debit Card (Visa, Mastercard) | Instant | Free | $250 |
| Bank Transfer | 1-5 business days | Free | No minimum |
| PayPal | Instant | Free | $250 |
| Apple Pay | Instant | Free | $50 |
| BPAY (Australia) | 1-2 business days | Free | No minimum |
Withdrawal Options
| Method | Processing Time | Fee | Min. Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | 1-5 business days (same day for Faster Payments) | Free | $100 |
| Credit/Debit Card | 2-5 business days | Free | $100 |
| PayPal | Instant to 1 business day | Free | $100 |
Base Currencies
USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CHF, JPY, SGD, HKD, CAD
Opening an account with IG is a fully digital process that typically takes 1-3 business days for verification. The broker accepts clients from most countries and offers various account types including standard CFD accounts, spread betting (UK/Ireland), and share dealing accounts.
Account Types
| Account Type | Min. Deposit | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard CFD Account | $0 |
|
| Professional Account | Must meet eligibility criteria |
|
| Share Dealing Account (UK) | No minimum |
|
| Spread Betting Account (UK/Ireland) | $0 |
|
Verification Steps
- Time to open: 1-3 business days (can be same day with instant verification)
- Demo Account: Yes
- Islamic Account: No
IG's mobile trading app is an award-winner, rated 4.6/5 on iOS with 32,000+ reviews. The app provides full trading functionality with access to all 17,000+ markets, advanced charting, and seamless account management. It won 'Best Mobile App' at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024.
App Features
- Full access to 17,000+ markets
- Advanced real-time charts with multiple indicators
- Customizable watchlists and portfolios
- One-tap trading from charts
- Real-time price alerts and notifications
- Integrated market news and analysis
- 256-bit SSL encryption for security
- Biometric login (Face ID/Touch ID/fingerprint)
- Trader sentiment indicators
- Educational content and webinars
IG offers multiple desktop trading options including its proprietary web platform, MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime for advanced charting, and L2 Dealer for Direct Market Access. The platforms cater to traders of all levels, from beginners to professionals.
Supported Platforms
- IG Web Trading Platform: IG's flagship proprietary platform accessible via any web browser. Features a modern, intuitive interface with comprehensive charting and analysis tools.
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4): Industry-standard platform popular for forex trading and automated strategies via Expert Advisors (EAs).
- ProRealTime: Premium advanced charting platform with 30 years of historical data. Free for traders placing 4+ trades per month; otherwise £30/month.
- L2 Dealer: Direct Market Access (DMA) platform for professional traders who want to trade at underlying exchange prices.
Compare platform providers:
IG offers one of the widest ranges of tradeable instruments in the industry with over 17,000 markets. This includes 99 forex pairs, 80 indices, 13,000+ stocks, 35 commodities, 31 cryptocurrencies, 6,000+ ETFs, real stock trading (UK), and options/futures. In 2024, IG launched spot crypto trading with 31 tokens for UK clients.
Available Instruments
| Forex Pairs | 99 |
| Indices | 80 |
| Stocks | 13000 |
| Commodities | 35 |
| Cryptos | 31 |
| ETFs | 6000 |
Leverage Limits
| Instrument | Max Leverage |
|---|---|
| Forex | 30:1 retail / 200:1 professional |
| Indices | 20:1 retail / 200:1 professional |
| Stocks | 5:1 retail / 25:1 professional |
| Crypto | 2:1 retail / 5:1 professional |
Got Questions?
Engage with our growing community of traders and investors like you to find your answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Review Team
Why Traders Shortlist IG
Key points from our latest editorial review and testing process.
- 50+ years of market experience (Est. 1974)
- Access to 17,000+ global markets
- Regulated by FCA, ASIC, MAS, CFTC, BaFin (Tier-1)
- New: Spot Crypto trading for UK clients (2026)
Compare IG before you commit
If this broker looks close but not perfect, compare it against the strongest alternatives first.
Compare AlternativesWhy this review is trustworthy
- Freshness dates and fact-checking are shown on the page.
- Broker scoring follows our public methodology and disclosure standards.
- Country-specific differences still matter, so compare the exact entity before you deposit.
Related Comparisons
Our Verdict
IG is recommended for Pioneer of spread betting (invented it in 1974)
Use this final check alongside the fee, safety, platform, and funding sections above. If IG still fits your country, account size, and risk tolerance, open the account through the tracked broker route below.
Not sure IG fits how you trade?
Get a personalized match in 60 seconds — or join the free community for live setups first.
Signals are provided free through our VT Markets partnership. Join the community and the registration link is pinned at the top.
Keep researching faster
Next step after this review
Move to a compare page, a fresh broker match, or another detailed review.
Risk Warning: Forex/CFD trading involves significant risk. 68-80% of retail accounts lose money.|Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn commissions from listed partners.|Not Advice: For educational purposes only.
Broker terms can differ by region and entity, but this review shows the most recent figures captured in our research workflow.Methodology |Editorial Policy |Data Sources |Full Disclaimer