IG Demo Account 2026: Free Practice Trading

IG offers a free demo account: Yes (unlimited). Demo accounts are funded with virtual money, mirror live prices, and let you practise strategies, test platforms (IG Platform, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MT4) and evaluate the broker's execution before depositing the $250 ($0 bank transfer) minimum.

Open a demo from the IG website or client portal — no deposit is needed. Live account opening takes 1-3 business days (can be same day with instant verification). Demo positions use the same Market Maker (+ DMA routing available) execution model and commission structure ($0 (Built into spread for Forex)) as live accounts, so you can validate costs in practice.

The key difference: demo trading carries no capital risk, so fills are often more forgiving than live conditions during volatility. Use the demo to confirm IG meets your needs on spreads (EUR/USD from 0.6 pips (Standard)), execution, and platform — then start live with the $250 ($0 bank transfer) minimum deposit.

IG operates with a minimum deposit of $250 ($0 bank transfer) and offers leverage up to 1:30 (Retail UK/EU) | 1:200 (Pro). EUR/USD spreads are quoted from 0.6 pips (Standard), with a commission structure of $0 (Built into spread for Forex) on Market Maker (+ DMA routing available) execution. Trading platforms include IG Platform, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MT4. Deposit methods span Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Card, and withdrawal processing runs at 2-5 business days. The broker holds 5 Tier-1 and 0 Tier-3 licences (FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CFTC/NFA (USA), FINMA (Switzerland), MAS (Singapore)), with client protection of £85,000 (FSCS UK). Operating since 1974 from London, UK. IG is positioned Professional traders, US traders & comprehensive market access. Educational resources are rated Excellent, covering market analysis and platform training. Reviewers consistently note: Publicly traded (FTSE 250) with exceptional financial stability; Access to over 17,000 global markets; Industry-leading proprietary web and mobile platform.

Deposit methods at IG: Credit/Debit Card (Visa, Mastercard) (Instant), Bank Transfer (1-5 business days), PayPal (Instant), Apple Pay (Instant), BPAY (Australia) (1-2 business days). Withdrawal methods: Bank Transfer (1-5 business days (same day for Faster Payments)), Credit/Debit Card (2-5 business days), PayPal (Instant to 1 business day). Supported base currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CHF, JPY, SGD, HKD, CAD. Broker-listed deposit fee: Free (0%). Broker-listed withdrawal fee: Free (bank/card/PayPal). Wire fee $15 may apply.. Verification: ID proof (passport/driving license) + Address proof (utility bill/bank statement dated within 3 months). Time to open an account: 1-3 business days (can be same day with instant verification). Forex pairs available: 80+.

IG is positioned Professional traders, US traders & comprehensive market access, which matters when comparing it against other brokers for this decision. Strengths in our review: Publicly traded (FTSE 250) with exceptional financial stability; Access to over 17,000 global markets; Industry-leading proprietary web and mobile platform; Accepts US clients via IG US; ProRealTime charting is fantastic for technical analysis. Watch-outs in our review: Does not offer MetaTrader 5 (MT5); Stock CFD commissions can be high; Customer service can be impersonal for smaller accounts. Platform support: MT4 supported, MT5 not supported, cTrader not supported, TradingView not supported, proprietary supported. Islamic (swap-free) accounts: Yes (Select regions). Demo account: Yes (unlimited). Education resources are rated Excellent. Regulatory footprint: FCA (UK) (Tier 1), ASIC (Australia) (Tier 1), CFTC/NFA (USA) (Tier 1), FINMA (Switzerland) (Tier 1), MAS (Singapore) (Tier 1).

IG is rated 4.7/5 in our editorial reviews and holds licences across 5 regulated entities. The broker was founded in 1974. Headquarters are in London, UK. It has been licensed since 1974. Positioning: Professional traders, US traders & comprehensive market access. Commission model: $0 (Built into spread for Forex). Leverage reaches 1:30 (Retail UK/EU) | 1:200 (Pro). Minimum deposit: $250 ($0 bank transfer).

**Strengths**: Publicly traded (FTSE 250) with exceptional financial stability; Access to over 17,000 global markets; Industry-leading proprietary web and mobile platform; Accepts US clients via IG US; ProRealTime charting is fantastic for technical analysis. **Weaknesses**: Does not offer MetaTrader 5 (MT5); Stock CFD commissions can be high; Customer service can be impersonal for smaller accounts.