IG Review 2026

IG is regulated by several authorities, including the FCA, ASIC, MAS, CFTC, JFSA, and FSCA. The broker segregates retail client money from its own corporate funds. Eligible UK clients have FSCS protection up to £85,000, with coverage depending on entity and product. Retail negative balance protection applies in regulated regions such as the UK and EU, so retail spread betting and CFD clients cannot lose more than the funds in the account.

IG uses KYC checks before full account activation. Hedging, scalping, and news trading are allowed. Slippage can be positive or negative, and if the market moves beyond IG tolerance, some orders can be rejected rather than filled at a worse price. This execution rule is useful for beginners to understand because fast markets do not behave like normal market hours.

Spreads

IG mainly charges through the spread on forex, indices, commodities, spread betting, and most CFD markets. The EUR/USD average spread is 0.85 pips, and the GBP/USD average spread is 1.84 pips. Gold is listed at 0.30 points, and the S&P 500 CFD average spread is 0.40 points. These spreads are floating, so they widen during news events, low-liquidity periods, and fast market moves.

Commission

Spread betting and most CFD markets use spread-based pricing. Share CFDs carry commission. Online share dealing and ISA trades in global shares and ETFs are available with $0 commission when instant FX conversion is used. Manual FX conversion changes the cost structure. US shares can cost 3 cents per share with a $15 minimum when manual conversion is selected. Phone dealing can also add charges, with listed phone dealing examples including $50 for US shares and $40 for UK shares.

Overnight Swap Fees

IG charges overnight funding on leveraged cash positions held after 10pm UK time. This is the swap cost that many forex traders know as rollover. For forex, the charge uses the Tom-Next rate plus an IG admin fee. The admin fee is 1% for FX pairs and 3% for other asset classes such as shares, commodities, and indices. Futures contracts do not carry the same daily overnight funding because the cost is built into the futures price.

Currency Conversion Fee

IG applies a 0.7% currency conversion fee when a trade, profit, loss, funding charge, dividend, or deposit needs conversion into the account base currency. For example, a USD stock trade in a GBP account triggers conversion. Traders who trade many overseas markets should include this cost in their trade plan.

Deposit, Withdrawal, and Inactivity Fees

IG does not charge a deposit fee, withdrawal fee, or inactivity fee for the accounts reviewed here. Bank charges can still apply when a bank or payment provider adds its own fee, especially for international transfers.

Crypto Fee

Crypto investing is listed with a flat 1.49% spread charge. Crypto availability and product form vary by entity and client category. In some regions, crypto derivatives are restricted for retail clients.

Deposit Methods

IG supports Mastercard, Visa, and wire transfer for deposits. Card deposits are usually the fastest option. Bank transfer is useful for larger funding, but it takes longer than cards.

Withdrawal Methods

Withdrawals use the same main payment methods: Mastercard, Visa, and wire transfer. The withdrawal method has to match IG account rules and anti-money-laundering checks.

Minimum Deposit

The minimum deposit is $0. Bank transfer has no minimum deposit. Card funding has a $250 minimum for several trading and investing accounts. IG Smart Portfolio needs $500 before the portfolio starts investing.

Processing Times

Card and e-wallet deposits are instant. Bank transfer deposits take around two hours in faster cases, and normal bank transfers can take three to five business days to reflect. Bank withdrawals usually take one to three business days. Card withdrawals usually take two to five business days.

Forex Pairs

IG offers forex trading with major, minor, exotic, and emerging currency pairs. Forex traders can use 0.01 lots on MT4, which helps with risk control on smaller accounts. EUR/USD has an average spread of 0.85 pips, and GBP/USD has an average spread of 1.84 pips. Major forex pairs have the highest retail leverage allowance in many regulated regions, usually up to 1:30 for retail clients and up to 1:200 through certain international or professional arrangements.

Indices

IG offers access to more than 80 international indices. The S&P 500 CFD average spread is 0.40 points. Many index markets have extended dealing hours, and selected markets also have weekend pricing. Retail leverage on major indices is commonly lower than major forex pairs. A 1:20 retail limit is common in strict regulatory regions, while higher leverage can apply to eligible professional or international clients.

Stocks and ETFs

IG offers stocks through share dealing and through share CFDs. Share dealing gives direct ownership of shares and ETFs. Share CFDs allow long and short trading with leverage. Retail leverage on shares is lower than on forex and indices because individual stocks move more sharply. A 1:5 level is common for retail clients in regulated regions, while some entities and professional categories allow higher levels.

Commodities

IG offers commodity trading on markets such as gold, silver, oil, natural gas, wheat, and sugar. Gold is listed with a 0.30 point spread. Commodity leverage is restricted for retail clients, with gold often treated differently from other commodities. This matters because a small price move in gold or oil can create a large account move when leverage is used.

Cryptocurrencies

IG offers cryptocurrency exposure where regulation permits it. Crypto investing is priced with a 1.49% spread. Crypto markets move quickly, and leverage restrictions are strict for retail clients in many regions. Beginners should use small position sizes and avoid treating crypto spreads like major forex spreads.

Options

IG offers options access through spread betting, CFDs, and US options and futures access. Options can help traders hedge a portfolio, trade volatility, or define risk through premium-paid strategies. Beginners need to understand strike price, expiry, intrinsic value, time value, and assignment risk before using options with real money.

IG Web Platform

The proprietary IG web platform is browser-based and does not need a download. It includes charts, watchlists, alerts, dealing tickets, account management, and risk tools. It is the most direct platform for beginners who want to learn IG before adding third-party software.

IG Trading App

IG offers Android and iOS apps. The mobile app supports market search, charting, position management, account funding, alerts, and order placement. Mobile trading is convenient, but stops and position size should be checked carefully on a smaller screen.

MetaTrader 4

MetaTrader 4 is available for spread betting and CFD traders. MT4 is popular with forex traders because it supports Expert Advisors, custom indicators, and signal tools. IG supports a 0.01 minimum lot size on MT4. Copy trading is available indirectly through MT4 signal tools rather than through a native IG social-trading network.

MetaTrader 5

MetaTrader 5 is available for clients who prefer a newer MetaTrader environment. MT5 supports more order types, more time frames, and a deeper multi-asset structure than MT4. It is useful for traders who want automated strategies and broader chart tools.

ProRealTime

ProRealTime is for chart-focused traders. It offers advanced charts, indicators, screeners, and strategy tools. It fits traders who need detailed technical analysis before placing forex, index, or commodity trades.

TradingView

TradingView integration lets clients analyse markets with TradingView charts and community tools, then connect to IG for trading where supported. It is useful for traders who already build watchlists and chart layouts in TradingView.

L2 Dealer

L2 Dealer is designed for more advanced traders who need direct market access on selected markets. It suits clients who understand order books, market depth, and more active execution methods.

API Trading

IG supports API trading through REST and streaming APIs, with FIX API access for institutional clients. API users can request market data, retrieve historic prices, receive streaming prices, and send orders. This route requires coding knowledge and a clear risk-control process.

Copy Trading and Social Tools

IG does not run a native one-click social-trading network. Copy trading is available indirectly through MT4 and third-party signal tools. IG also offers community content, sentiment indicators, Autochartist, PIA-First signals, and TradingView integration for traders who want outside ideas. These tools support research, but every copied signal still needs risk control.

Account Opening Process

The account process is direct. A new client selects the account type, enters personal details, answers questions about trading and financial experience, completes KYC verification, and then funds the account. KYC requires proof of identity, such as a passport or driver licence, and proof of address, such as a utility bill or bank statement from the last three to six months. Proof of funds can be requested for larger deposits or business accounts.

Spread Betting Account

The spread betting account is a leveraged trading account. It is used to speculate on market prices without owning the underlying asset. Traders can go long or short on forex, indices, commodities, and shares. This account suits traders who understand leverage, margin, and stop-loss orders. In the UK, tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and rules can change.

CFD Trading Account

The CFD account is also leveraged. A CFD position tracks the price movement of the underlying market. IG offers CFD trading on forex, indices, shares, commodities, options, and selected crypto products where available. CFD traders need to watch spread costs, overnight funding, slippage, and margin close-out rules.

Share Dealing, ISA, and SIPP Accounts

Share dealing, ISA, and SIPP accounts are non-leveraged investing accounts. With these accounts, clients buy shares and ETFs outright rather than trading on margin. Online global share and ETF dealing is available with $0 commission when using instant currency conversion. A 0.7% FX conversion fee applies when the trade currency is different from the account currency.

IG Smart Portfolio Account

IG Smart Portfolio is a managed investment account. It is designed for longer-term investing instead of short-term trading. The minimum to start investing is $500. Deposits can start from $50, but the funds are invested only after the account reaches $500.

Professional Account

The professional account is for experienced clients who meet eligibility rules. Professional traders can access higher leverage and extra services, but they lose some retail protections. Negative balance protection and compensation coverage do not apply in the same way as they do for retail clients.

US Options and Futures Account

IG offers access to US-listed options and futures through a related offering. This account is for traders who understand margin, contract expiry, option premiums, and assignment risk. Options positions can be used for directional trades, income strategies, and hedging, but beginners should learn the payoff structure before trading live.

IG support is available through web chat, WhatsApp, phone, and email. Support hours are 24 hours a day from Saturday 8am to Friday 10pm UK time. The average response times are about 30 seconds for chat, around one minute by phone, and two to five hours by email. Supported languages include English, Chinese Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish. The support email is [email protected], and the phone number is +44 (20) 7633 5431.

IG’s AI chat responds quickly, usually in under 30 seconds. However, the experience changes when the user asks to speak with a human agent. After requesting a human agent, the chatbot states:

“The team will get back to you on this. Our usual reply time is 1 day.”

This shows that while IG’s automated chat is fast, access to a real support agent may not be immediate. For users with urgent questions, especially about account issues, withdrawals, trading conditions, or risk-related matters, waiting up to one day for a human response may be inconvenient.

Overall, IG’s support system is fast at the AI chatbot level, but the live human support experience appears slower than expected. The support quality may be acceptable for simple questions handled by the bot, but traders who need direct human assistance should be aware that they may have to wait significantly longer.

IG has a broad research setup for forex and CFD traders. The platform includes streaming news, economic calendar data, trading signals, live Reuters news, and market data. Client sentiment shows how other IG clients are positioned, which helps traders see crowd exposure on popular markets. Built-in research is useful for news trading, but high-impact events still need wider stops, smaller size, or no trade if spreads are unstable.

IG offers IG Academy, educational videos, written guides, webinars, and seminars. The demo account helps beginners practise order placement, risk sizing, stop-loss use, and margin control before using real funds. The education area is useful for learning forex terms such as spread, pip, lot, leverage, margin call, stop out, and overnight funding.

Deposit Bonus

IG lists a free-share offer from $50 to $500 for new investment clients who invest at least $500 into a GIA, ISA, or SIPP by 30 April 2026. The offer uses the code FS500 and the free US share bundle is listed for credit by 31 August 2026. Promotional terms apply, and offers cannot be combined.

Welcome Bonus

The welcome promotions offered for new customers include the $50 to $500 free-share offer, up to $250 cashback for investing at least $500 by 30 April 2026, and a $50 Junior ISA boost. The Junior ISA offer requires a $50 investment and the code JISA50. These offers are time-limited and tied to product and eligibility rules.

Transfer Cashback

IG lists a transfer cashback offer of up to $5,000 for clients who transfer at least $10,000 by 31 May 2026. The code shown for this offer is TRANSFER5000. The maximum reward applies at a much higher transfer amount, so smaller transfers receive lower cashback.

Affiliate Program

IG runs the IG Marketing Partnership Programme. It is free to join, has no stated minimum traffic rule, and gives partners marketing materials, reporting tools, and CPA-style payments for eligible referred clients. Applicants need a web presence such as a website or social channel for review.

Loyalty Program

IG offers loyalty and rebate-style rewards for active traders. IG Club 2.0 uses tiers from Bronze to 1% Club and can include volume-based rebates, bonus rebates, premium experiences, and dedicated support. These rewards suit high-volume traders more than small casual accounts.

Trading Contests

IG has offered free-to-play contests and prediction games such as Beat the Street. The listed format asks users to answer six market-movement questions for a chance to win weekly or monthly cash prizes up to $10,000. These contests are for engagement and education, not a replacement for a trading plan.

IG is a well-established broker with a deep market list, regulated entities, useful platforms, and detailed research tools. Its strongest fit is an active trader who wants forex, indices, commodities, shares, and options under one group, with access to platforms such as IG Web, MT4, MT5, ProRealTime, and TradingView.

The broker is less simple than a basic investing app. Beginners need to take time with margin, leverage, overnight funding, and platform settings. The main drawback is that leveraged trading costs can build up when positions stay open overnight or when trades involve foreign-currency conversion.

For a beginner who wants to learn seriously, IG is a practical broker to study with a demo account first, then use with small position sizes. For an active trader, the platform choice, research tools, API access, and broad instrument list make IG a practical multi-asset broker.