IG

IG Markets Review 2026

Professional Trading Platform with 17,000+ Markets

4.8
Out of 5
Professional Choice
Min Deposit
$250
Forex Spread
From 0.6 pips
Markets
17,000+
Established
1974
Visit IG Markets Compare with Others

Quick Summary

Pros

  • 17,000+ markets - Largest market selection available
  • Professional platforms - Advanced trading tools and features
  • Strong regulation - FCA, ASIC, MAS, and more
  • Excellent research - Top-tier market analysis and tools
  • 50+ years experience - Established in 1974
  • Global presence - Offices in 16 countries

Cons

  • Higher minimum deposit - $250 vs competitors
  • Complex for beginners - Steep learning curve
  • Higher spreads on some instruments - Not always the cheapest
  • Inactivity fee - $18/month after 2 years inactive

Our Verdict: BEST FOR PROFESSIONALS

IG Markets is our top pick for professional and experienced traders who need comprehensive market access and advanced trading tools. While not the cheapest, the platform quality and market depth are unmatched.

Best For:

Professional Traders Advanced Tools Market Diversity Institutional Grade

Why IG Markets is the Professional's Choice

17,000+ Markets

Trade forex, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, bonds, and options.

Advanced Platforms

Proprietary platform plus MT4. Advanced charting with 100+ indicators.

Superior Research

Daily market analysis, expert insights, and economic calendars.

Top Regulation

FCA, ASIC, MAS regulated. Client funds segregated at major banks.

Market Coverage & Instruments

Forex

80+ currency pairs with spreads from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD.

80+ pairs

Indices

All major global indices including US30, UK100, GER40.

40+ indices

Shares

Trade 13,000+ global shares from 30+ international markets.

13,000+ shares

Commodities

Gold, oil, silver, natural gas, and agricultural products.

30+ commodities

Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and other major cryptocurrencies.

10+ cryptos

Options & Futures

Options on major indices and commodities. Futures contracts.

1000+ options

Detailed IG Markets Review

Table of Contents

  1. Company Overview
  2. Trading Platforms
  3. Fees & Spreads
  4. Research & Education
  5. Account Types
  6. IG vs Other Brokers

1. Company Overview & History

Founded in 1974 as a spread betting firm, IG has grown to become one of the world's largest CFD and forex brokers. Listed on the London Stock Exchange (LON: IGG), IG serves over 400,000 clients worldwide.

Regulation & Safety:

FCA (UK) - Financial Conduct Authority
ASIC (Australia) - Australian Securities and Investments Commission
MAS (Singapore) - Monetary Authority of Singapore
FMA (NZ) - Financial Markets Authority New Zealand

Client funds are held in segregated accounts with major banks like Barclays and JP Morgan. IG is a publicly listed company with strong financials and transparent reporting.

2. Trading Platforms & Tools

IG offers multiple professional-grade trading platforms:

IG Trading Platform

Proprietary web-based platform with advanced features.

  • Advanced charting with ProRealTime
  • Customizable workspace
  • Algorithmic trading tools
  • Risk management features

MetaTrader 4

Industry-standard MT4 platform with EAs and custom indicators.

  • Expert Advisors support
  • MQL4 programming
  • Backtesting capabilities
  • VPS hosting available

Mobile Apps

Fully-featured mobile trading for iOS and Android.

  • Full account management
  • Advanced charting on mobile
  • Push notifications
  • One-touch trading

ProRealTime

Professional charting package included free.

  • 100+ technical indicators
  • Backtesting capabilities
  • Automated strategy creation
  • Real-time scanning

3. Fees & Spreads Analysis

IG uses a transparent pricing model with competitive spreads:

Instrument Spread Commission Overnight Financing
EUR/USD From 0.6 pips No commission �2.5%
UK 100 (FTSE) 1 point No commission �2.5%
Gold (XAU/USD) From 25 cents No commission �2.5%
US Shares (CFD) Variable $0.01-0.02 per share �2.5%
Bitcoin From $30 No commission �50% (crypto high)

Other Fees:

  • Minimum deposit: $250 (or currency equivalent)
  • Withdrawal fees: No fees for first withdrawal each month
  • Inactivity fee: $18/month after 2 years of inactivity
  • Guaranteed stop loss: Extra charge applies
  • Currency conversion: 0.5% fee for trades in non-account currency

4. Research & Education

IG offers some of the best research tools in the industry:

Daily Market Analysis

Comprehensive daily analysis from in-house experts covering all major markets.

Trading Signals

Real-time trading signals based on technical analysis and market conditions.

Economic Calendar

Comprehensive economic calendar with real-time news and analysis.

IG Academy

Free trading courses, webinars, and tutorials for all skill levels.

6. IG Markets vs Other Professional Brokers

How IG compares to other brokers targeting professional traders:

Feature IG Markets Saxo Bank CMC Markets Interactive Brokers
Number of Markets 17,000+ 40,000+ 10,000+ 135+ markets
Minimum Deposit $250 $2,000 $0 $0
Platform Quality Excellent Excellent Very Good Complex
Research Tools Excellent Excellent Good Basic
Mobile App Rating 4.7/5 4.5/5 4.6/5 3.8/5

Comparison Verdict:

IG Markets offers the best balance of market access, platform quality, and accessibility. While Saxo Bank has more markets, its $2,000 minimum deposit is prohibitive. CMC Markets has lower minimums but fewer markets. Interactive Brokers is more complex and suited for advanced traders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, IG Markets is regulated by top-tier authorities including FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), and MAS (Singapore). The company is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The minimum deposit is $250 (or currency equivalent) for most account types. This is higher than some competitors but reflects the professional nature of the platform.

Yes, IG offers both MetaTrader 4 and their proprietary trading platform. You can choose which platform to use based on your preferences.

IG does not accept retail clients from the United States. However, they do have institutional services available for US-based professional clients.

Ready for Professional Trading?

Join 400,000+ traders who trust IG Markets for professional-grade trading.

Open IG Markets Account

74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.