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IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
A trusted multi-asset broker, IG is publicly traded and regulated across the globe. I’ve been reviewing IG for over six years, and I still continue to be impressed by IG’s all-around fantastic trading experience.
IG pros & cons
Pros
- Founded in 1974, IG is publicly traded (LON: IGG) and regulated in eight Tier-1 jurisdictions, two Tier-2 jurisdictions, and one Tier-4 jurisdiction.
- IG won our coveted award for the #1 Overall Broker in the ForexBrokers.com 2024 Annual Awards.
- IG holds the highest Trust Score in our independent database and ranked as the most trusted broker for forex and CFDs in 2024.
- IG finished Best in Class for Offering of Investments (with over 19,000 tradeable instruments), Platforms & Tools, Commissions & Fees, and Professional Trading in 2024.
- IG’s acquisition of tastytrade for $1 billion introduced options trading and listed-derivatives (i.e. futures) trading to U.S. clients.
- In addition to IG Smart Portfolios and share-dealing, IG offers listed derivatives including options and futures trading in the U.S. and Europe, alongside its forex and CFD trading (and Spread Betting for U.K. clients).
- IG holds more than double the required regulatory capital as of its 2023 annual report, with a $498 million capital headroom buffer as of May 31 2023.
Cons
- Though IG’s industry-leading web platform is fantastic, its lack of predefined layouts means that some manual configuration is necessary.
- Between premium MT4 add-ons from FX Blue, and Autochartist integration, IG’s MetaTrader offering still only offers barely 80 tradeable instruments.
- While IG’s flagship platforms are Best in Class, MT5 is not yet available.
Offering of investments
The range of markets available to you may vary depending on which of IG’s regulatory entities holds your account. Residents of the U.K., New Zealand, Japan, and the U.S. must choose their respective local IG entity.
Alongside nearly 20,000 CFDs, IG offers exchange-traded securities (non-CFDs) for residents of the U.K. (see our IG U.K. share dealing review), Germany, and Australia to access international stock exchanges, via its share trading account. In addition to forex options, IG offers exchange-traded Turbo warrants as part of Spectrum, its Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF) in Europe, and listed derivatives in the U.S. via tastytrade. IG Bank in Switzerland is also an option for eligible clients.
Cryptocurrency: Cryptocurrency trading is available at IG through CFDs, but not available through trading the underlying asset (e.g., buying Bitcoin). IG does not offer crypto derivatives in the U.K. to retail traders.
The following table summarizes the different investment products available to IG clients.
