IG

Industry giant — 50 years and 19,000+ markets across every major asset class.

FCAASICNFABaFinFINMAMAS

4.9/5

2,841 reviews

Founded

1974

Min. deposit

Regulated by

FCA · ASIC

Platforms

MT4, PROPRIETARY

IG homepage — www.ig.com

Quick take · 30s

Founded 1974 — half a century of continuous operation in retail and institutional markets
Six top-tier regulators including FCA, ASIC, NFA, BaFin, FINMA, and MAS
19,000+ tradable markets — among the widest catalogs in retail
Publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange (IGG.L), FTSE 250 constituent

What we liked & What we didn't

What we liked

+FCA-regulated UK headquarters with full FSCS protection
+50-year track record with a publicly listed parent company
+Industry-leading market coverage at 19,000+ instruments
+Strong proprietary platform with advanced charting and order types
+Comprehensive educational content via IG Academy

What we didn't

−FCA-mandated retail leverage capped at 1:30 — much lower than offshore peers
−Inactivity fee after 24 months of no trading activity
−Higher minimum spreads on some exotic pairs

Overview

IG is one of the oldest and largest retail brokers in the world. Founded in 1974 in London as IG Index, the company has grown into a multi-jurisdictional, publicly listed broker (LSE: IGG) serving more than 350,000 active clients across over 30 countries. With 19,000+ tradable markets, six top-tier regulators, and a half-century of operating history, IG sits at the very top of the global retail broker landscape.

Regulation & safety

IG's regulatory stack is one of the strongest in retail:

FCA (UK) — license #195355, FSCS coverage up to £85,000
ASIC (Australia) — license #515106
NFA / CFTC (US) — IG US LLC, NFA #0509630
BaFin (Germany), FINMA (Switzerland), MAS (Singapore), FMA (NZ), JFSA (Japan)

That six-regulator-plus stack is unusual even at the top of the industry. Client funds are segregated and held with tier-1 banks. The publicly listed parent (IGG.L) means IG's financial position is audited and disclosed quarterly — a transparency standard private brokers cannot match.

Account types

IG offers a single main account type with no minimum deposit in most jurisdictions (£250 / $250 to fund a UK account for live trading). Professional clients can apply for elevated leverage and additional features. Share dealing and ISA accounts are also available for UK clients alongside the CFD/forex book.

Fees & spreads

IG's pricing is competitive for the regulatory tier but not the cheapest. Standard EUR/USD spreads average 0.6–0.8 pips during peak liquidity, widening during news events. No commission on forex and CFDs except on stock CFDs (where small commissions apply). Overnight financing rates are published clearly. The 24-month inactivity fee is industry-standard.

Trading platforms

IG's flagship is the proprietary web and mobile platform — clean, fast, and feature-rich with advanced charting (ProRealTime included free with sufficient volume), drawing tools, and a wide range of order types. MetaTrader 4 is available for clients who prefer it. L2 Dealer offers direct market access for stock and forex traders who need it. Full FIX API access available for institutional clients.

Asset class coverage

IG covers 19,000+ markets across forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, bonds, options, and cryptocurrencies (in supported jurisdictions). The shares offering is particularly deep — exposure to thousands of US, UK, European, and Asian equities via CFDs or direct share dealing. Cryptocurrency CFDs are available in select markets only.

Customer support

24/5 phone, live chat, and email support across English and major European languages. UK-based call centers for UK clients. Response times average under 2 minutes on live chat during business hours.

Verdict

IG is the broker for traders who want top-tier regulation, the broadest possible market coverage, and the financial transparency of a publicly listed company. The combination of FCA oversight, 50-year history, and 19,000+ instruments is genuinely unmatched in retail.

It is not the cheapest broker — pure-ECN operators show tighter raw spreads, and FCA-mandated 1:30 leverage will frustrate offshore-style traders. But for anyone prioritizing trust, longevity, and market coverage over raw cost, IG is one of the strongest options on the planet.