IG International Limited receives services from other members of the IG Group including IG Markets Limited. IG International Limited is licensed to conduct investment business and digital asset business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Elizabeth Anderson, lead writer and researcher, has been a financial journalist for more than a decade.
In terms of cryptocurrency, IG offers crypto trading via CFDs but doesn’t support direct trading of the underlying asset (e.g., purchasing Bitcoin). Additionally, crypto derivatives are not available to retail traders in the UK. The platform also includes offerings like forex options, exchange-traded turbo warrants through Spectrum (its Multilateral Trading Facility in Europe), and listed derivatives via tastytrade.
- At the same time, the system allows more advanced traders to enter orders with various contingencies.
- The search panel in the upper left is the tool traders will use most to locate new instruments to trade.
- Stocks are among the best long-term investments people use to build wealth.
- If you are starting with small amounts, a platform such as eToro or Trading 212 may be more suitable.
- Additionally, trading CFDs on IG.com come with extra peace of mind as IG broker also abides by the leading principles of the FX Global Code of Conduct.
- Unlike IG’s native trading platforms, ProRealTime allows you to backtest and execute automated trading strategies based on your own algorithms, which makes it a popular third-party tool for experienced traders.
Steven Hatzakis is the Global Director of Online Broker Research for UK.StockBrokers.com and ForexBrokers.com. Steven previously served as an Editor for Finance Magnates, where he authored over 1,000 published articles about the online finance industry. Steven is an active fintech and crypto industry researcher and advises blockchain companies at the board level. Over the past 20 years, Steven has held numerous positions within the international forex markets, from writing to consulting to serving as a registered commodity futures representative. IG charges a management fee (also known as a custody charge) of £96 a year unless you make at least three trades a quarter (12 per year), in which case there are no custody fees.
Withdrawal Fee
Traders and investors who prefer a desktop trading experience will like what IG offers as its primary trading platform is web-based. You can also download MetaTrader 4 as a desktop application to access IG’s expanded offering. IG offers a user-friendly web trading platform that requires no downloads, granting access to its trading services and features via a web browser, thereby ensuring trading accessibility from any location. IG is regulated in all jurisdictions where they offer spread betting, CFD, stockbroking products, and foreign exchange.
As a public company, IG Group must make full disclosures about its financial health. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active. However, contacted the support team and they sorted it quickly and efficiently. Couldn’t be more pleased with the response to what was, after all, my mistake. Found a couple of small glitches in the first year of using them, I contacted them on the help email and they have fixed them very quickly. Our proprietary scoring model evaluated each broker across 11 major categories and 73 weighted criteria, plus an additional 15 non-weighted criteria.
Lightning-fast execution times
There is also an inactivity fee of $12 per month if there has been no trading activity for 24 months. This may frustrate casual investors, though with such a long period, this isn’t a major drawback. The bonus is that there is no time limit, an advantage over alternatives like XTB, allowing you to continue using the demo account alongside a real-money account.
They also have the required credibility thanks to their NFA, CFTC, and FCA regulations. In general, the platform has proven to be reputable and competent, with a large user base spread across several countries worldwide. When a client trades CFDs, they pay a commission charge, and it’s included on both sides of the market spread.
Charges and fees
- They offer detailed news, in-depth research, an educational portal, and a community of seasoned analysts.
- IG offers competitive fees globally, with spreads as low as 0.6 pips for major FX pairs, 0.8 on leading indices, and 0.1 on commodities.
- When traders trade cash CFDs with shares, IG charges the following fees per country’s market and product.
- Similarly to the mobile app, it offers the same features and functionalities as the web-based version minus the advanced chart analysis options.
US share trades come with zero-commission trading while the UK shares require GBP 3 commission per trade. Trading major stock indices like the DAX 30 and FTSE 100 comes with a 1 point spread while gold trading has a minimum spread of 0.3 pips. IG offer locally based customer service 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday. IG offers support over the phone, via e-mail, or even through their handle on Twitter.
When traders have an existing bet on a market and want to open another position in the opposite direction, the ‘force open’ option needs to be checked upon execution. The search panel in the upper left is the tool traders will use most to locate new instruments to trade. Traders who value quality mobile trading could find Plus500 and AvaTrade suitable alternatives brokers to consider. Accounts can be funded by tapping the ‘Add Funds’ button in the mobile accounts section.
Corporate accounts are split into institutional corporate accounts and retail corporate accounts. In general, IG does an excellent job of providing existing and prospective users with key information, highlighting the company’s commitment to excellent customer service. IG also provides support via ig group review a telephone hotline 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday, as well as assistance over WhatsApp, live chat, email, and via a dedicated customer service account on X (formerly Twitter).
Install Our Apps
Users can withdraw funds via bank transfer after meeting all AML regulations. Internationally, IG’s fees are quite competitive when compared to other players in the industry. Bank transfers often take about 3 days to clear as it all depends on the bank in question. They can upload proof of payment on the app if they want to trade straight away. In addition, they can trade commission-free on US shares, while UK shares will cost them a £3 commission.
There is also a useful ‘Explore’ section where you can see the latest market news, a calendar of key global economic events that could impact markets, and a new ‘Top 100 Traders’ feature. This allows you to see the current long or short positions of IG’s top 100 traders, who are selected based on their number of trades placed, longevity of success, and total profit. It is a good way to see what other experienced traders are doing to get inspiration. Founded in 1979, IG Markets is a safe CFD provider regulated by the world’s most trusted financial institutions. IG share trading gives access to 12,000+ shares from global stock exchanges including the ASX, DOW, NASDAQ and London Stock Exchange. Across these major exchanges, you can start trading not only large companies such as those listed on the S&P 500 can be traded but also many small caps.
FCA regulation requires IG to ensure client funds are kept separate in segregated accounts at regulated banks, ensuring they are secure in the unlikely event IG becomes insolvent. Additional asset protection up to £85,000 through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is provided. IG also offers negative balance protection, per rules mandated by ESMA, along with guaranteed stop loss orders which protect against large losses due to extreme market conditions causing wide gaps. When selecting individual stocks, you can set a price alert, buy, and see recent news through the app.
I find the IG platform highly professional, user friendly and easy to use. The support form staff and account manager is prompt friendly and purposeful.A very useful resource and productive service indeed. Interestingly, the IG Academy doesn’t only help beginners learn how to trade the financial markets, but also provides advanced learning materials for traders of higher experience levels. TipRank analyzes financial data to provide stock market research in a very consumer-friendly manner for retail investors.
They also have several online webinars, and the IG Academy course was created for investors of different pedigrees. In addition, clients can use the search function and the platform’s glossary to get more info. Online customer support is also available in various languages, which appeals to a more extensive client base.
The IG Academy offers free courses, webinars, and seminars that are designed for traders of all levels. I found a huge range of helpful material, such as the basics of technical analysis and how to identify key chart patterns. I found IG’s mobile app very comprehensive and easy to use in my testing. You can easily see your watch list, search investments, and set up an alert. You can add money to your account through Apple Pay, if you have an iPhone, or through a debit card or manual bank transfer.
In essence, for a blend of reliability, affordability, and user-centric design, IG Group stands tall. IG’s educational resources are a real standout for me, surpassing those of other brokers. They will swiftly acquaint beginners with the basics of online trading while offering seasoned practitioners valuable insights through advanced strategy articles. IGTV is a really interesting video channel that presents IG Live videos three times a day and features pre-open bulletins, live charting analysis, and forward-looking insights.