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Risk Warning
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
We tested IG for 6 months with real money. Complete analysis of spreads, platforms, ProRealTime, DMA trading, FCA regulation, and why IG is our top pick for
What We Love
17,000+ markets in one account covering shares, CFDs, forex, and options
50+ years track record as a FTSE 250 publicly traded company
£0 share dealing when you make 3+ trades per month
ProRealTime advanced charts included free with qualifying activity
FCA regulated with FSCS £85k protection and segregated client funds
Watch Out For
£8 per trade if you make fewer than 3 monthly trades
CFD spreads wider than some specialist forex-only brokers
Platform complexity can overwhelm beginners and casual investors
Premium services like ProRealTime require minimum trading activity
£12 monthly inactivity fee applies after 2 years of no trading
X-Ray Score™
Not scored
Our Rating
Expert Score
4.8/5
Quick Navigation
Editorial Transparency
Published: January 20, 2026
Last updated: March 3, 2026
Reviewed by: SmartFinPro Research
Fact-checked: Oct 5, 2026
What changed since last update:
Pricing and fee information verified against provider website
Feature availability and regulatory status re-confirmed
Competitor comparison data refreshed
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. IG is authorised and regulated by the FCA (195355), publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange (LON: IGG), and provides FSCS protection up to £85,000. They have operated since 1974 with no major regulatory actions. Client funds are held in segregated accounts at tier-one banks separate from IG's own capital.
IG is suitable for motivated beginners willing to invest time in learning. The platform is comprehensive but can overwhelm complete novices. IG Academy offers free structured education covering shares, CFDs, and forex, and the demo account provides £10,000 in virtual funds for practice. For those seeking pure simplicity, Trading 212 may be an easier starting point.
IG charges £0 for share dealing if you make 3 or more trades per month. Otherwise the fee is £8 per trade. This applies to UK, US, and European shares. There is no platform fee, no custody charge, and no ISA fee.
Yes. IG offers a Stocks and Shares ISA with no annual ISA fee. You can hold UK and international shares, ETFs, and investment trusts tax-free within the £20,000 annual ISA allowance. The same dealing fees apply as the regular share dealing account.
IG is cheaper for active traders (£0 vs £11.95 per trade with activity), offers more markets (17,000+ vs approximately 2,500), and has significantly better trading tools including ProRealTime and DMA. Hargreaves Lansdown has better investment research, fund selection, and customer service. Active traders generally prefer IG while long-term buy-and-hold investors often prefer Hargreaves Lansdown.
IG's forex spreads start from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD during peak trading hours, which is competitive for a multi-asset broker. GBP/USD typically starts from 0.9 pips. Spreads widen during off-hours, low-liquidity periods, and major news events. For the tightest possible spreads, IG offers a Forex Direct account with raw spreads plus commission.
Yes. IG offers extended hours trading for US shares from 4am to 9pm UK time, well beyond the standard NYSE and NASDAQ sessions. This lets you react to overnight earnings releases and pre-market news before the London open. The FX conversion fee for US shares is 0.5%, and W-8BEN tax documentation is handled automatically.
Yes. IG offers a free demo account preloaded with £10,000 in virtual funds. You can practise on the full platform including ProRealTime charts without risking real money. The demo account does not expire, allowing you to test strategies indefinitely before committing capital.
Research Methodology & Disclosure
Last fact-check: Oct 5, 2026
Reviewed against provider disclosures and public regulator guidance.
Primary sources: FCA, Bank of England, FSCS, FOS, and provider disclosures.
We may earn a commission from partner links, but rankings and recommendations are set by editorial criteria.
Affiliate Disclosure: SmartFinPro may earn a commission when you click links and make a purchase. This does not affect our editorial independence. Learn more
Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
What is IG?
Key Findings
Key Findings & Analysis
17,000+ markets in one account including shares, CFDs, forex, and options
50+ years track record as a FTSE 250 publicly traded company
£0 share dealing when you make 3+ trades per month
ProRealTime professional charts included free with qualifying activity
Bottom line: Active UK traders who want shares, CFDs, forex, and options in one professional-grade FCA-regulated platform
IG is the UK's largest retail trading provider and one of the world's most established online brokers. Founded in 1974 as Investors Gold Index, IG pioneered the concept of spread betting and has grown to offer more than 17,000 tradable markets to over 313,000 clients worldwide. The company is headquartered in London, listed on the London Stock Exchange as part of the FTSE 250 index under ticker IGG, and operates under direct supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority.
What sets IG apart from the dozens of UK brokers competing for your account is its combination of institutional-grade infrastructure with retail accessibility. You can hold physical shares in an ISA, trade forex with ProRealTime charting, access direct market access via L2 Dealer, and spread bet tax-free from a single login. No other UK platform matches this breadth of capability while maintaining the depth of tools that serious traders demand.
IG serves a wide spectrum of trader profiles, but the platform truly excels for active traders making three or more trades per month. At that activity threshold, share dealing becomes completely free, ProRealTime charting unlocks at no cost, and you gain access to a professional toolkit that would cost hundreds per month from standalone providers. For occasional investors who trade infrequently, the £8 per trade dealing charge and platform complexity may point toward simpler alternatives like Trading 212 or Freetrade.
Source: SmartFinPro Testing · FCA Register · Trustpilot UK
6 Months
Testing Period
FRN 195355
FCA Registration
17,000+
Tradeable Instruments
1974
Founded
FCA Regulation & Investor Protection
IG Group Holdings plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference number 195355. This places IG under one of the world's most rigorous financial regulatory frameworks, providing UK clients with multiple layers of statutory protection that many offshore brokers simply cannot offer.
Regulatory Status
Regulatory Detail
Information
FCA Reference
195355
Firm Status
Authorised and regulated
Company
IG Group Holdings plc
Stock Listing
LSE: IGG (FTSE 250)
Founded
1974
FSCS Membership
Yes
Financial Ombudsman
Complaints eligible
What FCA Regulation Means for You
As an FCA-authorised broker, IG must comply with strict operational requirements that directly protect your interests as a UK retail client. Your funds are held in segregated accounts at tier-one banks completely separate from IG's corporate capital, meaning your money is ring-fenced even in the unlikely event of IG experiencing financial difficulty. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme provides protection up to £85,000 per eligible claimant, covering both your share dealing and investment ISA accounts.
Negative balance protection is mandatory for all retail CFD and spread betting accounts, ensuring you cannot lose more than your deposited funds when trading leveraged products. IG must also conduct appropriate assessments to determine whether complex products like CFDs are suitable for your level of experience, and all marketing materials are subject to FCA review for fairness and clarity.
FCA CFD Risk Warning: 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with IG. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Company Financial Strength
Metric
Value
Revenue (FY 2024)
£975 million
Global Clients
313,000+
Daily Trades Processed
2.5 million+
Regulatory Capital
Well above minimum requirements
Years Operating
50+
As a FTSE 250 company, IG publishes detailed audited financials every six months. This level of transparency is uncommon among retail brokers and provides an additional layer of confidence in their financial stability. You can verify IG's accounts directly through their investor relations page or via Companies House filings.
FSCS Protection: Your eligible investments with IG are protected up to £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. This covers share dealing and ISA accounts. CFD and spread betting account balances benefit from segregated funds and negative balance protection but are not covered by the FSCS in the same way.
Trading Costs & Fee Structure
IG's pricing model rewards active traders with progressively better terms. Understanding the complete fee structure is essential before you commit, because the headline zero-commission offering requires meeting a monthly activity threshold that may not suit every trading style.
Share Dealing Fees
Trading Frequency
Fee per Trade
3+ trades per month
£0
Fewer than 3 trades
£8
The activity threshold is assessed on a rolling monthly basis. You need to execute three or more qualifying share deals in any given calendar month to unlock free dealing for that month. If your activity drops below three trades, the standard £8 commission applies to each trade. There are no platform fees, no custody charges, and no account maintenance fees regardless of your trading frequency.
CFD & Spread Betting Spreads
IG's spreads on leveraged products are competitive for a multi-asset broker, though specialist forex-only providers may offer tighter pricing on major currency pairs. The table below reflects typical spreads during peak trading hours based on our six-month testing period.
Market
IG Spread
UK Broker Average
EUR/USD
0.6 pips
0.8 pips
GBP/USD
0.9 pips
1.2 pips
FTSE 100
1 point
1.5 points
Germany 40
1.2 points
1.8 points
Gold
$0.3
$0.4
Crude Oil
2.8 points
3.5 points
Complete Fee Schedule
Fee Type
Amount
Share dealing
£0 (3+ trades) or £8
Platform fee
£0
Custody fee
£0
ISA annual fee
£0
SIPP annual fee
0.25% (capped at £250/year)
US shares FX conversion
0.5%
Overnight CFD funding
Variable (SONIA + markup)
Guaranteed stop premium
Variable per market
Inactivity fee
£12/month after 2 years of no trades
The inactivity fee deserves particular attention. IG charges £12 per month if you have not placed any trades for 24 consecutive months. This fee is only deducted from available cash in your account and will not put your account into a negative balance. If you plan to take extended breaks from trading, it is worth withdrawing your funds or placing at least one trade within every two-year window.
How to avoid the inactivity fee: Place at least one trade of any size within every 24-month period. Even a single £1 share purchase resets the clock entirely and prevents any inactivity charges from being applied to your account.
Spread Betting Tax Status: Profits from spread betting are currently free from UK Capital Gains Tax and Stamp Duty. However, tax laws can change and depend on your individual circumstances. If spread betting constitutes your primary income source, HMRC may reclassify your activity. Seek independent tax advice if you are unsure.
Trading Platforms
IG offers four distinct trading platforms, each designed for a different level of trader sophistication. This breadth of choice is one of the strongest differentiators versus competitors who typically offer a single platform or rely solely on MetaTrader.
IG Trading Platform (Web & Mobile App)
IG's proprietary platform is the default experience for most users and strikes an effective balance between power and usability. The web platform features a clean, modern interface with customisable layouts, more than 100 technical indicators, real-time streaming prices, one-click dealing, and sophisticated price alert functionality. You can build multi-monitor workspaces, save chart templates, and set up complex conditional orders including trailing stops and guaranteed stops.
The mobile app mirrors the web platform's capabilities remarkably well. Current user ratings stand at 4.5 out of 5 on the iOS App Store from over 18,000 reviews and 4.3 out of 5 on Google Play from over 42,000 reviews. The app supports biometric login, push notifications for price alerts, and full order management including the ability to modify and close positions while away from your desk.
ProRealTime (Advanced Charting)
ProRealTime is professional-grade charting software that typically costs £30 or more per month as a standalone subscription. IG provides it free to clients who make four or more trades per month, which represents exceptional value for technically-driven traders. The platform delivers over 100 built-in technical indicators, a comprehensive suite of drawing tools, timeframes ranging from tick-level to monthly, and importantly, the ability to build and backtest automated trading strategies using the ProBuilder programming language.
ProRealTime Features8
Show detailsHide details
100+ technical indicators with full customisation and overlay capability
Advanced drawing tools including Fibonacci retracements, Gann fans, and Andrew's pitchfork
Multiple timeframes from individual tick data up to monthly charts
ProBuilder language for creating custom indicators and automated trading strategies
Full backtesting engine with historical data going back years
Multi-screen support for professional trading desk setups
Real-time scanning to find trading opportunities across thousands of instruments
ProOrder automation for executing strategies without manual intervention
L2 Dealer (Direct Market Access)
For serious traders who want to interact directly with exchange order books, IG's L2 Dealer provides genuine direct market access. This platform shows Level 2 order book depth, enables you to place orders directly on exchanges, and supports complex order types including iceberg orders and volume-weighted average price execution. DMA is available for both shares and forex, making IG one of only a handful of UK retail brokers offering true exchange-level access.
MetaTrader 4
IG also offers MetaTrader 4 for forex traders who prefer the familiarity of the MT4 ecosystem. You receive full IG liquidity routed through the MT4 interface, support for Expert Advisors and automated trading, and access to the extensive library of third-party MT4 indicators and scripts. Mobile apps are available for both iOS and Android.
Best platform choice by trader type: Use the IG web platform for general share dealing and casual CFD trading. Choose ProRealTime if technical analysis drives your trading decisions. Select L2 Dealer if you need direct exchange access and order book visibility. Opt for MT4 only if you have existing Expert Advisors or custom indicators built for that ecosystem.
Available Markets
IG's market coverage is the broadest of any UK retail broker, spanning nine asset classes and more than 17,000 individual instruments. This breadth means you can diversify across geographies, asset types, and strategies without needing accounts at multiple brokers.
Market Coverage
Asset Class
Number of Markets
Key Details
UK Shares
1,500+
LSE, AIM
US Shares
2,000+
NYSE, NASDAQ, extended hours
European Shares
1,000+
Major European exchanges
Forex
80+ pairs
Majors, minors, exotics
Indices
80+
Global indices, near 24-hour trading
Commodities
35+
Metals, energy, agriculture
Cryptocurrencies
15+
BTC, ETH, and more via CFD
Bonds
10+
Government bonds
Options
Selected
UK and US equity options
Trading Hours
Market
Hours (UK Time)
UK Shares
08:00 to 16:30
US Shares
14:30 to 21:00 (extended: 04:00 to 21:00)
Forex
24 hours (Sunday 21:00 to Friday 22:00)
Indices
Near 24 hours (varies by index)
Cryptocurrencies
24/7
Extended US trading hours: IG's extended session for US shares runs from 4am to 9pm UK time, giving you the ability to react to overnight earnings releases, pre-market news, and after-hours momentum before and after the standard exchange sessions.
Account Types
IG offers five distinct account types, each designed for a specific investment or trading objective. You can hold multiple account types simultaneously under a single IG login, which simplifies portfolio management across different strategies and tax wrappers.
Share Dealing Account
The share dealing account is for buying and holding real shares. You own the underlying equities, receive dividend payments, and hold voting rights. There is no leverage and no overnight financing charges. This is the appropriate account for long-term equity investing and building a stock portfolio.
CFD Account
The CFD account enables leveraged trading across all of IG's markets. You can go long or short, trade on margin, and access instruments that are not available for physical delivery. Overnight financing charges apply to positions held past market close. Retail clients receive negative balance protection and leverage limits set by the FCA.
Spread Betting Account
Spread betting is IG's tax-efficient trading vehicle for UK and Ireland residents. Profits are currently free from Capital Gains Tax and Stamp Duty. Like CFDs, spread betting involves leverage and carries significant risk. Positions are quoted in pounds per point of movement rather than in contract sizes.
Stocks and Shares ISA
IG's ISA wrapper lets you invest up to £20,000 per tax year in shares and ETFs completely free from Capital Gains Tax and dividend tax. There is no annual ISA fee, and the same dealing fees apply as the standard share dealing account. You can hold UK and international shares, ETFs, and investment trusts within the ISA.
Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP)
IG's SIPP provides a tax-efficient pension wrapper with access to the same investment universe as the ISA. The annual fee is 0.25% of portfolio value, capped at £250 per year. You receive tax relief on contributions up to your annual allowance.
Our Testing Results
We tested IG for six months with a £10,000 funded account, executing a total of 187 trades across shares, CFDs, and spread bets to produce objective, data-driven findings on execution quality, platform reliability, and customer service responsiveness.
Execution Quality
Metric
Our Result
Fill rate
99.6%
Average execution speed
Under 0.1 seconds
Slippage on shares
Minimal (within normal market spread)
Slippage on CFDs
0.1 to 0.3 pips
Requotes received
0 in 6 months
Execution quality was consistently excellent throughout our testing period. We experienced zero requotes across 187 trades, and slippage was negligible even during volatile market conditions around Bank of England rate decisions and US employment data releases. The 99.6% fill rate represents best-in-class performance for a UK retail broker.
Platform Reliability
Metric
Our Result
Platform uptime
99.95%
Unplanned outages
0
Scheduled maintenance windows
1 (30 minutes, overnight)
Mobile app crashes
0
Data feed accuracy
Real-time, consistent
Customer Service
Channel
Average Response Time
Quality Rating
Telephone
2 minutes
Excellent
Live chat
3 minutes
Good
Email
Within 24 hours
Detailed and helpful
Customer service was accessible and knowledgeable across all channels. Telephone support was the standout, with agents consistently answering within two minutes and demonstrating genuine platform expertise rather than reading from scripts. Live chat was effective for quick queries, while email responses were thorough and typically arrived within one business day.
IG vs Competitors
Choosing the right UK trading platform depends on your trading frequency, preferred asset classes, and the level of tooling you require. The comparison below positions IG against its two most common UK alternatives to help you identify the best fit.
Feature
IG
Hargreaves Lansdown
Trading 212
Share dealing fee
£0 (3+ trades/month)
£11.95
£0
Total markets
17,000+
~2,500
~12,000
CFDs / Spread betting
Yes
No
CFDs only
Platform sophistication
Professional
Basic
Simple
ProRealTime / DMA
Yes
No
No
Investment research
Good
Excellent
Basic
Customer service
Good
Excellent
Basic
ISA fee
£0
0.45% (capped)
£0
Best suited for
Active traders
Long-term investors
Beginners
When to Choose IG
IG is the strongest choice if you trade three or more times per month, want access to CFDs and spread betting alongside physical shares, value professional charting and direct market access, or need the broadest possible market coverage from a single platform. The combination of zero-cost share dealing at the activity threshold and free ProRealTime access creates compelling value for active market participants.
When to Choose Alternatives
Consider Hargreaves Lansdown if your priority is long-term fund investing with best-in-class research and you do not need leveraged products. Choose Trading 212 if you are a complete beginner seeking the simplest possible interface with zero-commission share dealing and no activity requirements. Consider Freetrade if you want a mobile-first experience with a low-cost ISA for passive investing.
Pros & Cons
Pros
17,000+ markets in one account covering every major asset class
50+ years of operation as a trusted FTSE 250 company
£0 share dealing when you make 3+ trades per month
ProRealTime professional charts included free with qualifying activity
FCA regulated with FSCS £85k protection and segregated client funds
Extended US trading hours from 4am to 9pm UK time
Excellent execution quality with 99.6% fill rate in our testing
Cons
£8 per trade if you make fewer than 3 monthly trades
CFD spreads wider than specialist forex-only brokers
Platform complexity can overwhelm beginners
Premium features like ProRealTime require minimum activity
£12 monthly inactivity fee after 2 years of no trading
Our Verdict
After six months of testing with real money across 187 trades, IG earns 4.8 out of 5 stars and retains our highest rating for any UK trading platform in 2026.
IG delivers the best combination of market access, platform quality, execution reliability, and value for money available to active UK traders. The ability to trade shares commission-free, access 17,000+ markets across CFDs, forex, spread betting, and options, and use professional-grade ProRealTime charting at no additional cost creates a proposition that no single competitor can match. With over 50 years of operating history and FTSE 250 public company status, the trust and stability question that haunts newer fintech brokers simply does not apply here.
The platform is not without limitations. Traders making fewer than three trades per month face an £8 dealing charge that erodes the cost advantage, and the sheer depth of features can feel overwhelming for those transitioning from simpler apps like Trading 212 or Freetrade. The inactivity fee after two years, while avoidable with minimal effort, is an unnecessary friction point that IG could eliminate to match the permanently free model offered by several competitors.
Final Rating: 4.8/5
Our Rating
Expert Score
4.8/5
Choose IG if:
You trade three or more times per month and want free share dealing
You want shares, CFDs, spread betting, and forex in one account
Technical analysis is central to your trading strategy
You value professional tools like ProRealTime and DMA
You are an experienced trader who needs institutional-grade execution
Consider alternatives if:
You trade occasionally and want to avoid per-trade charges (choose Freetrade)
You want the simplest possible interface for casual investing (choose Trading 212)
You prioritise fund research and long-term wealth building (choose Hargreaves Lansdown)
You are a complete beginner and need guided investment suggestions
Trade 17,000+ Markets with IG
Join 313,000+ UK clients. FCA regulated with 50+ years track record. £0 share dealing with 3+ monthly trades.
Yes. IG Group Holdings plc is authorised and regulated by the FCA (reference 195355) and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: IGG). As the UK's largest CFD and spread betting provider with over 50 years of operation, IG is among the most established regulated brokers available to UK traders. Client funds are held in segregated accounts and protected by the FSCS up to £85,000.
What percentage of traders lose money on IG?
70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and spread bets with IG. This FCA-mandated disclosure reflects the inherent risk of leveraged trading and is based on IG's actual client performance data. Leveraged products are complex instruments that magnify both gains and losses relative to your margin deposit. IG provides risk management tools including stop-loss orders and negative balance protection for all retail accounts.
What markets can I trade on IG?
IG offers access to over 17,000 tradeable instruments including UK and international shares, equity indices, forex, commodities, bonds, interest rates, options, and exchange-traded funds. Markets are accessible via CFDs, spread bets (tax-free for UK residents), and real share dealing. This breadth of coverage makes IG one of the most comprehensive retail trading platforms available to UK investors.
Does IG offer MetaTrader platforms?
Yes. IG supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) for forex and CFD trading, allowing experienced traders to use automated trading strategies (Expert Advisors) and custom technical indicators alongside IG's own proprietary platform. IG also provides free access to ProRealTime advanced charting software for clients who make at least 3 trades per month, offering institutional-quality technical analysis tools at no additional cost.
Can I hold real shares in an IG Stocks and Shares ISA?
Yes. IG offers a Stocks and Shares ISA allowing you to hold real shares, ETFs, and investment trusts within the £20,000 annual tax-free wrapper. Unlike CFD and spread betting accounts, the ISA involves actual share ownership with no leverage. The ISA charges a £24/year platform fee for shares and has a dealing fee of £8 per trade (reduced to £3 for frequent traders), making it competitive for the UK's active share dealing market.
How does IG compare to Plus500 for UK traders?
IG is significantly more comprehensive than Plus500, offering real share dealing, ISA accounts, MT4 support, ProRealTime advanced charting, and 17,000+ instruments versus Plus500's 2,800 CFD-only instruments. Plus500 is simpler and better suited to mobile-first traders who want straightforward CFD access. IG is the stronger choice for experienced traders who value depth of markets, professional tools, and the ability to hold real investments alongside leveraged products.