IG

Quick Facts

Regulation and Safety

Overview

IG is the world’s largest CFD provider by revenue and one of the oldest retail trading firms in existence. Founded in 1974 by Stuart Wheeler as IG Index, the company pioneered financial spread betting in the UK and has since expanded into a global multi-asset brokerage. IG Group is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: IGG), with a market capitalisation of approximately GBP 4.5 billion as of early 2026. The company serves over 400,000 clients worldwide from 18 offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and North America.

IG offers access to more than 17,000 tradeable instruments through a combination of CFDs, spread betting (UK only), share dealing, options, and turbo warrants. The product range spans forex, indices, shares, commodities, bonds, ETFs, and a limited selection of cryptocurrencies. Traders can access these markets through IG’s proprietary web platform, a well-regarded mobile app, MetaTrader 4, the ProRealTime advanced charting package, and L2 Dealer for direct market access (DMA). The US market is served through tastyfx, which provides IG’s forex offering to American traders.

What sets IG apart from the competition is a rare combination of regulatory depth, product breadth, and institutional-grade infrastructure. The company holds licences from 11 regulators across Tier-1 jurisdictions, including the FCA, ASIC, BaFin, NFA, and FINMA. For traders who prioritise safety and want access to nearly every asset class through a single, well-established broker, IG is the benchmark.

Supported Markets and Instruments

Key Features

Charting and Analysis

IG’s proprietary web platform provides solid charting with 7 chart types, over 115 technical indicators, and a comprehensive set of drawing tools. Multi-timeframe analysis, chart linking, and workspace layouts are all supported. For traders who need more depth, IG offers ProRealTime, a professional-grade charting package with 100+ additional indicators, the ProBuilder scripting language for custom studies, and automated strategy execution. ProRealTime is free for active traders placing at least four trades per month, otherwise it costs GBP 30/month. IG also integrates with TradingView, giving users access to TradingView’s charting tools directly from the IG interface. Rating: Good.

Order Execution

IG supports a full range of order types: market, limit, stop, stop-limit, trailing stop, bracket/OCO, and guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs) with a premium. One-click trading is available across all platforms. For professional and high-volume traders, L2 Dealer offers direct market access (DMA) for share and forex CFDs, providing full order book visibility with no dealer intervention. Execution speed is generally fast; IG reports that the majority of orders are filled in under 15 milliseconds during normal market conditions. The Forex Direct account offers agency execution with raw spreads plus commission. Rating: Good.

Strategy Automation

Automation is available primarily through ProRealTime’s ProBuilder language, which supports backtesting, strategy optimisation, and live automated trading. While ProBuilder is capable for indicator and strategy development, it is less flexible than dedicated languages like NinjaScript (C#) or Python. MT4 is available with MQL4 support, but IG limits its MT4 offering to roughly 80 instruments. There is no strategy marketplace, no walk-forward testing, and no no-code strategy builder. IG also provides a REST and streaming API for developers who want to build custom integrations, though this is positioned more for account management than full algo trading. Rating: Acceptable.

Data and Connectivity

IG provides its own real-time data feeds at no additional cost, covering all tradeable instruments. Level 1 data is included by default; Level 2 (order book) data is available through L2 Dealer for DMA-eligible accounts. Historical data depth is extensive, particularly through ProRealTime, which offers 10+ years of intraday and daily data. The platform connects to IG’s internal matching engine for OTC products, so there are no third-party data feed costs or exchange fee considerations typical of futures-focused platforms. Rating: Good.

Mobile and Web Access

IG’s mobile app for iOS and Android is consistently rated among the best in the industry. It offers core trading functionality, watchlists, alerts, charting with indicators, and account management. However, it does not match the full depth of the web platform, particularly around advanced charting and ProRealTime features. The web platform is IG’s flagship, offering a clean, customisable interface with multi-chart layouts, integrated news, and a client sentiment tool. There is no dedicated desktop application for Windows or Mac in the traditional sense; L2 Dealer and ProRealTime serve as the power-user desktop options. Rating: Good.

Unique Differentiators

Spread betting (UK): IG is one of the largest spread betting providers in the UK. Spread betting profits are tax-free for UK residents (no capital gains tax or stamp duty), making this a genuinely valuable product for eligible traders.

Weekend and out-of-hours trading: IG offers weekend trading on select forex pairs, indices, and cryptocurrencies, extending market access beyond standard hours.

Regulatory breadth: With 11 regulatory licences spanning 10+ jurisdictions, IG is arguably the most heavily regulated retail broker in the world. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and maintains capital reserves well above regulatory minimums.

Pricing

Additional costs:

• Data feed: Included for all OTC instruments
• Exchange fees: N/A for CFDs/spread bets; share dealing has standard exchange fees
• Overnight funding: Charged on CFD/spread bet positions held past daily cut-off
• Guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs): Premium charged only if triggered

Broker-bundled access: IG is the broker; no separate platform subscription required.

Compatible Brokers

Prop Firm Compatibility

IG is a retail and professional broker. It is not designed for or compatible with prop firm evaluation accounts. Traders seeking prop firm compatibility should look at platforms like NinjaTrader, cTrader, or MetaTrader 5.

Who Is This Platform For?

IG is built for intermediate to advanced traders who want broad market access, strong regulation, and a single broker that covers CFDs, spread betting, share dealing, and options. It is particularly well-suited for UK-based traders who can take advantage of tax-free spread betting. IG is not ideal for pure futures traders, algorithmic developers needing Python/C# flexibility, or beginners seeking the simplest possible interface.

Verdict

IG earns its position as the world’s top-rated CFD broker through sheer breadth of market coverage, regulatory trust, and a polished multi-platform experience. While it is not the cheapest option and lacks exchange-traded futures, the combination of 17,000+ instruments, ProRealTime charting, DMA via L2 Dealer, and a 50-year track record is difficult to match. For serious CFD and spread betting traders, IG remains the industry benchmark. Closest alternatives include Saxo Bank for similar breadth with exchange-traded products, CMC Markets for competitive spreads, and Interactive Brokers for direct exchange access and lower commissions.

Alternatives to Consider

Social Media and Contact