Updated October 23, 2026

This IG broker review looks at what the platform costs, which of its ten account types you would actually qualify for, and how long money takes to come back out. As a sector of IG Group, IG Markets focuses specifically on retail CFD services. Clients can open accounts in IG Group subsidiaries to access the market and start trading. The trading conditions favour long-term and active traders, and there are no restrictions on foreign traders. A minimum deposit of $1,000, recently reduced, may still deter newcomers, and the interface is not the friendliest on the market, though that part gets easier with practice.

IG is an established name in the brokerage world. It is a well-regulated platform that provides over 19,000 financial instruments. It is regarded as one of the biggest CFD brokers worldwide, with 178,000 clients. I have been using the broker for several years, so let’s get into the broker’s details.

IG at a glance

Last updated: August 2026. Every figure below is taken from the broker data quoted in this review. Where the sources disagree or a number is not published, it is flagged rather than guessed.

Founded: 1974 in the United Kingdom by Stuart Wheeler. Publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange and part of the FTSE 250.

Minimum deposit: the review text cites $1,000, recently reduced. The broker card at the top of this page shows $250. The two figures disagree and also vary by country, so confirm yours on the broker site.

Spreads: from 0.6 pips on major forex pairs such as EUR/USD, and from 0.1 pips on a spread betting account. Overnight rollover fees apply on top.

Instruments: over 17,000 CFDs quoted in the account section, over 19,000 financial instruments quoted in the introduction. Over 80 forex pairs, plus indices, commodities, shares and crypto.

Account types: ten in total, including demo, standard trading, limited risk, spread betting, options, Turbo24, share dealing, swap-free, professional and Select.

Platforms: web trading platform, progressive web app, MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer and a mobile app for iPhone and Android.

Deposits: bank wire transfer, PayPal, credit cards including Visa, debit cards and Mastercard. Cards clear immediately, wires take 2 to 3 days.

Withdrawals: bank transfer and PayPal only, 2 to 5 working days. PayPal is usually the quicker of the two.

Regulation: six tier-1 regulators - FCA in the UK, NFA in the USA, FMA in New Zealand, BaFin in Germany and Austria, FINMA in Switzerland and FSCA in South Africa.

Support: phone, live chat and email at sales.en@ig.com. New clients get 24-hour phone cover, existing clients Monday to Friday.

Not published in this review: the inactivity fee amount, overnight rollover rates and the per-country minimum deposit table. Check them on the broker site before funding.

How does IG stand out?

Highly regulated: IG is regulated in six tier-1 jurisdictions, making it a safe broker for forex and CFD trading.

Multiple assets: IG provides traders access to diverse solutions across a wide range of asset types.

Education: IG offers a wide range of education with the IG Academy. In particular, novice investors can take advantage of the online interactive trading courses.

News: Via the news function, publications are displayed, and you can search all articles. You can find news for previous months for each selection.

Direct Market Access: IG offers market and liquidity providers direct market access.

Auto-trading: MetaTrader4 and L2 Dealer allow you to set up automated trading.

Where IG falls short

The minimum deposit is high for a beginner. Even after the recent reduction the review cites $1,000, which is four times what the broker card on this page shows.

The interface is not particularly friendly. It rewards time spent learning it, which is fine for an active trader and discouraging for a first account.

Withdrawals run through bank transfer or PayPal only, and take 2 to 5 working days against same-day card deposits.

Several account types are region-locked. Options are EU only, Turbo24 covers seven countries, share dealing is UK and Australia only, and US residents in Ohio cannot open an account at all.

No sign-up or welcome bonus, and an inactivity fee applies to dormant accounts.

What is IG?

Choosing an online broker is rarely quick, so this section covers the company details that matter before you fund anything.

It is essential to know the company’s details before trading or investing. Let’s research IG in detail.

IG Markets is one of the market's most popular DMA brokers. It provides over 17,000 CFDs and is a leading online CFD provider. IG offers account types based on the market you want to trade, and the list is longer than at most brokers.

Also, I was amazed to learn about their five trading platforms. In addition, IG Markets is highly transparent about trading strategies.

IG provides spread betting, hedging, scalping, and algorithm trading. IG is one of the most fee-competitive platforms accessible. There are many other things that I love about IG as a trader.

I am going to tell you that in detail later in the article. The IG broker has won several awards as one of the best and the most reliable brokers in the markets.

IG also ranked best overall futures broker in several categories. Plus, it is available in the US, so that’s a big plus. However, IG accounts are not available for residents of Ohio.

How does IG work?

IG Markets is not just a world-leading trading and online execution platform provider. It also ranks among the most innovative firms. IG offers its clients a diverse range of over 17,000 tradable financial assets. Let’s see how it works.

The primary trading products of IG include forex, CFDs, and options. Yeah! The broker has a broad asset range. Maybe it’s because the firm has a broad target audience in mind. The platform is appropriate for both new and veteran investors. Over 80 FX pairs are available for trading with IG markets.

Forex: GBP/USD, EUR/USD, AUD/CAD, NOK/JPY, USD/ILS and many more, with over 80 pairs in total.

Commodities: US Crude and Brent Crude oil, spot gold, spot silver in 50,000 oz contracts, Chicago wheat and London sugar.

Indices: Wall Street, Hong Kong HS50, Hong Kong Tech, US 500, US Tech 100 and many more.

Stocks: HSBC Holdings PLC (HK), Tesla Motors Inc., Walt Disney Co., Apple Inc., Netflix Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC.

Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, Stellar, DogeCoin and many more.

It allows you to invest in several asset classes from one platform. But the key point is that traders have to pay attention to the fees brokers offer and the taxes ruled on trade by countries. Another platform that lets you trade assets from around the globe on one platform is Exante.

How does the IG platform work?

I was fascinated to see the available platforms; trading with IG provided me with many options. The platform is user-friendly for beginners.

Here I have discussed the trading platforms provided by IG. IG remains one of the most popular and prominent online brokers, as it provides a simple and effective trading platform as well as a mobile app.

Web trading platform

This trading platform is open to all traders seeking CFD trading. Traders can do the following few things with this platform

Manage their account

Make payments

Register their cards

Deposit or withdraw funds, and a variety of other things.

It also provides browser-based research resources such as

Economic Calendar

Finest Forex Signals

Live headlines.

I also enjoyed the smart settings function, which remembers your position sizes and stop values. Also, the live news feed from Twitter and Reuters is a great way to trade the news and stay up to date on breaking news.

Progressive web app

IG has also introduced a progressive web app. It gives worldwide traders a smooth trading platform. You can utilize it on any device without visiting a third-party app store. IG lets traders obtain some of the most crucial trading updates quickly.

MetaTrader 4 (MT4)

MetaTrader 4 is one of the most prominent third-party platforms. It is available on the website for

CFD trading

Automated trading tools

Sophisticated analysis.

Furthermore, the trader may select from a variety of app add-ons. You can download them for free to trade in

Forex

Stocks

Precious metals

Indices, and other markets.

ProRealTime

ProRealTime is one of the major advanced charting programs used on the web. It provides flexible access, comprehensive analytical resources, and robust monitoring capabilities.

This ProRealTime package is precious for technical chart users. It is accessible to traders who trade CFDs at least four times monthly.

L2 Dealer

L2 Dealer from IG is a free platform that you can download. It is used to trade forex, stocks, and CFDs. They are supported by tools like price alerts, orders, and watch lists. Traders may begin trading with the assistance of technical charts and track price fluctuations at their fingertips.

Mobile app platform

The mobile application is simple to use and understand. It replicates the desktop platform and its compatibilities. The mobile app is hugely beneficial to both novice and experienced traders. It has been improved for both iPhone and Android traders.

I have used the web-based platform to do research and monitor tools. I also accessed the mobile charts, and they were seamless.

What trading indicators are available?

While trading, I must know the market conditions. Trading indicators help to make the market clear. That’s why trading indicators are helpful for traders if used correctly. You’ll be surprised to know the number of trading indicators IG offers.

Aroon, Average True Range, Awesome Oscillator, Bollinger Bands

RSI and many more.

What are IG trading accounts?

When I first considered trading in IG, I dug into the platform in detail. Like you’re doing right now.

I was surprised to know the number of accounts IG offers traders. Let me give you a shocker too.

IG offers ten types of trading accounts, depending on the needs of traders and investors. Every account has its own benefits and its own eligibility rules, and several of them are region-locked, so the list is worth reading before you pick one.

Demo account

A demo account has virtual money placed into it. Demo accounts are also available for free. You can use a demo account without any commitment to register a genuine account.

Trading account

The basic IG trading account is available globally, although some terms and limitations vary depending on the country. Negative balance protection, for example, is only provided in the UK and the EU.

Another variable that varies by location is the minimum deposit. The IG Markets trading account allows you to trade 17,000 markets.

Limited risk account

The IG Limited Risk account is similar to the IG standard trading account. However, there are a few distinctions. This IG Markets account type is a solution for non-EU and UK clients.

For those who do not qualify for negative balance protection, the Limited Risk account provides a selection of low-risk markets, as well as guaranteed stop losses and a negative balance protection feature.

Spread betting account

Spread Betting accounts are typically available from FCA-regulated forex brokers. With the Spread Betting account, you can place bets on over 17,000 assets. It offers incredibly tight and competitive spreads beginning at 0.1 pips. IG Markets is one of the most popular spreads betting brokers.

Options trading account

The IG Options trading account is exclusively open to EU residents. This account provides barrier and vanilla options on currency, indices, and commodities. Because barrier options trading has a predetermined amount of loss, it is a suitable place to start for beginning traders.

Vanilla options have a fixed level of risk only when you buy options contracts. However, the risk is not restricted when you sell options contracts.

Turbo24 trading account

The product you trade with this account is called a turbo warrant. This account is available only in the following countries

Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Norway

Share dealing account

The Share Dealing account may purchase and sell stocks, ETFs, and other products. There are almost ten thousand different shares and funds available. Its cost starts at $3. This account is not available everywhere: it is only available in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Swap-free account

Traders from the Islamic religion can utilize the Swap-free trading account to trade forex. It doesn’t have rollover fees based on interest rates. The trading account is offered to traders registered with IG Markets’ UAE entity.

It allows account applications from everywhere, so you may open the account even if you don’t live in the UAE. Although there are no swap costs, other fees may apply.

Professional account

Do you satisfy the criteria for identifying yourself as a professional trader? Then this account is best for you. You will be able to access greater leverage and variety of products. Last year, I completed an average of 10 large-scale trades every quarter.

Select account

Only professionally certified UK and EU traders are eligible for the Select account. You must satisfy two conditions to be eligible:

• Have an annual gross income of at least €75,000

• Have savings of over €100,000

What are IG spreads?

IG market spreads are competitive, beginning at 0.6 pips on key forex pairs such as EUR/USD. Other trading costs, such as overnight rollover fees, are also charged.

I learned that the details of rolling daily prices and their rules are subject to change. You can find this on the broker’s website. Furthermore, it levies an inactivity fee on inactive accounts.

Does IG offer a demo account?

Do you want an account with no obligations? I wanted that too when I started trading with the IG. The IG demo account is the ideal place to start. It flawlessly replicates live trading.

I used it for three or four months, which worked wonders for me. The demo account with IG Markets never expires. Additionally, I signed up for the demo account hassle-free.

If you are an active trader looking for smaller spreads, IC Markets or Alpari offer this.

How safe is IG?

Do you know how to confirm if a broker is safe? When selecting a broker, it’s numero uno for me to look at safety.

It is essential to consider the administrative body and regulatory status. Any money you invest is at risk if the broker isn’t regulated.

Here I’ve mentioned several reasons how and why IG is safe. Also, why do I trust this broker?

Unlike other brokers, you would be amazed to know that multiple countries regulate IG. Yes, IG is regulated by the tier 1 regulators listed below.

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK

National Futures Association (NFA) in the USA

Financial Markets Authority (FMA) in New Zealand

Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) in Europe (Germany/Austria)

Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA)

Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa

I don’t think so many authorities and countries regulate any other broker. Your funds are even safeguarded in the case of bankruptcy.

Where is IG located?

IG Market has been in business since 1974. But from where exactly did they start their operations?

Do they have many branches or just a single one? Let’s research it.

They currently service clients worldwide from 17 sales locations spread over 5 continents.

Europe

North America

Asia Pacific

Africa

Middle East.

They have been headquartered in the UK since 1974. The address mentioned on their website is “IG, Cannon Bridge House, 25 Dowgate Hill, London EC4R 2YA.” The US address is in Delaware.

Who owns IG?

IG is one of the 250 most prominent companies in the United Kingdom. But who made this possible? Who initiated the idea? Want to know? Read the below section.

Stuart Wheeler launched IG in the United Kingdom in 1974. It is now owned by IG Markets Ltd, which is part of the IG Group. It is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is also a part of the FTSE 250. It is regarded as one of Europe’s most popular CFD trading platforms.

How to deposit funds into an IG account

When I deposited through IG, it was straightforward. I’ll tell you how you can deposit your funds in an IG account.

I have tried all of their deposit methods. You can learn and choose from my experience which method is most suitable for you.

Here are the IG funds deposit methods

Bank wire transfers, Paypal, Credit cards, Visa, Debit cards, Mastercard

According to my experience, credit card payments are processed immediately; bank wire transfers are processed within 2 to 3 days.

How to withdraw funds from an IG account

An IG withdrawal is made in two steps. Log in to My IG. Click “withdraw funds.”

Click on the “account” you would like to withdraw from. IG offers the following withdrawal methods

Bank transfers

PayPal

Unlike depositing, withdrawing funds can take 2 to 5 working days. I prefer to withdraw funds through Paypal or bank transfers. Withdrawals via Paypal are usually quick.

How to contact IG

When I used their customer support service, I was overall satisfied with them. Traders can contact IG customer care almost 24 hours a day.

Customer assistance at IG Markets is provided in several languages. Checkout by which means you can contact them.

Customers of IG may contact customer service through three primary channels:

• Phone

• Live chat

• Email

Their phone customer service has greater availability than its competitors. If you are a new client, you can contact them 24 hours a day on these numbers:

• Call +44 (20) 7633 5430

• Toll-Free: 1800 889 539

They don’t assist from 6 am to 4 pm on Saturday (UTC+8). You can also email them at sales.en@ig.com. For me, their email service was rapid, precise, and helpful.

If you’re already a client of IG, they will assist five days a week from Monday to Friday. Call them on these numbers:

• +44 (20) 7633 5431

• Toll-Free: 1800 880 754

However, I was more satisfied with their live chat response.

Does IG offer promo codes?

IG recognizes and rewards its most valuable clients with a variety of benefits. They have always offered promo codes for the companies working with them.

But do you know how to access them? Of course, I am here to tell you.

Currently, IG isn’t offering any promo codes on their official website. But IG gives referral promo codes. Do you know what a referral promo code is?

Whenever you refer a friend from your account to open an account with IG, you share your referral code with them. From this, your friend who is opening an account for the first time will get a discount, and you will also get a discount for referring them. Isn’t it amazing?

Does IG offer bonuses?

This is the only thing that I don’t like much right now. I am glad I traded here earlier and used all their bonuses. I had never thought of using any bonus on just signing up. But here, you would regret not trading with this broker earlier.

At the time this review was written IG did not provide a sign-up or welcome bonus, and there was no deposit or no-deposit incentive for first-time registrations either. Other promotions do appear from time to time, so the offers page is worth checking before you register.

Does IG charge tax on profits?

IG does not deduct a heavy amount of fees or commissions. But yeah, still, it is not free of tax.

Honestly, I never regret earning profits on IG, even though I have paid the tax charged by it. Read more to know how and where IG charges tax on profits.

Trading is subject to capital gains tax and stamp duty. If I talk about CFDs, they aren’t subject to stamp duty because you do not own the underlying asset.

Spread betting appears to be completely tax-free. Tax is a bit of a complex subject on IG.

How to make money with IG

When I started, I knew a bit about this broker. I knew IG was a publicly traded firm on the LSE. So, I wanted to give it a shot, as I had read many positive reviews.

IG resolved my registration concerns within 24 hours. I was having trouble activating my account, and my account manager immediately stepped in to help. I appreciate the excellent customer service offered by IG.

My account manager was professional, and I never felt uncertain because of his extensive knowledge and skills. He then led me through the final steps of setting up my account, including depositing funds.

I found the entire process quite simple, and IG addressed any issues or questions I had. Let’s see what others are saying about IG.

Who IG suits and who should look elsewhere

IG fits an active trader who values regulation over promotions. Six tier-1 licences is more than almost any competitor carries, the instrument range runs past 17,000, and a spread from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD is competitive without being a loss leader. If you trade several times a week and want direct market access, MT4 and ProRealTime in one place, the platform earns its keep. ProRealTime in particular is free once you trade CFDs at least four times a month.

It suits you less if you are starting small. A four-figure minimum deposit, an interface that takes a fortnight to learn and no welcome offer make for an expensive first step, and other regulated brokers open at a fraction of that. Location matters too: options, Turbo24 and share dealing accounts each cover a different subset of countries, so check what is available in yours before comparing spreads. Our broker reviews put the deposit, spread and withdrawal terms side by side if you want that comparison first.

FAQ

Is IG safe and regulated?

IG holds licences from six tier-1 regulators: the FCA in the UK, the NFA in the USA, the FMA in New Zealand, BaFin in Germany and Austria, FINMA in Switzerland and the FSCA in South Africa. Client funds are safeguarded in the event of bankruptcy. Few brokers carry that many top-tier authorisations.

What is the minimum deposit at IG?

The figures disagree. The review text cites $1,000, described as a recent reduction, while the broker card on this page shows $250. The minimum also varies by country and by account type. Treat both numbers as indicative and confirm the current requirement for your region on the broker site.

How long does an IG withdrawal take?

Two to five working days, whether you use a bank transfer or PayPal. PayPal is usually the faster of the two. That is noticeably slower than deposits: card payments clear immediately, while incoming bank wires take two to three days.

What does IG charge to trade?

Cost sits mainly in the spread, from 0.6 pips on major forex pairs such as EUR/USD and from 0.1 pips on spread betting accounts. Overnight rollover fees apply to positions held past the session, and dormant accounts attract an inactivity fee. Share dealing starts at $3 per trade.

Which IG account should I open?

It depends less on preference than on where you live. Options accounts are EU only, Turbo24 covers seven European countries, share dealing is limited to the UK and Australia, and the Select account needs an income above 75,000 euros plus savings above 100,000 euros. For most traders the standard trading account is the realistic choice.

Does IG offer a demo account?

Yes, and it never expires. The demo is funded with virtual money, costs nothing and requires no commitment to open a live account afterwards. It replicates live trading closely enough to be worth a few months before real money goes in, which is how the author of this review started.