IG review: Should you sign up or not? – Broker test for traders
- Regulated by the FCA, NFA & AFSL
- Excellent educational tools
- 17000+ assets available
- MetaTrader 4, IG App, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer
- Free demo account
The internet is flooded with online brokers offering access to trading. Investors have a large pool of brokerages to choose from. But making a choice can be tough since all the brokers claim to be the best.
Investors must determine their trading goals before finding a broker whose profile fits them. Proper regulations, good trading conditions, and competitive fees are the basic goals most investors watch for. Many online brokerages claim to meet these criteria, but careful investigation exposes scam brokers with zero or fake regulations. Others have the proper licenses but with trading conditions that are not worth considering.
This article thoroughly reviews one of the market’s renowned brokerages, IG Group (Investor’s Gold Index). We explain all you need to know about the broker, including who they are, fees, platforms, regulations, etc. By reading the review, you can determine if the broker’s services match your needs.
What you will read in this Post
What is IG? – Quick facts about the company
IG Group is an international financial company offering online brokerage services. Established in 1974, IG was the first to introduce spread betting in the financial markets. This concept gave way to online trading as we know it today. Retail investors can access various markets through IG, including shares, forex, CFDs, commodities, cryptocurrencies, indices, and financial spread betting.
IG has offices in nineteen countries. These include key financial regions, such as the United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Australia, and Singapore. The company is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange markets. IG operates with licenses from these regions and more, including South Africa, New Zealand, and Bermuda.
More than 240,000 investors operate active accounts with the broker. Clients from across the world are welcome to trade with the award-winning company.
Overview of the company:
- Established in 1974
- The Head office is in the United Kingdom
- Listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock symbol LON: IGG
- Nineteen branch offices in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia.
- 240,000+ customers with active accounts
- Several awards and recognition
- Annual revenue up to £800 million
Regulations – Is IG regulated? Where? How does regulation work?
As mentioned, the company has a physical presence in several global financial regions. These places require licenses to operate within their borders. IG is regulated in Japan, South Africa, Singapore, the United States, the EU, Australia, New Zealand, and more.
IG Group is a London-based financial institution operating under a license from the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority FCA.
Some of these regions require different licenses for the different markets. For example, JFSA Japan regulates forex and securities trading. In the same jurisdiction, the bodies regulating commodities and derivatives are different. Therefore, brokers must get authorization licenses from them to provide these services. IG holds three regulatory licenses in Japan. So the company is therefore licensed to offer online trading services in the various markets.
In Switzerland, IG operates as a bank and securities broker. The broker is therefore licensed under FINMA and offers banking and online CFD trading services.
All of the regulators compel strict adherence to customer satisfaction, the safety of clients’ assets, and fair dealings. They supervise the broker’s operations to ensure transparency and professionalism are maintained.
Below, we list all the regulatory bodies overseeing IG’s operations globally:
- Financial Conduct Authority FCA, registration no. 195355
- Japanese Financial Services Agency, JFSA
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, METI
- Australia Securities and Investment Commission, ASIC
- Financial Sector Conduct Authority, FSCA
- Dubai Financial Service Authority, DFSA
- German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, BaFin
- Swiss Financial Markets Supervisory Authority, FINMA
- Monetary Authority of Singapore, MAS
- New Zealand’s Financial Markets Authority, FMA
- The United States Commodities Futures Trading Commission, CFTC
- Bermuda Monetary Authority, BMA
Security measures for traders and your money
IG is tightly regulated, with six tier-one regulators overseeing its operations. They hold licenses in the EU, UK, and the US. These top-tier financial authorities require strict compliance with policies that ensure fairness and beneficial outcomes for traders.
IG, under regulatory protocols, must separate clients’ funds from its account in case of bankruptcy. The regulations also ensure the broker participates in compensation schemes. Such schemes enable traders to receive financial compensation without problems if the need arises.
IG provides a Negative Balance Protection. This service ensures your trading account never goes into a minus. Although, regulations in some regions do not include negative balance protection. Hence, the service is not available in all the jurisdictions where the broker operates.
As a publicly listed company, customers can access its financial records and strength at any given time. It is easy to tell if the company is doing well or not. You can tell by checking the stock market to see its stock value.
The licenses also force the company to adhere to data protection laws. These laws ensure clients’ information is encrypted on its platforms. IG is regarded as one of the safest brokers. They have endured for nearly five decades and have built a strong reputation. Traders consider them reliable financial institutions.
Review of the offers and IG trading conditions
IG provides access to trade in more than 16,000 markets, including derivatives and stocks. We review the broker’s market offering below:
Currency pairs
Over 90 forex pairs are offered on IG’s trading platforms. Customers can choose from majors, minors, or exotic ones. These include unique pairs like NZDEUR, NOKJPY, USDSGD, NZDCHF, and more. All major crosses are also available to trade, including EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY, etc.
Traders can speculate on these assets through the broker’s CFD and DMA account types. Leverage of 200:1 is available to trade forex and spreads start from 0.6 pips with zero commission. Major pairs like EURUSD, GBPUSD, and USDJPY are available for trade on weekends. Although, be prepared to pay higher spreads during these days.
Currency pairs: | 90+ |
Leverage: | Up to 1:200 |
Trading costs: | Average spreads starting from 0.85 pips for currency pairs |
Execution: | Instant |
Availability: | During forex market opening hours |
Commodities
Investors can access both hard and soft commodity markets on IG platforms. Up to 35 commodities are available, including Gold, iron, silver, nickel, copper, and more. The soft ones include oil, sugar, wheat, cocoa, orange juice, live cattle, coffee, and others.
Commodity ETFs and stocks are also available to trade. The fees depend on your chosen market but are mostly built into the spreads. Commission fees apply to some commodity stocks.
Commodity assets: | 35+ |
Leverage: | Up to 1:20 |
Trading costs: | Spreads starting at 0.6 points |
Execution: | Instant |
Availability: | During trading hours |
Shares
Over 10000 global stocks are listed on IG’s trading platform, though some are only offered on CFDs. Famous company stocks like Netflix, Tesla, Facebook, Amazon, etc., are all available. Customers who use the broker’s DMA account and L2 dealer platform can trade these stocks and receive direct trade executives into several liquidity pools. However, the trading fees may be higher. The highest leverage offered is 10:1. Commission per trade is a minimum of 0.5%, depending on the asset and region.
Share assets: | 10000+ |
Leverage: | Up to 1:20 |
Trading costs: | Trading costs vary depending on the type of shares & size of the trade |
Execution: | Instant |
Availability: | During trading hours |
Indices
IG provides access to speculate on up to 80 indices, including world popular ones such as DAX30, Nasdaq, Wall Street, FTSE100, Hong Kong HS50, and more. Investors can trade other unique indices, such as the Emerging Markets Index and Crypto 10 Index.
Weekend trading is available for some major stock indices. The broker offers up to 200:1 leverage. The spreads depend on your chosen market, but they can range from 0.4 pips to 7.0 pips.
Index assets: | 80+ |
Leverage: | Up to 1:10 |
Trading costs: | The trading costs vary, depending on the index & market conditions |
Execution: | Instant |
Availability: | During trading hours |
Cryptocurrencies
There are 10 cryptocurrency assets available on IG’s trading platforms. Although this relatively limited variety, the popular and most profitable cryptocurrencies are available, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and more. Traders can access a wider selection of cryptocurrencies on its crypto index 10 offerings. Weekend trading is also offered for this asset class, and a 20:1 leverage is provided.
The spreads range from 1.2 pips to 38.0 pips, depending on the digital asset.
Cryptocurrency assets: | 10+ |
Leverage: | Up to 1:2 |
Trading costs: | Vary, depending on currency, size of trade and time of the day |
Execution: | Instant |
Availability: | From 8 AM on Saturday until 10 PM on Friday (UK time) |
ETFs
A selection of ETFs is available on IG’s platforms. Exchange Traded Funds give you exposure to various assets from one trade. That means you can trade a group of stocks simultaneously in a single transaction. These assets are ideal for expanding one’s portfolio while being risk-conscious. You can choose from currency ETFs, stocks, or commodities. But the broker offers this through its stock brokerage trading service. Leverage up to 10:1 is available.
ETF assets: | 2900+ |
Leverage: | Up to 1:20 |
Trading costs: | £3 per ETF trade and a currency conversion fee of 0.5% (for UK clients) |
Execution: | Instant |
Availability: | During trading hours |
Binary options
Binary Options trading is not available on IG platforms. A similar financial instrument is so called digital 100 on IG’s platforms, it is available in specific regions. Traders interested in this market should first speak to IG’s support service to be sure they trade within regulations. The broker would also clarify the various products available in this market.
Digital 100 assets: | 100+ |
Leverage: | Up to 1:50 |
Trading costs: | Vary, depending on the digital option and the market conditions |
Execution: | Instant |
Availability: | During trading hours |
Metals
Investors have a selection of various precious metals to trade on IG’s platform. These are accessible through its CFDs or ETF offerings. Popular and profit-yielding metals such as Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium are available. The spreads range between 0.2 pips to 1.8 pips, depending on the metal. The assets are leveraged, requiring no more than the broker’s minimum deposit to invest in them.
Metal assets: | 100+ |
Leverage: | Up to 1:20 |
Trading costs: | Vary, depending on type of metal and size. Standard spreads for Spot Gold are around 0.3 pips, for Spot Palladium around 1.2 pips and for Spot Platinum around 1.8 pips. |
Execution: | Instant |
Availability: | During trading hours |
Energies
Energies are part of the broker’s product offering under commodities. Natural gas, crude oil, and non-lead gasoline are available to trade through its CFD stocks. Traders can invest or speculate on popular oil companies’ prices, including Brent oil, London Gas Oil, US crude, and many more.
Spreads on this asset can drop to 2.8 pips, which is comparably low.
Energy assets: | 50+ |
Leverage: | Up to 1:50 |
Trading costs: | Vary, depending on the chosen asset |
Execution: | Instant |
Availability: | During trading hours |
Trading fees – How much does it cost to trade with IG?
As implied earlier, the trading fees vary from asset to asset. The broker uses variable spreads, and its fee model is mostly commission-free type. Although, this also depends on the account and the market you trade.
IG’s forex trading fees are mostly commission-free charges. That means the commissions are attached to the spreads. The lowest spread on forex majors is 0.6 pips during active market times. The average spreads during normal market activities can get to 1.2 pips.
The same non-commission fee structure applies to indices, stock index CFDs, commodities, and bond CFDs. The lowest spreads on these assets range from 0.4 points to 1.4 points.
Cryptocurrencies attract the highest spreads, but this is not uncommon. The lowest to expect is 1.2 pips for the most liquid crypto asset during peak hours.
The fees for CFD Shares dealing are different. Commission and other fees for some platform features may apply. It also depends on your region and what trading method you choose, online or phone trading. CFD commission fees range from 0.08% to 0.475% per trade. US traders have to pay $0.02 per share, with a maximum of $15 fee per trade. Traders in the UK and EU pay 0.10% commission, amounting to a maximum of £10 and €10 per trade, respectively.
Interest on overnight funding also applies and varies according to the asset and interest rates.
Some special features carry a charge if you wish to use them. Deposits and withdrawals attract zero charges, but dormant account fees apply after 2 years.
Fee: | Information: |
---|---|
Swap fees for overnight open trades: | Yes |
Management fees: | 0.50% for the IG Smart Portfolio |
Fund costs: | 0.13% for the IG Smart Portfolio |
Transaction costs: | 0.09% for the IG Smart portfolio |
Inactivity fee: | $10 per month after two years of no activity on the account |
Deposit fee: | No deposit fees |
Withdrawal fee: | No withdrawal fees |
Market data fee: | Extra charge for Live Data Fees |
Test and review of the IG trading platforms
IG operates as an agency broker, connecting customers directly to the interbank market. This market is made up of a large pool of liquidity providers. That means traders get to buy and sell at the best prices.
IG offers these trading services on its exceptional proprietary platform – L2 Dealer, MT4, and web-based trading platform. All levels of traders can find a suitable platform that matches their needs.
Web-based trading platform
IG web-based app stands out in terms of useability. The platform is packed with features that give traders a wonderful trading experience. You will find various trading and research tools, including several risk-management functions. The platform allows you open charts from almost all view modes.
Up to 28 indicators are embedded, including the most popular and functional ones (MACD, Bollinger band, etc.). You can view up to four timeframes on one chart. Expect ultra-fast execution, taking less than one millisecond to perform trades.
Autochartist is integrated with the platform, allowing traders access to free signals. You will also access Reuters news updates plus the broker’s market analysis reports.
Traders of all levels can use this platform, and experienced traders can unlock advanced features like the ProRealTime charting tool. The only drawback we found with the platform is that users have to arrange the layout. The default layout is usually empty, and you need to set it up before trading. But it allows you to save several custom designs.
MetaTrader 4
The broker offers the famous MT4 platform, known for user-friendliness, easy customizability, range of charts and indicators, and superfast execution. The drawback is that all the product ranges are not listed on IG’s MT4. But the platform allows traders to create their own indicators. Algorithm trading is also available, and you can view up to nine timeframes. MT4 is also known for its superb range of indicators. Traders have access to 30 of these indicators on IG’s MT4. Up to four types of pending orders are allowed. They include buy limit, sell limit, buy stop, and sell stop. Market orders are also free, including take profit and stop loss.
L2 Dealer
The L2 Dealer is IG’s proprietary platform, requiring a minimum deposit of $1000. Traders can gain Direct Market Access (DMA) for free using the app. The platform is quite complex and more suited to experienced traders. The platform offers enhanced liquidity, connecting traders to a larger pool for the best prices. Trading fees on the platform are partly dependent on volume. Investors can pay as low as $10 per million dollars traded once they exceed a specific transaction amount.
The L2 Dealer is also suitable for Shares trading. Market analysis and depth are gathered from various sources. Traders receive thorough details on the market as a result. Advanced charting tools, including ProRealTime, are also embedded in the platform.
Indicators & charting availability
IG’s trading platforms come with 28 technical indicators or more, depending on the platform. But all include the most popular and useful ones. Up to 11 indicators support alerts and notifications. You can include four notification settings and receive alerts on important market moves. Users can draw trendlines using any of the 20 different drawing tools on the platform.
There are five chart types, including a tick chart type unique to IG’s platforms.
Mobile trading via the IG app
The mobile trading experience on IG is among the best. Traders can use the MT4 or the broker’s proprietary mobile app – IG Forex, to trade on smartphones. These apps are downloadable on Apple and Google Playstore. IG also offers two non-trading mobile apps. These are the IG Academy for trading education and IG Access for additional security on accounts.
The two trading apps come with a simple design, making them as easy to use as the computer versions. There are no important missing features on the apps. Traders can enjoy the desktop’s complete trading features, including market sentiment reports, 30 trading indicators, and multiple charts and timeframes. Headline news streaming from Reuters is available. Autochartist and PIA First are also embedded, providing real-time market signals on mobile.
Summary of IG mobile trading apps:
- User experience is the same as the desktop platforms
- 30 indicators, including multiple charts, timeframes, and drawing tools.
- Notifications and signals via PIA First and Autochartist.
- Special user interface for Android and Apple tablets with improved useability to fit the wider screen.
How to trade on the IG platform (Tutorial)
Trading is the same on web-based and other platforms, though the user interface differs slightly. You first need to determine the asset you wish to trade and choose from the asset list.
Before placing your first trade, analyze the market to know the price history and trends. Once you have done this, select the asset and type the order details in the order box.
According to your research, set the appropriate market orders to reduce your risk. Then place your trade, buy or sell. Keep an eye on the trade as you go about your day. That way, you can make adjustments or exit your position at the most appropriate time.
How to trade forex on IG
Foreign exchange is the biggest and most liquid financial market, so investors have enough opportunities to make profits here. With IG, you can trade up to 90 global currencies. So you have a range of choices on its platforms. First, you should decide on what forex pairs you wish to trade.
After choosing your preferred currencies, follow the suggestions below to trade forex:
Research and analyze the market
To profit from the forex pairs you chose, you need to understand the market. That would require some research, and fundamental, and technical analysis. Fortunately, IG platforms come with useful tools to help you. The news updates and signals provide beneficial tips on price directions and the current trend. Knowing the trend allows you to make profitable trading decisions.
Test the free demo account
Once you understand the market, you can test your knowledge on a free demo before investing money. IG offers such an account to allow you to practice trading without financial risk. Perform several trades using what you’ve learned during the research phase. It would improve your skills and confidence, preparing you for the real market experience.
Trade forex on a live account
Once you have satisfactorily tested the market, you can then log in to your live account. Select the same desired pair you have tested. Choose your position based on the market trend, according to your research. Employ the necessary limit orders, such as stop loss. Then place your trade by clicking buy or sell.
Track your transaction and exit
As mentioned, it is necessary to monitor your positions while they’re open. How often you check the trades will depend on the strategy being employed. Closing a trade at the right time is part of a good strategy. Once it matures, close and exit the position.
How to trade digital 100 options on IG
Digital 100 options seem like easy financial vehicles but can be tricky and risky to trade. The straightforward win-or-lose nature is the same reason trading or investing in Options can be tricky.
With forex trading and other markets, the loss is controllable, and one can exit a trade before losing their entire capital. But a loss in digital options trades means losing all the funds you staked. Therefore, market analysis is doubly important for this trading.
On IG, binary options are called Digital 100. You can speculate on indices, forex, events, and commodities. So you need to first decide on the asset before analyzing the market.
The analysis would have helped you see all the possible price moves. That way, you can place the best bet by choosing a winning strike price and timeframe. IG offers the opportunity to choose from a five minutes contract duration to one month.
Once you select your strike price and trade duration, choose buy call or sell put. Enter your preferred limit orders and the contract size in the order box. Then execute.
Monitor the trade and close once it reaches or exceeds the strike. Or wait till the contract expires to exit. Your decision would depend on the price direction.
How to trade cryptocurrencies on IG
There are two ways to trade cryptocurrencies online. You can buy and hold it in your digital wallet. To resell once the price goes up. Or you can trade through CFD, which involves speculating on the price movements.
To buy and hold, you need to signup with a crypto exchange. These exchange operators often provide digital wallets for traders to keep cryptocurrencies. Trading through CFD is easier because you do not have to hold the currencies.
When you place a buy trade, you are betting on a rise in the price, and vice versa. You make a profit if the price moves in the direction of your bet. The cryptocurrency market is notoriously volatile, so the risk is high. Before trading in this market, it is crucial to understand what influences the prices. Factors like government regulations and blockchain forks are essential areas to keep an eye on.
If you choose CFD trading, you can capitalize on price movements by opening and closing several trades during opportune times.
How to trade stocks on IG
There are several ways to trade stocks on IG platforms. You can trade them through CFD shares, indices, or ETFs. Indices and ETFs are considered lower risks investments than other assets. And the market is highly liquid, offering good opportunities. Through both markets, you can trade a bunch of stocks together simultaneously.
To trade stocks, you must first decide how you wish to enter the market. Indices and ETFs are safer for newcomers, while traders with more market experience can go for CFD.
It is also crucial to learn what influences stock prices. For this, the trader must pay attention to the company’s financial reports, announcements, and economic news.
If you are trading indices, keeping an eye on each company’s index is key. Sometimes a company is removed or added to the index composition. This affects the price, and the trader must watch out for this to place the best trades.
After the necessary research, practicing trading on a demo is helpful first. Choose the stock symbol from the quote, and enter a new order by filling out the transaction detail. Then place the relevant trade.
How to open your trading account on IG
Opening a live trading account with IG involves three simple steps:
- Fill the form
- Get verified
- Fund the account and trade
On the broker’s website, click the Create Live Account button in the middle of the page. This takes you to the registration page, where you would first choose your region. Clicking next then takes you to the signup form where you will type in personal data, such as full name, email, contact details, etc.
You will have to verify the email by clicking on the confirmation link, which the system sends during the signup. Afterward, you would select the account type you wish to run, choose a currency, and answer relevant questions about your trading experience.
The next step after this is verification. The broker would need you to upload some ID and proof of address to verify your identity. Once verification is complete, the account will be ready for funding and trading.
Account types of IG
Apart from a demo account, IG offers two types of trading accounts. Like most brokers, one of the accounts is suitable for any trader, whether a newbie or a seasoned trader. The other type is more advanced and suitable for professionals or volume traders.
They also offer special institutional accounts for professionals wanting to trade as a corporate company.
The two main account types are:
CFD account
Anyone can use this account, whether beginners or experienced traders. The minimum deposit is $250, and customers can access the account on the MT4 and IG trading platforms.
Note that the spreads vary according to platforms. On the MT4, expect an average of 0.75 pips on major pairs. It can drop or increase depending on the trading hours and liquidity. Spreads are higher on the IG app, averaging 0.86 pips on forex majors. The leverage offered depends on the jurisdiction and its regulations. Traders in the EU can get up to 30:1, and the maximum offered outside the EU is 200:1.
Direct Market Access account (DMA)
This account is more suited to experienced traders and comes with advanced features. The minimum deposit is $1000, and trading costs decrease the more you trade. The average spread on major forex pairs is 0.165 pips, but commission fees apply based on volume. The account is only available on the L2 Dealer platform.
Other specific account types exist for special purposes. These include Shares dealing and Investment types for trading shares and stocks. Leverages are not available for these accounts.
Can you use a demo account on IG?
Yes. IG offers two demo account types that allow trading for 30 days. One type allows you to practice trading stocks, indices, and ETFs. The other allows access to all the available markets.
You can request an unlimited demo if you require more practice time. The virtual account comes with £10000 worth of trading credit to conduct many trades.
As mentioned, it is helpful to use this to practice and test your strategies before trading on the live account.
How to login into your IG trading account
Whether you use a mobile phone or desktop, the login process is the same. The login tab on the web and desktop will be near the top right of the page. Click on this and enter your username and password in the appropriate fields. (The username might be your email or a unique name.) Click on the log-in to launch the platform trading site.
Verification: What do you need, and how long does it take?
IG requires identity verification to complete the trading account setup. You would need to scan and upload your national ID or international passport, which carries the name on the account. Proof of address is also necessary for KYC. Your bank statement or a recent utility bill bearing your house address will suffice for this.
It usually takes 10 minutes or less to verify these documents. But it can take up to 24 hours sometimes.
Available payment methods for deposit and withdrawals
IG provides several payment methods for simple transfers and withdrawals during trading. These include Visa, MasterCard (credit and debit), Bank transfers (HSBC), and Paypal.
Deposits and withdrawals are mostly fee-free, depending on the payment methods. Debit cards, both Visa and MasterCard, attract zero fees. But credit cards will attract a fee of 1% on Visa and 0.5% on MasterCard.
Deposits reflect immediately if you use Visa and MasterCard. Local transfers to the broker’s HSBC account are free but can take up to 3 business days to reflect. Withdrawals to cards take longer to reflect. Expect up to one week’s waiting period for funds to enter the receiving card. Withdrawals take less time if you move the funds into a bank account. Funds will settle within three days in this case.
You can also deposit using Paypal, but a 1.5% fee applies.
How to deposit money – The IG minimum deposit explained
To deposit funds on all the platforms on your dashboard, click on the funds’ button. Select Add Funds on the drop-down menu, and choose your preferred payment option.
Fill out the form, entering the necessary card or bank details to authorize the payment. Click on next and enter your pin. The funds should settle immediately or within a few days, depending on the payment method.
The broker does not charge for deposits, but the payment service may deduct a small fee. They will inform you of this before you authorize the transaction.
Deposit bonuses:
Not available.
Withdrawal – How to withdraw your money on IG
Select withdraw funds under the Funds tab on the dashboard. IG allows withdrawal to a debit or credit card and bank account. Choose your preferred receiving method and complete the instruction form.
You may need to verify previous deposits and the receiving account if it is your first withdrawal. To do this, all you need is to type in your full name, the account or card number, and upload the bank logo.
Your withdrawals will then be processed, and funds moved to the receiving account. The waiting period will depend on the payment method used.
Customer support for traders
IG’s customer service is available 24 hours a day, except from Saturday 3 AM to Friday 5 PM (EST). You can reach them by phone or email. New customers have a special helpline where they can reach dedicated support staff – 3129810499. Existing customers can reach support on 3129810498. Their email is [email protected].
Toll-free phone numbers are available for some regions. Visit the broker’s website, which takes you to your country-specific page to get the toll-free line, if applicable.
Customer care number: | Email support: | Live chat: | Availability: |
---|---|---|---|
3129810499 | [email protected] | Yes, available | 24 hours a day, except from Saturday 3 AM to Friday 5 PM (EST) |
Education material – How to learn trading with IG
IG offers a special education app – IG Academy, available on Apple and Android stores. Its rich content includes courses, trading guides, and strategies, which are useful for beginners and inexperienced traders. Users can also monitor their progress through quizzes. Market analysis and depth, including research tools on its platforms, are great education sources for experienced traders. Additionally, there are YouTube videos, IG communities, periodic webinars, and more, through which traders can improve their skills and experience.
Additional fees
The only non-trading fee we found with IG is the inactivity fee. Dormant accounts get charged after two years of no activity. The fee is $12 monthly until the trader resumes trading activities on the account.
Available countries and forbidden countries
Fortunately, IG brokerage accounts can be operated by almost everyone in nearly all countries and regions. Traders in restricted countries can not open accounts with IG. The online broker does not offer services in regions like North Korea, Russia, or other restricted areas. In addition, some markets might be unavailable in specific countries.
For example, Spread betting is only available for traders in the United Kingdom. Customers in some regions, such as the US, can only access Forex and Shares CFDs through Nadex.
Conclusion – IG is a trustworthy broker with superb conditions
From our review, we can conclude that IG is a reliable broker, offering a remarkable range of product selections. The trading conditions are exceptional, considering the wealth of amazing trading tools and research.
The only demerit we found is the high minimum deposit for the DMA account. However, its platform offerings and competitive fees make the broker a great choice for traders of all levels.
Frequently asked questions about the broker IG (FAQs):
Is my money safe with IG?
Yes. IG holds more licenses than any online CFD broker. The broker has existed for 48 years and has a strong reputation as a safe broker. Regulations require the broker to separate customers’ funds from the company account for safety. They are publicly listed and offer negative balance protection.
Is IG a good broker?
IG is a good broker for both beginners, and experienced, and professional traders. They offer account types and ideal platforms for all levels. Trading fees are competitive, and customers have a wide range of markets to widen their portfolios.
Is IG available in Europe?
Yes. IG Europe is a member of IG Group, created after Brexit to serve customers in the EEA. The company is registered with BaFIN, Germany, a regulatory body operating under the MiFID framework. Customers for all EU zones are welcome.