A head-to-head comparison of Axi and IG across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
No minimum deposit, strong ASIC regulation, excellent MT4 infrastructure for EA traders, DXtrade for a modern web experience, and competitive Pro account pricing.
IG invented spread betting in 1974 and remains the benchmark for experienced UK and European traders: unmatched market breadth, a genuinely excellent proprietary platform, and regulatory credibility that few brokers can match - at the cost of slightly higher charges than specialist ECN desks.
IG comes out ahead with an editorial score of 4.8/5 compared to Axi's 4.1/5.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Axi offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.6 pips for IG, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Axi has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
IG offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
IG edges out Axi with a higher editorial score (4.8/5 vs 4.1/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.8/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 5.0 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 5.0 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2007 | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 30:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC DFSA | FCA ASIC DFSA CMVM BaFin Finansinspektionen Finanstilsynet FMA CBI KNF Finanstilsynet |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 DXtrade | MetaTrader 4 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Axi | Visit IG |
Pros
No minimum deposit
Strong ASIC, FCA, and DFSA regulation
MT4-focused with excellent EA and algorithmic trading support
No inactivity fee
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
LSE-listed with FCA and ASIC regulation - among the most credible regulatory stacks in retail CFDs
19,000+ markets including weekend crypto, volatility indices, and EM pairs - genuine breadth, not a padded count
Proprietary platform with ProRealTime charts, Reuters news, and DMA equity routing built in
Spread betting available for UK clients - tax-free gains on the same account used for CFD trading
No minimum deposit and no deposit or withdrawal fee on standard methods
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
No MT5 or cTrader support
Pro account commission of $7/lot is above some ECN peers
Research and education tools are more limited than some peers
No proprietary platform
Cons
Market maker on forex - not suitable for scalpers who need sub-0.1 pip raw ECN spreads
Inactivity fee of £12/month kicks in after 24 months with no trades
Onboarding verification is slower than smaller or offshore brokers
Customer support quality drops outside UK business hours
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Axi | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, IG ranks higher with a score of 4.8/5 vs 4.1/5 for Axi. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Axi and IG may each suit different trader profiles.
Axi offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to IG's spreads from 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither Axi nor IG requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both Axi and IG hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Axi offers maximum leverage of 500:1, while IG offers up to 30:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Axi charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Axi supports MetaTrader 4, DXtrade and IG offers MetaTrader 4, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView; both support MetaTrader 4; Axi exclusively offers DXtrade; IG exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView.
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