In this comparison, Dukascopy and IG square off on regulation, costs, and platform depth, revealing divergent strengths that may appeal to different trading styles.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose Dukascopy if you value FINMA regulation and segregated client funds.
Choose if…
Choose Dukascopy if you accept a $1,000 minimum deposit and a steeper JForex learning curve. Choose IG if you want a broad regulator stack and 24/5 live chat. Choose IG if you value a $0 minimum deposit and access to 19,000+ markets.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.8/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.9 / 5 | 5.0 / 5▲ |
Pros
Full FINMA banking licence - client cash protected under Swiss deposit guarantee up to CHF 100,000
Genuine interbank SWFX ECN liquidity from 14+ institutional providers
EUR/USD variable spreads from 0.1 pips during London/New York overlap
JForex supports Java/Groovy strategy automation built into the platform
Banking-grade transparency with published balance sheet
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Dukascopy | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | 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 | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
IG rates 4.8/5 versus 4.3/5 for Dukascopy. IG edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Dukascopy starts from 0.1 pips, tighter than IG's 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
IG has no minimum deposit, while Dukascopy requires at least $1000. This makes IG more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Dukascopy and IG hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
IG stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Dukascopy lists maximum leverage of 200:1, while IG lists up to 30:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Dukascopy charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for IG are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Dukascopy supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while IG supports ProRealTime, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile and MetaTrader 4. IG has exclusive access to ProRealTime and TradingView.
Dukascopy offers tighter spreads from 0.10 pips vs 0.60 pips for IG, reducing trading costs.
IG wins for safety & regulation with a broader regulator stack.
IG wins for active traders with 19,000+ markets and advanced charting.
Dukascopy is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.10 pips.
IG wins for platform choice with MT4/5, TradingView, and ProRealTime.
IG wins for instrument variety with 19,000+ markets vs 1,200 at Dukascopy.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.7 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 5.0 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2004 | 1974 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland | London, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $1,000 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.1 pips▼ lower | 0.6 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | N/A |
|---|
| 0.8 pips | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 200:1 | 30:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | £12/month (after 24 months) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferDebit cardPayPal |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSA Seychelles FINMA | ASIC CMVM FCA DFSA KNF Finansinspektionen BaFin CBI Finanstilsynet NFA FMA Finanstilsynet |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 | ProRealTime Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
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, real 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
CHF 1,000 minimum deposit excludes traders starting with less than USD 1,000
JForex has a steep learning curve; designed for professional clients
Customer support primarily Swiss business hours
Not available to US residents
No negative balance protection
No 24/5 live chat
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
IG leads on editorial score (4.8 vs 4.3 for Dukascopy), backed by a broader regulator stack and access to 19,000+ markets.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
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