Forex.com vs IG Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of Forex.com and IG across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
One of very few brokers accepting US retail forex clients, with deep research tools and competitive raw spreads for professional accounts.
VS
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.
Our Verdict
IG winsClear Winner
IG comes out ahead with an editorial score of 4.8/5 compared to Forex.com's 4.2/5.
IG
4.8/5
Forex.com
4.2/5
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
IG offers tighter spreads from 0.6 pips vs 1 pips for Forex.com, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Best for active traders
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers offer equivalent trading costs across spreads, commissions, and account types.
Best for platform choice
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers offer an equivalent platform selection with similar exclusive and proprietary options.
Best for beginners
Recommended
IG edges out Forex.com with a higher editorial score (4.8/5 vs 4.2/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
Forex.com vs IG: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.8/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 5.0 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 5.0 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 1999 | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Bedminster, New Jersey, USA | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | $100 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 1 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 50:1 | 30:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CFTC MAS NFA IIROC | FCA ASIC DFSA CMVM BaFin Finansinspektionen Finanstilsynet FMA CBI KNF Finanstilsynet |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Forex.com | Visit IG |
Forex.com vs IG Forex Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
One of the few brokers accepting US retail forex clients
Deep research tools including macro analysis
Raw spread account with competitive $7 round-turn commission
MT4, MT5 and proprietary platforms
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
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
$100 minimum deposit is higher than some peers
US clients restricted to 50:1 leverage on major pairs
Raw account pricing not available in all jurisdictions
Inactivity fee applies
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
Forex.com vs IG: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
1
Forex.com
criteria win
0
IG
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | Forex.com | 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 | Fail | 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 | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Forex.com vs IG: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, IG ranks higher with a score of 4.8/5 vs 4.2/5 for Forex.com. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Forex.com and IG may each suit different trader profiles.
IG offers tighter spreads starting from 0.6 pips, compared to Forex.com's spreads from 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
IG has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Forex.com requires at least $100. This makes IG more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Forex.com 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: IG has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Forex.com offers maximum leverage of 50:1, 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.
Forex.com 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.
Forex.com supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile and IG offers MetaTrader 4, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView; both support MetaTrader 4, Proprietary Web/Mobile; Forex.com exclusively offers MetaTrader 5; IG exclusively offers TradingView.
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Score 4.2 / 5
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