IG vs Interactive Brokers Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of IG and Interactive Brokers across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
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.
VS
Score 4.6 / 5
2 bonusesListed broker with global market access, lowest financing rates we benchmark, and the powerful TWS workstation.
Our Verdict
IG winsby 0.2 pts
IG edges ahead with a score of 4.8/5 vs Interactive Brokers's 4.6/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
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
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0.2 pips vs 0.6 pips for IG, 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
Recommended
Interactive Brokers has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0.2 pips.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
IG offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 4, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
IG edges out Interactive Brokers with a higher editorial score (4.8/5 vs 4.6/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
IG vs Interactive Brokers: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.8/ 5 | 4.6/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 5.0 / 5▲ | 4.8 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.6 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 5.0 / 5▲ | 4.6 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
| Founded | 1974 | 1978 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Greenwich, United States |
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.6 pips | 0.2 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $2/lot |
| Max leverage | 30:1 | 50:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | First withdrawal/month free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC DFSA CMVM BaFin Finansinspektionen Finanstilsynet FMA CBI KNF Finanstilsynet | SEC FCA CMF ASIC JFSA SEBI AMF SFC FINRA DFSA CMVM NFA IIROC CNV FSC CBI CNB MFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView | Proprietary Web/Mobile Trader Workstation (TWS) |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit IG | Visit Interactive Brokers |
IG vs Interactive Brokers Forex Broker Pros & Cons
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
Pros
Available to US residents
Lowest margin rates in industry
150+ global markets
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
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
Cons
Steeper learning curve on TWS
No MT4 / MT5
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
IG vs Interactive Brokers: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
2
IG
criteria wins
2
Interactive Brokers
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | IG | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
IG vs Interactive Brokers: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, IG ranks higher with a score of 4.8/5 vs 4.6/5 for Interactive Brokers. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; IG and Interactive Brokers may each suit different trader profiles.
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads starting from 0.2 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 IG nor Interactive Brokers requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both IG and Interactive Brokers 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.
IG offers maximum leverage of 30:1, while Interactive Brokers offers up to 50:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Interactive Brokers charges $2 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
IG supports MetaTrader 4, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView and Interactive Brokers offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, Trader Workstation (TWS); both support Proprietary Web/Mobile; IG exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, TradingView; Interactive Brokers exclusively offers Trader Workstation (TWS).
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Score 4.6 / 5
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