Two well-known brokers clash over regulation, platform depth, and market breadth. IG and Libertex offer different paths to traders seeking reliability, cost clarity, and access to thousands of markets.
IG outperforms Libertex on editorial score and trust, regulation, and platform capabilities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Libertex offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.60 pips for IG, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.8/ 5 | 3.9/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 5.0 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | IG | Libertex |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | 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 | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
IG rates 4.8/5 versus 3.9/5 for Libertex. IG edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Libertex starts from 0 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 Libertex requires at least $10. This makes IG more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
IG holds top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC, DFSA), providing stronger investor protections. Libertex may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
For beginners, two factors stand out: IG has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
IG lists maximum leverage of 30:1, while Libertex lists up to 999:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
IG supports ProRealTime, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while Libertex supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile and MetaTrader 4. IG has exclusive access to ProRealTime and TradingView. Libertex has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5.
IG wins for safety & regulation thanks to FCA/ASIC oversight and investor protection.
IG wins for active traders with 19,000+ markets and advanced charting.
Libertex is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
IG wins for platform choice with a feature-rich proprietary platform and MT4/MT5.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 5.0 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1974 | 1997 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $10 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.6 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 30:1 | 999:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | £12/month (after 24 months) | $5/month (after 180 days)▼ lower |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC DFSA FMA CMVM BaFin Finanstilsynet Finanstilsynet Finansinspektionen CBI NFA KNF | CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | ProRealTime Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Very low $10 minimum deposit
Zero spread commission model, transparent cost per trade
Long operational history since 1997
MT4, MT5, and proprietary Libertex platform
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
24/5 live chat support
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
Only CySEC regulated, limited jurisdiction coverage
Commission multiplier model can be confusing for new traders
Not available in many major English-speaking markets
No top-tier regulatory licence
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
Limited charting capabilities
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
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