IG and Markets.com face off over regulation, pricing, and platform depth, testing breadth against ease of use.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose IG if you want a $0 minimum deposit and extensive instrument coverage.
Choose if…
Choose Markets.com if you want a $25 minimum and no inactivity fee.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.8/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 5.0 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 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 | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| 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 |
IG rates 4.8/5 versus 4/5 for Markets.com. IG edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Both IG and Markets.com start from 0.6 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
IG has no minimum deposit, while Markets.com requires at least $25. This makes IG more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both IG and Markets.com 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.
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 Markets.com 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.
IG supports ProRealTime, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while Markets.com supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile and MetaTrader 4. IG has exclusive access to ProRealTime and TradingView. Markets.com has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.60 pips.
IG wins for safety and regulation with a top-tier FCA/ASIC stack and segregated client funds.
IG wins for active traders due to 19,000+ instruments and advanced charting tools.
IG wins for platform choice with MT4, TradingView, and ProRealTime.
IG is better for beginners due to $0 minimum deposit and transparent pricing.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 5.0 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1974 | 2009 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $25 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.6 pips | 0.6 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 30:1 | 30:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | £12/month (after 24 months) | None |
|---|
| 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 | ASIC CMVM FCA DFSA KNF Finansinspektionen BaFin CBI Finanstilsynet NFA FMA Finanstilsynet | ASIC CySEC FCA FSCA |
|---|
| 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
CySEC, FCA, ASIC, and FSCA four-jurisdiction regulation
$25 minimum deposit - lowest among brokers with this regulatory stack
2,200+ instruments including shares CFDs
FSCS protection (UK) and ICF compensation (EU)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
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
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
Spread-only pricing, no raw ECN account
Research tools limited, no analyst reports or stock screener
Not available to US clients
Platform analytical depth below Saxo or IG
IG leads overall in editorial score, 4.8 vs 4.0 for Markets.com, reflecting stronger trust/regulation and broader instrument coverage.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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