IG (IG Markets) – comprehensive broker review: reliability, fees, withdrawals, user feedback (2025)

Imagine a broker that has operated for 40+ years and offers thousands of instruments worldwide. That’s IG (IG Markets) — a pioneer in online trading and one of the world’s largest CFD and forex providers. The company was founded in 1974 in the UK by the renowned financier Stuart Wheeler and was originally called IG Index. Since then, IG has grown substantially: the headquarters is in London and offices span five continents (14 global offices in total). IG Group — the broker’s parent — is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange and included in the FTSE 250. This means the broker publishes audited financial statements on a regular basis, which adds to its credibility.

Over the decades, IG has built a reputation as a strong, well-run player. By the latest counts, IG serves over 820,000 active clients worldwide — an impressive number, boosted recently after acquiring the investment app Freetrade. The scale shows everywhere: clients can access more than 17,000 markets (some sources quoted ~19,000 in 2024) — from FX to shares, commodities, bonds, stock indices, and cryptocurrencies. Many competitors offer only hundreds of assets rather than thousands.

What is IG known for and what does it offer? IG pioneered financial spread betting — back in the 1970s it enabled clients to speculate on gold price movements when owning the metal was restricted. Today IG is a multi-asset online broker. The product line includes Forex and CFDs across all major asset classes (currencies, shares, indices, commodities, crypto, etc.), access to real shares and ETFs for certain countries, options, and innovative in-house instruments. For example, IG created Turbo24 — the world’s first exchange-traded turbo warrants available 24 hours, 5 days a week. Turbo24 let European traders set a knockout (barrier) that limits risk and effectively determines leverage. IG also offers vanilla and barrier options on FX, indices, and commodities — available to clients in several European countries. In the UK and Ireland, IG traditionally provides financial spread betting — a tax-efficient way to speculate popular with UK traders.

IG stands out for its scale and reliability. It’s regulated across multiple top-tier jurisdictions (details below), making it one of the most closely supervised providers. IG Group also owns a Swiss bank (IG Bank S.A.), and the banking license further reinforces trust. Over the years the broker has received many awards. For example, the independent portal ForexBrokers.com once again named IG “#1 Overall Broker,” highlighting leadership in trust, investment tools, education, mobile apps, and TradingView integration. IG has topped global broker rankings repeatedly (1st place in 2019–2024). Such consistency is rare in this industry.

What services does IG provide? In short, virtually everything a trader or investor might need. The core is leveraged CFD and FX trading. Beyond that, IG offers exchange dealing in shares and ETFs (for clients in the UK, EU, Australia and some other regions), Smart Portfolios (a UK robo-adviser built on BlackRock ETFs), grey markets and IPO participation, a professional DMA platform L2 Dealer for direct market access, and APIs for algorithmic trading. Education is a major component — IG Academy with step-by-step courses and webinars, daily market analysis, trade ideas, and more. In effect, IG is not just a broker but a full trading ecosystem combining tools, research, and education.

Bottom line: IG is a globally recognized broker that suits those who value reliability, market breadth, and modern technology. IG has long outgrown the “forex-only” label and become a universal platform for traders and investors of different levels. It’s often chosen as a primary broker by both beginners and professionals. Below we examine all aspects in detail — from pros and cons to pricing, regulation, and real-world feedback.

IG pros and cons

Like any provider, IG has strengths and trade-offs. Choosing a trading platform should be a critical exercise: weigh advantages and drawbacks and consider whether the conditions fit your style. Here are the key pros and cons so you can judge for yourself.

Pros of IG

• Outstanding reliability and regulation. IG is among the most heavily regulated brokers globally: it holds licenses from 8 tier-1 regulators, including the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CFTC/NFA (USA), BaFin (Germany), JFSA (Japan), MAS (Singapore), FINMA (Switzerland), and others. The company is public and transparent; client funds are held in segregated accounts at AA-rated banks. In FX, it’s hard to find another provider with comparable trust — IG’s Trust Score is 99 out of 99.
• Vast market coverage. IG offers one of the widest selections on the market. Over 17,000 instruments include ~98 FX pairs, ~80 indices, ~13,000 shares, ~5,400 ETFs, dozens of commodities and bonds, cryptocurrencies, and more. In practice, a single IG account lets you trade everything from EUR/USD and gold to Apple shares, oil futures, or bitcoin. With such breadth, opportunities can be found in almost any market condition.
• Advanced trading platforms. IG’s proprietary web platform is intuitive, highly configurable, and packed with indicators, news feeds, and TradingView charts. The IG mobile app is considered one of the best — manage positions, set price alerts, and even use a WhatsApp bot. MT4 is available for classic workflows, while ProRealTime offers advanced charting. Plus, IG integrates with TradingView — you can place trades directly from TradingView using your IG account. This combination is a big plus if you value robust execution and powerful analytics.
• High liquidity and fast execution. IG is a major player and a liquidity provider to some peers. Clients benefit from swift fills and minimal slippage. Reviews often note near-instant execution on IG’s platform. Requotes are rare even in volatile periods — orders typically fill at the quoted price or with very small slippage. For active traders, that’s critical.
• Strong education and research. IG invests in client education. IG Academy is one of the best programs in the industry, with interactive courses, videos, webinars, and quizzes. Beginners can progress from basics to advanced strategies. IG also publishes market research: daily updates, technical signals (including Autochartist), and an economic calendar. Regular online sessions with well-known analysts add value.
• Tools for experienced traders. High-volume or systematic traders get extras. APIs (REST and FIX) support algorithmic strategies. L2 Dealer offers DMA with full depth-of-market for shares (and FX for pros). IG supports Guaranteed Stops — for a small premium your stop is executed exactly at the set price with no slippage, even through gaps. EU/UK retail clients also benefit from negative balance protection. (For professionals and some non-EU clients, this isn’t guaranteed.)
• Transparent terms and no hidden fees. No fees for opening an account, funding, or standard withdrawals. No forced quote subscriptions or paid platform access (ProRealTime is free with sufficient activity). Pricing is primarily in the spread and is competitive (specifics below). No inactivity fee for the first 24 months — one of the most lenient policies (many brokers start charging after 3–6 months). This can save occasional traders money.
• Additional perks. IG runs an “Invite a Friend” referral program — both you and the friend receive a bonus (region-dependent, often around $100) after meeting trading criteria. Very active traders may access cash rebates: above certain volumes (e.g., 250 lots+) IG returns part of the spread in cash. Premium clients with larger balances get concierge-style service — an account manager, priority support, event invitations, and interest on idle cash in some regions (e.g., ~4.5% on GBP balances up to £100k in the UK). These touches improve the overall experience.

Of course, the list could go on — 24/5 support and a multilingual interface are also positives. Now let’s look at what might not suit everyone.

Cons of IG

• Country restrictions. Despite global reach, IG isn’t available everywhere. For example, US clients can use IG only for forex, since CFDs are prohibited there.
• Spreads not always the absolute lowest. IG is a market-maker monetizing spreads. They’re competitive but not always rock-bottom. For instance, EUR/USD is typically ~0.6 pips; S&P 500 ~0.4 pts. That’s tight, yet brokers like Pepperstone or AMarkets offer raw spreads from 0.0 on ECN accounts (with a per-lot commission). Pure scalpers chasing the lowest possible cost might find alternatives. Also, MT4 at IG has ~80 symbols and spreads there can be wider than on the main platform. Share-CFD commissions are comparatively high — $0.02 per share, $10 minimum, which bites for small tickets.
• Limited MT5 and no native copy trading. IG prioritizes its own tech and doesn’t support MetaTrader 5. There’s also no in-house social/copy trading like eToro or services such as ZuluTrade. Newcomers who prefer to learn by copying others may miss this. Third-party solutions (e.g., Myfxbook AutoTrade or MT4 Signals) can be used, but require extra setup.
• No flashy deposit bonuses. Unlike some offshore brokers, IG doesn’t do big deposit bonuses or contests (restricted by regulators like the FCA/ASIC). Aside from referrals and rebates for very high volumes, don’t expect promotional freebies. The upside: this is typical of a serious, regulated provider.
• Strict pro-account criteria. Achieving “professional client” status isn’t easy. You need to meet at least two out of three criteria: a portfolio over ~$500,000, relevant professional experience, or sufficient trading volume (≥15 trades per quarter for a year). Without this, leverage is capped at 1:30 for retail (per ESMA/ASIC rules). Some competitors — especially unregulated ones — grant higher leverage with fewer questions, but at the cost of weaker safeguards.
• Occasional complaints about support and withdrawals. Overall, IG’s 24/5 support is professional. Still, some reviews mention delayed email responses or lengthy resolutions for complex cases. A few users report slow withdrawals (4–5 days). Typical card withdrawals take ~2 business days, which is reasonable, but instant e-wallet payouts aren’t the norm. Extra KYC documents may be requested on withdrawal in rare cases.

In summary: IG’s advantages clearly outweigh the downsides, especially regarding safety and the breadth of its offering. It’s a strong fit for traders who value long-term reliability, market variety, and quality service — and who can live with slightly higher spreads or the absence of social trading. If ultra-high leverage (e.g., 1:500) and big bonuses are your top priorities, less regulated alternatives may appeal more. Next, we’ll dive into IG’s regulation — often the decisive factor when picking a broker.

Regulation and broker reliability

IG’s reputation for safety isn’t just talk. The company is supervised by respected regulators worldwide and adheres to stringent financial rules. Here’s how IG safeguards client funds.

First, IG Markets is part of IG Group Holdings plc — a large financial holding listed on the LSE (ticker IGG). Public status requires detailed reporting and audits. For FY2024, group revenue was £852m and net profit £307.7m. IG is profitable and well-capitalized. Notably, IG holds capital well above minimums: by mid-2023, surplus regulatory capital was about $498m over the required threshold — a buffer to meet obligations even in extreme conditions.

Licenses and regulators

IG operates through several legal entities, each licensed in its home country. Key regulators include:

• United Kingdom: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Two entities hold FCA licenses — IG Markets Ltd (No. 195355) and IG Index Ltd (No. 114059). The FCA is one of the strictest regulators. UK clients are additionally protected by the FSCS up to £85,000 per person (in case of company failure).
• European Union: Germany’s BaFin. Post-Brexit, EU clients are served by IG Europe GmbH (Frankfurt). BaFin oversees the entity, and the EU Investor Compensation Scheme provides up to €20,000 per client. Beyond Germany, licenses/notifications are in place across many EU states (France, Spain, Italy, etc.), enabling legal operation across Europe.
• Switzerland: FINMA. IG operates via IG Bank S.A. in Geneva, subject to banking regulation. Swiss client deposits are insured up to CHF 100,000 under the national guarantee scheme.
• USA: CFTC and NFA. IG is registered with the NFA (ID 0509630) and has operated in the US since 2019 as a forex broker (IG US LLC). CFDs are banned for US retail clients, so the service is FX-only. Clients benefit from CFTC/NFA oversight (note: there’s no FSCS-style insurance in the US).
• Australia: ASIC. IG Markets Ltd holds AFSL No. 220440 (since 2002). Australian regulators are rigorous regarding client protection, though there’s no formal compensation scheme. IG is also registered with New Zealand’s FMA via the Australian entity.
• Asia: MAS in Singapore (IG Asia Pte Ltd No. 200510021K), Japan’s FSA (IG Securities, Tokyo), and Hong Kong’s SFC (local presence). In Singapore, as in Australia, there’s no compensation fund, but segregation and prudential rules are strictly enforced. In Japan, IG holds a securities license and operates under local protections.
• Middle East & Africa: South Africa’s FSCA (IG Markets South Africa Limited), and Dubai’s DFSA (IG Limited). These licenses cover fast-growing regions. A local presence in South Africa is a plus, with an emerging compensation regime (though modest).
• Rest of world (offshore): clients outside the above are often served by IG International Ltd (Bermuda, regulated by the BMA). This entity doesn’t provide extra compensation if the company fails (as is typical offshore) and has slightly different terms (e.g., $18/month inactivity fee after 2 years versus $12/month under the FCA entity). Even so, IG International follows group standards, including segregation.

IG’s regulatory footprint is broad. With 8 tier-1 licenses and several others, risk is diversified across jurisdictions. If issues arise in one country, clients can often be onboarded by another entity.

Experience shows that when a broker is overseen by the FCA, ASIC, BaFin, and similar authorities, clients sleep better. Offshore shops have vanished with client funds before; with IG that scenario is highly unlikely. IG has not been embroiled in major scandals or fraud. The track record is clean.

Client money protection

Beyond regulation, here are the specific safeguards:

• Segregated accounts. All retail client funds are held separately from company money, typically at top-tier banks (Barclays, HSBC, etc.). If the broker fails, client money isn’t available to creditors and is returned to clients — a core FCA/ASIC rule.
• Deposit insurance. Depending on your jurisdiction, you’re covered by compensation schemes: in the UK, FSCS up to £85k; in the EU (Germany), up to €20k; in Switzerland, up to CHF 100k. For most retail traders, these limits are ample. In other regions (e.g., Australia, Singapore, offshore) there’s no direct scheme, but strong capital/segregation rules apply.
• Negative balance protection. Crucially, IG guarantees EU/UK retail clients won’t go below zero. If losses exceed your balance during extreme volatility, the account is reset to zero. For non-EU/UK clients and professionals, this isn’t formally guaranteed. Using high leverage (e.g., 1:200 offshore) can theoretically result in negative balances on extreme gaps, though IG’s margining and stop-out typically prevent this. Guaranteed Stops can eliminate such risk entirely for a small premium.
• Modern security. IG uses encryption, 2FA (SMS/app), and DDoS protection. EU clients have margin close-out at ~50% to prevent debt accumulation. Platform reliability is strong thanks to continual investment in infrastructure.
• Reporting and transparency. IG reports regularly to regulators (capital adequacy, client money). Auditors review the firm. Clients can access legal docs, order-execution policies, and risk disclosures. Group financials are published twice yearly, showing substantial liquid resources on hand.

Local offices and presence

Although IG is UK-based, it has a tangible presence worldwide: EU clients are served from Frankfurt, Swiss clients from Geneva; in APAC — Singapore, Tokyo, Melbourne; in South Africa — Johannesburg; in the Middle East — Dubai.

There’s no local license in Russia (and that’s unlikely soon), but many traders from Russia/CIS use IG International (Bermuda). While “offshore,” it’s backed by the same global group. Practically, you get the same IG account under Bermuda’s jurisdiction. Reviews from the region are generally positive — fair pricing, stable trading, timely withdrawals. Funding options may require planning given sanctions: some banks block transfers abroad. Cards issued outside Russia or alternative routes may be needed (IG itself accepts only fiat via bank/card/PayPal, not direct crypto). So it’s workable, but funding can take extra steps.

Reliability verdict

IG is a benchmark for safety among forex/CFD brokers: multi-jurisdiction regulation, segregated funds, long history, and public status. Independent analysts often rate IG’s trust at the maximum (99/99). This lets traders focus on the markets rather than worrying about solvency. Common sense still applies (don’t invest last-resort funds, understand CFD risks), but among mainstream choices, IG offers top-tier safety.

Next, let’s review which markets you can trade with IG — spoiler: the selection is huge, and IG leads here too.

Tradable markets and instruments

One of IG’s biggest strengths is its extraordinarily wide range of markets. The broker covers virtually every investable asset class. Here’s a detailed look at what you can trade and the typical terms.

Foreign exchange (Forex)

IG started with FX, and currencies remain central. About 98 pairs are available — majors (EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, etc.), minors, and many exotics. Spreads on popular pairs float from ~0.6 pips (EUR/USD) in normal conditions. During high volatility they may widen but remain competitive. Leverage depends on your status: EU/AU retail up to 1:30; professionals up to 1:200. Offshore IG entities typically offer up to 1:200 on majors and 1:50–1:100 on exotics. The minimum trade size is 0.01 lots. IG also offers FX options (see below).

FX trading is available to all clients worldwide. Even US residents can trade spot FX via IG US. Liquidity and execution on IG’s FX are among the best: tight spreads, fast fills, and no restrictions on scalping or algorithms.

Index CFDs

IG lists CFDs on the world’s leading equity indices — around 80 in total. You can speculate on S&P 500 (US), Nasdaq, Dow, DAX (Germany), FTSE 100 (UK), Nikkei (Japan), RTS (Russia), and many more. Spreads are low: S&P 500 ~0.4 pts, DAX ~1 pt. Trading follows exchange hours, with extended sessions for key indices, plus weekend markets. IG is one of the few providers offering weekend trading on select indices (e.g., Weekend Wall Street, Weekend FTSE) so you can position before Monday’s open.

Indices are a convenient way to gain diversified exposure. Margin requirements are moderate (retail up to 1:20 in the EU; pros higher). Long and short positions are both available.

Shares and ETFs (CFDs and real ownership)

IG’s equity universe is enormous — over 13,000 stocks worldwide. Note the formats:

• Share CFDs are available to clients globally (except the US). You can speculate on prices of single stocks (Apple, Tesla, Gazprom, Alibaba, etc.) with leverage and without owning the asset. IG offers ~13k share CFDs across 30+ countries. Typical leverage is 1:5 for retail (per ESMA), up to 1:20 for pros. Commission on share-CFDs is $0.02 per share (min $10) per trade — higher than FX-style spread-only pricing but common for equities. CFDs suit short-term trading, leverage, and shorting.
• Real shares and ETFs (no leverage, full ownership) are available to clients in select regions: the UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Australia, and a few others. For example, UK clients can open a Share Dealing account and buy real stocks on the LSE, NYSE, NASDAQ and several other venues. Around 2,000 shares/ETFs are offered for direct investing. UK commissions range £3–8 per trade (and some UK shares are commission-free with sufficient activity). US stocks may be $0 for frequent traders, otherwise $15. IG competes with the likes of Revolut/eToro here in its home market. Most international users (including CIS) won’t have this option and will use CFDs instead.
• ETFs are available as CFDs (~5,400 funds) and, in some regions, for direct purchase. IG’s Smart Portfolios in the UK invest in real iShares ETFs. Self-directed traders globally will typically use ETF-CFDs for short-term exposure.

Overall, IG offers flexibility: speculate with CFDs or buy-and-hold where supported. For many CIS traders, equities at IG mean CFDs with short/medium horizons and margin. Dividend adjustments on CFDs are paid promptly. If your goal is long-term equity ownership and dividend investing, consider a dedicated stockbroker in your jurisdiction.

Commodities

IG covers all major commodity markets via CFDs: energy (WTI, Brent, natural gas, gasoline), precious and industrial metals (gold, silver, platinum, copper, etc.), and agriculture (wheat, corn, sugar, coffee, cotton, and more). In total, 39 commodity markets. Trading is either spot (with overnight financing) or via forwards with an expiry date (e.g., front-month oil). Spreads are tight: gold ~0.3, oil ~$0.02–0.04. Leverage for retail is typically up to 1:20 on gold, 1:10 on oil (ESMA limits); higher for pros/offshore. Sessions follow exchange hours; metals/energy trade nearly 24/5.

Note: IG previously listed a Urals (Russian oil) CFD but appears to have removed it due to sanctions. The benchmark Brent and WTI remain available.

Cryptocurrencies

IG was among the first major brokers to add crypto-CFDs. Currently 17 coins and indices are available, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, and the Crypto 10 index. Trading is via CFDs or (in some regions) real purchases. In the UK and EU, crypto derivatives have been banned for retail since 2021, so IG disables crypto-CFDs there; alternative routes through partners may enable real purchases. Other regions (including offshore) can trade crypto-CFDs with ~1:2 leverage.

Crypto spreads are mid-range: BTC around $30–40, ETH ~$2. 24/7 trading is supported. There are no dealing commissions — costs are in the spread. Forward-dated crypto-CFDs are offered to avoid daily financing for longer holds. IG is a safer choice than unregulated exchanges for leveraged crypto speculation, albeit with a limited coin list (no long tail of altcoins).

Options (vanilla and barrier)

IG stands out by offering both classic (vanilla) and innovative barrier options:

• Vanilla options — standard calls/puts on indices, FX, and commodities. For example, a call on the S&P 500 with a 4000 strike expiring in a month, or a put on EUR/USD. Availability varies by country (widely across continental Europe; not for UK retail per local rules). Trading is within IG’s platform without a separate exchange account.
• Barrier (knock-out) options — IG’s signature product. You set a barrier level; if price hits it against you, the position knocks out and your loss is limited to the premium. If price moves in your favor, you can exit anytime or hold. Pricing tracks the underlying one-for-one, making it easy to follow. The barrier distance effectively sets the leverage (closer barrier = higher leverage). Barriers are a built-in risk-management alternative to CFDs. Availability largely mirrors vanilla options across Europe.

In practice, barrier options are convenient because your maximum loss is known upfront and margin calls can’t occur. It’s akin to trading with a guaranteed stop, while retaining upside potential thanks to embedded leverage. No wonder these products are popular in Europe.

IG provides detailed education for options, including videos and a demo mode. Sprint Markets (ultra-short 60-second binaries) once offered by IG are no longer available due to ESMA rules. IG now focuses on Turbo24 and knock-outs.

Bonds and interest rates

IG also lists CFDs on government bond futures: US Treasuries, German Bunds, UK Gilts, Japanese JGBs, and others (around a dozen instruments). For example, you can position for lower US 10-year yields (higher bond prices). Typical leverage is around 1:10. These are niche but useful for macro trades and hedging. IG also has interest-rate markets (central bank outcomes) where you can speculate on policy decisions (e.g., Fed/ECB rate moves).

Instruments — the upshot

IG states 17,000+ markets, edging toward ~19,000 in 2024 as new products are added. By comparison: eToro ~3,000; XTB ~5,400; Pepperstone ~1,200; Doto ~100+. On breadth, IG is hard to beat. You can diversify and explore new markets without switching providers.

Beginners may find the list overwhelming, but you can start with familiar assets and expand over time. What you won’t find at IG are long-tail crypto coins (only the top ~17) and some specialized products like local mutual funds (ETFs cover those needs). IG doesn’t offer direct exchange-traded futures/options for self-directed clients — only via CFDs/options — though through the tastytrade acquisition IG indirectly touches US futures (via tastyworks), which is a separate proposition.

Bottom line: IG is ideal if you want a universal brokerage for multiple markets — FX, global shares, commodities, crypto, and options — in one place. In this respect, it’s ahead of many competitors that either specialize narrowly or offer a thinner lineup.

Igor Lementov - Financial Expert and Analyst at Trading-Today.net