IG review 2026

Quick verdict

IG is a large, FCA-regulated broker that suits traders who value safety and choice of platforms over the lowest possible cost. In our record, IG Markets Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with firm reference number 195355. IG says there is no minimum balance to open an account, shows spreads from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD on MT4 in the UK, and offers no commission on MT4 forex.

The quick summary:

• Safety: one named regulator, the FCA, with a number you can check on the public register.
• Platforms: six are listed: the IG web platform, the IG app, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView and ProRealTime. That is a wide choice.
• Costs: spreads from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD (MT4, UK), and commission-free on MT4 forex.
• Leverage: 30:1 on major forex pairs for retail clients of IG Markets Ltd in the UK, which is a margin of 3.33%. That is lower than many offshore brokers, and it is a protection rule, not a flaw.
• Risk: IG's own figure says 70% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs with it.
• Not confirmed: deposit methods, withdrawal methods and withdrawal times. We did not find sourced figures, so we tell you where to look.

One point matters a lot for readers in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The leverage, spreads and protections in our record are tied to the UK company. If you are served by a different IG company, your terms can be different. Ask in writing which company will hold your account.

Is IG legit and safe?

On the evidence we checked, IG is a legitimate and regulated broker. Our record shows IG Markets Limited as the entity, regulated by the FCA, which is the financial regulator of the United Kingdom. The FCA is known for strict rules on how firms treat clients, how they hold client money and how they advertise risk.

A licence tells you three useful things. First, the firm has been checked by an official body. Second, it must follow rules on keeping client money apart from its own. Third, you have a place to complain if you are treated unfairly. It does not tell you that you will make money. IG says plainly that 70% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs with it.

Here is how you can check IG yourself, step by step:

1. Open the FCA register at https://register.fca.org.uk/s/firm?id=001b000000MfIiSAAV, which is the link in our record.
2. Look for the name "IG Markets Limited" and the firm reference number 195355.
3. Read the status. It should say the firm is authorised.
4. Check which products it may offer.
5. Compare the company name on the register with the company name in your own account agreement. They should match.

If the names do not match, stop and ask why. Some large brokers have several companies in different countries, and it is common that clients outside the UK are served by a different one.

FCA licence (IG Markets Limited)

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the UK's financial conduct regulator. IG's own About Us page names IG Markets Limited and our record lists firm reference number 195355 for it.

What this means for you: the UK rules apply to clients of this company. These include the 30:1 leverage cap for retail traders on major forex pairs, which we cover in the leverage section. If you open your account with a different IG company, these UK rules may not be the ones that apply to you, so always read the agreement.

You can search the register at https://register.fca.org.uk/ using the number 195355.

IG fees and spreads explained

Trading costs come in a few parts. Understanding them will help you compare brokers fairly.

Spread. For every market there is a buy price and a sell price. The difference is the spread, and it is what you pay just to open a trade. For forex it is measured in pips. A pip is the smallest usual step in a currency price, normally the fourth decimal place. A smaller spread is cheaper.

Commission. Some accounts add a fee per trade. IG says it is commission-free on MT4 forex, so the cost on that route is built into the spread.

Swap (overnight financing). If you hold a trade past the end of the trading day, you pay or earn a small financing amount. Our record does not give IG's swap figures, so check the platform for the exact number before you hold a trade overnight.

What IG shows in our record:

• Spread: from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD on MT4 in the UK. IG's page says "minimum spreads from just 0.6 pips on a host of forex pairs". The word "minimum" and "from" mean this is the best case, not what you will always get.
• Commission: none on MT4 forex.

How to judge cost fairly: compare the total price of a round trip, which is the spread plus any commission plus the swap if you hold overnight. A broker with "zero commission" and a wider spread can cost the same as one with a tight spread and a commission. Open a demo account, watch the live spread at the time you usually trade, and write it down.

Other costs to ask about: currency conversion if your account currency differs from your bank's, fees on deposits or withdrawals, and any charge for an account you do not use. Our record does not list these for IG, so we do not claim them either way.

Account types at IG

Our record does not list separate named account tiers for IG. What it shows is a choice of how you trade, by platform: IG's own web platform and app, MT4, MT5, TradingView and ProRealTime. IG also offers CFDs and spread bets, according to its summary in our record.

Two terms to learn:

• CFD (contract for difference): an agreement to swap the difference in a price between when you open and when you close. You do not own the real asset.
• Spread bet: a way of betting on the price going up or down, where you choose how much to stake per point of movement. It is offered in some countries, such as the UK, and depends on local rules.

Because your account type and rights depend on your country and the IG company that serves you, we cannot give a full list of tiers. Here is what to do:

1. On IG's official site at https://www.ig.com, choose your country.
2. Look at which account types and products it shows for you.
3. Ask support whether a demo account is available. A demo uses fake money and is the best first step for a new trader.
4. Ask whether any account option is swap-free if that matters to your faith or situation.

When comparing, ask the same questions you would ask any broker: what is the spread on my pair, is there a commission, what is the margin rate, and what is the stop-out level?

Minimum deposit: how much do you need to start?

IG says there is no minimum balance to open an account. Our record quotes its page: "there's no minimum balance to open an account with IG". That is a very friendly line for a beginner, but read it carefully.

"No minimum balance to open an account" is not the same as "you can trade with nothing". To place a trade you need enough money in the account to cover the margin, which is the amount the broker holds while your trade is open. A tiny balance will only allow a tiny trade, and a small price move can wipe it out.

Also, payment providers may have their own limits. Your card issuer, bank or wallet may set a lowest amount, or charge a fee, even if the broker does not. Our record has no figures for these, so check them before you fund.

Our advice for beginners:

• Start with an amount you can afford to lose completely.
• Keep your trade size small. A common habit is to risk only one or two percent of the account on a single trade.
• Practise on a demo account first.
• Make a small deposit, a few small trades and a small withdrawal to learn the full cycle.

Money you need for rent, school fees or food should never be in a trading account. Treat it like entertainment money with a risk of total loss, because for most retail clients, as IG's own 70% figure shows, losses are the usual result.

Deposit and withdrawal methods

Our record does not contain a sourced list of IG deposit or withdrawal methods, and we will not make one up. We can still help you check what you need.

Where to look: open the funding and withdrawals section on IG's official site after choosing your country. Methods differ a lot between countries. A method that works in one place may not be offered in another.

A checklist to run before you deposit:

1. Which methods are available for my country? Ask for the list, not just the general page.
2. Does the account need to be funded from my own name? Most regulated brokers require that the name on the payment method matches the name on the account. Never fund from a friend's or relative's card.
3. Are there fees? Ask about deposit fees, withdrawal fees and currency conversion.
4. What are the limits? There may be a lowest and highest amount per transaction.
5. How will withdrawals be sent? Many brokers send money back by the same route you paid in. Ask whether that is the rule at IG for your account.
6. What proof will I need? Be ready with ID and proof of address.

Why the same-route rule is good for you: it makes it hard for a thief to take your money to a new place. It can feel annoying if your original method becomes unavailable, so keep your payment method open and in your name.

For traders in regions where cards are less common or where banks block forex-related payments, test with a small amount first. If a payment fails, do not try again and again. Contact support and ask for the reason.

How long do IG withdrawals take?

We could not confirm a withdrawal time for IG. Our record has no timed test and no sourced figure, so we give no number. A site that quotes a precise speed without proof is guessing.

What happens after you ask for a withdrawal:

1. You submit a request in your client area.
2. The broker checks it. This usually includes your identity and the destination of the money.
3. The broker approves it and sends it.
4. Your bank, card issuer or wallet receives it. This last step is outside the broker's control and often takes the longest.

How to protect yourself:

• Complete identity checks as soon as you open the account, not when you first want your money back.
• Withdraw to a method in your own name.
• Take care with open trades. Taking money out lowers the cash that backs your positions.
• Keep screenshots and emails of every request.
• Do a small test withdrawal before you deposit a large amount.

If a withdrawal seems late, first check the status in your account, then check your bank or wallet, then contact support in writing with the date and amount. A regulated broker has a complaints process, and the FCA register can tell you more about the firm and how to complain.

We plan to add timed withdrawal tests to our reviews as they are completed. Until then, treat any speed claim for IG as unconfirmed.

Trading platforms

Platforms are one of IG's strongest points in our record. Six are listed:

• IG web platform: the broker's own trading site that works in a browser.
• IG app: the broker's own phone app.
• MetaTrader 4 (MT4): a long-established platform used by millions of retail traders. It is popular for automated trading programs and indicators.
• MetaTrader 5 (MT5): the newer version from the same company, with more order types and a built-in strategy tester.
• TradingView: a charting site with a large community of chart ideas.
• ProRealTime: an advanced charting and analysis platform.

How to choose:

• Want the simplest start? Try the IG web platform or the app.
• Want automation and the industry standard? Try MT4 or MT5.
• Want strong charts and ideas? Try TradingView.
• Want advanced analysis? Try ProRealTime.

The spread figure of 0.6 pips and the commission-free note in our record refer to MT4. If you use another platform, prices and conditions can be different, so check them on the platform you choose.

Before you use any platform with real money, learn four things on a demo: how to place a market order, how to set a stop loss (an order that closes a trade when the price moves against you by a set amount), how to set a take profit, and how to close a trade. Many beginners lose money from a mis-click rather than a bad idea.

Leverage and risk

Leverage lets you control a larger position than your own money would allow. IG's calculator page, as recorded, shows 30:1 on major forex pairs for retail clients of IG Markets Ltd in the UK. That equals a margin of 3.33%, which means you need to put up 3.33% of the trade's value as a deposit.

A simple example: with 30:1 leverage, 1 unit of your money can control 30 units in the market. It sounds powerful, yet it magnifies losses just as much as gains. This is why regulators like the FCA cap retail leverage. A lower cap is a safety feature.

Terms to know:

• Margin: the money held by the broker to keep your trade open.
• Margin call: a warning when your free money gets low.
• Stop-out: the point where the broker starts closing trades to prevent more loss. Our record gives no IG stop-out level, so find it in the terms.
• Negative balance protection: a rule in some places that stops you from losing more than you deposited. Our record does not state whether IG applies it to you, so ask.

IG's own risk figure: 70% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs with it.

If you are used to brokers that offer very high leverage, 30:1 may feel small. Treat that as a benefit. Smaller leverage makes you size trades more carefully.

Basic rules:

1. Always use a stop loss.
2. Risk only a small part of your account per trade.
3. Do not use all the leverage available.
4. Never add to a losing position to "win it back".
5. Take some profits out when you can.

Leverage depends on the IG company and your client type, so confirm the number in your own agreement.

Who is IG best for?

IG is best for:

• Safety-first traders. It has an FCA reference number you can check.
• People who want a choice of platforms. Six are listed.
• Beginners who want to start with a small balance. There is no minimum balance to open an account.
• MT4 users. Spreads from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD and commission-free forex are quoted for MT4.
• Traders who prefer lower leverage. The 30:1 cap in our record encourages careful position sizing.

It may be less suitable for:

• Traders who need very high leverage. The UK figure in our record is 30:1.
• Anyone who needs a confirmed list of local payment methods. We could not confirm deposit and withdrawal methods.
• Anyone who needs proven fast withdrawals today. We have no timed test yet.
• Traders who want the lowest possible spread. A 0.6 pip minimum is a good figure, but "from" is a best case.

For readers in Africa, Asia and Latin America: the first job is to find out which IG company serves your country and whether its terms match the UK figures in this review. Do that before you fund.

How to open an IG account

The screens change over time, but the usual steps are:

1. Type the official address, https://www.ig.com, into your browser. Do not follow links from messages or ads.
2. Choose your country and start the sign-up.
3. Enter your name, email and phone number. Use details that match your ID exactly.
4. Answer the questions about your trading experience honestly. They help the broker decide what is suitable for you.
5. Choose your platform. You can test several on a demo.
6. Upload ID and proof of address. This is called KYC (know your customer), and it is a legal requirement for regulated firms.
7. Read the account agreement. Find the exact company name and check it on the regulator's register.
8. Open a demo account first. When you are ready, fund the live account with money you can afford to lose.

The fine print

Read these points before you deposit.

• The entity decides the rules. The FCA reference number 195355 belongs to IG Markets Limited. Your own account may be with a different company.
• Leverage is regulated. The 30:1 figure is for retail clients of the UK company on major forex pairs.
• The spread is a "from" figure. 0.6 pips is described as a minimum for EUR/USD on MT4 in the UK.
• Commission-free is about MT4 forex. It does not automatically apply to every product or platform.
• Risk warning. 70% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs with IG.
• Items we could not confirm. These are deposit methods, withdrawal methods, withdrawal times, swap rates, inactivity fees, withdrawal fees and conversion fees. Our record does not list them, so we do not claim anything about them.

A smart habit: on the day you sign up, save the client agreement and the fee schedule as files. If rules change later, you can show what was true when you joined.

Our facts for this review were last checked in October 2026 from IG's own pages. The FCA register link is above so you can check the licence yourself.

Our final verdict

IG is a well-regulated broker with a wide choice of platforms and a friendly entry point: no minimum balance to open an account. Spreads from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD on MT4 in the UK and commission-free MT4 forex are competitive for a regulated name. The 30:1 leverage cap on major forex pairs is lower than many offshore brokers offer, which is good for risk control, although some traders will find it limiting.

The gaps are information, not warning signs. We could not confirm deposit methods, withdrawal methods or withdrawal times, and the terms we have are tied to the UK company.

Our advice: check the FCA register for IG Markets Limited, find out which IG company will serve your country, open a demo, and then try a small deposit and a small withdrawal. If the process matches what you were told, you can decide whether to go further.

IG's own figure bears repeating: 70% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs with it. Trade only with money you can afford to lose.