Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs ATFX, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
IG and ATFX are two well-known online brokers, but they differ significantly in terms of their establishment and regulatory standing. Founded in 1974, IG has a long history and is publicly traded on the stock exchange, providing an added layer of transparency. It operates as a bank and holds an impressive eight Tier-1 licenses. This, combined with its top-tier Trust Score of 99 out of 99 by ForexBrokers.com, means IG is considered highly trusted, offering users a sense of security.
In contrast, ATFX, established in 2017, is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank. It holds four Tier-1 licenses, which are still considered strong, along with two Tier-2 licenses. While ATFX doesn't reach the same trust level as IG, with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 85, it is still regarded as a trusted choice for users. Both brokers present appealing features, but potential users may prefer IG for its longer history and higher trust score.
| Feature |
IG
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG outperforms ATFX on commissions and fees. IG earns 5/5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers, while ATFX receives 3/5 stars and ranks #61 out of 63 (ForexBrokers.com). IG isn’t a discount broker, but it offers competitive, transparent pricing options — especially for active traders and larger orders — whereas ATFX does not provide average spread data, making direct cost comparison harder.
IG provides multiple execution methods, including a DMA option (Forex Direct) via the L2 Dealer platform with a £1,000 minimum. In July 2023, average EUR/USD spreads on Forex Direct were 0.62 pips, with an all-in cost around 0.82 pips after commissions; the tiered commission ranges from $60 per million (base) to as low as $10 per million per side ($20 round-turn) for very high monthly volumes. On IG’s CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads during the main session averaged 0.69 pips (July 2023), rising to 1.03 pips in thinner liquidity; the full-month global average was 0.98 pips (IG US averaged 1.18 pips). Professional clients may also qualify for spread rebates of 10% to 20%; for example, 20% off a 0.76-pip spread equates to about 0.60 pips all-in.
ATFX’s lack of published average spread data limits fee transparency. Reflecting that, its commissions-and-fees score is 3/5 stars with a #61 ranking. If you want clear, volume-based pricing, DMA access, and defined average spreads, IG is the more transparent choice for assessing your potential trading costs.
| Feature |
IG
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG edges ATFX for range of investments. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, while ATFX offers 150 symbols and 44 forex pairs. Both support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts. IG also provides exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international markets (so you can buy actual shares like Apple or Vodafone), whereas ATFX does not offer direct share dealing. For crypto, IG lets you buy actual coins as well as crypto derivatives; ATFX offers crypto derivatives only.
Features differ beyond market access. IG does not support copy trading, while ATFX does. Reflecting the breadth of products, ForexBrokers.com rates IG 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks it #4 out of 63 brokers; ATFX earns 3.5 stars and ranks #58. In short, choose IG for the widest market selection and access to real shares and crypto, or pick ATFX if you want a leaner lineup with copy trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 44 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IG and ATFX both offer free virtual demo accounts for paper trading, plus Windows desktop and web-based platforms. IG provides a proprietary platform built in-house alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while ATFX focuses on MetaTrader with both MT4 and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). If you want copy trading, ATFX offers it; IG does not. Both brokers let you place trades directly from charts.
According to ForexBrokers.com, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while ATFX earns 3.5 stars and ranks #63. In short, choose IG if you want an in-house platform paired with MT4; pick ATFX if MT5 and copy trading are priorities within the MetaTrader ecosystem.
| Feature |
IG
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and ATFX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts so you can track moves in forex or stocks. IG stands out by syncing watchlists between its mobile app and your online account, while ATFX does not sync watchlists. Both apps let you draw trendlines on charts, and your drawings are saved automatically.
For charting, IG supplies 33 technical studies compared with 7 on ATFX, giving IG a clearer edge for deeper analysis on the go. The ratings back this up: IG earns 5 stars and is ranked #1 by ForexBrokers.com for Mobile Trading Apps, while ATFX holds 3.5 stars and is ranked #64. If you want richer chart tools and synced watchlists, IG is the better pick; if you just need a straightforward app with alerts, ATFX can cover the basics.
| Feature |
IG
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 7 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG vs ATFX market research: both brokers provide daily market commentary and an economic calendar, but IG clearly leads overall. IG is rated 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers, while ATFX holds 3 stars and ranks #55. IG delivers forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones—ATFX does not. IG also includes a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions across instruments, a feature ATFX lacks. IG features research from TipRanks and tools from Acuity Trading (Signal Centre), while ATFX does not list these offerings.
On the tools side, both IG and ATFX offer Autochartist for technical and fundamental insights. ATFX additionally provides Trading Central, which IG does not. If you need premium news, sentiment data, and third‑party research breadth, IG is the stronger pick. If Trading Central plus Autochartist covers your needs and you’re less focused on news feeds and sentiment tools, ATFX may fit.
| Feature |
IG
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG is the stronger pick for beginner education. It runs at least one live client webinar each month and offers at least 10 beginner videos plus at least 10 advanced videos, giving new traders a clear path from basics to more complex topics. IG also holds a 5-star Education rating and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, signaling top-tier quality for learning about forex and CFDs. Whether IG provides a searchable webinar archive, an investor dictionary, or meets a specific 10-piece minimum for forex/CFD-only materials was not specified.
ATFX delivers at least 10 beginner videos, which is helpful if you’re just starting out, but it does not host monthly educational webinars and does not meet the 10-video mark for advanced topics. ATFX carries a 3-star Education rating and ranks #28 out of 63, placing it well behind IG for educational depth and ongoing instruction. Details about a searchable webinar archive, an investor dictionary, or meeting a 10-piece minimum specifically for forex/CFD education were not provided for ATFX.
| Feature |
IG
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than ATFX. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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IG allows users to purchase actual cryptocurrency in addition to offering cryptocurrency derivatives, while ATFX exclusively provides access to cryptocurrency derivatives without the option to buy the actual cryptocurrency.
For online brokers IG and ATFX, IG supports ACH/SEPA and PayPal but not Skrill, ATFX supports Skrill but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal, and both accept bank wire transfers (Visa/Mastercard availability not specified for either).
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | ATFX | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | IG | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | IG | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | IG | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review |
| Overall | IG | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
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