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IG vs BDSwiss 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of IG vs BDSwiss, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

IG
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £250.00
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 19537
BDSwiss
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $10-$5000 info
  • Trust Score: 73
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 1081

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.

Regulation

Founded in 1974, IG stands out as a seasoned player in the online brokerage landscape. With the distinction of being both a bank and a publicly traded company, IG demonstrates a high level of transparency and credibility. The firm boasts an impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, reflecting its strong regulatory standing. This is backed by eight Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, underscoring its reputation as a highly trusted entity in financial markets.

In contrast, BDSwiss, established in 2012, operates without the backing of a publicly traded status or a banking license. It holds one Tier-1 license, indicating a reasonable level of regulation yet falls short with no Tier-2 licenses. With a Trust Score of 73, BDSwiss is viewed as having an average risk profile, signaling that while it operates legally, it may not offer the same level of assurance as IG to traders seeking robust regulatory oversight and reliability.

Feature IG logoIG
BDSwiss logoBDSwiss
Year Founded info 1974 2012
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Tier-1 Licenses info 8 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 2

Fees

When comparing online brokers IG and BDSwiss, particularly in terms of commissions and fees, IG stands out as a top choice for many traders. It is rated five stars and ranked #8 by ForexBrokers.com in the Commissions and Fees category. IG offers a range of sophisticated execution methods, with its Forex Direct accounts providing active trader pricing closer to the industry average. During July 2023, the average spread on the Forex Direct account was 0.62 pips, translating to a total cost of 0.82 pips when factoring in a commission equivalent of 0.2 pips per trade. Its CFD account further boasts competitive active trader rebates for high-volume traders, with potential discounts up to 20% off the spread for those trading over £300 million monthly.

IG also offers a Direct Market Access (DMA) account option for seasoned traders, which is linked to the L2 Dealer platform. This account type offers a base per-side commission of $60 per million traded, scaling down to $10 per million for those with higher monthly volumes over $1.5 billion. This pricing model, coupled with an average spread of 0.62 pips on the EUR/USD pair for July 2023, provides traders with an efficient pricing structure, with effective spreads dropping to as low as 0.82 pips for high-volume traders. These offerings make IG a highly competitive option, especially for active and professional traders seeking cost-effective solutions.

In comparison, BDSwiss, rated four stars and ranked #30, offers respectable, though pricier, execution options. Its Classic account features a higher spread of 1.5 pips on the EUR/USD, which is more expensive compared to IG. The BDSwiss Raw account pairs a tighter spread of 0.3 pips with a $5 commission per side, culminating in a total effective spread of 1.3 pips. The VIP account improves slightly with a 1.2 pips spread, highlighting the diverse pricing tiers available. While BDSwiss delivers commendable order execution, its spreads are generally above those of industry leaders, making IG the more cost-effective choice for many forex traders.

Feature IG logoIG
BDSwiss logoBDSwiss
Minimum Deposit info £250.00 $10-$5000 info
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.98 info 1.6 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.82 info 1.3 info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes Yes
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

When comparing IG and BDSwiss for their range of investments, IG stands out as a more versatile choice for traders. IG offers an impressive 19,537 tradeable symbols, while BDSwiss provides 1,081. For forex enthusiasts, IG offers 97 tradeable forex pairs in contrast to BDSwiss's 53 pairs. IG also offers access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling investors to buy shares like Apple and Vodafone. On the other hand, BDSwiss does not provide access to exchange traded securities on these exchanges, focusing instead on other areas of their trading platform.

Both platforms offer forex trading as CFDs and the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. When it comes to additional features, BDSwiss includes copy trading capabilities, which could be an appealing option for those interested in mimicking successful traders. IG, however, does not offer this feature. Overall, IG boasts a higher rating and ranking for range of investments, earning 5 stars and ranking 4th out of 63 brokers, whereas BDSwiss holds a 4-star rating and ranks 34th.

Feature IG logoIG
BDSwiss logoBDSwiss
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 19537 1081
Forex Pairs (Total) info 97 53
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing the trading platforms and tools of IG and BDSwiss, both brokers offer useful features like free virtual demo accounts and proprietary platforms. Traders seeking flexible access will find solutions with both brokers, as they each provide Windows-based desktop software and web-based platforms. While both support MetaTrader 4 (MT4), BDSwiss takes it a step further by offering MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which IG does not provide. BDSwiss also introduces the advantage of copy trading, unlike IG.

Analyzing the charting tools, IG provides 20 drawing tools while BDSwiss offers 15, yet both allow trading directly from charts. Watchlists are slightly more customizable with BDSwiss, offering 7 columns compared to IG's 5. Despite these competitive features, IG ranks higher for trading platforms and tools, earning 5 stars and a #2 ranking out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, BDSwiss secures a commendable 4-star rating and ranks #24 in the same category.

Feature IG logoIG
BDSwiss logoBDSwiss
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 33 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 20 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 5 7
View More

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

When choosing between the mobile trading apps of IG and BDSwiss, both brokers ensure accessibility by offering iPhone and Android apps that support stock and forex trading. Traders can receive price alerts on both platforms, keeping them updated on market movements. However, a significant advantage for mobile users with IG is the watchlist synchronization feature. This means your custom watchlists on the app stay consistent with those on your online account, which BDSwiss does not offer. On the charting front, IG provides 33 technical studies, just edging out the 30 available with BDSwiss, and both platforms allow trendline drawing and multiple timeframe views, catering to various trading strategies.

Another shared feature is the capability to create watchlists featuring real-time quotes, ensuring traders stay informed. Furthermore, both apps will auto-save your chart drawings, which is a handy feature for technical analysis. User reviews and industry rankings show a clear distinction; IG's mobile app achieved a 5-star rating and proudly holds the top spot out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, BDSwiss' app maintains a solid but lower rating of 4 stars and holds the 24th position. For those prioritizing app performance and features in their trading experience, IG appears to have the edge.

Feature IG logoIG
BDSwiss logoBDSwiss
Android App info Yes info Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

When it comes to market research offerings, IG and BDSwiss both provide valuable resources to assist traders in making informed investment decisions. IG stands out with its daily market commentary, forex news from industry-leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and a suite of tools from companies like Autochartist and Acuity Trading. Additionally, IG offers a sentiment-based trading tool that provides insights into market positions, as well as comprehensive market research from TipRanks. BDSwiss, on the other hand, also offers daily market commentary and partners with both Autochartist and Trading Central for advanced technical analysis, though it falls short on top-tier forex news and lacks sentiment tools.

Both brokers include access to economic calendars to keep traders informed about global events, yet IG outshines BDSwiss with its all-round superior research resources. This is reflected in their ratings and rankings, with IG receiving a stellar 5-star rating for research compared to BDSwiss's respectable 4 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, IG is a front-runner, ranked 2nd out of 63 brokers for its research capabilities, while BDSwiss is positioned at 24th. These distinctions highlight the depth and variety of IG’s research tools and its unwavering commitment to arming traders with relevant market insights.

Feature IG logoIG
BDSwiss logoBDSwiss
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes Yes
Trading Central (Recognia) info No Yes
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes No
TipRanks info Yes No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info Yes No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

IG and BDSwiss are both committed to providing educational resources for beginners looking to explore forex and CFDs trading. Both platforms offer a wide range of materials, including articles, videos, and archived webinars to help new traders understand the basics. Moreover, each broker hosts monthly educational webinars and maintains a searchable archive of past sessions. This makes it easy for beginners to catch up on any missed learning opportunities. When it comes to educational videos, both IG and BDSwiss go above and beyond, offering over 10 beginner-focused videos to give newcomers a solid foundation in trading.

In addition to beginner content, IG and BDSwiss provide advanced educational videos, ensuring that traders of all levels can enhance their skills. Each broker also features an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, helping users better understand the language of trading. Despite these similarities, IG edges out BDSwiss with a five-star education rating and is ranked as the top provider by ForexBrokers.com, whereas BDSwiss holds a four-star rating and the 19th spot in the same category. This makes IG a particularly appealing option for those prioritizing a strong educational foundation in their trading journey.

Feature IG logoIG
BDSwiss logoBDSwiss
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than BDSwiss. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.

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 logoIG
BDSwiss logoBDSwiss
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with IG or BDSwiss?

While both IG and BDSwiss do not provide the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies, they each offer the ability to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives instead.

What funding options does each broker offer?

When comparing online brokers IG and BDSwiss, both offer ACH or SEPA transfers, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options for deposits and withdrawals, while IG additionally supports PayPal, and BDSwiss uniquely provides Skrill as a payment method.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating IG BDSwiss
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Winner check_circle
Review IG Review BDSwiss Review
Broker Screenshots IG BDSwiss
Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) info
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) info
Research Gallery (click to expand) info
Education Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation IG BDSwiss
Trust Score info 99 73
Year Founded info 1974 2012
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 8 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 2
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) IG BDSwiss
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info Yes No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info Yes No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info Yes No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) IG BDSwiss
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes No
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info Yes No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info No No
Investments IG BDSwiss
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 19537 1081
Forex Pairs (Total) info 97 53
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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 BDSwiss
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.98 info 1.6 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.82 info 1.3 info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
Inactivity Fee info Yes Yes
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes Yes
Execution: Market Maker info Yes No
Funding IG BDSwiss
Minimum Deposit info £250.00 $10-$5000 info
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes Yes
Trading Platforms IG BDSwiss
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools IG BDSwiss
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 5 7
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 33 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 20 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading IG BDSwiss
Android App info Yes info Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research IG BDSwiss
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes Yes
Trading Central (Recognia) info No Yes
TipRanks info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education IG BDSwiss
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs IG BDSwiss
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes Yes
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review IG Review BDSwiss Review
Overall IG BDSwiss
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Winner check_circle
Review IG Review BDSwiss Review
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