Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Capital.com, 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.
When choosing between online brokers IG and Capital.com, understanding their regulatory standings can give you peace of mind. Founded in 1974, IG has a long history and is a publicly traded bank with an exceptional reputation, achieving a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. It holds 8 highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and 2 trusted Tier-2 licenses, highlighting its strong compliance and reliability.
In comparison, Capital.com, established in 2016, is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank. It holds a still-respectable Trust Score of 87, thanks to its 3 highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and 1 trusted Tier-2 license. While it may not match IG's regulatory clout, Capital.com remains a reliable choice for many traders, offering reassurance through its secure licensing and solid trust score.
| Feature |
IG
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing IG and Capital.com, both brokers shine with a 5-star rating for their commissions and fees, although they hold different rankings according to ForexBrokers.com. IG ranks at #8, whereas Capital.com is ahead at #3, suggesting its competitive edge in pricing. IG stands out for its scalable execution across various products and active trader pricing through Forex Direct accounts. Typical spreads for IG's Forex Direct account hover around 0.62 pips, with an all-in cost rising to 0.82 pips when including a commission equivalent of 0.2 pips. For those trading via CFD accounts, spreads averaged 0.69 pips for June 2023, dipping slightly below the industry average even during lower liquidity periods. Professional traders may also benefit from IG's tiered rebate program, which offers rebates up to 20%, significantly lowering the cost per trade.
Capital.com, on the other hand, offers relatively straightforward and budget-friendly pricing, maintaining an average spread of 0.67 pips for the EUR/USD pair as of April 2024. Unlike IG, Capital.com simplifies trading with a universal account option for both retail and professional traders. This competitive dynamic spread well below the industry average positions Capital.com as an attractive choice for those focusing on low-cost forex trading. Although professional accounts at Capital.com come with fewer regulatory protections compared to retail accounts, they provide appealing terms for those qualifying as professional clients.
Overall, while both brokers receive top marks for their competitive pricing structures, Capital.com's slight edge in rankings, paired with its straightforward account logistics and lower average spreads, may appeal more to traders who prioritize cost-effectiveness and simplicity in forex trading. Meanwhile, IG's advanced platform options and dynamic rebate programs are likely to attract highly active traders or those dealing with large trade volumes.
| Feature |
IG
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $10 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | 0.67 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.67 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing IG vs Capital.com on range of investments: both support forex trading as CFDs or spot. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols, far more than Capital.com’s 5,585. Capital.com leads in forex pairs with 125 versus IG’s 97. Only IG offers exchange‑traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy and hold shares like Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone on the LSE; Capital.com does not offer stock dealing. In crypto, IG supports both delivered cryptocurrency and crypto CFDs, while Capital.com offers crypto CFDs only. Neither broker offers copy trading.
For range of investments, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com; Capital.com scores 4.5 stars and ranks #23. Choose IG if you want the widest product list plus the ability to invest in real shares and delivered crypto. Consider Capital.com if you prioritize more forex pairs and are comfortable without stock dealing or delivered crypto.
| Feature |
IG
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 5585 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 125 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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 vs Capital.com: Both online brokers offer free paper-trading demo accounts, in-house trading platforms, downloadable Windows desktop apps, and web-based platforms. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) but not MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can place orders directly from charts on both, and neither broker offers copy trading.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Capital.com earns 4.5 stars and ranks #10. If platform quality and tool depth are your priorities, IG edges ahead; Capital.com is a close alternative with MT4 plus convenient web and desktop access.
| Feature |
IG
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 97 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IG and Capital.com offer polished mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saved chart annotations. IG provides 33 technical indicators (studies) in its app, while Capital.com lists 30. A key difference is watchlist syncing: IG syncs watchlists across mobile and web so changes carry over automatically; Capital.com does not. If you often switch between devices, that syncing can be a meaningful time-saver.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, IG earned 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers, while Capital.com received 4.5 stars and ranked #11. In short, both apps are capable for on-the-go trading, but IG edges ahead with slightly deeper charting and seamless watchlist sync, whereas Capital.com remains a strong choice if you don’t need cross-device watchlist updates.
| Feature |
IG
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing IG and Capital.com for market research capabilities, both platforms stand out by offering daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They each provide a sentiment-based trading tool, allowing users to understand the market's long and short positions better. Additionally, both brokers offer market research from TipRanks and have an economic calendar to keep traders informed of global economic events. However, IG has the edge with more research tools. It integrates with Autochartist and Acuity Trading, unlike Capital.com, which doesn't support tools from these companies. This difference might appeal to traders seeking more technical analysis and fundamental research options.
IG outperforms Capital.com in research according to ForexBrokers.com, earning a stellar 5-star rating and ranking as the second-best out of 63 brokers, while Capital.com follows closely with a 4.5-star rating and ranks 14th. These ratings reflect IG's broader range of research tools, including exclusive options like Autochartist and Acuity Trading, which enhance the overall user experience. Traders looking for comprehensive research options may find IG more suitable, whereas Capital.com provides a solid selection but falls short of IG's extensive offerings.
| Feature |
IG
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing IG vs Capital.com for beginner education, IG takes the lead with a 5-star Education rating and a #1 rank out of 63 brokers, while Capital.com earns 4.5 stars and ranks #8. Both brokers offer at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, giving newcomers a clear path from basics to more complex ideas. IG also hosts client webinars at least once a month, which is helpful for live learning and Q&A, whereas Capital.com does not run monthly educational webinars.
Both IG and Capital.com cover forex and CFD topics across their learning materials, but IG’s mix of structured lessons, videos, and ongoing webinars makes its offering feel deeper for first-time traders. If you want the most complete education experience, IG has the edge; if you mainly want plenty of beginner and advanced videos without live sessions, Capital.com is still a strong choice.
| Feature |
IG
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
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 Capital.com. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Capital.com finished with an overall rank of #10.
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
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 87 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Compared to Capital.com, IG is an online broker that supports both buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and trading cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas Capital.com offers only crypto CFDs and not delivered crypto.
Comparing IG vs Capital.com: IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wires but not Skrill, while Capital.com supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA; Visa/Mastercard availability wasn’t specified for either broker.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Capital.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill