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 |
Both IG and Capital.com earn 5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2024 rankings, Capital.com places higher at #3 of 63, while IG comes in at #7 of 63. In simple terms, Capital.com’s typical EUR/USD spread averaged 0.6712 pips in April 2024, undercutting IG’s comparable all‑in pricing on its DMA setup, while IG counters with multiple ways to trade and meaningful discounts for high‑volume clients.
IG isn’t a bargain broker, but it delivers flexible execution and competitive costs for active traders. On its DMA (Forex Direct) account, EUR/USD averaged 0.62 pips in July 2023, with an all‑in cost around 0.82 pips after commissions; pricing tiers start at $60 per million and can fall to $10 per million per side for very large monthly volumes (minimum deposit £1,000). On IG’s standard CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads were about 0.69 pips during the main trading day, widening to roughly 1.03 pips in thinner hours; the full‑day July 2023 average was 0.98 pips globally (1.18 pips at IG US). Volume traders who qualify as professionals can earn spread rebates of 10% to 20% once monthly forex turnover passes £50 million and £300 million, respectively.
Capital.com keeps pricing straightforward for retail traders, with a dynamic EUR/USD spread that averaged 0.6712 pips in April 2024—slightly better than the industry norm. A professional account is also available for eligible clients (note that pro status comes with fewer regulatory protections). Bottom line: Capital.com offers lower typical spreads for hands‑off simplicity, while IG can match or beat on total cost if you use its DMA pricing and qualify for high‑volume discounts. Ratings: IG—5/5 stars, ranked #7 of 63; Capital.com—5/5 stars, ranked #3 of 63.
| Feature |
IG
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ1 | $20 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.64 |
| 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.
IG and Capital.com both support forex trading and a wide mix of CFD markets, but their overall range of investments differs. IG lists 19,537 tradeable instruments, while Capital.com offers 5,585. If your focus is currency, Capital.com edges ahead with 125 tradeable forex pairs versus IG’s 97.
For investors who want to buy real assets, IG lets you purchase exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international exchanges, and also offers both real cryptocurrency and crypto CFDs. Capital.com does not offer exchange-traded shares and supports crypto only via CFDs. Neither broker offers copy trading. Reflecting the broader market access, ForexBrokers.com rates IG 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks it 4th out of 63 brokers; Capital.com earns 4.5 stars and ranks 18th.
| 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.
Online brokers IG and Capital.com both deliver strong trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo account for practice, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. You can place trades directly from charts on both, and both support MetaTrader 4 (MT4). The main difference is MetaTrader 5 (MT5): IG offers MT5, while Capital.com does not. Neither broker offers copy trading.
For overall platform quality, IG leads the pack: it earns 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Capital.com scores 4.5 stars with a #10 ranking. Pick IG if you want the widest platform choice (including MT5) and top-rated tools. Pick Capital.com if you want an easy, modern platform with MT4 and a free demo, and you don’t need copy trading or MT5.
| 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) | Yes | 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.
For beginner traders comparing online broker IG to Capital.com, both deliver sizable learning hubs with at least 10 beginner-focused videos that explain trading basics in plain terms. IG stands out for hosting ongoing client webinars (at least one per month), giving newcomers a way to ask questions and learn live. Capital.com does not run monthly webinars, but like IG, it also offers 10+ advanced videos, so you can grow from beginner to more experienced topics at your own pace.
According to ForexBrokers.com, IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks 7th out of 63 brokers, while Capital.com scores 4.5 stars and ranks 8th. If live webinars matter for your learning style, IG has the edge; if you mainly want structured video lessons for beginners with room to advance, both IG and Capital.com are strong options.
| 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 #12.
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 |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 87 |
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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.
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| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Capital.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Capital.com | |
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