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.
IG vs Capital.com: IG was founded in 1974, is publicly traded, and is a bank, offering a long operating history and added transparency. Capital.com, founded in 2016, is privately held and not a bank, appealing to traders who prefer a newer, app-focused broker.
Regulation and trust differ notably. IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, while Capital.com holds 3 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. On ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score scale—90-99 highly trusted, 80-89 trusted, 70-79 average risk, 60-69 high risk, under 59 not trusted—IG scores 99 (highly trusted) and Capital.com scores 89 (trusted).
| 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 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
IG and Capital.com both score highly for commissions and fees, with each broker earning 5 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category, IG ranks #7 out of 36 brokers, while Capital.com ranks higher at #3 out of 36. IG is not a discount broker, but it offers competitive pricing for active traders, especially through its Forex Direct DMA account and volume-based rebate programs. Its average EUR/USD spread on Forex Direct was 0.62 pips in July 2023, with an estimated all-in cost of 0.82 pips after commission.
For CFD trading, IG’s typical spreads averaged 0.69 pips during main market hours in July 2023, which is slightly better than the industry average. Costs can rise during quieter trading periods, with spreads averaging 1.03 pips in lower-liquidity hours and 0.98 pips across the full month globally. Active traders who qualify may also get spread rebates, which can bring costs down further. This makes IG a strong choice for traders who value execution quality and tiered pricing, especially at higher volumes.
Capital.com keeps things simple with a universal retail account and a professional account for eligible traders. Its pricing is slightly better than the industry average, and its EUR/USD spread averaged 0.6712 pips in April 2024, which is low by online broker standards. For traders looking for straightforward forex pricing and low spreads, Capital.com has the edge in the commissions and fees category, while IG stands out more for advanced trading options and active trader discounts.
| Feature |
IG
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $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 offers a wider range of investments than Capital.com, making it a stronger choice for traders who want more market access. IG supports forex trading as both CFDs and spot contracts, and it also offers a much larger total number of tradeable symbols at 19,537 compared with Capital.com’s 5,585. While Capital.com lists more forex pairs, with 125 versus IG’s 97, IG stands out for its access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, which Capital.com does not offer. IG also lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency CFDs, while Capital.com only offers crypto CFDs.
For investors focused on breadth, IG is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers in this category, compared with Capital.com’s 4.5 stars and #18 ranking. Neither broker offers copy trading, but IG’s mix of shares, forex, and crypto gives it the edge for anyone looking for a more varied trading platform.
| 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 and Capital.com both give traders a strong mix of platform choices and useful trading tools. Each broker offers a free demo account for simulated trading, a proprietary platform, web-based trading, and a Windows desktop download. Both also support MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and both let you trade directly from a chart. One key difference is that neither broker offers copy trading.
When it comes to platform quality, IG has the edge. ForexBrokers.com rates IG 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks it #1 out of 36 brokers, while Capital.com earns 4.5 stars and ranks #10. For traders comparing platform experience, charting, and built-in tools, both are solid picks, but IG stands out as the stronger overall choice.
| 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 | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 97 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Capital.com both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. If you want a mobile app that covers the basics well, both brokers do a solid job for everyday traders.
The main difference is in extras and overall mobile experience. IG offers watchlist syncing between its mobile app and online account, while Capital.com does not. IG also provides more technical studies in its charting tools, with 33 compared with Capital.com’s 30. That stronger app experience is reflected in ratings and rankings too: IG scores 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Capital.com earns 4.5 stars and ranks #11.
| 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 it comes to market research, both IG and Capital.com give traders useful daily market commentary, access to top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar to track major global events. Both also include sentiment tools that show how traders are positioned in the market, which can help users spot potential trends at a glance.
IG has the edge overall thanks to a wider range of third-party research tools. It offers Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, while Capital.com does not offer these extras. That broader research lineup helps explain why IG is rated 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Capital.com’s 4.5-star rating and #14 ranking.
| 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 | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to learning materials for beginners, IG has a slight edge over Capital.com. IG offers forex and CFD education with plenty of beginner-focused content, along with at least one online client webinar each month. It also provides 10 or more beginner videos and 10 or more advanced videos, making it a useful option for traders who want to keep learning as they gain experience. IG is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Education and is ranked #7 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category.
Capital.com also gives beginners a strong set of learning tools, including 10 or more beginner videos and 10 or more advanced videos on trading topics. However, it does not offer monthly online client webinars, which may matter to users who prefer live teaching sessions. Capital.com is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and is ranked #8 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, placing it just behind IG overall.
| 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
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Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 89 |
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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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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Capital.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 89 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Capital.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Capital.com | |
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| Regulation | IG | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 89 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | 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). |
| Cost | IG | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.64 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.67 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 97 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com Review |
| Overall | IG | Capital.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 89 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Capital.com Review |
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