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 |
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 | £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 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.
IG vs Capital.com for trading platforms and tools: both brokers provide a free paper-trading demo account, their own proprietary platforms, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. If you prefer MetaTrader, each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can also place trades directly from charts with either broker. Neither offers copy trading.
For ratings and rankings, IG earns 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and is ranked #1 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Capital.com scores 4.5 stars and ranks #10. If you want the top-rated blend of platform choice and chart-trading features, IG edges ahead; if you’re fine with slightly fewer accolades but similar core platform options, Capital.com is still a solid pick.
| 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.
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.
IG and Capital.com both cover the core needs for market research. Each offers daily market commentary, an economic calendar with global events, and forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Both also provide sentiment tools that display the ratio of long vs. short positions across markets.
The main differences show up in third-party research. IG adds Autochartist tools, TipRanks analyst insights, and Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre, while Capital.com does not include these providers. Neither broker offers Trading Central. Reflecting these features, ForexBrokers.com rates IG 5 stars for Research and ranks it #2 out of 63 brokers, while Capital.com earns 4.5 stars and ranks #14.
| 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.
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
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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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