Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs FOREX.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 FOREX.com: IG, founded in 1974, and FOREX.com, founded in 1999, are both publicly traded online brokers. IG is also a bank, while FOREX.com is not.
Regulation and trust: Both brokers earn a 99/99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com, placing them in the “highly trusted” range (90–99). IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted), while FOREX.com holds 7 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses. Both stand at the top for regulatory trust, with IG edging ahead by one additional Tier-1 authorization.
| Feature |
IG
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees, IG comes out ahead of FOREX.com for most traders. IG is rated 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees, helped by its low-cost Forex Direct account and active trader pricing. Its average EUR/USD spread on the DMA/Forex Direct account was 0.62 pips in July 2023, which works out to an all-in cost of about 0.82 pips after commission. IG also offers volume-based rebates for high-frequency traders, and its standard CFD spreads were generally close to the industry average, with typical spreads of 0.69 pips during main trading hours.
FOREX.com is still a solid choice, but its fees are usually a bit higher overall. It is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #15 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its Standard account is pricier, with U.S. EUR/USD spreads averaging 1.4 pips, while the RAW account is much more competitive at about 0.13 pips before commission. That said, once commission is added, the total cost is often similar to the Standard account for many U.S. clients unless they trade at very high volume.
In simple terms, IG is better for traders looking for lower all-in trading costs, especially active forex traders and larger-volume clients. FOREX.com offers more account choices and can still be appealing if you want its platform features or RAW pricing, but its fees are generally not as cheap as IG’s. If commissions and fees are your main concern, IG has the edge.
| Feature |
IG
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.00 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 1.13 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| 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 FOREX.com both give traders access to forex as either a CFD or a spot contract, and both also let clients trade U.S. and international exchange-listed securities. Each broker offers cryptocurrency CFDs, but IG goes a step further by also allowing customers to buy actual cryptocurrency, which FOREX.com does not. Neither broker offers copy trading. In short, both platforms cover the basics well, but IG offers a wider mix of market choices for investors who want more variety beyond forex.
That wider selection is reflected in the numbers: IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with 5,500 symbols and 80 forex pairs at FOREX.com. Both brokers earn 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, but IG is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com in this category, placing 4th out of 36 brokers versus FOREX.com at 6th. For traders who want the broadest choice of markets, IG has the edge.
| Feature |
IG
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 80 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 FOREX.com both give traders a strong set of platform options, with free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, and access to both web-based and Windows desktop trading. Each broker also supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and both let users place trades directly from a chart. For traders who want flexibility, the two brokers are closely matched on core trading tools and platform access.
The main difference is in overall expert rankings: IG is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while FOREX.com also earns 5 stars but ranks #5 out of 36. Neither broker offers copy trading, so traders looking for that feature will need to look elsewhere. Overall, both are solid choices for platform variety and chart-based trading, with IG holding the edge in industry ranking.
| Feature |
IG
|
FOREX.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 | 90 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and FOREX.com both make it easy to trade on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus mobile price alerts, watchlist syncing, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Each app is also rated 5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading, so both are strong choices if you want a smooth way to manage trades from your phone. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking of 36 brokers, IG places first in the Mobile Trading Apps category, while FOREX.com comes in second.
The biggest difference is in charting tools. IG’s mobile app includes 33 technical studies, while FOREX.com offers 90, giving active traders more chart analysis options on FOREX.com. Even so, IG still stands out overall for mobile trading thanks to its top ranking, while FOREX.com remains a close competitor with a highly rated app and a wider set of chart indicators.
| Feature |
IG
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 90 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and FOREX.com both do well for market research, giving traders daily market commentary, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, sentiment tools, and an economic calendar with key global events. Both brokers also earn a 5-star Research rating, showing they each provide a strong mix of market insight and trading support.
The main difference is in the research tools they offer. IG stands out with Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, while FOREX.com offers Trading Central instead of those services. That wider range of third-party research helps IG edge ahead in this category, which is reflected in its #2 ranking for Research versus FOREX.com’s #7 ranking out of 36 brokers.
| Feature |
IG
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG and FOREX.com both make it easy for beginners to learn the basics of forex and CFD trading. Each broker offers at least 10 education pieces focused on forex or CFDs, along with regular client webinars, beginner trading videos, and advanced videos for more experienced traders. That means new traders can find a mix of written guides, video lessons, and live learning sessions at either platform.
When it comes to education quality, both brokers earn 5 stars, showing that each provides a strong learning experience overall. FOREX.com has a slight edge in the ForexBrokers.com Education ranking, placing #4 out of 36 brokers compared with IG at #7. For beginners looking for helpful trading education, both are solid choices, with FOREX.com ranking a bit higher.
| Feature |
IG
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 FOREX.com. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #4.
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
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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| Research |
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IG vs FOREX.com: IG lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies and trade crypto CFDs, while FOREX.com offers crypto CFDs only and does not provide access to delivered coins.
IG and FOREX.com both support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals, while only FOREX.com offers Skrill (IG does not), and Visa/Mastercard availability is unspecified for both brokers.
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 | FOREX.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | FOREX.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | FOREX.com | |
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| Regulation | IG | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | Yes | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| 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) | No |
| Investments | IG | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 80 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.00 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 1.13 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | FOREX.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 | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 90 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 90 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | FOREX.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 | FOREX.com Review |
| Overall | IG | FOREX.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | FOREX.com Review |
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