Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs FXCM, 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 and FXCM are both seasoned players in the online brokerage industry, with IG having been around since 1974 and FXCM since 1999. Both companies are publicly traded, signaling transparency and accountability, but only IG also functions as a bank. When it comes to regulatory trust, IG shines brighter, holding 8 Tier-1 licenses, a higher benchmark for high trust, compared to FXCM's 4. Both firms hold 2 Tier-2 licenses, which are also considered reliable.
According to ForexBrokers.com, IG boasts an impressive Trust Score of 99 out of 99, categorizing it as highly trusted. In comparison, FXCM holds a Trust Score of 95, which still places it in the highly trusted category but just a notch below IG. This demonstrates IG's stronger regulatory framework, offering potential investors a sense of greater security when trading through their platform.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
IG and FXCM are well-known online brokers offering competitive pricing structures, though they differ significantly in their commissions and fees. IG impresses with its five-star rating, ranking 8th out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category. This UK-based broker excels with flexible execution options catering to various trading needs. IG's standard Forex Direct account provides spreads averaging 0.62 pips, translating to a total cost of 0.82 pips when considering the 0.2 pips commission. Meanwhile, the CFD account maintains slightly better-than-average spreads at 0.69 pips during peak hours. The broker further entices active traders with a tiered rebate program, offering discounts of up to 20% for high-volume transactions.
Among discerning traders, IG's DMA account attracts attention for offering substantial discounts through its tiered pricing system, especially for those who accumulate significant trading volumes. For instance, its DMA account requires a minimum balance of £1,000 and features average spreads of 0.62 pips on the EUR/USD pair, with commissions scaling down from $60 to just $10 per million traded based on volume. This structure is particularly appealing to seasoned traders seeking cost-effective executions.
In contrast, FXCM, rated four stars and ranked 25th, positions itself as a solid but slightly pricier option. FXCM's standard account spreads average 0.78 pips on the EUR/USD, though its commission-based accounts offer lower spreads of 0.28 pips, excluding commissions. Its Active Trader Rebate Program, available outside the EU and U.K., promises tiered rebates up to $25 per million traded. For instance, under specific conditions, such as a $25,000 account balance with $50 million in monthly trading volume, commissions per side can reduce to $2.5, leading to an effective spread of 0.78 pips. However, traders should consider that competitors like Tickmill propose more attractive deals for high-volume trades. Each broker has its strengths, with IG catering to a wider range of needs and FXCM offering niche advantages to active traders.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | Starts from $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.8 |
| 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 FXCM both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, but their lineups differ a lot. IG lists 19,537 tradeable instruments and 97 currency pairs, while FXCM offers 440 instruments and 46 pairs. IG also lets you buy exchange‑traded shares on U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone in London); FXCM does not.
Feature-wise, FXCM supports copy trading, whereas IG does not. For crypto, IG offers both actual coins and crypto CFDs; FXCM offers crypto CFDs only. Reflecting this breadth, IG earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments (per ForexBrokers.com), while FXCM scores 3.5 stars and ranks #48. If you want the widest selection—including stocks and delivered crypto—IG is the stronger pick; if you prefer copy trading with a focused forex/CFD menu, consider FXCM.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 440 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| 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.
Comparing IG vs FXCM for trading platforms and tools: both brokers provide free demo accounts for practice, in-house proprietary platforms, Windows desktop software, and web-based trading. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and does not offer MetaTrader 5 (MT5). A key difference is copy trading: FXCM supports it, while IG does not.
Both IG and FXCM let you place trades directly from charts. Each earns 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, yet IG holds a higher category rank (#2 of 63) than FXCM (#6 of 63) on ForexBrokers.com. In short, pick FXCM if copy trading matters to you; choose IG if you want a higher-ranked platform suite with the same core platform options.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and FXCM both make mobile trading easy with iPhone and Android apps. Each one supports price alerts for stocks and forex, plus watchlists that sync with your online account so changes carry over between devices. For charts, both apps let you draw trendlines, and your drawings auto-save for later.
If you want more built-in technical studies, FXCM offers 59 versus IG’s 33. That said, IG earns a higher score for overall mobile experience: IG is rated 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps by ForexBrokers.com, while FXCM is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #16. Choose IG for top-rated ease and polish, or go with FXCM if a larger set of indicators is your priority—either way, you get alerts, synced watchlists, and capable charting.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 59 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research offerings, both IG and FXCM provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from reputable sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. However, IG distinguishes itself by offering tools from Autochartist, which FXCM lacks. On the other hand, FXCM offers technical analysis tools from Trading Central, which IG does not provide. Both brokers feature sentiment-based trading tools and market research via TipRanks, but IG edges ahead by including additional resources from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, which FXCM does not offer.
Both IG and FXCM provide essential tools like economic calendars for tracking global events, yet IG's enhanced suite of research tools earns it a higher rating of five stars compared to FXCM's 4.5 stars in the research category. Consequently, IG is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com, positioned as the second best among 63 brokers, whereas FXCM holds the 11th spot. This indicates that while both brokers deliver valuable research capabilities, IG provides a more comprehensive range of resources for market analysis.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG and FXCM both deliver beginner-friendly forex and CFD education with well over 10 resources, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Each broker hosts ongoing client webinars at least once a month and provides a clear starting point for new traders with 10+ beginner videos. Both also include 10+ advanced videos, so you can keep learning as your skills grow.
Where they differ is in overall quality and recognition. IG earns 5 stars for Education and is ranked #1 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, reflecting exceptional depth and structure across its learning center. FXCM also performs well, earning 4.5 stars and ranking #14 out of 63. If you want the top-rated education experience, IG leads; if you’re comparing strong options with regular webinars and a full video library, FXCM remains a solid choice.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 FXCM. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15.
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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FXCM
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 |
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IG vs FXCM: IG allows trading both actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency CFDs, while FXCM offers cryptocurrency CFDs only and does not provide access to actual delivered coins.
IG vs. FXCM: for deposits and withdrawals, both brokers support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers, FXCM additionally offers Skrill while IG does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | FXCM | |
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| Regulation | IG | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| 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 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 440 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | Starts from $50 | |
| 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 59 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXCM Review |
| Overall | IG | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | FXCM Review |
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