Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs FXPrimus, 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 comparing online brokers IG and FXPrimus, IG stands out as an industry leader, having been founded in 1974. IG is a publicly traded entity and also operates as a bank, reflecting its solid foundation in the financial sector. With a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, IG boasts an impressive array of regulatory credentials, including 8 Tier-1 licenses known for their high level of trust. These factors contribute to IG's reputation as a highly trusted broker globally.
In contrast, FXPrimus, established in 2009, is not publicly traded and doesn’t operate as a bank. It holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 71, indicating an average risk level. FXPrimus has 1 Tier-1 license, marking some degree of trustworthiness. However, it lacks Tier-2 licenses, which could further bolster its credibility. While both brokers offer online trading services, IG’s longer history and stronger regulatory standing make it a more trusted choice for many traders.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the online brokers IG and FXPrimus, IG stands out for its competitive pricing and versatility in handling different trading needs. With an impressive rating of five stars, IG is ranked #8 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for its commissions and fees. IG provides various execution methods accommodating both casual and active traders, particularly shining with its Forex Direct accounts. The spreads on IG’s main Forex Direct account average around 0.62 pips with an all-in cost of 0.82 pips, fairly close to the industry average for 2024. For CFD accounts, IG's average spreads during peak trading sessions are slightly better than the industry average at 0.69 pips, although spreads can increase during low liquidity hours.
FXPrimus, on the other hand, maintains a solid reputation, earning a four-star rating, and is ranked #42 for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com. Although specific average spread data for FXPrimus is not available, its lower rank compared to IG suggests that its pricing may not be as competitive, potentially resulting in a higher cost for traders. However, FXPrimus still offers credible services and might appeal to traders seeking alternative options with potentially different features or account structures that best suit their trading strategy.
IG further enhances its appeal with a three-tier active-trader rebate program that offers discounts for high-volume traders, allowing for potential rebates of up to 20% for those trading over £300 million per month. Additionally, IG caters to professional-level traders through its Direct Market Access (DMA) account, which provides substantial savings on trades with a tiered pricing model based on monthly trading volume. These features, backed by IG’s high ranking and rating, highlight its suitability for serious traders seeking cost-effective solutions. While FXPrimus also holds its ground with a commendable rating, IG’s extensive offerings and competitive pricing make it a more attractive choice for trading enthusiasts aiming to optimize their trading expenses.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing IG to FXPrimus for available investment options, IG stands out with a significantly wider range. IG offers a remarkable 19,537 tradeable symbols, encompassing 97 forex pairs. In contrast, FXPrimus provides 140 tradeable symbols, including 42 forex pairs. Beyond forex, IG enables clients to buy and sell exchange-traded securities directly, both on U.S. and international platforms, allowing investors access to companies like Apple and Vodafone. FXPrimus, however, does not offer direct access to these exchange-traded securities.
In the realm of cryptocurrency, IG caters to diverse preferences by providing options to purchase both actual cryptocurrency and derivatives, while FXPrimus limits clients to derivatives only. Importantly, FXPrimus offers copy trading capabilities, which IG does not. Reflecting on their investment range, IG holds a higher rating of 5 stars, ranking 4th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while FXPrimus has a 3.5-star rating, ranking 59th. This makes IG a more compelling choice for those seeking extensive investment opportunities.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 140 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 42 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of IG and FXPrimus, both brokers offer a substantial array of features designed to meet the needs of traders. Each provides a simulated trading environment through free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice their strategies without financial risk. Both have proprietary platforms developed in-house, alongside a Windows-based desktop download and web-based trading platforms accessible through a browser. However, while both brokers support the ever-popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4), only FXPrimus extends its offering to include MetaTrader 5 (MT5). A standout feature of FXPrimus is its copy trading option, a service not available with IG.
In terms of charting tools, IG and FXPrimus support trading directly from stock charts. IG offers traders 20 drawing tools, compared to 15 provided by FXPrimus. When it comes to creating watch lists, FXPrimus allows up to seven fields, surpassing IG’s five. Despite these features, IG edges ahead in rankings, achieving a five-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools and securing the #2 spot out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while FXPrimus received a four-star rating and ranks #49. This suggests IG might be a more preferred choice for those seeking a highly-rated platform experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of IG and FXPrimus, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android platforms, ensuring flexibility for traders on the go. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, allows for trendline drawing, and provides the ability to view various time frames on charts. While both also provide real-time quotes for watchlists, IG's app stands out by offering watchlist symbol syncing, allowing watchlists in the mobile app to automatically update with any changes made to the client's online account, a feature not available with FXPrimus.
For technical analysis, IG offers slightly more depth with 33 technical studies available, compared to FXPrimus's 30. Importantly, both apps will save your drawings on charts automatically. In customer ratings, IG's mobile app shines with a perfect 5-star rating, ranking as the top choice out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, FXPrimus trails behind with a 4-star rating, placing them at 48th. This makes IG a more acclaimed choice for those seeking a highly rated experience on mobile trading platforms.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both IG and FXPrimus provide daily market commentary, ensuring that traders have access to regular updates. However, IG stands out with its provision of forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, while FXPrimus lacks this feature. Additionally, IG offers advanced tools such as Autochartist for technical and fundamental analysis, which FXPrimus does not include. Unfortunately, neither broker has offerings from Trading Central. Furthermore, IG provides a sentiment-based trading tool, showcasing the ratio of long and short positions—a feature absent on FXPrimus. IG also provides access to TipRanks market research, another advantage it holds over FXPrimus.
IG continues to impress with its array of research tools from Acuity Trading, like the Signal Centre, which is not available with FXPrimus. Both platforms offer an economic calendar to keep traders informed of important global events. When rated for research, IG achieves a stellar 5 out of 5 stars, ranking number 2 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, highlighting its superior research offerings. In contrast, FXPrimus is rated 3 stars and ranks much lower at number 58, indicating a significant gap in the quality and variety of research tools offered by the two brokers.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources offered by IG and FXPrimus, it's clear that both platforms are committed to providing a range of tools for beginners interested in forex and CFDs. Both IG and FXPrimus offer over 10 educational materials, including articles, videos, and webinars, which are essential for new traders seeking to broaden their knowledge. They also host monthly live webinars and have archives accessible for clients who wish to revisit these sessions. However, IG sets itself apart by offering a broader selection of beginner-focused educational videos. This variety ensures that novice traders have the resources they need to understand the basics of trading. Unfortunately, FXPrimus does not offer as many beginner-focused videos, which could limit learning opportunities for those just starting out.
In addition, IG provides an extensive range of advanced educational videos designed for more experienced traders, something that FXPrimus lacks. IG further supports learning with an investor dictionary that includes definitions of over 50 investing terms, a resource not available with FXPrimus. This comprehensive approach earns IG a 5-star rating for education, while FXPrimus receives 3 stars. Ranking across 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, IG holds the prestigious top spot for education, reflecting its dedication to providing high-quality learning tools. Conversely, FXPrimus is placed much lower at rank #51, indicating room for improvement in their educational offerings.
| Feature |
IG
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 FXPrimus. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while FXPrimus finished with an overall rank of #53.
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
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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IG allows users to buy both actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas FXPrimus only offers the ability to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing IG and FXPrimus as online brokers, IG provides a more versatile range of payment options by supporting ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while FXPrimus offers payment via Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks support for ACH, SEPA transfers, and PayPal.
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 | FXPrimus | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | FXPrimus | |
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| Regulation | IG | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IG | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 140 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 42 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IG Review |
| Overall | IG | FXPrimus | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
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