Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs GBE brokers, 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 IG and GBE brokers, IG stands out as a longstanding financial entity since being founded in 1974. Unlike GBE brokers, which began in 2013, IG is publicly traded and also operates as a bank. This adds a layer of confidence when considering their regulatory framework. IG boasts eight Tier-1 licenses, which are trusted by ForexBrokers.com, in contrast to GBE brokers' single Tier-1 license. Additionally, IG holds two Tier-2 licenses, whereas GBE brokers have none. Consequently, IG achieves an impressive Trust Score of 99, indicating they are highly trusted, while GBE brokers attain a Trust Score of 71, suggesting an average level of risk.
Both brokers aim to offer solid trading services, but IG's extensive regulatory approval and banking status provide a stronger assurance to investors. GBE brokers, while meeting average trust standards with one Tier-1 license, may suit those who are willing to engage with a broker with a shorter market presence and a moderate risk profile. Ultimately, IG's comprehensive regulatory standing and long history make it a preferred choice for traders seeking a higher degree of trust and credibility.
| Feature |
IG
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2013 |
| 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 |
IG beats GBE Brokers on commissions and fees. IG earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #8 of 63 brokers for this category, while GBE Brokers scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #38 of 63. IG also publishes far more detail on pricing, whereas GBE Brokers does not provide average spread data, making direct cost comparisons harder.
IG’s pricing is built for active traders. On its CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads averaged about 0.69 pips during the main trading day in July 2023, widening in quieter hours and averaging 0.98 pips across the full day (IG US averaged 1.18 pips). IG offers active-trader rebates for eligible professionals in the EU, cutting spreads by 10%–20% (a 20% discount can bring an all-in cost near 0.60 pips in the example provided). For even sharper pricing, IG’s DMA “Forex Direct” account posts average spreads around 0.62 pips, with an estimated all-in cost near 0.82 pips after commission based on July 2023 data; commissions are tiered by monthly volume, dropping as low as $10 per million per side for very high volumes.
GBE Brokers delivers a solid 4-star result but, without published average spreads, its day‑to‑day trading costs are harder to gauge next to IG’s detailed figures. If you value transparent, volume-based discounts and clearly posted spreads, IG’s structure is easier to evaluate. If you’re considering GBE Brokers, review its current spreads, commissions, and any non-trading fees directly with the broker before you trade.
| Feature |
IG
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ250.00 | $1000 |
| 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 | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG and GBE brokers both support forex trading as CFDs and spot contracts, but their product ranges differ widely. IG offers 19,537 tradeable instruments and 97 forex pairs, while GBE brokers lists 500 symbols and 71 pairs. IG also provides access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges—so you can buy real shares, not just CFDs—whereas GBE brokers does not offer direct share dealing. For crypto, IG lets you buy actual coins and trade crypto derivatives; GBE brokers limits access to crypto derivatives only.
Copy trading is available at GBE brokers but not at IG. For overall range of investments, ForexBrokers.com rates IG at 5 stars and ranks it 4th out of 63 brokers, compared with GBE brokers at 3.5 stars and 45th out of 63. If you want the widest selection plus real shares and cryptocurrencies, IG is the stronger pick; if copy trading matters more and a smaller lineup works for you, GBE brokers may fit.
| Feature |
IG
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 71 |
| 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.
IG and GBE brokers both let you practice with a free demo account and offer Windows desktop and web trading platforms. IG adds its own in-house platform, while GBE brokers relies on third-party software. For MetaTrader, both support MT4, and only GBE brokers also offers MT5. Copy trading is available at GBE brokers but not at IG, and neither supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Both let you trade directly from charts. For charting tools, IG lists 20 drawing tools versus 15 at GBE brokers (indicator counts not specified). Watchlists show five fields at IG and seven at GBE brokers.
Overall, IG earns 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while GBE brokers earns 4 stars and ranks #58. Choose IG if you want a top-rated in-house platform with 20 drawing tools, chart trading, and web/desktop access; pick GBE brokers if you need MT5 and copy trading alongside MT4, with web and Windows platforms and seven watchlist columns.
| Feature |
IG
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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.
Both IG and GBE Brokers offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, and flexible charting: you can draw trendlines, switch among intraday, daily, and weekly time frames, and your chart drawings auto-save. Traders also get plenty of indicators on the go, with the IG mobile app providing 33 technical studies and the GBE Brokers mobile app close behind with 30.
The key differences are convenience and accolades. IG syncs watchlists between its mobile app and your online account, while GBE Brokers does not—useful if you move between phone and desktop. According to ForexBrokers.com, the IG mobile trading app is rated 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers, whereas GBE Brokers earns 4 stars and ranks #58. If seamless cross-device use and top-tier recognition matter most, IG stands out; if you just need core mobile trading features for stocks and forex on iPhone and Android, GBE Brokers still covers the basics.
| Feature |
IG
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Comparing market research, IG offers a fuller toolkit. Both IG and GBE Brokers provide daily market commentary, sentiment data, and an economic calendar. IG goes further with top‑tier forex news (e.g., Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones), Autochartist scanning tools, TipRanks insights, and research from Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). Neither broker includes Trading Central. GBE Brokers does not list Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading integrations, and it lacks premium news feeds.
For quality and depth, IG is the stronger choice: it earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. GBE Brokers is rated 3 stars and ranks #63 of 63. If you want news-driven analysis and advanced tools, pick IG; if you only need basic commentary, sentiment, and a calendar, GBE Brokers can cover the essentials.
| Feature |
IG
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing IG and GBE Brokers on education, IG clearly offers more to learn from. IG provides a dedicated forex and CFD education center with well over the minimum 10 pieces of content, plus at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos to help you grow from basics to more complex strategies. IG also runs client webinars at least once a month and keeps a searchable library of past sessions, so you can learn live or on your own schedule. An investor dictionary with 50+ terms makes it easier to grasp key trading language. By contrast, GBE Brokers does not meet the 10-piece threshold for forex/CFD education and does not host monthly webinars, keep a searchable webinar archive, or offer large beginner or advanced video libraries or a 50+ term glossary.
These differences show up in the ratings: ForexBrokers.com gives IG 5 stars for Education and ranks it #1 out of 63 brokers, while GBE Brokers earns 3 stars and ranks #64. If you want structured lessons, frequent webinars, and easy-to-find replays geared toward new traders, IG is the stronger pick. If you only need very limited educational material, GBE Brokers may suffice.
| Feature |
IG
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 GBE brokers. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while GBE brokers finished with an overall rank of #57.
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
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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IG allows users to purchase both actual delivered cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas GBE Brokers offers only the option to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both IG and GBE Brokers offer a range of deposit and withdrawal options including ACH, SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires; however, only GBE Brokers provides the additional option of using Skrill for transactions.
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 | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | GBE brokers | |
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| Regulation | IG | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2013 | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | IG | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 71 | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ250.00 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
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