Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs IFC Markets, 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 (founded in 1974) and IFC Markets (founded in 2006) differ in their public profile and oversight. IG is publicly traded and is a bank, while IFC Markets is privately held and not a bank.
Regulation is the key divider: IG holds 8 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses, compared with IFC Markets’ 1 Tier-1 and 0 Tier-2 licenses. ForexBrokers.com rates trust on a 0–99 scale where 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted; IG scores 99 (highly trusted), while IFC Markets scores 73 (average risk). This points to stronger top-tier oversight and a higher trust rating for IG than IFC Markets.
| Feature |
IG
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2006 |
| 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 | 5 |
When comparing commissions and fees, IG comes out ahead of IFC Markets for most traders. IG is not a discount broker, but it offers competitive pricing for active users, especially through its Forex Direct DMA account and active trader rebates. Its EUR/USD spreads on Forex Direct averaged 0.62 pips, with an estimated all-in cost of 0.82 pips after commission, while its CFD account spreads averaged 0.69 pips during the main trading session. IG is rated 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #6 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
IFC Markets is more mixed on pricing. Its average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips is higher than the industry average, which makes it less appealing for cost-conscious traders. That said, its ECN account improves the picture with an effective spread of 1.1 pips after commission, and there are no inactivity fees. IFC Markets is rated 4 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #34 out of 36 brokers.
Overall, IG is the stronger choice if low trading costs and better pricing for active or high-volume trading are your top priorities. IFC Markets can still work for traders who value fee flexibility and no inactivity charges, but its spreads are generally less competitive than IG’s.
| Feature |
IG
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG offers a wider range of investments than IFC Markets. Both brokers support forex trading, including CFDs and spot contracts, as well as cryptocurrency CFDs. However, IG gives access to far more tradable symbols overall, with 19,537 versus 630 at IFC Markets, and it also offers more forex pairs, with 97 compared with 49. For investors who want broader market choice, IG stands out clearly.
IG also lets clients buy actual shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, while IFC Markets only offers exchange-traded securities on international markets, not U.S. stocks. In addition, IG supports buying real cryptocurrency, whereas IFC Markets does not. IFC Markets does have copy trading, which IG does not, but for range of investments IG is rated higher at 5 stars and ranked #4 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5 stars and #33 ranking.
| Feature |
IG
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IG and IFC Markets both give traders a wide choice of platform options, including a free demo account, a built-in proprietary platform, Windows desktop software, a web-based platform, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Both also let users trade directly from a chart, which can make order entry faster and easier. For traders who want to try different setups before committing real money, each broker provides simulated trading so you can practice in a risk-free environment.
The main difference is copy trading: IFC Markets offers it, while IG does not. That may matter if you want to follow other traders instead of making every decision yourself. Overall, IG is rated higher for trading platforms and tools, earning 5 out of 5 stars and ranking #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32. If platform quality is a top priority, IG has the edge, though IFC Markets may appeal more to those looking for copy trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with key features like price alerts, watchlist syncing, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings. This means traders can move between their phone and online account without losing track of watchlists or chart work, making both apps easy to use for everyday trading on the go.
That said, IG has the edge in mobile trading tools and overall quality. Its app includes 33 technical studies, compared with 30 at IFC Markets, and it earns a 5-star mobile app rating versus IFC Markets’ 4 stars. IG is also ranked #1 out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps by ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is ranked #37, making IG the stronger choice for traders who want more charting options and a better-rated app experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| 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 IFC Markets both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, so each platform offers the basics needed to follow market moves and upcoming news. That said, IG goes much further for market research. It includes forex news from major outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters, plus extra research tools from Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading. IFC Markets does not offer those third-party news and research extras, which makes its research offering more limited by comparison.
That gap is reflected in independent ratings and rankings. IG earns 5 out of 5 stars for Research and is ranked #2 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in the Research category. IFC Markets is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and sits at #33 out of 36. For traders who want a wider mix of market news, analysis, and idea-generation tools, IG is the stronger choice for research.
| Feature |
IG
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| 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.
When it comes to education for beginners, IG stands out as the stronger choice compared with IFC Markets. IG offers forex and CFD learning materials, runs online educational webinars at least once a month, and provides plenty of beginner-friendly videos as well as advanced video content for traders who want to keep learning. This wide range of lessons helps newer traders build skills step by step, while also giving more experienced users room to grow.
IFC Markets also offers forex and CFD education, including at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, but it does not provide monthly online educational webinars like IG does. That difference shows up in the ratings and rankings as well: IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets holds a 3.5-star Education rating and ranks #26. For beginners who want more guidance and regular learning events, IG is the clearer pick.
| Feature |
IG
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 IFC Markets. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #36.
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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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Between online brokers IG and IFC Markets, IG supports buying actual delivered cryptocurrency and trading crypto CFDs, whereas IFC Markets offers only cryptocurrency CFDs and does not provide access to delivered coins.
In a quick funding-methods comparison of online brokers IG and IFC Markets: IG supports ACH/SEPA and PayPal (both not available at IFC Markets), both brokers accept bank wire transfers, neither supports Skrill, 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 | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | IG | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | IG | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IG Review |
| Overall | IG | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
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