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IG vs IFC Markets 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

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.

IG
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £250.00
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 19537
IFC Markets
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $1
  • Trust Score: 73
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 630

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.

Regulation

Comparing IG and IFC Markets reveals notable differences in their regulatory standing and trust ratings. Founded in 1974, IG is a publicly traded bank that commands a strong presence with 8 Tier-1 licenses, indicative of high trust, and 2 Tier-2 licenses. This positions IG with a stellar Trust Score of 99, reflecting its status as a highly trusted broker. In contrast, IFC Markets, established in 2006, remains a privately owned entity and not a bank. It holds 1 Tier-2 license and lacks Tier-1 certifications, which correlates to a Trust Score of 73, placing it in the average risk category for trustworthiness.

The distinctions between these brokers are also reflected in their market presence and regulatory oversight. IG's long-standing history and extensive regulatory approvals offer clients a heightened sense of security and confidence. Meanwhile, IFC Markets, with fewer licenses and a lower trust score, may appeal to those seeking different services or trading environments. Overall, while both brokers provide online trading solutions, IG's comprehensive regulatory backing offers greater assurances of trust compared to IFC Markets' more moderate framework.

Feature IG logoIG
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Year Founded info 1974 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Tier-1 Licenses info 8 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1

Fees

IG vs IFC Markets on commissions and fees: IG earns 5/5 stars and ranks #8 of 63 for pricing, while IFC Markets earns 4/5 stars and ranks #40. In short, IG tends to be cheaper for frequent forex traders, especially if you qualify for its advanced pricing, whereas IFC Markets is simpler but pricier on standard spreads.

IG’s CFD account saw typical EUR/USD spreads around 0.69 pips during the main trading session in July 2023 (0.98 pips across all sessions; IG US averaged 1.18 pips). High-volume clients who qualify as professionals can get spread rebates of 10%–20%, which can meaningfully cut costs (in one example, to about 0.60 pips). IG’s DMA (Forex Direct) option is aimed at active traders: average EUR/USD spreads were 0.62 pips in July 2023, with all-in costs around 0.82 pips after commissions, depending on volume tiers.

IFC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips—above the industry average—though its new ECN account improves effective pricing to about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides. It also avoids inactivity fees and offers active-trader discounts. Overall, IG is usually the more cost-effective choice for high-volume forex trading, while IFC Markets appeals if you want straightforward pricing with no inactivity charge.

Feature IG logoIG
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info £250.00 $1
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 0.98 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.82 info 1.1 info
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

IG vs IFC Markets: For sheer variety, IG stands out. IG lists 19,537 tradeable instruments, compared with 630 at IFC Markets, and offers 97 forex pairs versus IFC’s 49. Both brokers let you trade forex either as CFDs or spot contracts, but IG’s overall catalog is much wider, which can matter if you plan to diversify across many markets.

Asset access also differs. IG lets you buy exchange-traded shares in both U.S. and international markets, while IFC Markets supports real shares on international exchanges only. Both brokers offer cryptocurrency as a CFD, but only IG lets you buy actual crypto. If you want copy trading, IFC Markets provides it; IG does not. Reflecting these differences, IG holds a 5-star Range of Investments rating and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets earns 3.5 stars and ranks #44.

Feature IG logoIG
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 19537 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 97 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info Yes info No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

IG and IFC Markets both check the key boxes for platform access: each offers a free demo account, an in-house platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Both support trading straight from charts and include MetaTrader 4 (MT4). The differences are notable: IFC Markets also supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and offers copy trading, while IG does not provide MT5 or copy trading.

Details like the exact number of built-in technical indicators or watchlist columns aren’t specified here. For overall platform quality, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools on ForexBrokers.com, whereas IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #37. If you want MT5 and copy trading, IFC Markets may fit; if you want a higher-rated, polished platform experience, IG stands out.

Feature IG logoIG
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 33 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

IG and IFC Markets both deliver mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with stock and forex price alerts, synced watchlists across devices, and charting that lets you draw trendlines and automatically saves your drawings. For in-app charting tools, IG offers 33 technical studies, while IFC Markets provides 30, giving IG a slight edge for traders who rely on indicators.

According to ForexBrokers.com, IG’s mobile trading app earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers, whereas IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #53. Both apps cover the essentials, but IG stands out for its charting depth and overall user experience, making it the stronger pick if mobile trading is your priority.

Feature IG logoIG
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Android App info Yes info Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

IG and IFC Markets both cover the basics for market research: they publish daily market commentary, provide an economic calendar, and offer a sentiment tool that shows how many traders are long or short. The differences appear with third‑party research: IG streams forex news from top‑tier sources (e.g., Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones), while IFC Markets does not. IG also adds advanced tools from Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading, which IFC Markets lacks. Neither broker includes Trading Central.

These extras help IG deliver deeper insights and more trade ideas, earning it 5 stars for Research and a #2 ranking out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets supplies the essentials but fewer premium integrations, reflected in its 3.5‑star Research rating and #41 ranking.

Feature IG logoIG
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info Yes No
Acuity Trading info Yes No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

IG and IFC Markets both give beginners plenty to learn from, including at least 10 beginner-friendly trading videos and at least 10 advanced videos that cover forex and CFDs. The big difference is live learning: IG runs client webinars at least once a month, while IFC Markets does not. If you like asking questions in real time or following structured sessions, IG has the edge.

Quality scores back this up. IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #30. For most new traders seeking the strongest overall education experience—especially with live webinars—IG is the better pick, while IFC Markets remains a solid option for on-demand video learning.

Feature IG logoIG
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

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 #45.

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 logoIG
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with IG or IFC Markets?

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.

What funding options does each broker offer?

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.

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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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Overall Rating IG IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Winner check_circle
Review IG Review
Broker Screenshots IG IFC Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
IG trading mobile app charting IG web platform dark mode IG research special research reports IG educational academy course detail
Regulation IG IFC Markets
Trust Score info 99 73
Year Founded info 1974 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 8 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) IG IFC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info Yes
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info Yes
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info Yes
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info Yes
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) IG IFC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments IG IFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 19537 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 97 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info Yes info No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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) - Standard account info 0.98 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.82 info 1.1 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info Yes Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding IG IFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info £250.00 $1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
Trading Platforms IG IFC Markets
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools IG IFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 33 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading IG IFC Markets
Android App info Yes info Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research IG IFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central info No No
TipRanks info Yes No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education IG IFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs IG IFC Markets
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review IG Review
Overall IG IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Winner check_circle
Review IG Review
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