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IG vs iFOREX 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of IG vs iFOREX, 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
iFOREX
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Trust Score: 75
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 750

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

When comparing IG and iFOREX, it's clear that IG holds a distinct advantage in terms of trust and regulatory oversight. Founded in 1974, IG is a publicly traded company and operates as a bank. This broker boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, indicating high reliability. IG's strong regulatory framework includes eight Tier-1 licenses, known for high trust, and two Tier-2 licenses, solidifying its status as a safe choice for online trading.

In contrast, iFOREX, established in 1996, does not share the same level of trust with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 75, categorizing it as an average risk broker. Unlike IG, iFOREX is neither publicly traded nor a bank and holds just one Tier-1 license with no Tier-2 licenses. These factors suggest that traders may encounter higher risk when choosing iFOREX compared to the highly trusted IG.

Feature IG logoIG
iFOREX logoiFOREX
Year Founded info 1974 1996
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Tier-1 Licenses info 8 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1

Fees

For commissions and fees, IG stands out as the stronger value pick, especially for high-volume forex traders, while iFOREX offers less pricing detail and trails in independent rankings. IG: 5/5 stars; ranked #8 of 63 for Commissions and Fees. iFOREX: 3/5 stars; ranked #62 of 63.

IG publishes detailed pricing. On its CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads averaged about 0.69 pips during the main trading session (22 hours), 0.98 pips across the full day in July 2023, and 1.18 pips for IG US. Low-liquidity hours can widen spreads to around 1.03 pips. Active traders who qualify as professionals under EU rules can earn spread rebates of 10% to 20% when monthly forex volume exceeds £50 million to £300 million. IG’s Direct Market Access (DMA) “Forex Direct” account averaged 0.62 pips on EUR/USD in July 2023, then adds a tiered commission starting at $60 per million (lowering to $10 per million per side for very high volumes), for an all-in cost commonly cited around 0.82 pips.

By contrast, iFOREX does not provide average spread data, which makes direct cost comparisons harder. Its 3/5 star score and #62 ranking in the Commissions and Fees category suggest its pricing is less competitive or less transparent than top-ranked brokers like IG. Traders who prioritize published spreads, volume-based discounts, and DMA-style pricing will likely find IG more compelling.

Feature IG logoIG
iFOREX logoiFOREX
Minimum Deposit info £250.00 $100
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.98 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.82 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes No
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

IG and iFOREX both support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, but their overall selection differs a lot. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols versus iFOREX’s 750. IG also has more currency pairs (97 vs 88). If you want to buy real shares, IG lets you trade exchange‑listed stocks on U.S. markets like NASDAQ and on international exchanges, while iFOREX does not offer non‑CFD stock trading. Neither broker offers copy trading.

For crypto, IG lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies as well as crypto derivatives; iFOREX offers only crypto derivatives. These differences show up in independent ratings: IG is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while iFOREX is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #42. If you want the widest mix of markets, IG stands out; if you mainly trade CFDs and forex pairs, iFOREX covers the basics.

Feature IG logoIG
iFOREX logoiFOREX
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 19537 750
Forex Pairs (Total) info 97 88
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info Yes info No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) 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). 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

Comparing IG vs iFOREX for trading platforms and tools: IG offers a free paper-trading demo account, while iFOREX does not. Both brokers provide an in-house proprietary platform and a web-based platform, but only IG adds a Windows desktop app. IG supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4); iFOREX does not, and neither broker supports MT5. Copy trading isn’t available at either broker, and third-party options like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade aren’t offered.

For charts, both let you place trades directly from the chart. IG lists 20 drawing tools, while iFOREX lists 25; the number of technical indicators isn’t specified for either. Watchlists differ too: IG has 5 fields, iFOREX has 9. In independent reviews, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, whereas iFOREX earns 4 stars and ranks #55. If you want MT4, a desktop app, and a demo account, IG is the stronger pick; if you value more drawing tools and watchlist fields in a web platform, iFOREX may appeal.

Feature IG logoIG
iFOREX logoiFOREX
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes No
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes No
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 33 57
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 20 25
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 5 9

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

Forex trading apps

IG vs iFOREX mobile trading apps: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, but IG stands out for features and ratings. IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while iFOREX holds 4 stars and ranks #56. IG also supports price alerts, which iFOREX does not.

For charting and management tools, IG is far more complete. IG includes 33 technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, switch between multiple time frames (daily, weekly, intraday), and auto-saves your drawings. iFOREX does not offer trendlines, multiple time frames, or auto-save drawings, and does not publish an in-app count of technical studies. IG also syncs watchlists between the app and your online account and lets you create watchlists with real-time quotes; iFOREX lacks both syncing and real-time-quote watchlists. Traders who want deeper mobile charting, alerts, and synced watchlists will likely prefer IG, while iFOREX covers the basics on iOS and Android.

Feature IG logoIG
iFOREX logoiFOREX
Android App info Yes info Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes No
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 N/A
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Watchlist info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

Comparing IG vs iFOREX for market research: both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing the ratio of long vs short positions, and an economic calendar. IG stands out with forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Autochartist for pattern recognition. IG also integrates TipRanks and Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). iFOREX does not offer top-tier news or Autochartist, but it does include Trading Central analytics. TipRanks and Acuity Trading are not listed among iFOREX’s research tools.

For overall quality, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while iFOREX scores 3.5 stars and ranks #49. In short, choose IG if you want broader research coverage with premium news and multiple third-party tools; iFOREX can suit traders who mainly want Trading Central signals alongside basic commentary and sentiment data.

Feature IG logoIG
iFOREX logoiFOREX
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central (Recognia) info No Yes
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
TipRanks info Yes
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

When it comes to educational resources for beginners venturing into forex or CFD trading, IG stands out as a leading online broker. IG not only meets the requirement of offering at least ten educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, but it also surpasses expectations with a variety of articles, videos, and archived webinars. Additionally, IG provides clients with monthly online webinars and ensures newcomers have access to a searchable archive of recorded sessions. This comprehensive approach is supported by a wealth of beginner and advanced video tutorials, as well as a dictionary with over 50 investing terms, making IG a top choice for those seeking to build a strong foundation in trading. Rated 5 stars for education and ranked #1 by ForexBrokers.com, IG offers an exemplary learning experience.

In contrast, iFOREX provides a more limited educational selection. While the platform does offer ten beginner-focused educational videos, it lacks the broad variety of resources that IG provides. iFOREX does not offer the same level of depth with respect to educational articles or webinars. It also lacks a searchable archive of webinars and does not provide advanced video materials or a comprehensive investor dictionary. With a 3.5-star rating in education and ranking #53 out of 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com, iFOREX may benefit individuals with some basic resources, but it falls short for those seeking a wider range of educational tools.

Feature IG logoIG
iFOREX logoiFOREX
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes No
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes No
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No

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 iFOREX. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while iFOREX finished with an overall rank of #52.

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
iFOREX logoiFOREX
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 75
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 3/5 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 3/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with IG or iFOREX?

IG allows users to buy both actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, while iFOREX only offers cryptocurrency derivatives without the option to purchase actual cryptocurrency.

What funding options does each broker offer?

When comparing online brokers IG and iFOREX, IG offers ACH or SEPA transfers for fund deposits and withdrawals, unlike iFOREX, but both platforms support PayPal and Visa or Mastercard transactions, while iFOREX uniquely provides Skrill as an option, and both support bank wire transfers.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating IG iFOREX
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 3/5 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 3/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 75
Winner check_circle
Review IG Review
Broker Screenshots IG iFOREX
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation IG iFOREX
Trust Score info 99 75
Year Founded info 1974 1996
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 8 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) IG iFOREX
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info Yes No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info Yes
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info Yes No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) IG iFOREX
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes No
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info Yes No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments IG iFOREX
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 19537 750
Forex Pairs (Total) info 97 88
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info Yes info No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) 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). 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 iFOREX
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.98 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.82 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes No
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes No
Execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding IG iFOREX
Minimum Deposit info £250.00 $100
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
Trading Platforms IG iFOREX
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes No
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No No
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools IG iFOREX
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes No
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields info 5 9
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 33 57
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 20 25
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes No
Mobile Trading IG iFOREX
Android App info Yes info Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes No
Mobile Watchlist info Yes No
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 N/A
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes No
Research IG iFOREX
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central (Recognia) info No Yes
TipRanks info Yes
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education IG iFOREX
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes No
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes No
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No
Major Forex Pairs IG iFOREX
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes Yes
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review IG Review
Overall IG iFOREX
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 3/5 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 3/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 75
Winner check_circle
Review IG Review
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