Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Interactive 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.
Founded in 1974, IG is one of the long-standing giants in the online brokerage field. It is publicly traded and operates as a bank, offering it a multi-faceted advantage in providing financial services. IG boasts an impressive eight Tier-1 licenses, affirming its high level of trustworthiness according to industry standards. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, IG is considered a top-tier choice for investors seeking confidence and security in their trading platform.
Interactive Brokers, another well-respected broker founded in 1977, is likewise publicly traded but does not function as a bank. It surpasses IG slightly with nine Tier-1 licenses, demonstrating an equally strong foundation of reliability and oversight. Holding the same ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, Interactive Brokers offers investors peace of mind and trust equivalent to IG's high standards. Both brokers are regarded as highly trusted options, each with unique strengths and extensive regulatory backing.
| Feature |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1977 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 9 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
When comparing the commissions and fees for online brokers IG and Interactive Brokers, both firms offer competitive yet varied pricing structures tailored for active traders. IG provides multiple execution options, enhancing its appeal for significant volume trades. Its Forex Direct accounts shine with active trader pricing, where spreads typically average 0.62 pips during prime trading times, reaching an all-in cost of about 0.82 pips after commissions. With its three-tier rebate program, IG rewards professionals trading over substantial volumes, offering discounts that can bring effective costs as low as 0.60 pips. In addition, IG's DMA account offers even more attractive pricing tiers, starting at $60 per million with potential reductions for higher-volume trades. Overall, IG is rated five stars for its commissions and fees, landing it the #8 spot out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Interactive Brokers presents a slightly different model by focusing more on commission-based pricing complemented by some of the lowest spreads in the market. Unlike IG, it doesn't publicize average spreads widely, but data from Q3 2024 indicates an average spread of 0.19 pips for EUR/USD, resulting in an effective cost of 0.59 pips after commissions for high-volume transactions. Forex trading at Interactive Brokers starts with commissions at 0.2 basis points, sliding down for extremely active traders. The minimum commission of $2 per side suggests that it could be less cost-effective for smaller trades, but larger transactions benefit significantly from this structure. Additionally, the company leverages a broad network of 17 interbank forex dealers to ensure competitive pricing and excellent market execution. With these attributes, Interactive Brokers also receives a five-star rating and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees.
Both brokers are well-suited for active traders but cater to slightly different trading strategies and volume needs. While IG supports scalability through various account types and rebate programs, Interactive Brokers excels with its direct access trading and interbank pricing, offering some of the tightest spreads available. Each broker has its distinct strengths, and the choice between them would ultimately depend on the specific trading needs and volume expectations of the investor.
| Feature |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.59 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.65 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG and Interactive Brokers both earn 5 stars for Range of Investments, but Interactive Brokers is ranked #1 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IG ranks #4. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols compared with 8,500 at Interactive Brokers. For currency traders, IG offers 97 forex pairs versus 90 at Interactive Brokers.
Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs or spot, offer exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, and let you trade cryptocurrencies as actual coins as well as through CFDs. Neither broker offers copy trading. If sheer number of symbols matters most, IG has the edge; if you want top-ranked breadth and global market access, Interactive Brokers leads the pack.
| Feature |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 8500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 90 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | Yes |
| 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). | 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 Interactive Brokers both shine for trading platforms and tools. Each broker offers paper trading with a free demo account, an in-house platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. You can place trades directly from charts with either broker. Both earned 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools from ForexBrokers.com, with IG ranked #2 out of 63 brokers and Interactive Brokers close behind at #3.
Key differences: IG supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while Interactive Brokers does not, and neither broker supports MT5. Copy trading is not offered by either firm. If MT4 access and a slightly higher category ranking matter to you, IG is the better fit; if you don’t need MT4, Interactive Brokers remains a top-tier choice with comparable ratings and features.
| Feature |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 155 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Interactive Brokers both deliver powerful mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, watchlists that sync with your online account, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. One small difference: IG auto-saves your chart drawings, while Interactive Brokers does not.
For charting studies, IG includes 33 technical indicators, while Interactive Brokers offers 97. Despite that gap, both apps earn 5-star ratings. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, IG places #1 for Mobile Trading Apps and Interactive Brokers ranks #4. Pick IG if you want a top-ranked app with auto-saved drawings, or choose Interactive Brokers if you prioritize a larger set of built-in indicators.
| Feature |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 97 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Choosing between IG and Interactive Brokers for market research comes down to specific preferences in tools and resources. Both platforms provide daily market commentary and access to top-tier forex news from Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. However, IG offers technical analysis tools from Autochartist, while Interactive Brokers features resources from Trading Central. Both companies have sentiment-based trading tools and provide research from TipRanks, as well as Acuity Trading. Economic calendars displaying global news events are available on both platforms.
For overall research quality, IG and Interactive Brokers both receive a five-star rating. However, IG holds a slight edge, being ranked second for research by ForexBrokers.com out of 63 brokers, while Interactive Brokers ranks third. This small difference highlights their common excellence in market research offerings, with some variations in specialized tools that may attract different types of traders.
| Feature |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG and Interactive Brokers both deliver extensive education for new traders. Each broker offers at least 10 forex and CFD learning pieces (articles, videos, and archived webinars), holds client webinars at least monthly, and provides more than 10 beginner videos plus more than 10 advanced videos. If you’re just getting started, you’ll find structured content at both firms that covers the basics and then builds into more complex topics.
Both brokers earn 5 stars for Education from ForexBrokers.com, but IG holds the top spot at #1 out of 63 brokers, while Interactive Brokers ranks #3. In short, IG edges ahead for beginner-friendly education and overall depth, while Interactive Brokers remains an excellent pick with strong coverage and frequent live sessions.
| Feature |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Interactive Brokers. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2.
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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Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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IG vs Interactive Brokers: both brokers let you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, offering flexible ways to access digital assets.
IG vs Interactive Brokers: both support ACH/SEPA transfers and bank wire deposits/withdrawals, neither supports Skrill, IG accepts PayPal while Interactive Brokers does not, 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 | Interactive Brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
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| Regulation | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1977 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 9 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | Yes | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 8500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 90 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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). | 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 | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.59 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.65 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 155 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 97 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Overall | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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