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.
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IG vs Interactive Brokers: both are long-established online brokers—IG was founded in 1974 and Interactive Brokers in 1977. Each is publicly traded, but there’s a key difference: IG is a bank, while Interactive Brokers is not. Both earn a 99/99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com, placing them in the highly trusted category.
On regulation, both brokers hold 8 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted) according to ForexBrokers.com. For context, the site’s Trust Score scale rates 90–99 as highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted—so IG and Interactive Brokers sit at the very top.
| Feature |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1977 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 8 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
IG and Interactive Brokers are both rated 5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but they take slightly different approaches. IG is not a discount broker, yet it offers competitive pricing for active traders, especially through its Forex Direct DMA account and volume-based rebates. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 0.62 pips in July 2023 on Forex Direct, with an estimated all-in cost of 0.82 pips after commission. For its CFD pricing, IG’s average spreads were also close to the industry average, with typical main-session spreads of 0.69 pips. IG is ranked #7 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
Interactive Brokers is ranked higher at #2 out of 36, and its forex pricing is generally very competitive. IBKR uses commission-based pricing rather than marking up spreads, and its EUR/USD spread in Q3 2024 was 0.19 pips, or about 0.59 pips all-in after commission. Commissions start at 0.00002 of the U.S. dollar trade value per side, with a minimum of $2 per order, and can fall lower for very active traders. This setup can work well for traders who place larger orders and want low overall trading costs.
In simple terms, IG may appeal more to active traders who want flexible execution and rebate options, while Interactive Brokers stands out for its lower-ranked-by-cost structure and very tight forex pricing. Both brokers offer low fees by industry standards, but IBKR has the edge on commissions and fees overall, especially for high-volume forex traders.
| Feature |
IG
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.226 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.226 |
| 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 give traders access to a wide mix of markets, including forex, U.S. shares, international shares, and even actual cryptocurrency. Each broker also offers spot or CFD forex trading, and both support buying exchange-traded securities on U.S. and overseas exchanges. Neither platform offers copy trading, so if that feature matters to you, neither broker has it.
Where they differ most is in product range. IG lists more tradeable symbols overall, with 19,537 compared with Interactive Brokers’ 8,500, and it also offers slightly more forex pairs, at 97 versus 90. IG additionally lets clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs, while Interactive Brokers only offers delivered crypto, not crypto CFDs. Even so, both brokers earn 5 stars for Range of Investments, with Interactive Brokers ranked #1 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com and IG ranked #4.
| 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 | No |
| 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 give traders a strong choice of platforms and tools, including free simulated paper trading, their own in-house platforms, desktop software for Windows, and web-based trading. Both brokers also let you place trades straight from a chart, which can make order entry faster and easier. In addition, each broker earns a top 5-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools, showing that both are well regarded for how their platforms perform and how much they offer traders.
One key difference is that IG supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Interactive Brokers does not offer either platform. Neither broker offers copy trading. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools rankings, IG is placed #1 out of 36 brokers, while Interactive Brokers is close behind at #2, making IG the slightly stronger choice overall for traders who want extra platform flexibility and MT4/MT5 access.
| 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) | Yes | 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 offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Each app is rated 5 stars for mobile trading, so both are strong choices for traders who want to manage positions and stay on top of the market from a phone or tablet.
The main difference is in charting and overall mobile app ranking. IG’s app includes 33 technical studies and automatically saves chart drawings, which can make it easier to pick up where you left off. Interactive Brokers offers far more chart studies at 155, but its app does not auto save drawings. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps category, IG is ranked #1 out of 36 brokers, while Interactive Brokers is ranked #4, giving IG the edge for mobile ease of use.
| 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 | 155 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and Interactive Brokers both give traders a strong set of market research tools. Each one offers daily market commentary, forex news from top names like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, TipRanks research, Acuity Trading tools, and an economic calendar for tracking major global events. Both brokers also earn a 5-star Research rating, with IG ranked #2 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com and Interactive Brokers close behind at #3.
The main difference is in third-party analysis tools. IG includes Autochartist for technical and fundamental research, while Interactive Brokers offers Trading Central instead. In short, both brokers cover the essentials well, but IG may appeal more to traders who want Autochartist, while Interactive Brokers may suit those who prefer Trading Central.
| 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 give beginners plenty of help to learn the basics of trading. Each broker offers forex and CFDs education, along with live online webinars at least once a month, so new traders can keep learning in a structured way. They also both provide at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, which makes it easier for users to start with simple topics and later move on to more detailed trading lessons.
For education overall, both brokers earn 5 out of 5 stars, which shows that each one offers a strong learning experience. In ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, IG ranks #7 out of 36 brokers, while Interactive Brokers ranks #1, giving Interactive Brokers the edge in this comparison. Still, IG remains a strong choice for beginners who want a wide mix of lessons, videos, and webinars in an easy-to-follow format.
| 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: for cryptocurrency trading, IG lets you buy real (delivered) crypto and trade crypto CFDs, whereas Interactive Brokers allows buying actual cryptocurrency but does not offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
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 | 8 | |
| 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 CMA 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 | No | |
| 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 | 0.226 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.226 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | IG | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $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) | Yes | 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 | 155 | |
| 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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