Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Libertex, 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 and Libertex differ clearly on trust and regulation. IG was founded in 1974, is publicly traded, and is also a bank, which adds to its standing. It holds 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, and its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score is 99 out of 99, placing it in the highly trusted group.
Libertex was founded in 1997 and is not publicly traded and not a bank. It holds 1 Tier-1 license and 1 Tier-2 license, with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 79 out of 99, which falls into the average risk range. For traders comparing regulation and overall trust, IG has a much stronger profile than Libertex.
| Feature |
IG
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1997 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
IG and Libertex both offer competitive pricing, but they are aimed at slightly different types of traders. IG earns a 5-star rating and ranks #7 out of 36 for commissions and fees, helped by its low-cost Forex Direct DMA pricing for active traders and its strong handling of larger orders. On its main Forex Direct account, IG’s EUR/USD costs were around an all-in 0.82 pips in July 2023 after commission, while its CFD spreads averaged 0.69 pips during the main trading session. IG also offers volume-based rebates for very active traders, which can reduce costs further.
Libertex is also fairly competitive on price, especially on its own platform, but it is not as highly rated as IG. It holds a 4-star rating and ranks #21 out of 36 for commissions and fees. Its most recent published EUR/USD spread was 0.3 pips, though this was based on a single trading day rather than a longer monthly average. Libertex uses a spread-plus-commission model, charging 5 euros per side on its proprietary platform and 6 euros per side on MT4 and MT5, making its native platform the cheaper choice for frequent forex traders.
In simple terms, IG may be the better pick for traders who want low costs on larger or more active forex trading, while Libertex can appeal to traders looking for a low minimum deposit and straightforward pricing on its own platform. However, IG’s fees are better supported by long-term average spread data and stronger overall rankings, while Libertex stands out for its low headline spread and easy-to-understand account setup.
| Feature |
IG
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $10 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 0.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, IG gives traders far more choice than Libertex. IG offers 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with Libertex’s 1,573 symbols and 46 forex pairs. IG also lets clients buy exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while Libertex does not offer these direct share purchases. In addition, IG supports both actual cryptocurrency purchases and crypto CFDs, whereas Libertex only offers crypto CFDs.
Libertex does have one advantage: it offers copy trading, which IG does not. Still, IG comes out ahead overall for investment variety, earning a 5-star rating for Range of Investments and ranking #4 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, versus Libertex’s 4-star rating and #25 ranking.
| Feature |
IG
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1573 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| 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). | 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 Libertex both give traders a wide range of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web-based platforms, desktop downloads for Windows, and support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both also let users trade directly from a chart, which can make placing trades quicker and easier. IG adds its own in-house platform on top of these options, while Libertex does not offer a proprietary platform.
Where the two differ most is in copy trading: Libertex offers it, but IG does not. For trading platforms and tools, IG is the stronger overall pick, earning 5 out of 5 stars and ranking #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Libertex’s 4 out of 5 stars and #26 ranking. If you want the broader platform lineup and a top-rated trading tools experience, IG has the edge, while Libertex may appeal more if copy trading is important to you.
| Feature |
IG
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 | 43 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Libertex both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock or forex price alerts and watchlist symbol syncing, so users can stay connected to their accounts on the go. That said, IG has a clear edge for charting tools, offering 33 technical studies in its mobile app, plus trendline drawing and automatic saving of chart drawings. Libertex does not offer technical studies in its app and does not support trendline drawing or auto-saving drawings.
When it comes to overall mobile trading app quality, IG stands out with a 5-star rating and a #1 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. Libertex is still a solid choice, but it trails behind with a 4-star rating and a #27 ranking. For traders who want more chart features and a smoother mobile experience, IG is the stronger pick, while Libertex covers the basics well enough for simple mobile trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 0 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, IG has the edge over Libertex. IG offers daily market commentary, news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist tools, TipRanks insights, and Acuity Trading features such as Signal Centre, giving traders more ways to follow market moves and spot ideas. Both brokers provide forex news, sentiment tools, and an economic calendar, so each gives users useful updates on current events and trader positioning.
Libertex still covers the basics well, with top-tier forex news, sentiment data, Trading Central tools, and an economic calendar, but it does not match IG’s wider research offering. That difference shows in the ratings: IG earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Libertex scores 4 stars and ranks #25, making IG the stronger choice for traders who want more market analysis and research support.
| Feature |
IG
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| 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 clearly has the edge over Libertex. IG offers forex and CFD learning content, runs online educational client webinars at least once a month, and provides 10+ beginner videos as well as 10+ advanced videos for traders who want to go further. That breadth helps new traders get started and gives them room to keep learning as they gain experience. IG is also rated 5 stars for Education and is ranked #7 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category.
Libertex also offers some educational material, but it falls behind IG in the key areas that matter most to beginners. It does not meet the same benchmark for regular webinars or the same level of beginner and advanced video content, and its Education rating is 4 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, Libertex places #33 out of 36 brokers for Education, which suggests a more limited learning experience overall compared with IG.
| Feature |
IG
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 Libertex. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Libertex finished with an overall rank of #32.
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
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 79 |
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IG stands out for traders who want both delivered cryptocurrency purchases and crypto CFDs, while Libertex offers cryptocurrency CFD trading only and does not support buying actual cryptocurrency.
Both IG and Libertex support ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but Libertex has the edge for e-wallet flexibility by also offering Skrill, which IG does not.
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 | Libertex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Libertex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Libertex | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | IG | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 79 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1997 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1573 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| 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). | 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 | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 0.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 43 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Libertex Review |
| Overall | IG | Libertex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Libertex Review |
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