Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Markets.com, 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 Markets.com are both well-established online brokers, each with strong regulatory credentials, but they have distinct differences in their trust scores and structural setups. Founded in 1974, IG is not only a publicly traded company but also a bank, which positions it as a highly secure choice for traders, backed by its eight Tier-1 licenses. This extensive regulatory coverage contributes to IG's near-perfect Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, marking it as a highly trusted broker.
In contrast, Markets.com, founded in 1999, operates as a private entity and is not a bank, which may influence its regulatory stance compared to IG. Despite these differences, Markets.com holds three Tier-1 and one Tier-2 licenses, and boasts an impressive Trust Score of 93 out of 99. This rating denotes that Markets.com is considered highly trusted in the industry, providing peace of mind for its clients regarding security and oversight.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IG comes out ahead of Markets.com. IG earns 5/5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees at ForexBrokers.com, while Markets.com holds 3.5/5 stars and ranks #51. IG publishes detailed pricing and offers multiple ways to trade, including spread-only accounts and a direct market access (DMA) option, making its costs easier to evaluate. Markets.com does not provide average spread data, which makes side-by-side price comparisons difficult.
IG’s CFD account showed typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.69 pips during the main session in July 2023 (0.98 pips across the full day; 1.03 pips in low-liquidity hours). IG US averaged 1.18 pips on EUR/USD that month. Active traders can qualify for 10% to 20% spread rebates, with effective pricing dropping to about 0.60 pips for very high volumes. For even lower potential costs, IG’s DMA “Forex Direct” account (minimum £1,000) posted average raw spreads near 0.62 pips in July 2023; after commissions, the all-in cost was about 0.82 pips, with tiered rates that decrease as monthly volume rises.
Markets.com’s commissions and fees are harder to benchmark because it does not publish average spread figures or comparable DMA pricing. Given its 3.5/5 star rating and #51 ranking for Commissions and Fees, Markets.com appears less competitive on cost and transparency than IG. If clearly disclosed, potentially lower trading costs matter most to you—especially for high-volume forex and CFD trading—IG is the stronger choice.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ250.00 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing IG vs Markets.com for range of investments, IG clearly covers more ground. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, versus Markets.com’s 2,179 symbols and 57 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs and/or spot. Independent ratings from ForexBrokers.com reflect the gap: IG scores 5 stars and ranks 4th out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, while Markets.com earns 4 stars and ranks 30th.
IG also lets you buy exchange-traded securities (not CFDs) on both U.S. and international exchanges, a feature Markets.com does not offer. For crypto, IG supports both actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and crypto CFDs, whereas Markets.com provides crypto only as CFDs. If copy trading is a priority, Markets.com includes it and IG does not. Overall, IG suits investors seeking the widest market access and the ability to own shares and crypto outright, while Markets.com fits traders focused on CFDs with the option to copy trade.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 2179 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 57 |
| 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 vs Markets.com: both brokers offer free demo accounts and in‑house platforms, plus web-based and Windows desktop trading. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while only Markets.com also offers MetaTrader 5 (MT5). IG lets you place trades directly from charts, which can speed up order placement; Markets.com does not support chart trading. If you want to mirror other traders, Markets.com includes copy trading, while IG does not. Both provide chart indicators and watchlists.
For overall platform quality, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Markets.com at 4 stars and #27. Choose IG if you value a top-rated platform experience and chart-based order entry; go with Markets.com if MT5 and copy trading are priorities, while still getting convenient web and desktop access and a free demo to practice.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 89 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Markets.com both check the core boxes for mobile trading. Each offers iPhone and Android apps, real-time price alerts, synced watchlists that mirror your web account, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. That means you can track markets, manage watchlists, and mark up charts on the go with either broker.
The differences show up in charting depth and polish. IG’s app includes 33 technical studies and automatically saves your chart drawings. Markets.com’s own app doesn’t include built-in studies (you’ll rely on MT4’s default indicators if you trade through MT4), and it does not auto-save drawings. Reflecting this gap, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, while Markets.com earns 4 stars and ranks #34.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research offerings of IG and Markets.com, both platforms provide traders with essential daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources, ensuring up-to-date information for informed trading decisions. While both brokers feature sentiment-based trading tools to gauge market positions across various instruments, IG stands out with additional resources like market research from TipRanks and research tools from Acuity Trading, which are not available on Markets.com. Additionally, IG offers technical analysis tools via Autochartist, enhancing its analytical capabilities, a feature absent in Markets.com’s suite.
Moreover, both platforms equip traders with an economic calendar to track global news events. However, IG has earned a higher research rating of 5 stars, compared to Markets.com's 4 stars, as per ForexBrokers.com. This reflects IG's superior offering, which is further corroborated by its impressive #2 ranking among 63 brokers in the Research category. In contrast, Markets.com holds the #17 position. Overall, IG provides a more comprehensive market research experience for traders seeking diverse and in-depth insights.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG stands out for beginner trading education. You get at least one client webinar each month, a large library of beginner videos (10+), and plenty of advanced videos (10+) when you’re ready to go deeper. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, IG earned 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers—making it a leading choice if you want an easy path to learning forex and CFD trading.
Markets.com also supports new traders with education, including monthly webinars, 10+ beginner videos, and 10+ advanced videos. While its depth trails IG, it still delivers clear, helpful guidance for getting started. ForexBrokers.com rates Markets.com 4 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks it #34 out of 63. Pick Markets.com for straightforward lessons and live sessions; pick IG if you want the most complete, top-rated library for forex and CFD education.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Markets.com. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23.
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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Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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IG offers both the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and to trade cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas Markets.com provides cryptocurrency exposure only via CFDs and does not support purchasing the actual coins.
IG vs. Markets.com: For online broker deposit and withdrawal methods, IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers (no Skrill), while Markets.com supports Skrill and bank wires (no ACH/SEPA or PayPal); Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 2179 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 57 | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ250.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 89 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | IG | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
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