Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Markets4you, 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 Markets4you are both online brokers with distinct profiles, differentiating by their founding years, public trading status, and banking affiliations. IG, established in 1974, is a publicly traded company and operates as a bank. In contrast, Markets4you, founded in 2007, doesn't enjoy the same public trading status or banking credentials. These foundational differences set the two apart, providing IG with a longstanding presence in the financial market, whereas Markets4you is relatively new to the scene.
When it comes to regulatory backing, IG holds a significant advantage with 8 Tier-1 licenses, signaling a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. It also has 2 Tier-2 licenses, enhancing its credibility further. On the Trust Score scale, IG earns a stellar 99 out of 99, reflecting its top-tier reliability. Meanwhile, Markets4you does not hold any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses and its Trust Score of 61 suggests a higher risk. For traders focusing on security and reliability, IG stands out as a more trusted choice.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG outperforms Markets4you on trading costs. IG holds a 5/5 stars rating and ranks #8 of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees, while Markets4you is rated 3.5/5 stars and ranks #55. Markets4you does not publish average spread data, making it harder to estimate all-in trading costs, whereas IG provides detailed pricing across account types.
For IG’s spread-only CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads averaged about 0.69 pips during the main trading session, with a global monthly average near 0.98 pips (IG US averaged 1.18 pips in the same period). For tighter pricing, IG’s DMA “Forex Direct” account averaged 0.62 pips on EUR/USD in July 2023, with an all-in cost around 0.82 pips after commission. High-volume traders who qualify as professionals can also earn spread rebates of 10% to 20%, further reducing costs.
Because Markets4you does not provide average spread figures, its 3.5/5 rating and #55 ranking suggest less competitive — and less transparent — pricing versus IG. Cost-focused or high-volume traders are likely to find IG’s published spreads, volume-based commissions, and available rebates more appealing.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ250.00 | $0 |
| 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 | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG offers a much wider range of investments than Markets4you. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, supports forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, and lets clients buy exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international markets. It also provides both crypto CFDs and the ability to buy actual cryptocurrencies. Markets4you, with 150 symbols and 43 forex pairs, supports forex via CFDs or spot but does not offer direct access to U.S. or international exchange-traded shares. Markets4you includes copy trading (IG does not) and offers crypto CFDs, but not delivered crypto.
These gaps show in independent scores: for Range of Investments, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Markets4you earns 3.5 stars and ranks #59. Pick IG if you want the broadest market access, or consider Markets4you if you prioritize copy trading with a smaller selection.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 43 |
| 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 Markets4you: both brokers check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo account, an in-house (proprietary) platform, a Windows desktop download, a web-based platform, MT4 support, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Where they differ is in extras: Markets4you supports copy trading and MT5, while IG does not.
For overall platform quality, IG takes the lead with a 5-star rating and a #2 ranking out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, compared with Markets4you’s 4 stars and #53 ranking. If you want a highly rated platform suite and don’t need copy trading or MT5, IG is a strong choice. If copy trading or access to MT5 matters to you, Markets4you may fit better.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Markets4you both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each supports stock and forex price alerts, lets you draw trendlines on charts, and auto-saves those drawings. For charting depth, IG includes 33 technical studies, while Markets4you offers 30—both covering the essentials for analysis on the go.
The key difference is watchlist syncing: IG syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while Markets4you does not. That convenience helps explain IG’s stronger reviews—IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Markets4you’s 4-star rating and #51 rank. If seamless watchlists and top-rated mobile performance matter most, IG stands out; if you simply need alerts and solid charting on both iPhone and Android, Markets4you can still do the job.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and Markets4you both cover the basics of market research well: each provides daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg and Reuters), Autochartist tools for chart analysis, and an economic calendar. The differences show up in the extras. Markets4you includes Trading Central, while IG does not. IG offers a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions; Markets4you does not. IG also integrates TipRanks and Acuity Trading (Signal Centre), whereas Markets4you’s access to TipRanks and Acuity Trading isn’t specified.
For overall research quality, IG stands out with a 5-star rating and a #2 ranking out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Markets4you earns 3.5 stars and ranks #48. If you value sentiment data plus third-party insights from TipRanks and Acuity, IG is the stronger fit; if you specifically want Trading Central, Markets4you has that advantage.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners who want clear, structured forex and CFD education, IG stands out. It runs client webinars at least once a month and offers plentiful videos for both beginners and experienced traders—well over 10 in each group—covering basics, strategies, platform tips, and risk management. This step‑by‑step path makes it easier to learn at your own pace. Reflecting this depth, IG earns 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers with ForexBrokers.com.
Markets4you takes a lighter approach to learning. It does not host monthly educational webinars and doesn’t provide at least 10 beginner videos or 10 advanced videos, so new traders may have fewer guided options to build confidence. While some materials may be available, the catalog is smaller overall. Markets4you holds a 3.5 out of 5 star Education score and is ranked #26 out of 63, making IG the stronger choice if rich, video-led forex and CFD education is a priority for you.
| Feature |
IG
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Markets4you. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Markets4you finished with an overall rank of #56.
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
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 61 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Comparing online brokers IG and Markets4you for crypto, IG supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trading cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas Markets4you offers only cryptocurrency CFDs and no access to the underlying coins.
Compared to Markets4you, IG supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals (but not Skrill), while Markets4you does not support ACH/SEPA and has no confirmed availability for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, or bank wires.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | IG | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 61 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 43 | |
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ250.00 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | No | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review |
| Overall | IG | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill