Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Questrade, 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.
Comparing IG and Questrade on trust and regulation: IG was founded in 1974, is publicly traded, and is a bank. It earns a 99/99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the highly trusted 90–99 range. Questrade, founded in 2000, is not publicly traded and is not a bank, with an 85/99 Trust Score that sits in the trusted 80–89 range. For context, ForexBrokers.com classifies 70–79 as average risk, 60–69 as high risk, and below 59 as not trusted.
Regulatory coverage further separates the two: IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted), while Questrade holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. This broader top-tier oversight helps explain IG’s higher score, while Questrade still rates as trusted.
| Feature |
IG
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2000 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
When comparing IG and Questrade on commissions and fees, IG comes out ahead for most active traders. IG is not a discount broker, but it offers competitive pricing through its Forex Direct DMA account and volume-based rebates for high-frequency traders. Its EUR/USD spread on the main Forex Direct account averaged 0.62 pips in July 2023, with an all-in cost of about 0.82 pips after commission. IG’s CFD spreads were also fairly tight during main trading hours, averaging 0.69 pips. IG is rated 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers in this category.
Questrade, by contrast, uses spread-based pricing, so its trading costs are built into the bid-ask spread rather than charged as a separate commission. While Questrade says spreads can start as low as 0.8 pips in normal market conditions, real-world major-pair spreads were closer to 2.1 to 2.5 pips at the time of review, which can make trades much more expensive. For CFDs, Questrade also adds a $9.95 USD trading fee per unit, and overnight financing charges can further increase the cost. Questrade is rated 3.5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #34 out of 36 brokers.
In simple terms, IG is usually the better choice if keeping trading costs low matters to you, especially if you trade forex often or in larger volumes. Questrade may suit traders who prefer spread-only pricing, but its wider spreads and added CFD fees can add up quickly. For commissions and fees alone, IG offers the better value overall.
| Feature |
IG
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.8 or higher |
| 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 | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG and Questrade both let traders access forex, but IG offers a much wider overall range of investments. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols, compared with 675 at Questrade, and it gives clients access to 97 forex pairs versus Questrade’s 110. Where IG stands out most is in market variety: it offers exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, plus both delivered cryptocurrency and crypto CFDs. Questrade, by contrast, does not offer direct access to U.S. or international exchange-traded securities, and it does not offer crypto trading.
Neither broker supports copy trading. For Range of Investments, both IG and Questrade are rated 5 out of 5 stars, but IG is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com, placing #4 out of 36 brokers compared with Questrade at #12. In simple terms, if you want more choice across shares, forex, and crypto-related products, IG has the broader selection, while Questrade offers a narrower lineup focused mainly on forex.
| Feature |
IG
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 675 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 110 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IG and Questrade both give traders a strong set of platform choices, including free demo accounts for paper trading, their own in-house platforms, desktop software for Windows, and web-based trading platforms. Both also let users trade directly from stock charts. For traders who want more platform options, IG has the edge because it supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Questrade does not offer either. Neither broker offers copy trading. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools review, IG is rated 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 36 brokers, while Questrade is rated 4 stars and ranked #29.
When it comes to everyday trading tools, both brokers cover the basics well, but IG stands out for traders who want access to popular third-party platforms and a wider range of charting support. Questrade still provides a solid experience for most self-directed investors, especially if you want a simple web or desktop setup with paper trading to practice first. If platform variety and advanced trading choices matter most, IG is the stronger pick; if you want a capable all-around broker with a more straightforward toolset, Questrade remains a good option.
| Feature |
IG
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 64 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Questrade both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing, trendline drawing, and automatic saving for chart drawings. That means either broker gives traders the basic tools needed to monitor markets and manage watchlists on the go, with app features that connect smoothly to each broker’s online account.
Where IG stands out is in overall mobile app quality. IG’s app includes 33 technical studies, while Questrade offers 64, giving Questrade more chart indicators to choose from. Even so, IG earns a 5-star rating for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with Questrade’s 3.5-star rating and #29 ranking. For traders who want the stronger all-around mobile experience, IG has the edge, while Questrade offers a larger set of chart studies.
| Feature |
IG
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 64 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG comes out ahead of Questrade for market research, offering a wider range of tools and news that can help traders stay informed. IG provides daily market commentary, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positions, an economic calendar, and research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading. It also includes Autochartist for technical and fundamental analysis. In ForexBrokers.com’s Research category, IG is rated 5 stars and ranked #2 out of 36 brokers.
Questrade also gives users access to some helpful research features, including Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks, but it does not offer daily market commentary, top-tier forex news, a sentiment tool, Acuity Trading, or an economic calendar. That narrower range of research options is reflected in its 3.5-star Research rating and #35 ranking out of 36 brokers. For traders who want more market insight in one place, IG offers the stronger research package overall.
| Feature |
IG
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing IG and Questrade for beginner education, IG stands out as the stronger choice. IG offers forex and CFDs learning material with at least 10 pieces focused on those topics, plus monthly online educational webinars and plenty of video content for both new and experienced traders. In fact, IG has at least 10 beginner trading videos and at least 10 advanced videos, which makes it easier for beginners to start learning and keep building their skills over time. Questrade, by comparison, does not meet the same level of forex or CFDs education and does not offer monthly educational webinars or the same number of beginner and advanced videos.
This gap is also reflected in independent ratings. IG is rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers in the Education category at ForexBrokers.com, while Questrade is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #28. For beginners who want more step-by-step learning support, IG provides a wider range of helpful educational resources, while Questrade offers a more limited selection.
| Feature |
IG
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Questrade. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Questrade finished with an overall rank of #29.
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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Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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IG vs Questrade: IG allows investors to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas Questrade does not offer real crypto purchases or crypto CFDs.
IG vs Questrade: IG offers ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposit and withdrawal options, while Questrade supports bank wires only—no ACH/SEPA or PayPal—and neither broker supports Skrill.
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 | Questrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Questrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Questrade | |
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| Regulation | IG | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2000 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | IG | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 675 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 110 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| 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). |
| Cost | IG | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.8 or higher | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | IG | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 64 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 64 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Education | IG | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Questrade Review |
| Overall | IG | Questrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Questrade Review |
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