Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Spreadex, 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.
Founded in 1974, IG stands out as a highly trusted name in the world of online brokers. With a maximum Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, IG offers strong reassurance for its customers. The firm is publicly traded, reflecting a level of transparency and reliability conducive to investor confidence. Additionally, as a bank, IG carries a higher level of financial backing and regulation. This reputation is supported by its impressive regulatory credentials, holding 8 highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and 2 trusted Tier-2 licenses.
On the other hand, Spreadex, which started operations in 1999, presents a different profile. It maintains a Trust Score of 71, placing it in the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. Unlike IG, Spreadex is not publicly traded and does not have the additional financial security status of a bank. Regulatory-wise, Spreadex holds just 1 highly trusted Tier-1 license and lacks any Tier-2 licenses, possibly providing a narrower scope of regulatory assurance compared to IG. This makes Spreadex a more modest alternative in terms of global trust and financial backing.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1999 |
| 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 |
IG earns 5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers, while Spreadex scores 4/5 stars and ranks #25. In plain terms, IG tends to come out cheaper for high-volume forex traders and those who want advanced pricing options, whereas Spreadex offers competitive, straightforward costs that many casual traders will find easy to understand.
IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) account averaged a 0.62-pip spread on EUR/USD in July 2023, with an all-in cost around 0.82 pips once commissions are included. Pricing is tiered by monthly volume (minimum deposit £1,000), and commission rates can drop as low as $10 per million per side for very high volume. On IG’s spread-only CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads were about 0.69 pips during the main 22-hour session, around 0.98 pips across the full day, and can widen during thinner hours. IG also offers active-trader rebates for qualifying professionals in the EU (10% at £50M monthly volume, up to 20% at £300M), which can bring effective costs down toward roughly 0.60 pips based on the example provided.
Spreadex averaged 0.81 pips on EUR/USD in January 2024, with its minimum 0.6-pip spread available 60% of the time that month. That puts Spreadex close to IG’s headline DMA all-in pricing in calm markets, but IG’s tiered commissions, professional rebates, and DMA access can deliver better value for very active traders. If you want simple, steady pricing, Spreadex is appealing; if you trade larger size or want the potential for lower all-in costs, IG is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.81 |
| 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.
Comparing IG and Spreadex on range of investments, IG offers a wider menu overall. IG lists 19,537 tradeable instruments and 97 forex pairs, while Spreadex has about 10,000 instruments and 52 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs and/or spot and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs. IG also lets you buy actual (delivered) crypto, which Spreadex does not.
When it comes to real, exchange-traded shares, IG stands out: you can buy U.S. stocks (like Apple on NASDAQ) and international shares (such as Vodafone in London). Spreadex does not offer exchange-traded shares, focusing instead on derivatives. Neither broker provides copy trading. For Range of Investments, both earn 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com, with IG ranked #4 out of 63 brokers and Spreadex ranked #13, reflecting IG’s broader market access.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 52 |
| 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 | 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.
Comparing IG vs Spreadex for trading platforms and tools: both brokers provide a free demo (paper trading) account and run their own proprietary platforms. Each offers a browser-based platform and lets you place trades directly from charts. IG adds a Windows desktop platform and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Spreadex has no Windows download and does not support MT4 or MT5. Neither broker offers copy trading. Indicator counts and the number of watchlist columns were not specified.
In testing by ForexBrokers.com, IG earned 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools; Spreadex earned 4 stars and ranks #34. In simple terms, choose IG if you want a Windows app or MetaTrader alongside a web platform and demo mode; pick Spreadex if a proprietary web platform with demo trading covers your needs.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 58 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Spreadex both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts and drawing trendlines on charts. IG pulls ahead with watchlist syncing between the app and the web platform, so changes carry over automatically. IG also includes 33 technical studies in its mobile charting and saves your chart drawings automatically. Spreadex does not sync watchlists with the web platform, does not auto-save drawings, and does not list a specific number of technical studies for its mobile charts.
For overall quality, IG is rated 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps by ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks #33. In short, IG is better suited to traders who want richer charting tools and seamless syncing across devices, while Spreadex covers the basics for mobile trading and alerts but offers fewer advanced conveniences.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and Spreadex both cover the essentials for market research. Each provides daily market commentary, premium forex news from sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, Autochartist-powered tools, a sentiment gauge showing the balance of long vs. short positions, and a global economic calendar. Neither broker includes Trading Central.
IG adds more third‑party research with TipRanks and Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre, which Spreadex does not offer. Reflecting these extras and overall depth, IG is rated 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex holds 4 stars and ranks #27.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
For beginners comparing IG and Spreadex on education, both brokers make it easy to start learning with at least 10 beginner-focused trading videos. IG goes further by running online educational webinars every month, giving newcomers a chance to ask questions in real time; Spreadex does not currently offer monthly webinars. As you advance, IG also provides 10 or more videos for experienced traders, while Spreadex falls short on that front—useful to know if you expect to grow your skills over time.
Independent ratings back up the difference. IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks 7th out of 63 brokers, reflecting strong depth and ongoing support. Spreadex scores 4 stars and ranks 33rd out of 63, offering helpful beginner material but less live teaching and fewer advanced lessons. If live sessions and a larger learning path matter for forex and CFD trading, IG is the better pick; if you just want a basic video library to get started, Spreadex can still do the job.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Spreadex. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Spreadex 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
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Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Compared to Spreadex, which only offers cryptocurrency trading via CFDs, IG lets you buy both actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and crypto CFDs, making it the more versatile choice for digital asset traders.
IG vs Spreadex: IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers, while Spreadex offers bank wires only (no ACH/SEPA or PayPal); neither broker supports Skrill, and Visa/Mastercard availability isn’t 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 | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Spreadex | |
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| Regulation | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1999 | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 52 | |
| 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 | 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.81 | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 58 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | IG | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Spreadex Review |
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