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.
Comparing online brokers IG and Spreadex: IG, founded in 1974, is publicly traded and a bank, while Spreadex, launched in 1999, is privately held and not a bank. In regulation, IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted); Spreadex holds 1 Tier-1 license and 0 Tier-2 licenses.
On trust, ForexBrokers.com rates IG at 99/99 and Spreadex at 70/99. Under its scale, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 should not be trusted—placing IG in the highly trusted group and Spreadex in the average risk bracket.
| 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 comes out ahead of Spreadex on commissions and fees, earning a 5-star rating and ranking #6 out of 36 brokers in this category. IG is not a discount broker, but it offers competitive pricing for active traders, especially through its Forex Direct DMA account. On its main Forex Direct offering, the average EUR/USD spread was 0.62 pips in July 2023, with an estimated all-in cost of 0.82 pips after commission. IG’s standard CFD pricing was also solid, with typical spreads of 0.69 pips during the main trading session and a monthly average of 0.98 pips, though costs can rise during quieter trading hours.
For larger-volume traders, IG also provides rebate programs that can lower trading costs further. Qualified professional clients in the EU may receive spread rebates of 10% to 20%, depending on monthly forex volume, which can bring effective costs down even more. The broker’s DMA account starts at a £1,000 minimum deposit and uses tiered commission pricing, making it a strong choice for more active traders who want lower all-in trading costs.
Spreadex is simpler on pricing but less competitive overall, with a 4-star rating and a #27 ranking out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. In January 2024, its average EUR/USD spread was 0.81 pips, while its minimum spread of 0.6 pips was available 60% of the time during the month. While that is still reasonable, IG offers better value for frequent traders, especially those trading forex in higher volumes or looking for lower effective costs over time.
| Feature |
IG
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 0.81 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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.
When it comes to range of investments, IG offers more choice than Spreadex. IG has 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, while Spreadex provides 10,000 symbols and 52 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support cryptocurrency CFDs. However, only IG lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, and only IG gives access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares.
Neither broker offers copy trading, but IG stands out for its wider market access overall. Despite both firms earning 5 stars for Range of Investments, ForexBrokers.com ranks IG higher at #4 out of 36 brokers, compared with Spreadex at #13. For traders who want a broader selection of markets and real shares, IG has the stronger offering.
| 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.
IG and Spreadex both give traders a choice of web-based platforms and free demo accounts, so you can test the setup before using real money. Each broker also has its own in-house platform and lets you place trades directly from charts, which is useful if you like to act quickly while watching price moves. Neither broker offers copy trading.
Where IG stands out is in platform choice and trading tools. IG also offers a Windows desktop platform plus MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, giving active traders more ways to trade and analyse markets. Spreadex does not offer a desktop download or MetaTrader support. That wider toolkit helps explain why IG is rated 5 out of 5 for trading platforms and tools and ranked #1 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex is rated 4 out of 5 and ranked #37.
| 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 includes stock or forex price alerts plus the ability to draw trendlines on charts. IG, however, goes further for active mobile traders. Its app syncs watchlists with the online account, so changes carry across devices, and chart drawings are saved automatically. IG also gives users 33 technical studies in its mobile charting tools, making it a stronger choice for traders who want more chart detail on the go.
When it comes to mobile trading app quality, IG is rated 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex is rated 4 stars and ranks #36. Spreadex covers the basics well, with iPhone and Android apps, alerts, and trendline drawing, but it does not offer watchlist syncing and does not auto save chart drawings. For traders who want a smoother mobile experience with more useful features, IG has the clear edge.
| 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 give traders the main market research basics, including daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist tools, sentiment data, and an economic calendar. That means both brokers can help you keep track of market moves and upcoming events in a way that is easy to follow. Neither broker offers Trading Central tools.
IG goes further by adding TipRanks and Acuity Trading tools, which Spreadex does not provide. That extra depth helps explain why IG is rated 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex is rated 4 stars and ranks #29. Overall, IG has the stronger research offering, even though Spreadex still covers the core tools many traders need.
| 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.
When it comes to education for beginners, IG comes out ahead of Spreadex. IG offers forex and CFD learning content, hosts online educational webinars at least once a month, and provides plenty of beginner and advanced video lessons for traders at different skill levels. This makes it a stronger choice for new traders who want regular guidance and a wider mix of learning materials. IG also has a 5-star Education rating and is ranked #7 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in the Education category.
Spreadex does offer beginner video content and some forex or CFD education, but it does not provide monthly educational webinars or the same level of advanced video material as IG. Its Education rating is 4 stars, and it is ranked #36 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for Education. For beginners looking for more frequent teaching support and a broader range of trading lessons, IG is the clearer winner.
| 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 #33.
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 | 70 |
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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 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Spreadex | |
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| Regulation | IG | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| 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 CMA 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) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 0.81 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 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 (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IG Review | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | IG | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Spreadex Review |
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